Author Topic: Heated grips advice (Read 1531 times)

Silverback · « **on:** November 21, 2021, 12:44:21 »

Hi, thinking of buying some Oxford heated grips for my Wee, question is I haven't got handguards fitted so would it be advisable to buy them? Anyone got them without guards? If so do they still keep your hands warm. Thanks.

Lemonwizard · « **Reply #1 on:** November 21, 2021, 13:23:35 »

Well, I use them with hand guards and my hands still get cold, although considerably less than without heated grips. I think it is therefore fairly save to assume that heated grips without hand guards is not ideal; still better than no heated grips and no hand guards though.

kwackboy · « **Reply #2 on:** November 21, 2021, 14:07:05 »

Yes, heated grips work a lot better with hand guards but even better with handle bar muffs.

Dirtbiker Martin · « **Reply #3 on:** November 21, 2021, 15:04:48 »

I have genuine Suzuki heated grips on my 650XT they work very well and with the hand guards keep my hands toastie however the Suzuki switch is very difficult to operate unless you are stopped. The Oxford ones I had on my previous bike worked well and had a much better switch.

Flying v · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2021, 16:31:50 »

Daytona heated grips are very nice built in controller so no ugly box.
Remember you are 80% heating a steel handlebar and 20% Palm of your hands.
I have become very dissatisfied with them.
Have a look at royal Jordanian heated gloves on you tube.
Last week I brought a pair of Keis g107 gloves @£200 and so far I'm very pleased with them obviously if you have more then one bike they are better value than heated grips. They can be powered by battery or direct from bike.
Even switched off they are very good winter glove.

stevewestern · « **Reply #5 on:** November 22, 2021, 08:24:31 »

Grips keep your palms warm, not the back of your hand. Heated gloves heat your hands.Guards will help Kyo wind chill down but gloves are the way to go I think.

Youngman · « **Reply #6 on:** November 22, 2021, 10:49:45 »

After many years of no handguards I now have some on my XT - and they make a huge difference to hand temperature I'm finding. No heated grips though - we're well 'ard oop North :-)

Andy_J · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2021, 14:50:34 »

I always fit Oxford heated grips to my bikes. Easy to fit (take about half hour) and cheap at 50 quid for the premium adventure grips. I find in conjunction with my handguards and summer gloves they work just fine. Jesus in the old days we rode with out expensive gear in all weathers all year round and having cold hands was part of the fun. I remember putting gloves over the ends of my expansion chambers on a Yamaha RD250 and warming the gloves up at a stop.

Silverback · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2021, 16:48:33 »

I think I'll let someone treat me for Christmas then. Just seen these DIY handguards. Greta Thunberg would be proud.....and I've been throwing milk containers away for years!

Brockett · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2021, 20:57:17 »

I've tried
Heated inner gloves. - Needs very large size over gloves and still managed to be very uncomfortable and almost burnt my hands.
Thick gloves - Can't feel the switches
Overmits - Can't reach the switches
Handguards - They do make a difference but are not perfect.
Heated grips - Burnt palms and chilly fingers but are improved with handguards
Handlebar muffs - These are good but you must be very familiar with your switch gear as this is all hidden inside the muffs and can't be seen.
Best method of keeping my hands warm is to leave the bikes in the garage from November till March.

Bobmc · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2021, 21:07:18 »

For those of us beyond the wall it is heated grips and hand guards!

Rixington43 · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2021, 21:20:23 »

Heated gloves are probably the ultimate if you have the budget and don't mind a tiny bit of faff.
Hand guards are brilliant though, they transform how effective heated grips are. They also keep your hands dry ( as long as you're moving) all year round which means you can wear summer gloves on mild but wet days.
I'd run hand guards regardless now I've had them.

Keith60 · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2021, 22:14:26 »

Most modern bikes have heated grips, but only adventure bikes have hand guards! Clearly heated grips work without hand guards!

kwackboy · « **Reply #13 on:** November 23, 2021, 09:38:13 »

In all the years I've been riding, I've never come across a better solution to keep my hands warm in the winter

Tucano Urbano hand grip covers with heated grips.

The covers are made from neoprene, are virtually 100% waterproof and draft free and with heated grips, you only need to wear the thinnest of gloves.

I use this combination on my Honda for commuting and my hands are toasty warm.

V-Twin · « **Reply #14 on:** November 24, 2021, 17:02:10 »

Do what we do down Devon way.
When our hands get cold (which is very seldom) we stop, wash our hands in the sea & carry on.

Other than that, guards with heated grips, for those north of the M4.

Sea-Strom · « **Reply #15 on:** November 25, 2021, 01:05:05 »

Just for those contemplating fitting grips for the first time.....I set about my latest install on a DL650 of R&G grips today. As with all the previous fits, I had to knife/file the plastic ridges and edge retainer Suzuki put on their throttle sleeves. If you have to do this, and you probably will, it's quite normal. However heated grips make a big difference to winter comfort. So the effort is worth it. Also, don't bother with grip adhesive if either side ends up a little loose - use electrical tape sparingly. If you are buying a used V-Strom, one with heated grips already fitted will save you the bother!

Sea-Strom · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2021, 06:30:17 »

Don't know about the Suzuki ones. R&G cost under £40.

mr_diver · « **Reply #17 on:** November 25, 2021, 07:19:44 »

R&G are good for the money, but the controllers have a tendency to pack up... in the dealers we had a box full of failed controllers.

The Oxford ones are far better... but the Adventure ones will need to be trimed down to size. The touring or sports will be the correct length.

And the Oxford ones go directly to the battery and turn themselves off when they sense the voltage drop when you stop the engine.

I was until recently all weather commuter... the best set up was handguards, muffs over the top and heated grips.
I can't stand bulky gloves and being wired into the bike isn't a great idea to me.
Battery packs don't last the day out.

Thinner gloves lets the heat transfer better and faster and the muffs keep the wind off your hands anyway.

Brockett · « **Reply #18 on:** November 25, 2021, 09:26:43 »

I found the R&G muffs work better when they are fitted over handguards. Without handguards, air pressure pressed the muffs onto the clutch and brake levers and made them difficult to operate. Summer gloves was all I needed with Oxford Hot Grips fitted.

mr_diver · « **Reply #19 on:** November 25, 2021, 10:57:42 »

Exactly brocket.
Fitted the muffs over handguards for the same reason.