Winter gloves

[EddieC]

i think I wanna try the last link. For $35 and free shipping, it's worth a shot. The kind that replace the entire grip are supposed to work best and take less time to heat up.

Some people report issues with the kind where you place the heating element under the existing grips. The heating element on the right (throttle) side is placed over a plastic throttle tube. Plastic is not a good conductor of heat so most of the heat is dispersed through the rubber grip. The problem comes from the left bar. When placing the heating element on the bare metal bar, metal is a great conductor of heat, so the grip on the left side takes longer to heat up seeing that it first heats the metal handlebar, and then the grip. A lot of people report having one hot hand (the throttle) when riding. I did notice the difference in heat... and sometimes this would be a problem... but after a while they even out.

So I think I'm going to jump on the heated grips that replace the entire grip... I've never seen them this cheap... no reviews so theres a chance... but even if they last one season... it's worth the investment.

[maddiedog]

Okay, thanks for the tip. I think the best way forward is decent winter gloves + hand grips.

[maddiedog]

Might want to double-check the last link to make sure it is 7/8" to fit our handlebars.

I think I'm going to try these: http://www.amazon.com/Symtec-Handlebar- ... 930&sr=1-4 because I like the switches better, but I need to look around more first to be sure.

[EddieC]

ya I noticed that too... I wrote an email to the seller.

Also.. DO NOT get ones made for an ATV or snowmobile. Both grips will be exactly 7/8". They use thumb throttles. not a twist throttle. The kits for motorcycles has one grip with a slightly larger inner diameter to allow space for the throttle tube.

[maddiedog]

Oh, good tip. You saved me from potential disaster...

[maddiedog]

I'm thinking a cheap kit like the second kit you linked to coupled with some grip covers might work awesome. I could just wrap the heated pads around the outside of the stock grips, then put the grip covers on top... Hmm...

[EddieC]

hmmmm... now theres an Idea... and you would remove them come summer time? I've never seen a product like the grip covers you linked me to.. the only problem that I see is that the back of the heaters are coated with a heavy duty adhesive... maybe that could get on your stock grip? Cant say I'm not intrigued though =] I'll let you know what the seller says about the cheap grips once i get a response

[maddiedog]

I'd probably just leave them on year-round.

Where do the wires go with the heaters? I guess they just hang out and then go inside the fairings with the rest of the control likes?

[EddieC]

exactly.... I just run the lines twisted around the brake line down into the fairing. You'll also need to leave some slack near the throttle grip so it can rotate freely. I was thinking I would just replace mine and leave them on year round too... but your idea seems pretty simple! Are you going to give it a shot?

The guy on amazon selling the off brand grips for $35 got back to me... His warehouse is in another state, so he is doing some emailing to be able to get me the proper product description. If he takes forever, or if they're not the right size, I saw some Hotgrips brand ones on Amazon for under $50. Might give those a shot. I'm wanting to try the "better" kind of heated grips to see if I actually notice a difference between those, and just getting the heating elements. Will keep you posted with my decision! =]

[maddiedog]

I think I'll get them, but I won't have them until after Christmas... Can't order any toys for myself right now, so people have stuff to buy me for Christmas.

If you do the heaters with the over-grip like I'm thinking about doing, let me know how it goes.

[trigg123]

hi mate
I had oxford heated grips on my last scoot,o god they were so good,tempted to fit some on the pcx as it was 3 degrees going to work this morning....they were not the easiest to fit,but take your time and all will be good.they had 4 settings and 4 was too hot through my gloves,well worth the money

[Animator]

My issue is a freezing cold neck. I bought a dual layer polar fleece zippered dickie that tucks into my jacket and cover my chin just below my mouth. With that problem solved, my regular Joe Rocket gloves, I've been wearing all year seen to be fine. I've been driving in the mid-20s with down to single digit wind chills.

[maddiedog]

Animator - They're not even winter gloves? I've tried using regular summer motorcycling gloves, and even though the rest of my body is warm, my hands go numb after 30 minutes or so.

I think I'm going to go with heated grips and have my wife buy me nice gloves for Christmas, I'll get the best of both worlds that way.

[EddieC]

I think thats the best way to go... Haven't bought/installed mine yet... My ride home is exactly 30 min, and I've been doing fine so far. Its only dropped to about 43F on my rides home... will get colder. I have some Joe Rocket gloves also... with a plastic knuckle guard, so this might be helping out. The biggest thing holding me back from the heated grips is the $$ because if I do them, I wanna get the kind that are integrated into the replacement grip itself. What kind are you leaning towards?

That supplier never got back to me about the size of those cheap $35 dollar grips.... he said the warehouse is out of state and when I emailed him back a week later he still never had an answer for me. This might be a sign.... so the Hot Grips are about $50 and I would do those.

[maddiedog]

I think the stock grips aren't big enough in my hands, so when I add on the grips, I'll probably do the heated pads wedged underneath grip covers. I'd have ordered them already, but I won't be home until next week, so no one is at the house to receive the packages.

[Fiah]

So I got me some muffs, they work perfectly! They don't interfere with the controls, 90km/u is not enough to make them move apparently. And my hands are nice and cozy now! Got them for €24 (down from €30) from Polo-motorrad.

And because words are boring:











edit: yes I could probably clean it, but that's barely more than one week's worth of dirt/grime

[maddiedog]

Winter road salt and dirt makes vehicles so dirty

Those look warm though. Does any air get in at all, or are your hands completely shielded?

[Fiah]

Winter road salt and dirt makes vehicles so dirty

Those look warm though. Does any air get in at all, or are your hands completely shielded?

I haven't felt any moving air or draft inside the muffs. However, I have only tested them with my regular 'all-season' gloves. I don't have the thinner summer kind.

[maddiedog]

Dave - This is the exact product that I used and loved. Installation takes a little while to make it look good... but these were a win for me.

http://www.amazon.com/Symtec-Motorcycle ... 279&sr=8-9

Also saw this: cheaper but I have no experience with this brand/product. I might give these ones a shot.
http://www.amazon.com/Pair-Universal-He ... 397&sr=8-8

So I ordered the 2nd one, it came in a couple of weeks ago. The switch is set up in a really stupid place, and it came with no instructions.

I'm going to rewire it so that the switch can be tucked away, instead of being exposed. I hooked the elements up to a 12v power source, they warm perfectly, so the $20 solution will work for me -- it's just going to end up costing me a lot more time to do.

Anyone have interest in a how-to? If not, I'll just tear the bike apart and install them real quick.

[gn2]

Heated handlebars are for puffs, all you need are a decent pair of lobster claws..... :chuckles:
Anyway Maddie, ain't you the guy who said he doesn't wear gloves at all summer or winter cos his hands are all gnarly from woodworking...?