Semi-DIY Hot Grips

[sleemanj]

Winter is upon me, and my fingers are freaking freezing, and I can't be bothered fixing my car.

Has anybody tried the almost-but-not-quite-DIY hotgrips that you put under your normal grips, like these...

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Motorcycle-Heated-Grip-Pads-Motorcycle-Handlebars-/400123257412?cmd=ViewItem&pt=AU_Motorcycle_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d29346244#ht_3941wt_941

or same in NZ, these...

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Other/auction-291531328.htm

would work out a fair bit cheaper than Oxfords, even if I had to buy new grips if the old ones won't come off in one piece, but my thought is that it might be mega hard to get the grips on over the top of the heating element without damaging it?

[John_H]

Spend the money and get proper ones, they aren't that much more expensive.

[BiK3RChiK]

By the time you muck around with those, you'll be so frustrated and possibly need extra's to make them work anyway, you may as well fork out the money for the genuine thing. And I can tell you, the Oxfords are awesome! :D

[CookMySock]

I doubt you will be able to remove your grips and put those on, and refit your grips - it will be too tight. From what he says, they will be too hot to put directly inside your gloves.

Steve

[Pixie]

I doubt you will be able to remove your grips and put those on, and refit your grips - it will be too tight. From what he says, they will be too hot to put directly inside your gloves.

Steve
Duh
They go outside the existing grips and are covered by the heatshrink

[CookMySock]

Duh
They go outside the existing grips and are covered by the heatshrinkWont the heatshrink be slippery?

Steve

[firefighter]

How fucken tight is that?! Oxfords are like $100.......

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Handlebars/auction-291318101.htm

edit. $120. And you know they work.

[bogan]

Duh
They go outside the existing grips and are covered by the heatshrink

lol, fuck thats huckory

[CookMySock]

How fucken tight is that?! Oxfords are like $100.......

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Parts-for-sale/Handlebars/auction-291318101.htm

edit. $120. And you know they work.Hrm, they mostly work. I hope they have their shit sorted with recent controllers. The old controllers were junk.

Steve

[Pixie]

Wont the heatshrink be slippery?

Steve

You can wrap "grip tape" around it

[sleemanj]

I stumbled across another thread, in which some posters reckon these ones work well...
http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php/122627-Heated-bike-grips.-Do-they-really-work?p=1129734743#post1129734743

so I'll probably give them a go, what have I got to lose, $20.

[Squiggles]

Stateside they seem pretty popular

[clint640]

Can't comment on the china wrap around ones but the Symtec ones work well - Not inferior to the Oxfords at all apart from needing a weatherproof switch (cheap from Jaycar), better in fact if you like a smaller/softer/different grip than the Oxford one. Not hard to put on, just use some window cleaner for lube.

Be interested to hear how the $20 one s go if ya get em.

Cheers
Clint

[nodrog]

they would be the go for the floor boards on my bike

[dmc]

Duh
They go outside the existing grips and are covered by the heatshrink

Thats a new one, KTM sell the same type and they always go under the grip of your choice, they don't add stuff all thickness and unless the grip is stupidly tight you'll get them over no worries.

[DR650gary]

Really easy to do and the wiring is easier to route than the heavy Oxford stuff. We have bought and installed 6 sets so far between our bikes, my sons and a few mates. We got them from the USA but the Ebay ones look fine to me. The hardest part was deciding where to put the switch. My son bought a nice flash rocker switch from Dick Smith and then drilled a neat hole in his FZ1 fairing beside the tank. On the others we have done we have usually mounted the switch on a small plate either on the bars of inside the fairing blade area. As long as it is accessible when riding it is fine. The grips come off easily if you use an air nozzle and reinstall the same way. If you have alloy bars put the heat shrink on first to reduce heat loss through the bars, or use duct tape or electrical tape. Have been able to install then remove and replace when we got new bars. Used a bit of heat gun glue to re stick the edges but not really necessary. We liked them so much that we have just bought 5 sets of the Ebay ones for $NZ10 delivered. Tight arse maybe but I have Oxford ones on the DR and I prefer these ones as you can have whatever grips you prefer. Had them on one bike for over 12 months without mishap. Can email instructions that came with one set if you wish as these have none printed in the pack. PM if you want.

[DR650gary]

The Virtual Village grips from China via Ebay arrived today. They seem fine and the heatshrink is a nice addition. The Dual Star supplied kit does has a better switch and these appear to be on/off only whereas Dual Star has on/off/low. Will get around to fitting in the next few weeks but they look fine to me for the money.

Cheers

[tracyprier]

they would be the go for the floor boards on my bike

...or get them put under your seat cover and warm your bum :)

[rian]

i just put a set of chinese heat pads as above under my grips last week , they have been good so far.
install was relatively easy, insulation tape around clutch side handle bar to prevent a bit of heat loss thru the bars. i used the compressed air duster gun to remove and install the grips, real easy. i also put some insulation tape over the wire to heat pad contact point to prevent electrical shorts.
heat output is good considering the cold temps we have been getting down here on the 30 min commute to work.
i havn't used the oxford hot grips, but this is a good alternative if money is tight.
www.canyonchasers.net/shop has fitting instructions with pics that really help out.
also mounted switch with supplied bracket under the clutch side mirror, the hole in the bracket is a perfect size.

[CookMySock]

Best place to put heat pads will be up your jumper.

Steve

[crash99]

Hrm, they mostly work. I hope they have their shit sorted with recent controllers. The old controllers were junk.

Steve

I've had Oxfords for about a year - work well with no probs.