Actions

Heated grips: Difference between revisions

From GummyCarbs

Jeff (talk | contribs)
No edit summary
 
Jeff (talk | contribs)
 
(4 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit1.htm Dual Star] and [http://store.azmusa.com/kigrhekit.html Kimpex] make grip-heater kits that install under your existing grips.
==Products==


[http://www.hotgrips.com/ Hot Grips] are also available, but they require you to epoxy their own grips to your bars.  Their grips are hard and plasticky. I had Hot Grips and hated them. They failed after a winter due to the wire breaking inside, and since it's all sealed up you can't really resolder any connections...
===Under-Grip===
 
These install under your existing grips:
 
* [http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit1.htm Dual Star] offers a kit which is unique in that the left grip heater gets hotter than the right, to compensate for the heat-sink effect of the left handlebar.
* [http://store.azmusa.com/kigrhekit.html Kimpex]
 
===Over-Grip===
 
These install <b>over</b> your existing grips:
 
* ??? I know at least one variant exists...
 
===Grip-Replacement===
 
These replace your current grips entirely:
 
* [http://www.hotgrips.com/ HotGrips]


Eric's guide to wiring up Dual Star grips with a Heat-Troller is [http://www.ovrlnd.com/DoItYourself/HeatedGrips.html here].
Eric's guide to wiring up Dual Star grips with a Heat-Troller is [http://www.ovrlnd.com/DoItYourself/HeatedGrips.html here].
==Recommendation==
I have personally tried HotGrips, Kimpex, and Dual Star, in that order.  <b>I am by far happiest with the Dual Star kit.</b>  The Kimpex kit wasn't bad, but the wiring failed early (this may have been my fault -- I now use safety wire to lock a bit of the wire lead into place against the bar, reducing the forces on the soldered joint).
HotGrips were, by far, the worst solution that I tried, for these reasons:
* They require you to epoxy their own grips to your bars.
* Their grips are hard and plasticky.
* They failed after a winter due to the wire breaking inside, and since it's all sealed up you can't really re-solder any connections...

Latest revision as of 18:54, 26 July 2007

Products

Under-Grip

These install under your existing grips:

  • Dual Star offers a kit which is unique in that the left grip heater gets hotter than the right, to compensate for the heat-sink effect of the left handlebar.
  • Kimpex

Over-Grip

These install over your existing grips:

  • ??? I know at least one variant exists...

Grip-Replacement

These replace your current grips entirely:

Eric's guide to wiring up Dual Star grips with a Heat-Troller is here.

Recommendation

I have personally tried HotGrips, Kimpex, and Dual Star, in that order. I am by far happiest with the Dual Star kit. The Kimpex kit wasn't bad, but the wiring failed early (this may have been my fault -- I now use safety wire to lock a bit of the wire lead into place against the bar, reducing the forces on the soldered joint).

HotGrips were, by far, the worst solution that I tried, for these reasons:

  • They require you to epoxy their own grips to your bars.
  • Their grips are hard and plasticky.
  • They failed after a winter due to the wire breaking inside, and since it's all sealed up you can't really re-solder any connections...