Termoscud on a Helix

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 metal ring on the right side is a hole in case you want to lock it to the scoot.

  The underside. The 'furry' part sits on your lap as you ride. Note the 2 straps on either side of the bib 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 60 mph (indicated) and didn't need them, there was no flapping.

  The cover attached to the top. 2 Straps go over the mirror stems.  The cover does not interfere in any way with the steering.

The round piece under the handlebars is a flap that lifts up so you can insert the key.

Here is the flap opened and you can see the ignition.. Also note the 2nd area of attachment at the right - a clip onto one of the pieces of the outlet.

Here the side attachement at the engine heat outlet can be seen as well as the attachment across the front of the scoot that holds the 'ears' up against the leg wind deflectors. Harder to see is there are 2 additional clips at the  bottom right of this pic (you can see part of one strap hanging down near the wheel). These clip under the bike. The instructions were not clear exactly where to clip them and looking I couldn't find a really good place. I eventually just found there are 2 pieces of plastic that overlap and I pushed one down, pulled the other up and clipped them there.

The other side and the strap across the front.

And a direct front shot. The strap goes under the headlight and doesn't block it. 

Everything hooked up and the bib fully unfolded. The bib is intended to rest on the riders chest. There is a strap that goes around the riders neck to hold it up. I don't think it's a good idea to be attached like that so I omit that part.

 

Here's how I ride with it. I tuck the bib under so it doesn't blow in the breeze. The strap you see hanging down is one of those you can tuck under your thigh to reduce flapping. In my limited trial, I didn't need to do that since there was no flapping.

 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.

 

Here's a shot of the bib extended and the plastic cover that comes out of a pocket in the bib that holds the strap and the seat cover. This pocket closes with velcro tabs. I couldn't get the seat cover to actually cover the seat but, no matter, I doubt I'd ever use it anyway.

Here's a shot into the pocket in the bib. You can see the seat cover and the straps.

 

Now look at all the photos again and know that getting on/off the scoot is a bit more difficult than without it on. You need to use your imagination to understand why.  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 cover is 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. 

Once you are under the cover it creates a very warm, cozy and breeze free area.