Not-So-Hot Grips

[tracyprier]

Hi all

My recently-purchased KLE 500 came with a set of oxford hotgrips fitted (the permanent ones that replace your grips).

The thing is they just don't seem very hot.

I have rewired them direct from the battery and I even plugged one of the grips directly into the main power wire (bypassing the temp rheostat) and they still didn't get any hotter.

They are working in that they do get warm but compared to my previous beemers factory hot grips they are pathetic.

So my question is... just how hot should they get?? comments from oxford hotgrip users would be helpful.

The bike itself is a 2005 model but had only done 2,700km when I got it so although the hot grips are 5 years old they have had almost no use.

Thanks
Tracy

[whowhatwhere]

The controllers on the Oxfords are notorious for failing, but given how old they are it's unlikely they'd replace them for you. I'd go for another brand myself.

[Kiwi Graham]

Only ever have mine on setting 3 too hot otherwise

[CookMySock]

The controllers on the Oxfords are notorious for failing, but given how old they are it's unlikely they'd replace them for you. I'd go for another brand myself.I destroyed three brand new controllers and they wouldn't replace them.

On solid bars they are not so warm - I can leave mine on full all day. Hollow bars are much warmer.

Steve

[Coldrider]

I have 'daytona' type hot grips, only normal setting and preheat (high). 3watts and 12 watts I think, I hooked them up top a 12v timer pulsing on and off ,and leave them on preheat.

[whowhatwhere]

I have cheap Motrax grips - not sure if you can get them in NZ. Although they look like the tyre that could be rebranded and sold under any name. They are great though!

[slofox]

I cannot run my Oxford Hotgrips on full for more than maybe ten minutes - even on the frostiest Waikato morning (perhaps negative 5C at worst)...

[davebullet]

I have standard oxford hotgrips - 4 heat settings (100, 75, 40 and 30 from memory). My bike has hollow bars. As slowfox said - The 100 / full setting gets too hot to leave on. If it's really really cold - might leave them on the 75 setting. Usually 40 is good enough for winter once they've warmed up which takes no more than about 5 - 7 minutes.

I'd say something has gone wrong. Are the grips both the same temperature? Sounds like a controller issue. Easiest way would be to borrow another controller. I doubt the grips themselves have failed if they are heating up. Not sure how many elements that have going through them, but if only a single element and they are warming - indicates the grips themselves are good. No point ripping off good grips. Then again I don't know if you can get replacement controllers only (as per DB's post above).

I've only had my oxfords for about 8 months, so don't know how long they are meant to last.

I presume your headlight doesn't dim when you turn them on / no voltage drop - ie. your alternator / battery / charging system is working ok.

[crazyhorse]

I've had two sets of Oxford Heated grips, and both times, have been very disappointed with the temperature they put out. Only just appear to make the glove slightly warm. Good if you are riding with no gloves, but that is not the case.

Won't ever install another set. Waste of money and it drains the battery. I would rather invest in really good winter gloves :done:

[BiK3RChiK]

I destroyed three brand new controllers and they wouldn't replace them.

On solid bars they are not so warm - I can leave mine on full all day. Hollow bars are much warmer.

Steve

What he said.........

I have hollow bars and they are too hot on the hottest setting. I have them on lower settings. So it seems to make a huge difference what type of bars you have.

[Gremlin]

Have used 2 sets of oxford on 2 different bikes. Much better than the actual hot grips brand (off, on, start). One grip isn't working on 1 bike tho, suspect the wire into grip, and will get it looked at. Only needed more heat riding in extreme conditions.

[Coldrider]

Throttle side heat grip will be hotter as it is over the plastic throttle body, more insulated.
The daytona type on high for long sessions just about smoke, I have had a heat blister on the inside of one finger through the gloves.

[CookMySock]

The daytona type on high for long sessions just about smoke, I have had a heat blister on the inside of one finger through the gloves.Well thats fooken hot compared to the Oxfords. Oxfords get quite warm - even something you might be tempted to call hot, but they won't get as hot as you describe.

