Does anyone have any suggestions for heated grips? I like riding this bike so much, I won't quit till it snows.

you can buy heated grips which would mean u have to take the old ones off...I've never had them so I can't say how they are....my last bike I bought the oxford grip heaters which just wrap around your existing grips and attach with velcro....they easily hook up to your battery and give off plenty of heat...the nice thing is u can just take them off in the summer..:)

For many years now I've used Kimpex/dynastar "under grip heaters" that you literally stick on to the bars under the grips. The grips are pretty easy to remove and it would give you a chance to install different grips if you choose.

The heaters are thin sheets of mylar plastic that is adhesive on the back. On the front are the heating elements on them. They have two heat ranges. They take a couple of minutes to come to full heat, and unless it is very cold they do well. Coupled with electric heated gloves, vest, socks, I'm good to go in most inclement weather.

Here is one source:

http://www.i-bike.com/store/prdBuy.cfm?prd=4357

Mine have been working fine for over 9 years. I paid $28 for them at the time.

Red

I've had the cheap ($45.00) Aerostitch wrap around type on my last 4 bikes. They work fine for me.

Larry,
Went with the replacement Oxford heated grips on my wife's Versys. She loves them and they were very easy to install. Plan to add a set to my KLR as well.

Too Tall

Another thing......maybe even helps more than heated grips are hand guards. My buddy has them on his BMW, and I rode it in low 40 degree temp, you can't believe the difference not having the wind hit your fingers. He has heated grips also, but doesn't use them that much unless it's really cold.

I haven't had hand guards on a bike, but I soon will. With heated grips, my fingers will still get cold in low 40's, and below temps

I have the Oxford HeaterZ grips on my Versys and another bike. You can fry eggs on those things. Highly recommended.

Has anyone tried the Hippo Hands? They're sort of like kayaking pogies - muffs that attach around the grips and controls and put your hands inside. They're insulated and keep your hands out of the wind. They look pretty interesting.

http://www.hippohands.com/

I put a set of Hippo hands on my KZ. Something about having my hands tied to the handlebars didn't sit right. Never left the garage, sold them to a buddy, he installed them and never left the driveway. They are for sale again.:p

While you are not really tied to the bars it just didn't feel right, might work for others.

Dan

I had heated grips for years and they are good, but then I found heated gloves. Wow!
It's a bit of a bother plugging in but when its really cold you will love them to death.
When its freezing and raining hard, as you know the water gets in eventually. I have ridden all day in those conditions with inside of gloves wet and WARM. Totally comfortable. Wouldn't be without them.
Mine are Gerbing ones, made in Holland.
I have heated socks as well now. Rarely used them but when needed they are just unbelievable.
Ted99uk.

I had heated grips on my BMW. I liked them a lot except when it got really cold. You can't use liners or thick gloves with heated grips or they don't work too well. Mostly I appreciated the heated grips for cool mornings or just as the temperatures began to fall and I wanted a touch of heat. Once it get's below 40 F - then they dont' work as effectively. My thumbs would always be frozen and the left hand wouldn't be as warm as I was putting on and off my hand from the grip. I haven't tried heated gloves yet and want to get a set but I think they would work better.

Hey Guys! I just picked up some HotGrips and will let you know how they work out. I have heard glowing recommendations.

Any tips for getting them on and stuck in one place? Specifically they require epoxy of a heat resistant variety... anyone used a product that worked well?

Many thanks in advance

I just installed Oxford.....excellent quality for the money and work..... oh so well.

I installed the Oxford Heaterz too. The are fantastic! My only complaint is the grip wire stress relief. It's way too big! Make sure they are positioned so they don't hit the tank with the bars turned fully in either direction.

I installed Heat demons last month. They actually go inside the handlebars. They are awsome. I have never had heated grips before but these are amazing. I was able to keep the same grips and for that matter I can use any grips I want. They work great. I would reccomend them to anyone.

That's a funny thing about heated grips. Once you've had them you will alway get them for future bikes. The best comfort item for the money.

Last week I installed a pair of Farnam grip overwraps a friend sold me for $20. The overwraps are wired to the battery with a 5 amp fuse, and I connected it to an illuminated on/off switch. Bare bones, simple, and it works fine on 35 F commutes.

I installed Heat demons last month. They actually go inside the handlebars. They are awsome. I have never had heated grips before but these are amazing. I was able to keep the same grips and for that matter I can use any grips I want. They work great. I would reccomend them to anyone.

I thought I read that our "V" bars are NOT hollow at the ends - if so, how'd the Heat Demons mount?:huh:

Ed

For the heat demons you have to cut the welds at the end. You have two options. You could weld the ends back on and if you don't have a welder they sell stuff at your local harware store that is a liquid weld epoxy. The other option is to put brush guards and hand gurds on. There is another option you could get a different pair of bar end weights. It was really easy to do It took me about an hour. That was with the time contimplating on what I was going to do.

