Oxford Hot Grips

[Dschubba]

Well call me a big girls blouse but.....

Got some of these for me ATV and got home to realize I got the wrong size. Never mind I'll put them on my road bike.

I had been using the Oxford Hot Hands wrap around heaters for the last 7 years, and apart from re soldering a wire and re heat shrinking it once, they have worked and lasted brilliantly. Only problem each winter when I put them on,the handlebars felt really fat leaving me feeling like if I accelerate too much I might disappear off the back. Also, having taken them off for summer, the Burt Munro last year turned ugly and cold, and they were left in Wellington, A permanent install would be better.

The new ones are great, same size diameter as original grips, variable hotness, and think they have smarts inside that turn them off if battery voltage gets low. I wired mine thru a relay which switches on with the sidelights.

Installation was easy, but Richard at Jville said read the instructions and follow exactly, ie sand the old glue off and get them fitting good before playing with superglue. Oh and work out where you want the power wire to end up to allow full rotation of throttle. You only get one go sliding them on.

Seem well made with wiring more robust that the early models, everything including mount for controller, glue, cable ties in the box.

Then had to go back and get a set for the Quad-

They make the 0430hrs commute to work bearable, and would work very well in Invercargill this week-

Highly recommended!

Sean

[NZsarge]

These are the only heated grips to use imho.

[Owl]

I can't talk, as I have them too

I would recommend a bonding sealer to put the grips on with though. Allows you plenty of time to get them where you want and will be usable in a couple of hours (rock solid in 24).

[Hitcher]

I'm on my second controller unit, but the grips work just fine. I reckon that the Oxfords are a lot neater install than are the Daytonas.

[Subike]

I'm on my second controller unit, but the grips work just fine. I reckon that the Oxfords are a lot neater install than are the Daytonas.

I used a small square of self adhesive valcro to mount my control box as the mount supplied was awkward to mount anywhere usefull, plus I can tuck it under the tank when putting the bike into a show as a classic. I will agree that they are one of the cheapest saftey devices you can add to your bike.

[Hitcher]

Heated grips should be standard kit on all bikes. I have no idea why they're not.

[miSTa]

I'm on my second controller unit, but the grips work just fine. I reckon that the Oxfords are a lot neater install than are the Daytonas.

But what if the Oxfords are installed on a Daytona?

[Hitcher]

But what if the Oxfords are installed on a Daytona?

Then they'd be a triumph!

[tri boy]

They are good heated grips, but I disagree with their wiring instructions, (as do others).
I personally prefer the metod of using a heavy (30amp) relay to transmit voltage, rather than direct wiring from the battery.
I believe that method is responsible for early controller failures, and flattened batteries.
I can not prove this, but I believe the internals of the controller has a weakness with currant leakage. MHO

[Jonno.]

It's just asking for trouble if you wire them to the battery; anyone can come along and drain your battery with the push of a button.

Relay is the way to go.

[TOTO]

they good eh. I got the guys at Psycho Treads to install mine to the ignition. never missed a beat.

[Virago]

It's just asking for trouble if you wire them to the battery; anyone can come along and drain your battery with the push of a button...

They have built-in circuitry which shuts them off automatically when then voltage drops below a set level (around 12.5V from memory). They won't drain your battery by being left on.

It's that same circuitry that causes problems for some people who try to wire them through an ignition-controlled source - any voltage drop in the supply source will prevent them from turning on or staying on. Such voltage drops through switches etc are common on older bikes.

[davebullet]

Then they'd be a triumph!

Mine made a spark when I put them on the Speed Triple. Does that make them an Arc de Triomphe?

But seriously. Be paranoid like me and use a relay. This site provides good instructions for the electrically challenged (like me):
http://www.canyonchasers.com/shop/generic/relay.php

We've had 2 pairs on his and hers bikes for the last 2 years. No problems. The controllers have never automatically shut off for any reason and the cheap Dick Smith Narva automotive relays (approx $7) have performed flawlessly.

[Hitcher]

They have built-in circuitry which shuts them off automatically when then voltage drops below a set level (around 12.5V from memory). They won't drain your battery by being left on.

11.5V. They need 13V to run, so it's best to hard wire them to the battery.

[ckai]

Gotta agree. I got the latest sports version ones on my Daytona And they are the dogs pyjamas.

Since busting my hand I was finding it a right asshole riding in reasonably cold weather. Now, I'll ride more in winter next year. The sport ones actually look good too.