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Heated Grips or gloves

10K views 25 replies 17 participants last post by  ymracing 
#1 ·
What is better option Heated grips or Gloves?
I do not want to do both (Cheap ass). My commute is 120miles into the mountains and the 25-30 degrees spring and fall weather penetrates my cold winter glove (jacket and pants seem to do well).

I've even considered just doing Battery powered glove liners? but so far the internet search leads to a web of opinion and conjecture......So why not let my favorite forum add to it!!
 
#2 ·
Gloves are warmer because they warm the tops of your fingers and not just your palms. But, gloves are not as convenient. Gotta think ahead, connect them, and they are not as good for "riding" as good riding gloves.

Grips are always there. Very convenient. You can turn them on if you've been riding and just stating to get cold. But they heat your palms VERY MUCH and sometimes leave the wind exposed parts of your hands still cold. Much more convenient though.

I have gloves. But I confess that I rarely use them and often choose to be cold as opposed to stopping and screwing around. Especially if I'm in a group and don't want to inconvenience others.

If it gets really cold I'll change over during a stop.
 
#4 ·
Gloves / Grips

If you ride a long time without stopping, you may get better results with gloves.
If you ride in open country, little traffic, gloves may be ok choice.
As mentioned, the more you use your hands/fingers, you may want to think twice about gloves.
If you ride longer distances without much hand/finger use, i'g go with gloves.

I use my heated gloves in reaL cold weather. I even use them plowing snow with my Kubota tractor. That requires a lot of movement handling the controls. I don't have any issues doing that. (Much more movement than required on a bike.)

My hands stay nice and comfortable with gloves. If you do go with gloves, get a controller so you can adjust the temp.
There are times it does get to hot, and need to lower the heat.
 
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#5 ·
The right gloves will keep you warm into the low 40's to high 30's , but when the temp drops to freezing or near it, you can't beat a set of heated grips. If riding in freezing temps you could add a set of the gauntlets like we use up here on snowmobiles. I have ridden many nights up in the upper peninsula of Michigan in temps well below zero on a snowmobile equipped with gauntlets and heated grips wearing nothing more than a pr of Jersey gloves and never got cold hands.
 
#6 ·
gloves or grips

I had heated gloves , jacket liner and grips on my V-Strom. Great heat but so aggravating to put on and off. Get off the bike and walk around with wires hanging from gloves and jacket. And , of course the KLR wont support that much output . With heated grips the backs of my hands stay very cold. Not enough help for me. The colder it gets the more I like my Jeep.
 
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#7 ·
I'll admit, I've never tried heated gloves, but I have the cheap Tusk grip heaters from Rocky Mountain ATV M/C, and I love them. It's nice to be able to throw them on if you get caught in the rain and your hands start to get chilly. Like others have stated, the backs of your hands will still get cold, but they will warm you right up through any glove. It just takes a few minutes for them to warm up since the handlebars act as a heat sink initially.

I commute just 5 miles each way, but I only have the KLR, so even on the bitter cold January days here in Utah, but the hand warmers do a pretty good job. No complaints, especially for the price!
 
#8 · (Edited)
Hey,

This was a challenge for me as I live in Georgia which means I can almost ride year round.... I'll ride as long as there isn't any ice on the roads, which can still mean pretty chilly though. I have heated gloves for the KLR and heated grips for the VSTROM. Both bikes have BarkBusters Storm for the handlebars and a big windscreen as well.

Both hand heaters seem to work well, but in some ways I'm more annoyed by the wires with the heated gloves than how well they work. I also have just some pretty good winter gloves -not the super high dollar but lined and goretex, and I sometimes wear extra glove liners (un-heated) with them and that works pretty well also - probably to about 45-50 - degrees and speed.

I tend to prefer the heated grips though - easier to adjust the heat, even while riding (Oxford system), and with the BarkBusters they block a lot of heat loss from my hands. If it were any colder, I'd probably just get some of those "handlebar muffs" to stick my hands in.

I also think it is important to make sure my core is warm as well as neck, face and feet... If too many extremities get too cold (feet, hands, head), riding ceases to be fun and more of a chore to me... I have used those 2 or 3 hour foot warmers in my boots - and I really liked them.