Hi all, I am awaiting delivery on my green 09! I used HotGrips on my ZX636 for years and love them. The diameter of the grip is much larger than normal grips which reduces hand fatigue as well as the grips work great to keep fingers warm with out super thick gloves that reduce your dexterity.

I just moved to DFW, any riders in the area hit me back.

Installed Oxford Heaterz, my fingers were toasty warm all the way in to work today.
I believe I will always have heated grips from now on. Install was easy, used a relay to pass battery voltage to fused buss like dallasdon used.
cheers,
Paul

Those Oxford grips are a very nice product.

Well I got the Hippo hands and gave them a pretty good test last night. The temps were in the upper 30's F. I rode without gloves - one hand in the Hippo and one out (took the Hippo off). I'll tell you my left hand (outside) was nearly frozen by the time I got home, while the right (inside) was perfectly comfortable. My guess is that I'll be able to use whatever gloves I need walking around.

I didn't have any trouble with my hands inside the mitts. The openings are over 20" across so the hands weren't confined at all. The Hippos go on and off in a couple of minutes, I can transfer them to another bike if I want.

Oops. Sounding like a salesman :rolleyes:

Anyway, I like 'em.

Warm hands and smiling faces to us all.

A second vote for the HOTGRIPS. I installed them on my V with the variable controller. They worked well for the early morning rides on the BRP.

Well I got the Hippo hands and gave them a pretty good test last night. The temps were in the upper 30's F. I rode without gloves - one hand in the Hippo and one out (took the Hippo off). I'll tell you my left hand (outside) was nearly frozen by the time I got home, while the right (inside) was perfectly comfortable. My guess is that I'll be able to use whatever gloves I need walking around.


A lot of MC couriers in London use Hippo Grips - well they used to when I lived there 25 yrs ago. Maybe they use Trilinium heated Tribble Fur mitts these days....

Just wanted to say thanks to all that recommended the Oxford grips. They rock!
Combined with V-Strom deflectors and thinsulate lined leather gloves I was toasty running 65 mph at 40 degrees. Couldn't run them on high, too uncomfortable.

Thanks

Dan

They do get toasty. Enjoy your ride

Well, can't say anything about heated grips...yet, but can attest to the cold repelling factor of handguards. I bought some Acerbis Rally II handguards, which are not even really big, a bit breezy even, and I can wear my summer mesh gloves for 30 min in 40 degree weather at freeway speeds without much issue. I imagine both of these would keep you warm in below 0 weather!!!

the wrap around grips always felt unsafe to me, especially off road....
i like the dual stars for 2 settings without a wasteful resistor like the lo-cost versions
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit.htm

Installed Oxford Heaterz, my fingers were toasty warm all the way in to work today.
I believe I will always have heated grips from now on. Install was easy, used a relay to pass battery voltage to fused buss like dallasdon used.
cheers,
Paul

I have just received these grips, I also want to use a relay as im bound to leave them on and drain the battery, where do you get the relay from???

Is it an oxford product???,

Cheers

I've had heated grips on my '03 ST1300 since the first season so I knew I'd be putting them on my Versys. I went with DualStars ($34) with BMW Sport Grips on top ($9 each). Simple install with a Hi/Lo toggle switch on the right upper dash. Sitting in my c-c-c-cold driveway they warmed up great. Now if I could get the snow to melt...

Pants, I got my relay at RadioShack. I don't remember the part, but I think they only had 1 12V relay.

Pants, I got my relay at RadioShack. I don't remember the part, but I think they only had 1 12V relay.

Cheers dude, picked one up day, 4 pin 12V 30 Amp (although the grips only take 4 ish)

Shall I switch the live or neural im sure I read somewhere about stitched the neural, or pick I switched live from say rear brake light ?????????????

I switched with the red wire leading to the tail light. I always switch with positive.

I switched with the red wire leading to the tail light. I always switch with positive.

Cheers Yellowdog

Fitted them yesterday with the relay, no problem at all, I switched the live from the 12v number plate light..

Very impressed with oxford grips, Very clean and tidy Cables hidden away
with ease, hit one problem and that was after fitting the right hand side bar end the throttle would not spring return, A whaser sorted that problem.

at full tilt 100% they are almost uncomfortably too hot.

Anyway very happy with grips and how theyworked, looked and installed

Would this switch work for heated handgrips?

Bar Mount Lighting Switch with Kill/Horn Button (5A) (http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Switches/switches.html)

I had Oxford grips on my last bike and they were a piece of cake to install.

I would consider heated gloves and a heated jacket liner instead, if your budget allows, for cold weather riding.

Would this switch work for heated handgrips?

Bar Mount Lighting Switch with Kill/Horn Button (5A) (http://www.easternbeaver.com/Main/Elec__Products/Switches/switches.html)

I suppose but how would you vary the temp of the grips.
I have a set of oxfords hot grips and full on is way too hot even with gloves on.