Steve

[Coldrider]

Well thats fooken hot compared to the Oxfords. Oxfords get quite warm - even something you might be tempted to call hot, but they won't get as hot as you describe.

Steveyep, that is why I put them on a timer, low is too low, preheat too hot, (in series, then in parallel) a rheostat would work too but i had a freebee timer.

[banditrider]

My oxfords have been on the bike for 53,000km and the only issue I've had is a wire not plugged in properly when fitted causing one side to work intermittently. Fixed myself and they've been sweet as every since.

Generally only ever have them on the lowest setting - I generally only wear thin gloves year round. Have gone as high as 70% heat when in really bad weather and soaked hands. I've just recently bought some thicker waterproof (well, 2 hours in fiordland waterproof) gloves and I could still feel the hot grips through them on about 60%.

Personally, I think they're pretty good at around $100. Ya gloves cost more and don't last as long...

[NZsarge]

Oxfords get my vote. Bloody great I reckon. Can't use the high setting too often, it has to be bloody cold before i'll put the grips on at 100%.

[SMOKEU]

I'm thinking about buying a set of heated grips for my CBR250R. Will they fit my bike reasonably easily? Will it change the feel of the throttle at all? Will they really prevent my hands from freezing in winter?

[hayd3n]

I'm thinking about buying a set of heated grips for my CBR250R. Will they fit my bike reasonably easily? Will it change the feel of the throttle at all? Will they really prevent my hands from freezing in winter?
yes yes and yes

[Owl]

I've got the new "Oxford Sport Grips" and have no trouble running them at 100%. Certainly warm, but I wouldn't say overly hot.

[TimeOut]

My brother, son and I have had Oxfords for three years (22,000 20,000 33,000k's) with no problems.
I only use 30-40% my son 70-100% but I have hand guards.

[CookMySock]

Basically, if you ride on winter mornings for longer than 15mins at over 70km/hr then hotgrips will make a really big difference.

Also if you tour in the winter, heated grips and jacket are essential.

Steve

[tracyprier]

Well I checked the grips with a multimeter, left is meant to be 6 ohm right is meant to be 7... turned out both are 15 ohms which would explain why the work but just not very well. Looks like a trip to Cycletreads for a new set. At least I get the new controller 'cause apparantly the old rheostat one was a known weak point.

thanks
Tracy

[banditrider]

Might be all this talking about them but I just had another wee issue with mine. It's not the grips, they were still working fine but the super glue seems to be only good for 53,000km - the right hand grip started slipping this morning. Talk about a pain, at first I thought there was something wrong with the bike - no grunt out of corners. Then I thought the rear brake might have locked on (a Concours issue fixed with a recall).

But eventually I twigged to the grip slipping and the throttle not getting turned enough. A real pain in the butt so I popped into a mate's place on my way home and pinched a bit of his loctite - sorted for another 53,000km...

[BMWST?]

I'm thinking about buying a set of heated grips for my CBR250R. Will they fit my bike reasonably easily? Will it change the feel of the throttle at all? Will they really prevent my hands from freezing in winter?

not only your hands,you can feel the warmth seeping back up your arms!

[SMOKEU]

not only your hands,you can feel the warmth seeping back up your arms!

I don't want the bottom of my hands feeling hot while the top of my hands freeze.

[CookMySock]

the super glue seems to be only good for 53,000km - the right hand grip started slipping this morning.You did well if you got 53,000kms. Mine was a lot worse. I glued them on again with automotive bog. We'll see how that goes.


I don't want the bottom of my hands feeling hot while the top of my hands freeze.Hotgrips won't butter your toast and make your coffee. They make a big difference though. Try them - its a good mod for only $100.

Steve

[banditrider]

Hotgrips won't butter your toast and make your coffee. They make a big difference though. Try them - its a good mod for only $100.
Steve

Exactly, you won't get a pair of gloves that give the same sort of result for that money.

