Heated Grip Pads... What to choose: $6.00 ebay $35 dual-star or $100 somethign else

[vr4]

hey guys,

I am trying to decide on what pads to install on my 919.

exhibit a:
$6.00 shipped from china
Toggle switch & bracket
1 heat level
Motorcycle Heated Grip Pads for Handlebars Black 12V - eBay (item 160523747551 end time Feb-24-11 22:59:48 PST)

exhibit b:
$32+ shipping
Toggle Switch - NO bracket
2 Heat levels
Heated Grip Kit


what do you guys think? Am I making a complete mistake by cheaping out here with the ebay crap? I like the bracket though

[rmb]

TwistedThrottle.com, $75 Oxfords, best investment I've made, use them all the time.

http://www.twistedthrottle.com/trade...view/5220/481/

[james_kraska]

I can vouch for the oxfords for heat and convienience, (I've mentioned them in a few threads) but the downside to them is the lack of a rheostat (just on/off, I guess that could be fixed for about 0.50$ at radio shack) and they make the grip very big, which I found tiresome on my trip across Canada last spring when I needed them all day long. it left the sensation that I was pulling with my thumb on the throttle side. But this was 12 hour days.. YMMV.

I'd be curious to see the pads wrapped under the grips....

[Madmotor]

I have the dual stars. They work really well, but they only heat the palm of your hand, not the top. In really cold weather, you may still long for a pair of heated gloves. That being said, they are definitely a worthy investment. I would definitely buy the shrink wrap that they recommend for the clutch side to keep the handlebar from sucking all of the heat away. I mounted the switch under the left side of the top triple clamp on an aluminum bracket. Good Luck!

Madmotor
'06 919

[rmb]

Originally Posted by james_kraska

I can vouch for the oxfords for heat and convienience, (I've mentioned them in a few threads) but the downside to them is the lack of a rheostat (just on/off, I guess that could be fixed for about 0.50$ at radio shack) and they make the grip very big, which I found tiresome on my trip across Canada last spring when I needed them all day long. it left the sensation that I was pulling with my thumb on the throttle side. But this was 12 hour days.. YMMV.

I'd be curious to see the pads wrapped under the grips....

My Oxfords have 4 heat settings, the highest setting will be uncomfortably warm with a light set of gloves.

[james_kraska]

Originally Posted by rmb

My Oxfords have 4 heat settings, the highest setting will be uncomfortably warm with a light set of gloves.

+1 on the heat though -as mentioned in other posts. I ride as soon as there's no ice on the roads usually early April I'm out and about on the highway and I've never had cold hands with the Oxfords.

[curiousmike]

I use the Dual Star-type ( I think Sympatex is the name?)

I've put them on many of my past bikes, and I find them to be insanely useful.

Yes, they only heat the "palms" of your hands, but for me I find that to be plenty.

[vr4]

Originally Posted by curiousmike

I use the Dual Star-type ( I think Sympatex is the name?)

I've put them on many of my past bikes, and I find them to be insanely useful.

Yes, they only heat the "palms" of your hands, but for me I find that to be plenty.

Do you guys think the ebbay pads are a mistake? I mean I can afford $35 for earners but @ 6$ - that is really really cheap

[vr4]

Also - how many people are using relays?

Where is the best place to tap into? @ 35 watts do you think I could just steal juice off of my headlight?

[curiousmike]

Those $6 ebay ones look a lot like the ones I've bought in the past.

I'm a bit of a hacker when it comes to installing this stuff... I've just jambed the wires into the fuse box in the past.

Whatever you do on install, ensure you don't have them directly wired to the battery -- you will forget to turn them off one day and you will have a dead battery.

[vr4]

Originally Posted by rmb

TwistedThrottle.com, $75 Oxfords, best investment I've made, use them all the time.

TwistedThrottle.com : Oxford Heaterz Heated Motorcycle Handlebar Grips for 7/8-inch Diameter Handlebars (Sports Style) - OXF.26.0696

did they come with a relay to switch them on and off?

[rmb]

Originally Posted by vr4

did they come with a relay to switch them on and off?

Yes, click on the link, you can see the kit.

[Effe]

I beg you not to buy electronics from China...

[Ken Phenix]

Here's a cheap hi-lo switch setup for grips or gloves. It's a DPDT center off toggle.



Heated grips will do well on those night rides in the low 50's. Add hand guards and you'll be comfy down into the 40's but ultimately you get what you pay for. Grips do not heat your knuckles or the backs of your hands where the cold wind hits. Heated gloves work down below freezing and with hand guards to block the wind you can ride in even colder temps. My coldest sustained ride was at 17f and my hands were toasty.

[Toast]

$60 shipped gets you brand new oxfords, never used. From me.