Gloves

Street gloves

Get some good leather motorcycle gloves with protection for the palms and knuckles. Some even have Kevlar in the palms; most have thick leather or even Kevlar over the knuckles. They should also have a gauntlet, that big, ugly thing that comes up your arms a few inches past your wrist. You can either tuck your jacket into the gauntlet, or velcro the jacket over the gauntlet. This gives you some overlap in case of asphalt sliding. (The same goes for zipping the pants and jacket together.) Don't get those little gloves that end right at your wrist bones. They may be OK for Tiger Woods, but they won't give you enough protection in a crash.

Lots of companies make gloves, and lots of shops sell them. That's why there are no specific recommendations here. Make sure they fit, though. They should be a little difficult to remove even when the velcro straps aren't closed. And they definitely should stay on once you close the retainers. If you can pull them off when they're locked in place, they're too big. The leather will stretch a little after you wear them a while, but usually not too much.

Gloves are for protection. Make sure they fit, or take or send them back.

Widder heated gloves

I've had Widder Electric gloves and vest for 6 years now, and they are great. They extend my riding season a full month at both the beginning and the end of the season.

I just got a Competition Accessories catalog and they have them listed. Your local shop should have them, too. The prices seem to be about what I paid.

Their prices are: gloves $90, electric thermostat $70, vests vary; see the catalog. I recommend the electric thermostat as I have the old one and it cycles on and off so you get cool periods. The new one is constant and reduces flow from the battery as you adjust it down.

Comes with a harness, with a connector lead to the battery. Snake the lead under the seat from the battery out to the tank; plug it in or out when you get on or off the bike. I also use the battery connector lead to attach my Sears Battery Tender ($27).

I recommend the vest too. If you get one, fit it snug so you feel the warmth directly on the body. Mine is a little loose and it is bulky under outer garments. You want to wear it close to the skin, over a turtle neck and under a fleece. The vest with the collar can be bulky at the Aerostich collar closure. I notice the new collarless vest has a higher neck than the old one had.

To find recommendations from fellow riders for specific gear models, go to Motorcycle Gear Review.