[NZsarge]

I popped into a mate's place on my way home and pinched a bit of his loctite - sorted for another 53,000km...

What kind of Loctite mate? My left hand grip is getting a little loose.

[banditrider]

Possibly 406 (not sure). It may not be the right one for the job but it seems to be working fine.

I've got some here if ya need to borrow some.

[Flip]

I honestly won't ride a bike for far without heated grips. On my normal scooter they are on almost all the time, the Harley ones are on a temp controlled thermostat. They let me ride most of the year in summer weight racing gloves. I also have old buggered fitters hands and they cause me joint pain for days when they become cold.

Been through 2 sets in 5 years of the Harley ones. I have found out that the thermostat electronics dies and is considered unreliable. I have a set of "heat demons" on order right now from the US as everybody says they are the ducks nuts.

I also have a vintage bike with reverse leavers, they pivot from the outside of the bars, so the cables are inside the bars. Does anybody know about the lace on over wrap type of heated grips?

[CookMySock]

Does anybody know about the lace on over wrap type of heated grips?Oxford Hot hands.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/heated-motorcycle-grips/

Or get a heated jacket.

Steve

[banditrider]

I also have a vintage bike with reverse leavers, they pivot from the outside of the bars, so the cables are inside the bars. Does anybody know about the lace on over wrap type of heated grips?


Oxford Hot hands.

http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/heated-motorcycle-grips/

Or get a heated jacket.

Steve

My old man had some of those wrap around ones on his beemer. He liked them but I hated the extra thickness they added to the bars.

BTW: a heated jacket won't warm ya hands much ;-)

[tracyprier]

Funny you mention that, mine does the same thing! not an issue though as they are being replaced.

cheers
Tracy



But eventually I twigged to the grip slipping and the throttle not getting turned enough. A real pain in the butt so I popped into a mate's place on my way home and pinched a bit of his loctite - sorted for another 53,000km...

[tracyprier]

Actually I don't think ANY amount of money will buy gloves that will actually keep your hands warm in properly cold conditions. I think that you are always going to get heat loss just because a whole lot of cold air is rushing past them, thats why you need something that actually generates heat.

Last year I got a pair of proper merino undergloves (not the really thin ones either) to go under my Olympic winter gloves... and in the dead of winter my hands STILL got cold and thats just on a 20 minute commute to work along the motorway!

And if you don't want to mess with your grips you can get the oxford hothands that velcro over your existing grips and they are only about $70.

Cheers
Tracy


Exactly, you won't get a pair of gloves that give the same sort of result for that money.

[CookMySock]

My old man had some of those wrap around ones on his beemer. He liked them but I hated the extra thickness they added to the bars. BTW: a heated jacket won't warm ya hands much ;-)Yeah even permanent heated grips are thicker. It's one of those things you do and ignore the differences, or don't do, though I think permanent grips look thinner than the hot hands.

Instead of putting the hot hands on the bars, you could shove them up your jacket - quite likely that would work really well.

If you have a heated jacket your core stays warm so you don't get cold hands. If you have both, it's like summer all year. :sunny:


I think that you are always going to get heat loss just because a whole lot of cold air is rushing past them, thats why you need something that actually generates heat.The main thing you need is insulation. The body is quite capable of keeping itself warm, provided the activity level is not completely zero.

Heated bike gear is not a substitute for insulation. It's just there to top up that little bit of heat the insulation can't retain.

Steve

[banditrider]

Yeah even permanent heated grips are thicker. It's one of those things you do and ignore the differences, or don't do, though I think permanent grips look thinner than the hot hands.

Heated grips are definitely a lot thinner than the hot hands. I've never noticed the difference between normal bike grips and heated ones but definitely noticed the difference when I got on my old man's bike - didn't like it at all. I also prefer wearing thinner gloves all year around as opposed to thicker gloves.