Grip Heaters

Anyone put these on before? I've been looking at the ones that have the element that goes under the grip but unsure of the ability of the alternater to supplie enough juice. What is the output of the Alternater?

 

I have the grip heaters on mine.
I noticed them at Mills Fleet Farm store when I was shopping and decided to use them on my Seca. They work great, so I installed them on my Honda Shadow too.
The only thing I can see that could go wrong with them, is the wire that comes from under the throttle grip would eventually break from movement. So I covered mine with heat-shrink tubing to make it tougher and less likely to break off.
They get plenty hot and after riding, you my need to turn them on low, because your hands will be toasty!!
I never run any other accessories while using them and never had problems with the charging system. I made a run with a group putting on over 500 miles on a cool spring day, and I know I wouldn't have went as far without the grip heaters.
It's a bitch to get the grips off and back on again, but it's well wrth the effort and price. I paid $25 for mine! >PD<

 

Just my opinion, but...

I don't get the "why" of grip heaters. Sure, they warm you hands... but only the palms. I have tried them, and sure enough the outside of my hands... the part that's exposed to the cold wind... remain frigid.

My solution is a good pair of Gerbing's heated gloves. Let me tell you, put those on on a cold day, flip the switch, and your eyes will tear up. They are like a warm, fluffy pillow.

 

they work great underneath my leather gloves on my ninja, but like dandrewk said i don't see a point if you've got bare hands.

 

Actually, I always wear gloves. Grip heaters just don't do it for me.

 

hmmmmmm weird.

 

I always wear gloves, either the fingerless when warm, or the thick ones when it is chili (leave for work @ 5:30-6 am). Even when not cold, helps with the slight vibration, expecially at 4.5->5k rpms... it also looks kind of cool ha ha ha!

Haven't heard of the heated finger grips before, but I am Very tempted to try them... I have all of 2-3% body fat, the cold kills me. I would just rather deal with freezing my @$$ off so's I can ride my bike! Just need some chaps and now... heated finger grips! Sweet....

 

I rode home last night ( near midnight ) and it was 36 degrees. The ride was about 40 miles, and all interstate so it took all of about 30 minutes. I was dressed properly, however despite the fact that I had winter gloves, my fingers still got pretty cold right away.

Does the idea of heated grips still work through gloves, or are they more for gloveless riding?

 

another thing i've done is used some enduro style handguards and put them on my ninja... it looks all of ridiculous but it kept the wind of my fingers enough to keep them warmer.

 

If it's real cold I just wear welding gloves. When my hands get cold I just reach down and put my hand on the cylinder for a while. Heats up nice and the gloves won't melt or burn. I have a clamp on cruise control so I can warm my throttle hand too.

 

Hey thanks for all the response. And you folks from southern Cal wouldn't really get it anyway. Here in the great white north where I will be riding home this morning it is 33 degrees. Figure in the 75 mph wind chill.....that can be pretty freaking cool. I too wear gloves but a little extra heat would make a huge differance.

So, when your up to it, come on up from SoCal to SoDak in November and we'll take a 100 mile turkey ride and then let me know if grip warmers are stupid.

 

If I was to cone up there and ride a 100 mile ride in that cold............... then it WOULD be a turkey ride.
I'd have to be dumb as a turkey to do that

 

I wear leather riding gloves with my grip heaters and my hands are toasty. Being your palm is warm, your whole hands stays warm. It has to be pretty chilly out before I even wear gloves and if I need more...I just flip the switch and I can go 100 miles in freezing temps! *The grip heaters are made for snowmobiles, when your riding in below zero temps with gloves on, so I figured they'd do the trick on my bikes.
For $25, I figured I'd try them. I have what I need for a reasonable price. I can't see paying what they want for Gerber heated gloves and all the wiring you need to deal with. >PD<

 

The wiring is no more difficult than with grip heaters. You can either wire it directly to the battery, or use a power port (which can be used for many other purposes).

 

I am not referring to the initial wiring to the bike. I was talking about the wires you need to hook up to the gloves themselves. I figure you need to run them up your sleeve somehow and hook them to the gloves, which kinda turned me off about them.
I figure the grip heaters are always there and can even be used in the summer during chilly morning rides (when I don't wear gloves) on the way to work. >PD<

 

Right. I've gotten so used to it, I don't even think about it anymore.

As I said, the gloves feel like a fluffy pillow. There is also the added benefit of a rheostat, that allows me to dial in the perfect level of heat for any given outside temperature.

 

Hey great buffalo... I am living in so cal... have lived in illinois for 6 years and n. carolina for 1. I have 3% body fat, and cannot gain weight, I cannot retain body heat very well at all. The cold kills me. I live in a desert region and drive to work at 5:00-5:30 in the morning and thinking about the handle grip warmers ha ha ha!!! While it does get cold here in the morning, it is nothing like what you deal with, my sympathies.

From So. Cal. with nothing but understanding!!! Jack ha ha ha!

P.S. try those enduro style handgaurds for some extra hand warmth, I know I would need all the help I could get to ride in the weather up there.

 

Anyone try Hot Grips? www.hotgrips.com

 

Those hot grips look to be the bomb. I might have to look into those alittle closer.

 

I'd jump at the chance to be riding through S.D. no matter what the weather! But, then again some of us are hardier riders than others.

 

Worm,
When you get a chance to head out this way send me a massage and we'll go riding.

From here on the east side of the Missouri River is quite a snore but 3 hours west it get pretty good but..... after growing up and riding for years in Northern New Hampshire, it doesn't come close.

The Black Hills which is where the Sturis Rally is held is only the size of a small, very small portion of the White Mtns, and, most of the roadways are dirt. Although the portions that are asphalt are great riding. Lots of twisties per mile.

Would really love a BMW GS to go riding in the Black Hills. I do alot of 4X4 tavel and exploring out there, lots of history, old mines and just very beautiful country but some of that is hard to get to.

 

Ha ha ha worm, that IS very funny! I find it amusing because when it is baking outside, and Everyone is complaining or just plain miserable, I am quite happy! Dry heat, high humidity, it doesnt matter. Hopefully some day very soon I will move to the deep desert for good. It isnt that I am not tough, I just love the heat, just too cold blooded ha ha ha.

 

See I'm the opposite, I find it MUCH more comfortable at lower temps.
Once the mercury hits about 90 deg. I want to crawl into a hole!!

 

I'd have to say riding at around 55 degrees is a hell of alot better than anything over 80 for me. I can't take the heat physically. I can't seem to cool down when I get hot and I get kinda sick. I've left home for group rides at freezing temps many times and I'm taking off my chaps by noon most of the time.
It's suppose to get up to 55 degress today and that sounds to me like a perfect day to cruise!!!
It's funny how the human body seems to get acustom to it's surrounding environment. Up here in Minnesota, we ride till there's snow on the roads! >PD<