Handlebar grip heaters

Jarney

Jarney

Strip Warrior
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Hello all,
since I try to ride as much of the year as I can, I decided to try another gadget. I bought some handguards (review in this category) and they helped keep my hands warm but I figured I would try some grip heaters too. I bought the el cheapo kind that you put on yourself, under your regular grips. They have 2 settings and work very well, only time will tell if they hold up. In 40 degree weather, the low setting is usually more than enough. The right grip does get warmer than the left as you have probably heard a lot of reviewers say - throttle grips are usually thinner to allow for the plastic of the throttle. For the money, it's a nice, cheap, easy to install feature for those who may ride in cooler temps and don't have heated gloves or want to wear really thick winter type gloves. I didn't like the switch that came with them so I bought a handlebar mount style switch and like the way it looks on the bike better. Links to what I bought below. Pic is of the switch. Later.

Grip heater kit - sometimes on sale - got mine back at xmas for $28
http://www.cheapcycleparts.com/prod...r-control-accessories-handlebar-heater-kit-rr

Trail Tech handlebar mount switch - 3 position plus a kill switch
http://www.bikebandit.com/trail-tech-motorcycle-handlebar-kill-switch
 

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And you guys laughed :nono: at trailor hitch and saddle bags :rotf:..................... great idea could have used them this wk:pistols:
 
Jarney, Cold weather, that's exactly why I ride my Voyager's and not an Eliminator. But I have fully heated outer gear and don't give a hairy rat's ass how cold it is 'cause I know I'll stay warm with this setup.:pk:
 
Nice set up Jarney.

I never knew the joy of heated grips until I bought that Africa twin recently. It came already fitted with 'daytona' heated grips. (same as those in the pic below)

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I plan on fitting a set to the ZL soon. Makes a hell of a difference when riding this time of year, especially on long rides.
 
I probably will never ride when it is super cold but here shortly I plan to ride to work when the temps are gonna be 40-45 when I leave for work. The issue I have is that if I gear up for the ride to work (3:30 am) when I get off of work (between 1-2 pm) the temps warm up to make it too hot for the gear you wore on the way in. With no bags (sorry...no bags in the future) you either sweat your butt off, or cram the stuff in a backpack. I have been kicking around options....My VTX will get 45 mpg and my tahoe is around 15-16 mpg.....
 
Yeah, since we all don't have Furchin's deep pockets - hahahaha, this is a cheap and easy upgrade without changing the looks - if you've got factory grips. No need for bulky gloves when the temps fall below 40 degrees. And I'm in the same boat as WillyD - Silverado gets about 16mpg, zl gets mid 30's in town, riding in to work on the night shift is "kinda" warm, but then by morning it's pretty chilly - either freeze or burn up. Gas prices don't seem to be coming down either, now if it would just stop raining.........Later.
 
I just ordered a pair of leather overpants from Leatherup and also a pair of padded, insulated leather gloves from them...I will give a review when I get them and start back to riding. I bought a pair of chaps from them a few years ago and I can tell you for the price, their stuff is a great deal. The chaps were very nice, but what I found is when wearing them in the cold on a naked bike, the places that are not covered and exposed to the wind (crotch) got cold and the stuff protected by the leather were nice and toasty. I sold the chaps and had been wanting a pair of leather overpants for the colder riding. It has been hovering around the 35-45 degree mark in the mornings on the way to work. Don't really have a rideable bike at this time, but should have very soon...
 
I hate bulky gloves. I've tried so many different types but could not find a pair of thick winter gloves that I could live with.
The gloves I use all year round are a pair of alpinestars WR-3's which are rated as "all year gloves" but are relatively light and comfortable to wear, not bulky at all. A little spendy though, but worth it. They are fine in the heat of summer and the average cold riding weather, but in v cold conditions I wear surgical gloves inside the WR-3's. Believe it or not, the latex gloves provide that little bit of extra heat retention to keep my digits warm.
The Africa Twin I bought recently has Daytona heated grips fitted, and I ****in love em!!! lol Even riding in the wet. When I start to feel a little miserable, the heated grips take some of the misery away...
 
Another very affective option is handlebar muffs! got some with the conk but it's still in pieces, so I cant try them out.
 
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