Heated Grips

[davamb]

Starting to get cold down here in the mornings - anyone had any experience with Oxford Hot Grips fitted to the TRX?

[Corners R Us]

Had a set on my Hornet 600 back in 2007. Swore I'd never have another bike without them! They were an older version of those currently available and the control box wasn't waterproof and eventaully packed up and was replaced under warranty. Grips were excellent and I never had cold hands. Oddly by having warm hands I always felt warmer generally?! And safer to ride presumably?

I've just bought a set of the 2008/9 version which has a different control box that is sold as waterproof and an improvement on the older version. It had a knob to regulate the heat. The new ones have a + or - sign to go up and down heat wise. Looks like Oxford have also upgraded the system to avoid grips being left on and flatting the battery too. I've always wired mine direct form the battery but you can cut them into a power source that goes dead when the ignitions off if you really want.

I've just plumbed in the power wiring on my TRX but have yet to fit the grips. The new ones also come with a handy bracket to mount the control box with. I'm thinking about siting it off one of the headlight securing bolts...out of the way yet accessible as I ride along.

In the past I tended to use my grips most early mornings or late at night just to take the chill off. I have ridden in winter with them and have never used more than summer gloves with them on....they are that good! The grips themselves are less spongy than normal grips due to the need to protect the wires in them but they are still comfortable as such.

I hope this product review helps. I'm sure others will be along to slate me for being a jessy and using heated grips so I'll don my hard hat and retreat to a safe distance!

Corners

[Banger]

Im with corners on this one, mine came with them fitted and theyre great!

[davamb]

Cheers guys,

yeah want to do some distance riding over winter so heated grips are the go methinks.
Anyone know the bar diameter? Standard 22mm?

[dandywarhol]

I get white finger easily (worse on 4 cylinder motors) so hot grips have been essential for a few years now on all my bikes. Only planning on using the TRX in warmer months but you can be sure if the whities come back I'll be fitting them to Trix.

Old age don't come easy...............................

[Corners R Us]

Cheers guys,

yeah want to do some distance riding over winter so heated grips are the go methinks.
Anyone know the bar diameter? Standard 22mm?

Kits for 22mm bars are the ones you want. Anything biggers for cruisers/Harleys (mutter mutter not proper bikes mutter!!)

Corners

[davamb]

Thanks guys,

bought Oxfords and they're great! Rode to Bega and back last week and they were essential.
(Should post up a ride report...)

[arrivisto]

I'm just about to buy & fit some heated grips. Has anyone any good experiences with grips other than Oxford, please?

[Banger]

Dont know what make mine are as they were fitted when i got the bike, They aren't oxford thats for sure! they have a little black switch unit on the top yoke that says "grips heated" and has a green diode for warm and red for hot and a waterproof switch between the two diodes and they have never given me any trouble at all, in fact if anyone knows what make of grips Im describing let me know cos I want some more!

[Mincehead]

Dont know what make mine are as they were fitted when i got the bike, They aren't oxford thats for sure! they have a little black switch unit on the top yoke that says "grips heated" and has a green diode for warm and red for hot and a waterproof switch between the two diodes and they have never given me any trouble at all, in fact if anyone knows what make of grips Im describing let me know cos I want some more!

I think they `might` be the Tech 7`s,or perhaps they`re Daytona`s version.
Anyway,looking at M&P`s page for heated grips(they do four kinds)I think my first guess was right,hover the mouse over the thumbnail image for a close up:

http://www.mandp.co.uk/productinfo/5838 ... ies/Tech-7

If you want to view the four types they do just type `heated grips` in the sites search bar.
You`ll be very unlikely to find keener prices than M&P`s too Banger,Demon Tweeks are nearly always more expensive I find.

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/products/ ... l&x=27&y=9

Yep,certainly looks like it,although they list 5 types.
I think the Tech 7`s are the type Corners R Us has looking at the control box.

[TonyDevil]

i just been looking for heatgrips too
http://www.carpe-tdm.net/ipb/index.php?showtopic=15782

read in quite a few places that the new oxfords dont cut out early enough to leave the battery enough to turn over a big twin....so make sure you fit em via a switched relay (piece of piss todo )

[dandywarhol]

I don't get the relay bit - I wired them into the ignition switch outlet - can't go on without the ignition so no battery flattening probs

[phuk72]

I don't get the relay bit - I wired them into the ignition switch outlet - can't go on without the ignition so no battery flattening probs

problem is that most people simple wire these up to the battery (and then wonder why it's dead!)

[arrivisto]

Perhaps I'm a slow learner. I've been riding for over 40 years but only I've just used heated grips for the first time. Now I'm kicking myself for not trying them earlier! Anyway, I've just fitted a set of MotoPro heated grips (£30 on eBay) and I tried them out yesterday on a 120-mile round trip to Liverpool. It was very cold; the outside air was hovering around zero degrees C and there was even a bit of freezing fog. I'm delighted to say the grips were brilliant! I arrived warm and safe without the usual incipient frostbite.

Having the grips meant a slight change of riding style. Normally I ride with two fingers on each of the the brake and clutch levers and the remaining fingers (& thumbs) curled round the grips; but this approach would have meant warm palms but cold lever fingers (and would allow heat loss from the grips). So I rode with all fingers curled round the grips, being aware that I would have to allow a bit of extra time for sudden braking.

The MotoPro heated grips have a larger diameter than the standard grips, but I quite liked that. The compact control switch has 3-positions: off, hi & lo. I had it on high for most of the journey, turning it to low when I was off the motorway. The switch seems rugged and is easy to use on the move with a gloved hand. The switch has a bracket to fit it to a handlebar, but as the TRX doesn't have a handlebar I mounted it (with a rubber grommet insert) on the left-side fairing support, near the choke control. The kit was simple to fit, the connectors seemed good and there was enough cable to route the wiring neatly. When the power is on, an LED glows on the switch; a reminder to turn it off. For the time being, I have wired it all direct to the battery; but I shall wire it into a switched circuit when time permits. The MotoPro kit is guaranteed for a year. It seems a quality item and hopefully should last indefinitely.

(The trick to remove a stubborn grip is to warm the rubber with hot water, then poke a screwdriver up inside the grip and squirt in WD40. Job done!)

[Tarwetijger]

(The trick to remove a stubborn grip is to warm the rubber with hot water, then poke a screwdriver up inside the grip and squirt in WD40. Job done!)

Agreed, although I use compressed air instead of WD40.