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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: jbeaber on June 27, 2006, 04:29:12 PM

Title: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: jbeaber on June 27, 2006, 04:29:12 PM
Hey guys-
So, I'm thinking of getting my girlfriend some heated gear.  I'm definitely grabbing a Gerbing heated jacket liner.  For her hands I was thinking of heated grips as the Gerbing gloves have no armor in them.  Anyone have any experience with any of the brands?  Definitely looking for recommendations or other ideas...
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: Phaedrus on June 27, 2006, 04:35:27 PM
Don't you live in Cali?  :dunno_white: If you listen to Pandy, it is nothing but sunny skies, warm weather, and no rain 365  :laugh:

Have you considered getting her some hand guards?:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=22110

Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: mp183 on June 27, 2006, 05:02:24 PM
Handguards are the way to go.  Heated grips without handguards will not help much.
I have handguards on my DL650 and can go into the 30's for quite a bit of time.
Into the 20's for about 2 hours before the hands get cold.
I have a pair of these and they help on those really cold days.
I won't turn them on until it hits the 30's. 
http://www.webbikeworld.com/r3/heated-motorcycle-grips/
This a great site.  Pretty knowlegable people that give honest opinions.
Hope they were right about the Oxtar Matrix boots that replaced my 4 year old Alpinestars Web Gortex.
Had the Matrix boots out for two hours in the rain over the weekend and they stayed dry, but it was only two hours and the rain was not the monsoon type that I have a tendency to hit quite a bit during the summer.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: Egaeus on June 27, 2006, 06:31:42 PM
The Florida sun keeps my grips nice and hot.  Kind of a pain if you ask me.... :)
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: pandy on June 27, 2006, 09:27:42 PM
Quote from: Phaedrus on June 27, 2006, 04:35:27 PM
Don't you live in Cali?  :dunno_white: If you listen to Pandy, it is nothing but sunny skies, warm weather, and no rain 365  :laugh:

Bah...I think it rained all of Feb, March, and April. Now it's too hot. California sucks. Everyone should get out!  :flipoff:

My Cold Front gloves are usually warm enough for even the coldest Cali weather.

scratch likes his hand guards. I've thought about them, too.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: jbeaber on June 28, 2006, 09:47:49 AM
It is warm out here, perfect moto weather.  she, however, is insane.  she shoots down the highway at 6 in the morning, before it has had a chance to warm up.  Where she works is usually in the 90s during the summer, but cold mornings at high speed.  Thanks for suggestions.  Keep em coming!  :)
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: galahs on June 28, 2006, 10:29:39 AM
I just rode for 30 minute in -2 degree (Celcius) temperature and my hands are frozen.

I will have to ride for like 8 hours, which may include a couple of hours in this freezing cold weather next week.

Apart from heated handle bar grips, can anyone recommend a way of keeping my hands warm.

my leather gloves become icey.

I am thinking of putting on cotton gloves underneath my leathers.

one mate suggested rubber washing up gloves over my leather gloves.

Any other ideas, experiances would be much appreciated.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: Kerry on June 28, 2006, 10:51:29 AM
To the original poster:  See this old thread (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=6013.msg49439#msg49439) by the kid that bought one of my GS500s.  He eventually mounted the grips that he linked to in the opening post, and said they made a big difference.

I think the National Cycle Plexistar II (http://www.bbburma.net/Plexistar2.htm) windshield that he inherited from me helped a lot too.  I know it makes a big difference for ME, along with thin windproof mittens:

(http://www.bbburma.net/MiscFotos/DSCF2225_Windproof_Mittens.jpg)
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: TadMC on June 28, 2006, 10:55:14 AM
Silk gloves, I know it sounds ghey but silk is some of the best material against cold wind.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: GS Jenn on June 28, 2006, 02:10:44 PM
Quote from: TadMC on June 28, 2006, 10:55:14 AM
Silk gloves, I know it sounds ghey but silk is some of the best material against cold wind.

Agree with this. You can buy silk glove liners to go under your regular gloves, I do this for snowboarding and other cold-weather stuff, and it really helps without adding much bulk.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: D-Day on June 28, 2006, 03:05:41 PM
OK, heated grip are great if you have a fairing or some other way of getting your hands out of the wind blast, and Aero Stitch makes a heated membrane that fits under your stock grips for under $40.  They work great.  Gerbing will wire any glove you already own for under $80 and include the hook up for the battery.  I have done this, and it really works.  Nice heat on the back of the hand (hey, that is what is exposed to the wind) and heated wires up the side of each finger and the thumb.  Really works well, and you can move it from bike to bike.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: CirclesCenter on June 28, 2006, 06:48:18 PM
I was riding in 30 degree weather on the freeway, and yeah my hands got cold, but the real problem was my thighs, I'd get cold and stay cold for what seemed like forever even in a warm room. Finally broke out some jeans from a previous era (when I wore crappy baggy stuff) I threw them on over my regular pants, helped a good bit, not enough though.

Don't forget to close all your jacket's vents. (Doh!) I Layered that with a hoodie underneath my Icon jacket. (Shut up, I know Icon is for squids, I was poor, it was on sale for 99 bucks, shut up....)

