Oxford Heated Grips

[Jarrett]

Anyone have any experience with these wrap on grips?

https://www.motoliberty.com/prod_detail.asp?Prod_ID=192

I am thinking about picking them up tomorrow.  I was riding home from work yesterday and my hands turned some shades I'd never seen before.  The oxfords look interesting enough due to the fact that they are easily removable.  I live in Texas and only need them for a couple of months.  Only concern I have is if they actually work well in cold temps, High 20's to low40's.

[rob1bike]

Ahh, the info says not for use with a 1" bar. That's what u have!?!?!?

[Jarrett]

We have the 7/8 bars. 

[rob1bike]

Yeah, I know. Thought that they are considered the same. Give em a call, I'd love to find a easy solution to cold hands. I'm in s.carolina so I'm in the same situation as you with the climate, atleast winter.

[Jarrett]

OK picked them up today and installed them in about 5 minutes in the parking lot.  Temp was about 45 on my ride home, and the grips got HOT!  I had to toggle them on and off to keep my hands from melting. 

Now the bad:
I was not pleased with how the grips felt.  The wraps are pretty thick, maybe 1/4". So now I have close to 1/2" more in diameter on the grips.  This made steering imputs feel more soft.  It would be great if the kit came with a regulator.  It only has two settings, off and lava.

I paid $61 after tax.  It was worth it.  I'll post some pics after I figure out what to do with the nest of wires.

[rob1bike]

Cool! Yeah, I wanna see them. What's involved with the install?

[pantablo]

they look thick. didnt they look thick to you?
I suppose that is the advantage to the heated elements-grip size remains exactly as is. they remain on the bike always but I consider that a positive.

Still, AMAZING how hot they get, isnt it?! I have to toggle mine on/off as well.

[Jarrett]

They are way too thick for my liking, but I'll suffer with warm hands.  Eventually I will get the regular heated grips.  This is a good budget move for those that don't want to drop 80-100 on grips. 

I'll post some pics soon, camera juice is gone, and just did a wheel swap and now my back is out of whack.  I need Santa to deliver a lift for Christmas.

[pantablo]

80-100? What are you smoking? My heated grip elements cost me $27.

[Destro]

80-100? What are you smoking? My heated grip elements cost me $27.

+1 from http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=heated_grips

[pantablo]

I see. the HOT GRIPS, which are grip/heater combined are 80-100. CRAZY!

get this instead: http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16011&Category_Code=heated_grips

similar to what I have. you keep your stock grips or install aftermarket at same time.

[Destro]

I see. the HOT GRIPS, which are grip/heater combined are 80-100. CRAZY!

get this instead: http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16011&Category_Code=heated_grips

similar to what I have. you keep your stock grips or install aftermarket at same time.

Those are the set I bought, work awesome!!

[rob1bike]

I see. the HOT GRIPS, which are grip/heater combined are 80-100. CRAZY!

get this instead: http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16011&Category_Code=heated_grips

similar to what I have. you keep your stock grips or install aftermarket at same time.

Those are the set I bought, work awesome!!

Really? Do they install as easy as it looks? I've been told that some of them will get smoken hot and you need a control or a regulator, is it a problem or is that bs?

[GeeP]

Pablo:  I've heard numerous reports that the wires that attach to the flex PCB will fail due to strain failure.  What's your experience with this? 

Re:  Hot grips.  I looked at that brand, I think.   What I didn't like about them was the hard rubber which I dislike.  I like my soft superbike grips, they help damp out some vibration and they have a nice tactile feel.  They also don't feel slippery like hard rubber does, especially in the cold.

As far as burning up, I've heard that.  No practical experience though, I'm shopping now.  The do make thermostats that provide some measure of variable control  That adds between $40 and $70 to the cost.  You can buy a 25W rheostat from DigiKey or similar for ~$25 and a tiny little project box from Radio Shack for a dollar or two and make your own in half and hour.

[Jarrett]

I see. the HOT GRIPS, which are grip/heater combined are 80-100. CRAZY!

get this instead: http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16011&Category_Code=heated_grips

similar to what I have. you keep your stock grips or install aftermarket at same time.

I had seen those going pretty cheap on ebay.  They looked alittle suspect to me so I passed.  Yeah those hot grips do look like a nice set up.  I need to make a wind blocker for the grips soon.  My palms are suffering 3rd degree burns, but the tops of my hands and finger tips are still cold. Only below 30deg.   I'm gonna play around with some bondo and see what I come up with.

[sledge]

Do they need to be on their own fused circuit??? It makes sense to me to do it that way.

[94suzuki500]

I see. the HOT GRIPS, which are grip/heater combined are 80-100. CRAZY!

get this instead: http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16011&Category_Code=heated_grips

similar to what I have. you keep your stock grips or install aftermarket at same time.

I had seen those going pretty cheap on ebay.  They looked alittle suspect to me so I passed.  Yeah those hot grips do look like a nice set up.  I need to make a wind blocker for the grips soon.  My palms are suffering 3rd degree burns, but the tops of my hands and finger tips are still cold. Only below 30deg.   I'm gonna play around with some bondo and see what I come up with.

v-strom handguards perhaps?

[pantablo]

Pablo: I've heard numerous reports that the wires that attach to the flex PCB will fail due to strain failure. What's your experience with this?

I heard that recently too. Mine have been on the bike for over 2 years, and have survived 2 crashes that damaged the clip on and switchgear, same side...I'd say the wires and connections are good.
If you give them enough slack they shouldnt pull at the heating element.

Do they need to be on their own fused circuit??? It makes sense to me to do it that way.

I got a fused connector wire from a heated vest. You could also use a fused line from a battery tender I think-anything that connects to the battery, has an inline fuse, and you can cut off any connector on the other end so you can connect to the power side of the heated grips. I went a step further and fused it through the brake line power wire (usign a bosch relay) so that power is cut if I switch the bike off. That way I woudnt have to worry about running the battery down if I forgot to switch them off.

The elements get very, very hot. If Id been a bit more ambitious I would have gotten the heatroller so I could have a rheostat(sp?) control. The one I bought from Aerostitch was Kimpex brand I think. Its set up to be wired for hi-off-lo or off-on(high). The reason I went off-on is that is the way to keep the left and right about the same temperature-otherwise the heat sink effect from one being on a metal clip-on and the other being on a plastic throttle tube would make one significantly hotter. This isnt an issue with the Dual-Star elements though. And if I were to do it over again Id get the Dual-Stars.

[ashman]

Are those heated vests hard to hook up?

-ash