Stu
2002 KLR650 Sheila
2009 VStrom DL1k Athena
 
#9 ·
#12 ·
I was interested UNTIL I noticed the neckstrap.. I'll pass on tying myself to a motorcycle by my neck.. Looks like a sure way to break your neck or rip off your head in an accident.
 
#10 ·
If I only had headed grips, I'd want handlebar muffs too when it was really cold but I also have gloves. The grips do nothing for your thumbs or the top of your hands. They're ok to a point but when it's really cold,,,, GLOVES!
 
#11 ·
I guess we should define our terms. To me 'really cold' is about 25*F. I don't have heated grips or gloves. With the muffs I was very comfortable at 25-35*F with an old pair of Held Air gloves. Still air in an enclosed space is a wonderful thing.
 
#13 ·
From the article (emphasis added):

"These things come with an assortment of straps and cables that allow for a well-customized fit. The lower portion is folded back in a way that is very similar to fairing lowers that used to be put on racing fairings, so leg coverage is really good. There is a strap that goes around the rider's neck to hold the lap robe well up into the rider's chest. The neck strap has a safety break-away to avoid strangulation or yer head poppin' off in the event of a get-off."
 
#16 ·
The BMW RT's in the early 2000's had ducts in the fairing that directed engine-heated air towards the rider.

The weirdest damn thing I ever saw.
 
#18 ·
air ducting



Gold Wings, and my old Suzuki Cavalcade had ducting. They were adjustable. With a set of Baker air wings, you were covered hot or cold!

I used to take my Cavalcade over dirt roads all the time. Sometimes with my wife on back. I just had to go a bit slower.
 
#21 ·
This is almost like an oil question!! Haahaa. I have both, but prefer the heated grips with good waterproof gloves. Even with my vented gloves the heated grips come in handy for those cool mornings. The gloves are very nice and heat all sides of your hands, but they are a hassle to hook up, v the grips, turn on.
 
#22 ·
I have heated grips on my BMW. Cooks my palms and freezes the back of my hand. Muffs for the win. I have put my muffs on my BMW wit the grips on low. Best of both worlds.
 
#23 ·
I am surprised that Hot Hands type chemical heat packs have not been mentioned. https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hot-Hand...G9wb40Fip5f-mXuYw4qmSEK8Zm2k8KzhoCimQQAvD_BwE

Put them in your gloves, your boots, your jacket..... . They are less than 50 cents each and really do last 8 or 10 hours.

I travel a lot and have grip heaters and a home made electric vest, but they don't do it for my fingers and TOES. So, I keep some Hot Hands in my kit. One in each glove and sock is good for the whole day.
 
#25 · (Edited)
Bump.

I prefer heated gloves or glove liners. I have both. Although heated grips are more convenient, heated gloves are more effective.

The physics of heated grips is backwards. The heating element goes under a rubber grip (rubber is an insulator). Then the heat that conducts through the grip has to make it through your glove (another insulating layer) to warm the palm/underside of your hands; and your thumb and fingertips will not be in contact with the grip, so they will get cold anyway. Your hands get cold from wind passing over the TOPS of your gloves, so it makes much more sense to put the heat in your gloves, particularly the top.

Further, I like heated glove liners instead of heated gloves. I have some 3-finger gloves that I have used for skiing for years. They work great because you get most of the warmth advantage of a mitten (keeping your fingers together) and the dexterity of a glove for your thumb/first finger. Nobody makes heated 3-finger gloves, but I can put a heated liner inside mine. I never need more than the lowest heat setting with that arrangement, which also leaves more electrons for the heated vest or jacket. And spare electrons are scarce on a KLR.

As for convenience, yeah, heated grips are always there and a simple switch toggle away, and no wires connected to you. But if you ride with heated gloves or other clothing, you quickly adapt your habit pattern to them. Is reaching down to unplug one connector really that much hassle?
 
#26 ·
Have more than 1 bike? Gloves move from one to the other easily...grips, not so much.
 
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