Termoscud on a Silver Wing
I was looking for something to help keep me warm in the winter. I try to commute daily and since it's only 5 miles or so, I usually can. I have a full Aerostich riding suit and while it goes on and off very quickly, it still seems a bit much for the short rides I often take in winter. I came across mention of scooter lap covers and the consensus on the web seemed to be Termoscud made the best.
I ordered 2 from Italy ( http://www.wheelup.it/ ) - one for the SWing and one for the Helix. They are about $75 each and shipping is another $75 or so. Shipping for 1 or 2 is the same so I got 2 to try them both. They arrived in about 3 days.
They are much heavier than I expected (and much, much heavier than a scooterskirt). The Helix version mounts with just straps and clips. The one on the SWing is screwed in using existing screws on the scoot - 4 of them - and takes about 5 min to install (or take off). A couple of clips are also used. The SWing version has 4 air chambers that are inflated (a pump comes with it). Once on either bike, the entire setup looks 'weird' - at least to me since I'd never seen anything like it.
On the Swing, with the air chambers inflated, the lap cover is a bit rigid and you have to squirm a bit to get on the scoot. Not a problem, just different than usual. Once on the scoot your feet are free to touch the ground, there's nothing preventing that. If your feet are on the part of the floorboard that angles up in the front, you need to pull them back a bit before putting them out on the ground.
The underside of the lap cover is a bit furry so, it feels like you have a nice warm cat sitting on your lap! I was only able to try the covers down at around 39 degrees but it was immediately clear that they provide significant warmth.
On the Swing, I pulled away from the house expecting some flapping to occur but there was none. As I accelerated, still no flapping. Riding around town was no problem so I headed for the highway. Getting on I was waiting for something to happen and ready to pull over if the cover started to move around too much. 50, 60, 70 mph and no even a slight flap! I was amazed! I took the SWing up to 85 mph (indicated) and the darn thing never moved a bit - meanwhile my legs and lap were very warm and there seemed to be not the slightest bit of air flow under the cover. On the Helix I took it around town and on the highway up to about 60 mph and also no flapping was felt.
Downsides -
1) Obviously the 'ewwwwww' factor. It is unusual looking.
2) Hopping on and off the scoot is a bit harder.
3) On warm days you need to roll it up - it can be rolled up while installed on the bike - 2 straps hold it rolled but it's still a sizeable item in front of your legs.
4) It is designed to 'hang' off your neck - much like an apron. I don't want to be attached to the bike in any way so I don't use that part of the cover and just tuck it underneath leaving the cover a bit looser than it was designed to be.
5) The cover only comes back to about where your pants pockets are leaving the part of your legs from there, up your hips to your waist exposed. Not a biggie but just something to know.
NOW THE PHOTOS!!
This is the cover. You are looking at it from the front as if you were standing in front of the scoot looking back. The back "tip" is the bib.
The underside. The 'furry' part sits on your lap as you ride. Note the 2 straps
on either side of the 'furry' part. (One on the left has a white rectangle on
it). You can see they are snapped at one end. These can be unsnapped and tucked
under your thighs to make the cover a bit snugger, warmer and reduce flapping,
if needed. I rode up to 85 mph (indicated) and didn't need them, there was no
flapping.
You take out 2 screws and screw in half of the buckle fastener. Once these are
put in, you do not need to take the screws out again to take the cover off, you
just undo the buckle part.
The cover attached to the top. The cover comes with a couple of pieces of clear
plastic that you can put on the scoot to prevent damage from scratching. I
haven't installed them yet so don't look for them in the photo. The cover
does not interfere in any way with the steering.
This screw shown at the middle of the angle section is removed, placed thru a
section of the cover and screwed back in. So, note, once the cover is installed,
this screw and the one on the opposite side are the only 2 that need to be taken
out to remove the cover. Someone asked if the cover can be used with the
leg wind deflectors. I don't have them so I don't know. I'm not sure how
they are installed on the scoot.
Here on the left side of the bike you can see how the screw holds the cover on.
The strap at the top is not installed on the bike. It is used if you want to
roll up the cover - then that strap goes around the rolled up cover and keeps it
rolled up. The rolled up cover is pretty bulky. I wouldn't want to ride like
that for any length of time ( l mean like several days) but if it was cool in
the morning and warm in the afternoon, you could roll it up when you rode home.
Another strap with a clip goes around the front. The instructions aren't clear
where it goes. I tried a couple of places and got better seal in some than in
others.
Here's the cover all installed. Note the bib up on the butt rest and also note
the bottom edge (BTW the white edging is all reflective) and that the bottom
edge section looks flat. In this photo it is not inflated. As for the bib,
that is intended to sit on the chest of the rider and a strap goes over the
riders neck to hold it up.
Here the pump is installed on the bottom chamber. You can see the inlet for the
upper chamber a bit higher up. You can see some text on the bottom left of the
cover that talks about the air chamber. The chamber runs from about where the
text starts to the right where a rectangle seems to be on the cover - about
4-5" to the right of the fill tube.
In this shot the air chamber is easier to see now that it's inflated. It looks
like the chamber comes all the way up to the bib but it actually doesn't come up
that far.
Note also the plastic seat cover that comes out of the bib. It doesn't fully cover the seat and probably isn't all the useful but, it is there. You also see the strap for the bib that you can connect over your neck. I don't think that's a good idea so, I don't do that.
Here's a shot of the pocket in the bib that holds the strap and the seat cover.
This pocket closes with velcro tabs
There's also a pocket in the cover itself that closes with a zipper. In this
photo the bib has been folder over the top and you are looking into the pocket.
So note - there are 2 different pockets in 2 different places on the cover. One
in the bib, one in the main part of the cover.
I haven't used the bib part so, I normally fold it under as shown in this shot
That's the way I ride. Now, use your imagination and think where the bottom edge
of the cover would be if a person were sitting on the scoot. The cover sort of
rides down about where a pocket on jeans would be so leaves the upper hit and
small area of the thigh exposed. Not a big deal when you ride except your legs
are so nice and toasty, you just wish the cover was a bit bigger to cover the
hip too.
This shot was taken to try and show why getting on/off the scoot is a bit more
difficult. You need to use your imagination. I took the bib and folded it
forward to the ignition and let it go. Notice that the bottom edge of the
cover still comes up to the bottom of the seat -- you would expect there to be a
crease more in the middle of the bottom edge of the cover, like when you fold a
blanket in half. That can't happen because there is that inflatable tube running
along the bottom edge of the cover. So, imagine getting on - you are standing on
the right - you lift the cover but you can't just put your leg over the hump,
the inflated tube keeps the cover in the way. You need to bend your right leg
and put your right knee under the cover first, then, sort of raise your leg and
knee pushing the cover up and then you can get your right foot over the hump in
the scoot. You sit down, then, holding the scoot up with your right foot, you
repeat with your left leg, bend at the knee - left knee under the cover. Now you
are sitting on the scoot with both feet on the ground and the bottom edge of the
cover just about at your knees. As you ride away, again you can't just lift your
knees up and put your feet on the floorboard. You need to sort of bend your
knees and bring both knees under and up before putting your feet down.
It sounds awkward but it really isn't, it's just different and you get used to it very fast.
Also, in the photo above, just above the reflective panel near the front of the cover, you can see the roundness of the upper inflated chamber. Once you are under the cover these 2 chamber sort of 'hug' your legs and create a very warm, cozy and breeze free area.
Just another shot
A
shot from the right and I just noticed there is a reflective stripe on the right
but not the left. Not sure why that is.