Heated bike grips. Do they really work?

[CookMySock]

might even get really sooky and check out heated vests

Heated vests + really good rain tyres = total joy!

I love riding in the rain. It's misty, perfect, and beautiful! It kinda wisps around you while you zap along - ethereal! As long as the speed is kept up your visor stays clear, and with your heated gear you stay warm and toasty. Not what I expected.

Steve

[scracha]

Heated grips? That's why bikes have hot engines and exhausts silly. Every rider in Scotland learns to work the throttle with both hands so they can alternate putting their fingers on the hot bits of the bike.


DB....heated bars maybe but heated vest..............what are you....70? Buy a fuggin volvo.

[p.dath]

OK sooo.... I got some!! Put them on last night, they are THE BOMB!!!! Thanks every one for your opinions/suggestions/instructions/advice etc

Did you go for the overgrips (that go over your existing grips), or the grips themselves (where you remove the existing grips and install the new ones).

You're making me feel like a retard. I just got some of the new grips as well (which replace the existing grips), and I've spent about two evenings on it so far. I had an absolute bitch of a time with the left bar, as it was oversize (22.3mm in diameter instead of 22mm, had to do a bit of sanding to get the diameter down). When I took the bar end weights off I discovered both internal bar eights were broken, and one of them was a real bitch to get out (replacement bits arrived today,[thank you Econohonda]). I keep paralyzing myself with choices (I've decided to wire it into an ignition switchable circuit) such as whether to use a relay or not, and which circuit to break into, and where to mount the controller, where to run the wires, etc.

Got to pick up a few more bits tomorrow (need more wire crimps and one more wire) - so hoping to have it finished tomorrow. Will give glue 24 hours to set, so plan to get the bike back on the road for Wednesday.

[davebullet]

Did you go for the overgrips (that go over your existing grips), or the grips themselves (where you remove the existing grips and install the new ones).

You're making me feel like a retard. I just got some of the new grips as well (which replace the existing grips), and I've spent about two evenings on it so far. I had an absolute bitch of a time with the left bar, as it was oversize (22.3mm in diameter instead of 22mm, had to do a bit of sanding to get the diameter down). When I took the bar end weights off I discovered both internal bar eights were broken, and one of them was a real bitch to get out (replacement bits arrived today,[thank you Econohonda]). I keep paralyzing myself with choices (I've decided to wire it into an ignition switchable circuit) such as whether to use a relay or not, and which circuit to break into, and where to mount the controller, where to run the wires, etc.

Got to pick up a few more bits tomorrow (need more wire crimps and one more wire) - so hoping to have it finished tomorrow. Will give glue 24 hours to set, so plan to get the bike back on the road for Wednesday.

Yeah - I'ts a good idea to wire in a relay... you won't regret it. If you are reading this and thinking of grips, you will regret not wiring in a relay when you forget to turn them off leading to a dead battery in the middle of winter.

[CookMySock]

DB....heated bars maybe but heated vest..............what are you....70? Buy a fuggin volvo.

You try riding from the bay of plenty to wellington non stop through the desert road in the winter. I bet you can't. You'll end up pushing your bike to warm up.

Heated vests aren't about comfort. They're about options - options you didn't have before.

Steve

[p.dath]

Yeah - I'ts a good idea to wire in a relay... you won't regret it. If you are reading this and thinking of grips, you will regret not wiring in a relay when you forget to turn them off leading to a dead battery in the middle of winter.

I have a switched ignition circuit with plenty of spare capacity to power the 4A needed for the grips, but I've already bought the relay, and have a wire running from the battery to where I want the relay to go now, so I guess I'll use the relay.

[zealchick]

Did you go for the overgrips (that go over your existing grips), or the grips themselves (where you remove the existing grips and install the new ones).

You're making me feel like a retard. I just got some of the new grips as well (which replace the existing grips), and I've spent about two evenings on it so far. I had an absolute bitch of a time with the left bar, as it was oversize (22.3mm in diameter instead of 22mm, had to do a bit of sanding to get the diameter down). When I took the bar end weights off I discovered both internal bar eights were broken, and one of them was a real bitch to get out (replacement bits arrived today,[thank you Econohonda]). I keep paralyzing myself with choices (I've decided to wire it into an ignition switchable circuit) such as whether to use a relay or not, and which circuit to break into, and where to mount the controller, where to run the wires, etc.

Got to pick up a few more bits tomorrow (need more wire crimps and one more wire) - so hoping to have it finished tomorrow. Will give glue 24 hours to set, so plan to get the bike back on the road for Wednesday.

We removed the old grips, it was a bit fidly more so hiding cables and leaving enough play for the steering etc, tank on tank off. (few choice words) I do actually have to remove the left one and re glue as it hasn't set properly. but they went on easy enough no trimming required. We hav'nt wired it to the ignition so i do have to add that to my "park bike routine" or i guess i'll be getting a quick lesson in jump starting lol ( so all going well i'll have toasty warm hands for wednesday night

[CookMySock]

I do actually have to remove the left one and re glue as it hasn't set properly.

This is a common fault. I've tried all sorts of glues to no avail. Next I'm gunna try gorilla grip.

Steve

[vifferman]

I didn't glue the left one on - just the throttle side. And for that (just in case I ever have to remove them), I used the glue sparingly, as it was a pretty snug fit anyway. Before I put either one on, I had to spend a bit of time removing excess rubbery bits from the insides with a round bastard file.

[hellokitty]

I paid the guy at the bike shop to put my heated hand grips on! Better than screwing it up by me trying to do it.
easy!

[CookMySock]

Before I put either one on, I had to spend a bit of time removing excess rubbery bits from the insides with a round bastard file.

So did I, and I wish I hadn't. They should be a really tight fit.

Steve

[Beemer]

They are wonderful, doubt I would have coped with a two-week trip around the South Island in late autumn without them! I always suffer from cold hands so I found heated grips kept me a bit more relaxed because I didn't have to grip the bars so tightly to actually feel anything. Mind you, I'm an electric blanket and heated vest fan, so anything that keeps me warm is welcome!

[hogfire]

Yeah they are real good!

[DMNTD:Me]

I didn't glue the left one on - just the throttle side. And for that (just in case I ever have to remove them), I used the glue sparingly, as it was a pretty snug fit anyway. Before I put either one on, I had to spend a bit of time removing excess rubbery bits from the insides with a round bastard file.

A 2 second blast either side with an airgun sorts the glue 'n grips

[scracha]

You try riding from the bay of plenty to wellington non stop through the desert road in the winter. I bet you can't. You'll end up pushing your bike to warm up.

I bet I can. Try picking up your new bike in Southampton and arriving in Stirling at 3.30am in November, shitting yourself when it starts snowing around Carlisle. I spit on your pathetically warm Desert Road. Shit, I lost count of the times I had to get a lighter to heat my petrol lock key so I could turn it as it had frozen.

Heated vests aren't about comfort. They're about options - options you didn't have before.

I know you're really old and that New Zealand is 100 years behind civilisation but they were available when I was 16.

As many a Kiwi has said to me.....you need some harden the fuck up pills.