Heated Grips

[Jimmygixxer]

Anyone recommend any heated grips, are they worth it and how easy to fit?
Also can a 98 FZS 600 handle the extra power draw from them OK
Cheers all.

[AdieR]

I've got Oxfords on mine (they were fitted when I bought the bike but the switch were knackered), and I wouldn't be without them.

Power draw isn't a problem (Oxfords are quoted as 4A max, and 3A for the Light ones), I have mine on the lowest setting mostly and only turn them up if it's *really* cold (in which case my hands are warm and my feet are cold).

Get them, fit them, wonder how you ever did without them.

[Jimmygixxer]

I've got Oxfords on mine (they were fitted when I bought the bike but the switch were knackered), and I wouldn't be without them.

Power draw isn't a problem (Oxfords are quoted as 4A max, and 3A for the Light ones), I have mine on the lowest setting mostly and only turn them up if it's *really* cold (in which case my hands are warm and my feet are cold).

Get them, fit them, wonder how you ever did without them.

Sounds like their worth it.
I can do most things mechanical on bikes , but electrics totally bewilder me, what is the best way to wire them so they cant be left on by mistake when ignition is off, do you know?

[Chris]

Here you go:

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,5717....l#msg50182

Chris

[simonm]

This too

http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,6807....l#msg64296

[darrsi]

My heated grips stay switched on for probably 80% of the year, they are an invaluable bit of kit, along with my Vee Wipe as well.

[markaboot]

i have some and they are better than no heated grips but i'm not 100% happy with them. (for mid winter riding anyway)


my main issue is they only heat the palm of your hand and your fingers if you grip all the way round. i ride with 2 fingers on the brake lever and these feel no heat at all, i also find the tips of my thumbs suffer too. i do change my grip for motorways but town riding i find people still keep trying to kill me!


my other issue i have is electrical. i have to choose between headlights or heated grips, headlights usually win. they have a safety cut off to stop you draining your battery and unless im always above 4000 revs my grips will cut off. again a bit shite for town riding.


dont get me wrong, i'm not knocking them and they are definatly a nice addition. just don't expect toasty warm hands all year round.

if your budget stretches to it i'd consider heated gloves, however at double the price i wont be buying any.

[NotAnotherHill]

I have keis heated grips and keis heated insoles wired in. No problem with running both as well as the lights on. Although to really get the benefit of heated grips in winter, you need to use a pair of bar muffs as well to keep the wind chill off, otherwise your fingers still get cold. I have Oxford Bone Dry bar muffs which I keep on until it gets to about 9 degrees. My hands stay warm.

[darrsi]

@markaboot why are you riding with 2 fingers on the brake lever?
In traffic yes, but not all the time.
Mine haven't got a safety cut out, i don't like the sound of that.
On my brake & clutch lever i've put some heat shrink on so that i'm not touching bare metal, it takes the raw coldness away.
You can also buy sponge sleeving to do the same job.


It's a shame that hand guards can't be fitted 'cos that would help a great deal as well, for taking the wind off your hands, but it's just not possible without hitting the fairing. 

[darrsi]

@NotAnotherHill, "...9 degrees..." that's the height of summer then....  :lol

[Jimmygixxer]

Think i will give them a go, thanks all :thumbup

[elbrownos]

Like markaboot I normally ride with two fingers on the brake. These fingers will freeze even with heated grips.
If it's really cold I'll wrap my hands around the grips, but even then your fingertips will freeze while your palms will be scorching.
The best thing I've found is muffs.
Tucano Urbano muffs are absolutely brilliant (model R361 on my FZS600 '02)
I'd probably be fine with just the muffs and winter gloves, but since I already had heated grips on then I use the muffs, grips on low, and summer gloves.
Toasty hands down to -4 degrees.
I've got these grips and they are fine http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/dr-bike-d...grips.html

[JZS 600]

Last winter no heated grips: agony even with undergloves  :'(


This (seemed very long) winter with heated grips: Bearable!


I was only off the bike 3 days over the winter due to snow. Yeah, I know, a bit of a poof.


ANYHOO, I commute into central london every day and spend a lot of time filtering with my fingers covering the brake and clutch levers. I found these neoprene covers for the levers that stops the metal taking all the heat out of your fingers on Wemoto. They're great, you wouldn't really notice them using the levers and works a treat.

[Andy Clap]

[size=78%]I've got these grips and they are fine [/size][size=78%]http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/dr-bike-d...grips.html[/size]

Yep, me too.  Except mine have a good old fashion temp control, not a modern electronic box, should be reliable and easy to set with gloves on.
http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/doctor-bi...l?___SID=U

[darrsi]

Last winter no heated grips: agony even with undergloves  :'(


This (seemed very long) winter with heated grips: Bearable!


I was only off the bike 3 days over the winter due to snow. Yeah, I know, a bit of a poof.


ANYHOO, I commute into central london every day and spend a lot of time filtering with my fingers covering the brake and clutch levers. I found these neoprene covers for the levers that stops the metal taking all the heat out of your fingers on Wemoto. They're great, you wouldn't really notice them using the levers and works a treat.

I've put heat-shrink on my levers to take the edge off the cold metal, but i may change it for some of those foam sleeves.
I couldn't be without heated grips now, i'm using fingerless special forces gloves at the moment, but still leave the grips on to get a nice heat boost to balance things out.

[markaboot]

@markaboot why are you riding with 2 fingers on the brake lever?
In traffic yes, but not all the time.

habit from mountain biking, it feels more comfortable.
habit from having people pull out on me even tho i've seen them look at me.
habit because i'm quicker on the brakes when i need to be.

Like markaboot I normally ride with two fingers on the brake. These fingers will freeze even with heated grips.
If it's really cold I'll wrap my hands around the grips, but even then your fingertips will freeze while your palms will be scorching.
The best thing I've found is muffs.
Tucano Urbano muffs are absolutely brilliant (model R361 on my FZS600 '02)
I'd probably be fine with just the muffs and winter gloves, but since I already had heated grips on then I use the muffs, grips on low, and summer gloves.
Toasty hands down to -4 degrees.
I've got these grips and they are fine http://www.jsaccessories.co.uk/dr-bike-d...grips.html

yep agreed, muffs are the only way to stay toasty. if i was riding motorways in winter i'd fit some.

[riz]

A few years ago my mate used wind deflectors on his FJR, not sure which bike they were meant for but the fitted his fine. He never used to have a problem in the winter, where i used to get cold thumbs and little finger with hotgrips.

[darrsi]

A few years ago my mate used wind deflectors on his FJR, not sure which bike they were meant for but the fitted his fine. He never used to have a problem in the winter, where i used to get cold thumbs and little finger with hotgrips.

With a standard fairing they don't fit, otherwise i'd have had hand guards years ago.  :\

[riz]

[quote author=riz link=topic=7019.msg72164#msg72164 date=1367060537]
A few years ago my mate used wind deflectors on his FJR, not sure which bike they were meant for but the fitted his fine. He never used to have a problem in the winter, where i used to get cold thumbs and little finger with hotgrips.

With a standard fairing they don't fit, otherwise i'd have had hand guards years ago.  :\
[/quote]

Aha, i'll get my coat, and then start looking into getting some heated grips fitted.

[darrsi]

My one's have off/low/high settings which is very useful.


Don't pay over the odds for them either, i think the Oxford one's are a bit of a rip off to be honest.