Heated gloves vs handle bars | GTAMotorcycle.com

Heated gloves vs handle bars

Sig_Girl

Sig_Girl

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I currently commute to work on my bike. I layer up, so the only part of me that gets cold is my neck and hands.

I have 250cbr, how much would it cost to get heated handlebars installed? Is it just easier to get heated gloves?

anyone know of any good heated glove or a good place to buy and get installed heated grips.

I already know about th group buy for the heated gloves, but they won't be in till earliest December, I wanna ride till then.
 
Gp Bikes has some good deals on Gerbing heated clothing at the moment, including gloves and liners.
 
faced the same decision, ended up with heated gloves. i change bikes fairly often, and its much easier that way. second the comment on gp bikes and their gerbing, gloves and jacket keep me riding year round
 
I'm happy with heated grips. I don't wear a special winter type glove, just use the same gloves I wear in summer and with the heated grips, my hands are warm down to about four degrees or so. When it gets colder than that, my thumbs get cold. Heated grips are inexpensive, easy to install, no fuss. I understand the Oxford grips are very effective.

There are plenty of neck warmers available, lots of inexpensive solutions.
 
Heated grips are easier as you don't have to remember to bring them and you don't have to worry if the temp drops while you are out.

I got mine for very cheap and have worked perfectly for the past 3 years (I put my bike away on christmas holidays and ride daily 100km round trip)

These have a hi/lo setting which works great depending on which gloves I am wearing and you can use whatever grips you would like with them:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Universal-Mo...es&hash=item5af30a116b&vxp=mtr#ht_9279wt_1399
 
Gloves work better, grips are always with you if the weather turns cool. personally, down to 5 degrees I found grips ok, below that, the gloves really start to pull ahead. Grips are cheap if you do it yourself, good gloves aren't.
 
Heated grips work fine for the weather we're having now. This time next month is when gloves will be needed.
 
I run both. Heated grips are great for a day with a big temperature swing, just flick a switch and hands are happy. Heated gloves get me riding into the sub freezing temps, and my hands are horrible in the cold. Heated gear is worth the money, you go from surviving the ride to enjoying it. I added heated jacket liner and insoles this year, and it opens up the option for much longer rides later in the year.
 
What they all said and in addition, grips won't keep the back of the hand warm nor (in my case at least) the finger tips. The other thing you will need to consider is if your electrical system can keep up to the draw as smaller bikes don't have the most powerful charging systems. I ran the grip heaters on my GS750 and could even see a substantial drop in charging with them turned on. If you do put them on I would also recommend you fit a voltage meter to keep an eye on what's happening. Nothing worse than riding on a cold day, stopping to get a coffee and coming out to find your battery is dead. Good luck.
 
Spyug said:
What they all said and in addition, grips won't keep the back of the hand warm nor (in my case at least) the finger tips. The other thing you will need to consider is if your electrical system can keep up to the draw as smaller bikes don't have the most powerful charging systems. I ran the grip heaters on my GS750 and could even see a substantial drop in charging with them turned on. If you do put them on I would also recommend you fit a voltage meter to keep an eye on what's happening. Nothing worse than riding on a cold day, stopping to get a coffee and coming out to find your battery is dead. Good luck.
Click to expand...

The drop in charging seems a little excessive unless you for get to turn them off when you get off the bike.
Mine are 10W/grip on High, that is a minimal amount, even changing any light or signal on your bike to an LED would more than accomdate the wattage of the grip and have no effect on charging.
 
jeffjones said:
Heated grips are easier as you don't have to remember to bring them and you don't have to worry if the temp drops while you are out.

I got mine for very cheap and have worked perfectly for the past 3 years (I put my bike away on christmas holidays and ride daily 100km round trip)

These have a hi/lo setting which works great depending on which gloves I am wearing and you can use whatever grips you would like with them:

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Universal-Mo...es&hash=item5af30a116b&vxp=mtr#ht_9279wt_1399
Click to expand...

Can you describe your set up? Pics would be better!
 
renntecher said:
Can you describe your set up? Pics would be better!
Click to expand...

Take your grips off,
This kit has an adhesive back, wrap it around your handlebar tubes,
I had a hole for my headlight adjustment screw and that is where I put the switch (As in picture)
I had changed my turnsignals to LED's so I spliced the constant wire so that they would turn off if the bike was off (You could use a relay as well, If you wire directly to the battery and leave them on and get off the bike they will kill your battery)
Tidy up wiring (I ziptied mine to the existing wiring, leave slack for turning)
put your grips back on and go riding.

It took me about 45mins to do the whole install.


 
jeffjones said:
Mine are 10W/grip on High, that is a minimal amount, even changing any light or signal on your bike to an LED would more than accomdate the wattage of the grip and have no effect on charging.
Click to expand...

I'm an electrical dummy, but my understanding is that electrical draw is minimal and should be of no concern.

jeffjones said:
...unless you forget to turn them off when you get off the bike.
Click to expand...

Simple solution here: do not wire directly to the battery.
 
Take it from someone that rides all year (mostly) and has had all kinds of different grips

The best ones are the oxfort grips, most of everything else is royal crap

I would recommend running both, I have the heated grips and the Girbing Gloves plus the Girbing jacket (all on sale right now at GP Bikes)

The grips only warm the palm of your hands
 
I've run the Oxford overgrips and they've been good...except for the fact that they make the bars very thick and they don't stay in the same spot all the time. Very annoying. So I think this year I may switch to actual heated grips. However, I've always found the palm to be nice and warm (almost hot to the point of scorching at times through the glove) and the outside of my hand and finger tips so cold I could barely move them on longer rides.
 
mimico_polak said:
I've run the Oxford overgrips and they've been good...except for the fact that they make the bars very thick and they don't stay in the same spot all the time. Very annoying. So I think this year I may switch to actual heated grips. However, I've always found the palm to be nice and warm (almost hot to the point of scorching at times through the glove) and the outside of my hand and finger tips so cold I could barely move them on longer rides.
Click to expand...

Use glue grip to hold them in place.
 
ZX600 said:
Take it from someone that rides all year (mostly) and has had all kinds of different grips

The best ones are the oxfort grips, most of everything else is royal crap

I would recommend running both, I have the heated grips and the Girbing Gloves plus the Girbing jacket (all on sale right now at GP Bikes)

The grips only warm the palm of your hands
Click to expand...

For $7 (and use of whatever grips you want) vs $100 for oxfords, the answer is pretty easy.

I have had these for 3 years and they work perfectly (If the temp is above 5 degrees I can't use them on high for to long with my summer gloves as they get to hot)
With my winter gloves they get enough heat in for me to be comfortable at 140km/hr for half an hour and thats all I need.

But yes, Heated grips no matter what brand will only heat your palms but are great in case you forget your other gloves. (And for $7, how can you go wrong?)
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