A Scarf helps. (A freaking BUNCH)

As for gloves i didn't do much, because I was just trying to stay warm enough to keep control of the bike, and I'm used to having cold hands. But I'd have to say that the long type (gauntlet) look the best.

But if I've learned anything it's layers my friend, layers.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: bubba zanetti on June 28, 2006, 07:10:18 PM
Galahs

As mentioned silk gloves under your normal ones.

If your feet are getting cold, pantyhose under your socks.

If you haven't got a neck warmer get one.
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: galahs on June 29, 2006, 07:58:49 AM
Cheers boys   :thumb:

I'll be getting myself some nice silk gloves  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: TadMC on June 29, 2006, 09:53:00 AM
WHOA, Hey,

I think this is the first post that I've had the answer that the thread starter actually went with,

I honestly think that This is the first piece of good advice I've ever given.

SWEET :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: galahs on June 29, 2006, 10:02:01 AM
It was actually bubba zanetti and GS Jens approval of your passing mention that convinced me :P

You would have held more sway if only you changed your oil whilst on the centre stand.  :icon_rolleyes:
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: pandy on June 29, 2006, 01:42:27 PM
 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: jbeaber on June 29, 2006, 02:40:24 PM
So, now we are between two options...
Hot Grips:  http://www.hotgrips.com/dimensions.html
Or, Pandy's gloves and, if needed, wiring for plugging into her jacket....
The first option is nice because it doesn't need to be removed, uses her gloves and can be turned on and off with a switch on the dash
Second option means both sides of the hands get warm, but you need to carry gloves with you if it gets warmer.... 
See what she wants....
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: pandy on June 29, 2006, 02:59:43 PM
Quote from: jbeaber on June 29, 2006, 02:40:24 PM
Or, Pandy's gloves

Buy your own damned gloves! I'm not giving mine up!  :flipoff: :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: TadMC on June 29, 2006, 03:12:21 PM
SON OF A B*TCH :mad: :mad: :mad:
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: jbeaber on June 29, 2006, 03:13:56 PM
TadMC, your suggestion rocks.  I'm just looking at another fun opportunity to mess with my girlfriend's bike.  Silk gloves, well, maybe for the actual installation to keep my hands clean  :)
Pandy, we'll discuss your custody rights.  I know where you live but you don't know where i am  :)
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: bubba zanetti on June 29, 2006, 03:33:55 PM
Quote from: galahs on June 29, 2006, 10:02:01 AM
It was actually bubba zanetti and GS Jens approval of your passing mention that convinced me :P

You would have held more sway if only you changed your oil whilst on the centre stand.  :icon_rolleyes:

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

Maybe Tad could start his own maintanance thread so noobs will know what NOT to do
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: scratch on June 29, 2006, 04:31:00 PM
TourMaster ColdFront gloves with the $10 TourMaster silk gloveliners and handguards: http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=13493.msg123294#msg123294
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: CirclesCenter on June 29, 2006, 10:39:03 PM
Tad, don't feel bad, because it was your suggestion I give you a +1

But when his bike inevitably bursts into flames and rockets uncontrollably into the sky (because it was your suggestion) I give you a -10.

But maybe you'll get lucky once out of two hundred times right?
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: pantablo on June 29, 2006, 11:46:53 PM
Quote from: D-Day on June 28, 2006, 03:05:41 PM
OK, heated grip are great if you have a fairing or some other way of getting your hands out of the wind blast,

you'd think...
but by keeping your palms warm it promotes blood circulation and keeps the tops of your hands warm too. not as warm as with handguards obviously.

I L-O-V-E my heated grips. yes, I live in socal but I ride in the mountains and can encounter 20F temps up there (along with snow and black ice). I have a widder heated vest and heated grips on my 600rr. I will never own a bike without them.

+1 on covering your neck too!
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: pandy on June 30, 2006, 07:15:37 AM
Quote from: jbeaber on June 29, 2006, 03:13:56 PM
Pandy, we'll discuss your custody rights.  I know where you live but you don't know where i am  :)
I have friends in low places. Keep your mitts off of my gloves!  :flipoff:  :laugh:


Quote from: pantablo on June 29, 2006, 11:46:53 PM
I L-O-V-E my heated grips. yes, I live in socal +1 on covering your neck too!
pablo is a WUSS!!  :laugh: :flipoff:  :kiss3: +10,000 on covering neck!  :icon_mrgreen:
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: TadMC on June 30, 2006, 07:17:55 AM
Quote from: CirclesCenter on June 29, 2006, 10:39:03 PM
Tad, don't feel bad, because it was your suggestion I give you a +1

But when his bike inevitably bursts into flames and rockets uncontrollably into the sky (because it was your suggestion) I give you a -10.

But maybe you'll get lucky once out of two hundred times right?

Well a broken clock is right at least twice a day, right
Title: Re: Anyone have experience with heated grips?
Post by: galahs on June 30, 2006, 08:30:39 AM
depends what you mean by broken.

If its hands have fallen off...