| Author | Message | ||
     Tnm2 |
I have an '09 Firebolt, and want to keep riding through the winter...I'm hitting the wall at about 30 degrees or below with my hands. At highway speed, my fingers are numb in 15 minutes, and getting painful at 30 minutes. I'm wearing gloves with pretty thick liners underneath. For you guys / gals with the factory heated grip setup: does it really work well? Does it keep your hands functional in 20 - 30 degree weather? (Message edited by tnm2 on December 31, 2009) | ||
| Dinuns1 |
go with the heat demons with the remote switch they work the best easy to install also | ||
| Dinuns1 |
and to answer yes these will keep your hands warm just another suggestion for winter put those gay leather cover or wrap your levers in hockey tape that will help also | ||
| Froggy |
You need heated grips AND gloves. Grips won't get the back of your hands. | ||
| Calamari_kid |
How warm blooded are you? I commuted on the freeway in sub 30 temps with just heated grips on my guzzi. The Uly grips are as, if not more, effective. Bark busters will help if ya wanna go for the road warrior look in the winter months. Heated gloves will give you better overall warmth if you don't mind the wires. | ||
| Dcc46 |
their ok ,they get very hot on your palms (hot enough that i have to take my hands off the bars)but they don't do anything for your fingertips or the backs of your hands.you may be better off spending the money on heated gloves. | ||
| Jaimec |
The Buell heated grips are phenomenally warm. On the low setting they are hotter than my BMW grips on high. I imagine the high setting is used to light your buddy's cigarette, but I'm just guessing... I've never used the high setting. With a good pair of winter gloves, the factory heated grips are all you need but for the best winter comfort, you NEED a good electric vest. I find myself using the grips only when the temperatures are well below freezing. Down to 30 degrees the vest and a good pair of winter gloves are sufficient. Your hands (and feet) get cold because your body core is cold, and in order to protect your core, your body is going to restrict blood flow to your extremities. Keep your core warm, and warm blood will continue to flow into your hands, feet, fingers and toes. If all you are using are heated grips, then you are treating the symptom, not the cause. | ||
| Ourdee |
I run the grips on high when it is 5 degrees and I don't have to turn them off. Low setting gets pretty warm but my thumbs get cold. They are great in rainstorms. I need to get a heated vest as Jaimec said. I believe the wind deflectors in front of the grips do a lot of the work. The only thing that really helps me is a very good pair of mittens. ( the ones with removable liners ) And Dinuns1 should be paid attention to. The aluminum levers on the bike will suck the life out of you quicker than anything. My hands get coldest sitting at a stop light holding the clutch in. I need to get some hockey tape or "gay leather". | ||
| Ulyssesmatt |
I think that the stock heated grips on the Ulysses are fantastic. I have never needed the high setting. I have to agree with Calamari though... Get some decent bark busters if you don't already have them. The wind deflection will really augment the grips nicely. | ||
| Jaimec |
Ourdee: I've had every bike I've owned since the mid-90s done up by Ironbraid. They'll wrap your brake and clutch levers with your choice of color leather lanyards. This extra layer works WONDERS if you ride in the winter. I also think it looks a LOT cooler than the generic leather wraps you can buy off the shelf, too. http://www.ironbraid.com/ My Cyclone and XB12Ss had orange and black braided levers. My 1125R is red and black. My BMW K1200LT has burgundy and gray wrapping with fringe (though I think I'll cut the fringe part off... don't know what I was thinking when I had that done). | ||
| Tnm2 |
Thanks to all of you...I didn't want to buy the kit, only to find out the amount of heat it provides is puny. I grew up in Florida, and am not too great with the cold. I've been putting on my big girl panties and riding anyway! Everything else except my fingers seem OK, although it does make sense to keep your torso warm to keep the blood moving through your fingers. I can only afford to buy the grip kit for now, but a vest will be next. Bark busters probably wouldn't fit on the Firebolt - I think they would hit the fairing. I wrapped my levers with tape tonight - great idea! | ||
| Blackdog |
Get the heated jacket liner not the vest. As for the hands I have the heated grips and use snowmobile gloves. I'm good for down to the 30's for short rides, the 40's for long rides. | ||
| Phwx2 |
Last year I installed polly grips on my 03 xb9s and purchased some snow mobile gloves. I have real problems w/ cold hands (I can have frozen hands that send shocks up my arms when I go for a 12 mile run with gloves on if it is in the 30's). The polly grips are cheap and and easy to install and with the gloves I had no problem except that my hands got too hot. REally, too hot. Here is a link that shows you what you are in for. Although it is actually easier. http://www.motorcycle.com/how-to/heated-grips-eval uation-71386.html | ||
| Oldwesterncowboy |
I have had 4 bikes with heated grips BMW K1200RS they worked great. 2 Honda Gold Wings, one with, worked nice, and one without so I added aftermarket heated grips, they were useless. Now I have a uly xt with heated grips, first of all, the hand guards help a lot. the grips are the hottest I have seen, on low. on high, I have to let go to cool my hand. unlined leather gloves I have no problems riding at 28deg weather. 4 hrs w/ t shirt, heated vest, leather jacket, jeans. heated vest, best thing ever for a bike. | ||
| Mikef5000 |
I love the heated grips, and I can handle them down to 20 without heated gloves. It would be more comfortable with the gloves, but not worth the hassle and money for me. |
