HEATED GRIPS vs. THE ELEMENTS

You don’t have to be a motorcycle rider to be aware of the best and worst part of motorbike riding: The elements.

Heated hand grips for motorcycles are one of those ideal gifts for a motorcycle rider, since he/she will think of you every time they are riding and using them. And of course, for anyone riding in the northern hemisphere, the cooler season is in full swing.

MOTORCYCLE HEATED GRIPS can extend any rider’s enjoyment. Cool mornings are all the better on a bike with some toasty handgrips.

What may not be quite so obvious is that motorcycle heated grips not only allow a rider to be comfortable and safer in cooler temperatures, they also allow him/her to use lighter gloves.

Lighter gloves allow the rider better tactile control than thicker gloves.

As a rider gets cold, tired and/or fatigued, he/she is not as in control of the bike as better conditions would warrant. Cold hands can also slow down their reaction time. Hence, having comfortable hands is an important part of motorcycle safety.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF HEATED GRIPS

HEATED MOTORCYCLE GRIPS are available in a variety of different configurations that can vary the price considerably.

• The least expensive option would be an external heated pad that wraps around the motorcycle’s existing hand grips. Not only is this the most economical, it can be readily removed for much of the year when not needed. However, this is the least elegant solution.
• One can also buy heated elements that wrap around the metal handlebars themselves, and are therefore UNDERNEATH your existing handgrips. These “look” better but can be a pain in the butt to install. They tend to be more expensive than just the naked heating element as above.
• Another option, is a new set up of handgrips that have built-in heating elements. These are more expensive than the two earlier options, but are easier to install than the type that uses your own existing hand grips.
• A variation of this latter, is an internal heating pad, that wraps around your handlebar, with a limited choice of grips than can be installed over the elements, but DO fit. (The idea is attempting to make the installation easier).

Another feature that is VERY useful, but not available on the least expensive models, is a heat controller. In this way you can vary the heat output in a similar fashion you might vary the amount of heat in your car. Whoda thunk? However, if it’s not that cool out and you have thin gloves on, it’s ideal to be able to turn the heat down.

Motorcycle Heated Grips are one of those unique biker gifts that may – or may not – be actually requested. But once a rider has experienced the pleasure of that extra heat at his/her fingertips, it’s hard to go back to NOT having it there when needed.

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ELECTRICALLY HEATED APPAREL AIN’T FOR ALL MOTORCYCLE RIDERS

There are a lot of advantages to HEATED MOTORCYCLE APPAREL. But they ain’t for everyone.

Sure, they are the easiest way to extend your riding in cold weather.

Yeah, they can make riding long distances in marginal weather considerably more enjoyable.

And, if you have ever tried any kind of electric vests, liners, gloves, chaps, etc., for motorcycle riders, then you probably swear by them, too.

For whatever reason, I was very slow to adopt the concept, even though they’ve been around for decades.

I didn’t even figure I would get much use out of an electric vest, which I chose because of its compact traveling size when not being worn.

However, after several years of liberal use, I have grown to like the darn thing so much, that I have included it in my gear for summer tours, as well. There are cool nights at high altitudes, or other occasions when the weather is just plain bad, that I’ve been happy to pull out my electric-heated gear and pleasantly make my way forward, when in earlier times I would have needed to shorten my riding pleasure.

THE MAKING OF AN ELECTRIC WIMP

Be forewarned, heated apparel can be like a drug. Once you cross that line and get plugged in, you won’t go back. You’ll become addicted and no amount of rehab will save you.

And if you are the kind of rider that parks your bike when the mercury drops below 70 degrees, you’ll KNOW you are a complete wimp when you could just as well put on some heated garb.

But the worse part is this: If you are a grizzled rider who is the last to put your bike away for the winter, and the first to get it out in the spring; and if you find a certain amount of personal satisfaction in tolerating temperatures that scatter many riders into their cages for protection, then you, too, are at risk!

At first you’ll be happy that you can ride in colder weather quite comfortably. But later on, you’ll find that you plug yourself in at higher and higher temps.

And when you find yourself looking around to make sure you are not being watched because you are putting on heated gear at temperatures you used to consider easily tolerable … well, you’ve turned into an ELECTRIC WIMP …. (But I won’t tell on you).

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WHICH IS BETTER – HEATED MOTORCYCLE GLOVES OR HEATED GRIPS?

Jeez, heated motorcycle grips do make crisp morning rides, or cool evening rides, all the more enjoyable.  You can also use thinner gloves for the same cool-temperature riding conditions than you might use if you did not have heated grips.  Some riders prefer thinner gloves to thicker gloves since they can deliver a more sensitive tactile connection to their bike’s controls.

Some motorcycle manufacturers offer HEATED GRIPS as an option on certain bikes, and for a few bikes they are even available as standard equipment.  You can also buy aftermarked heated grips for most any motorbike, which need to be connected to your bike’s electrical system.  Some such aftermarket products are complete grip replacements, some have heating elements that are installed under your grips, and others have heating elements that wrap around the exterior of your existing grips.

All are beneficial for extending your riding enjoyment in cooler temperatures. But if you are truly into COLD weather riding, you may want to consider purchasing heated gloves, which, compared to heated grips, keep both the inside and outside of your hands warm.  Of course, heated grips are only designed to warm the inside of your hands and fingers.  However, heated grips are considerably more convenient, since you simply turn them on with a switch and ride your motorcycle.  Whereas most heated gloves require a manual electrical connection which can take another moment or two of attention every time you get going after taking a break, getting some gas, stopping to take photos, or getting something to eat.

The good news is you have a choice!

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