How well do heated grips work?

[Motoscout]

My 1994 R1100RS is the first bike I've owned with heated grips.  They do work but I thought they would be warmer than they are.  If working properly do they actually get hot or just warm?  They don't seem to make much difference but they are definitely working somewhat. Thanks!

[dirtrider]

13 minutes ago, Motoscout said:

My 1994 R1100RS is the first bike I've owned with heated grips.  They do work but I thought they would be warmer than they are.  If working properly do they actually get hot or just warm?  They don't seem to make much difference but they are definitely working somewhat. Thanks!

 

Afternoon  Motoscout

 

Depends, on how much COLD air flow in the heated grip area, if you are wearing gloves & then how insulated the glovers are,  how tightly that you grip the heated grips, how long the heated grips have been turned on, etc.

 

They can get pretty warm with the twist grip side getting slightly warmer as that side free floats on the cold inner handlebar with the L/H (clutch) side putting more of it's heat into the solid bar under it. 

 

Get your riders manual out & make sure that you have them turned on HIGH.

 

Personally, I don't use my heated grips much (on any of my bikes) in cold weather as they only heat the palms not the backs of my hands, plus my palms don't really get cold it's the back of my hands that usually get cold at sustained high speeds. I do use them occasionally  while riding in the rain in cool weather as, to me,  they help a little in the damp conditions.

 

My personal preference is heated gloves in real cold  weather riding  as they heat the whole hand & they don't require keeping hands-on-bars to work like heated grips do.

 

 

[Motoscout]

Thanks for the response.  I do have heated gloves but haven't used them on this bike.  The unfair comparison between the gloves and grips is probably why I don't think they work so well.  Luckily the engine is easy to reach at red lights and the weather will improve at some point.

[Michaelr11]

Motoscout - the heated grips have two heat settings, High - Low (and Off). The rocker switch sits midway when Off.  Push the lower part of the switch in for Low, and push the upper part of the switch in for High.  The heated grips by themselves are very good at keeping me comfortable into the 40's. Below that, the combination of heated grips with heated gloves is good into the 20's. In "cool weather" the high setting can get nearly uncomfortable after a while.

[Motoscout]

I read the manual wrong and pushed the lower part for high.  Wish I could say it was written in German, but that's not the case. I'll take it out in 34 degree weather today after work.  Thanks for pointing that out.

[Tri750]

The RT obviosly gives you better wind protection than the RS so the grips are more effective. 

You can use the handguards off the same year GS on the RS for more protection and if you like, remove them after the cold weather. The caution is the guards will contact the screen if I remember correctly when turned full lock. 

I worked a dealership back when the 1100's were new so we would use the GS handguards on the RS and the R. 

 

[RAMBLIN RED]

Quote

On 2/15/2019 at 8:05 AM, BarnRat said:

Yes, sometimes people surprise me. And it does make me feel better about humanity.

 

I carry two plugger kits and a CO2 gun (with extra cartridges) and a can of Fix-A-Flat.  With that I have a chance to plug a flat tubeless tire.  Tubed tire?  Well, your stuck, SOL.  Modern tubed tires are not like they were in the 60s -- it's not practical today (roadside) to remove the wheel, take off the tire (with tire tools), remove the tube, find the hole,  patch it, pump it back up with a small bicycle pump.

 

22 hours ago, Motoscout said:

I read the manual wrong and pushed the lower part for high.  Wish I could say it was written in German, but that's not the case. I'll take it out in 34 degree weather today after work.  Thanks for pointing that out.

 

First I need to figure how to do a quote...I meant to quote Motoscout to say that on my bike the lower position IS high. I thought I had reversed the plug when I pulled the instrument trim panel but it only connects one way so somewhere the wires are crossed but it's just a quirk to deal with.

 

 

[dirtrider]

2 hours ago, RAMBLIN RED said:

First I need to figure how to do a quote...I meant to quote Motoscout to say that on my bike the lower position IS high. I thought I had reversed the plug when I pulled the instrument trim panel but it only connects one way so somewhere the wires are crossed but it's just a quirk to deal with.

 

 

Afternoon RAMBLIN RED

 

It's been a while but if I remember correctly most  of the 1100 bikes operate--  switch toggled up is high, middle position is off, and switch toggled down is low.

 

I haven't tried but it might be possible to install the switch upside down so that could reverse the high/low direction.

 

If you have a riders manual just look in that for operation direction.

 

Also, see if the little heating diagram on the switch is at the top or at the bottom (this could tell us if the switch is installed upside down)

 

[njl4]

Good evening Ramblin Red

 

I have been driving an R1100rt for years now and all the R1100rt that I've owed have all been the same. Switch down =low switch in the middle=off and switch up = High.

On a cold day you cant beat the heat provided even if your wearing heavy riding gloves, yes it takes a minute or so but it does help.

 I have Grip Puppies on my grips and they still get pretty warm. 

[RAMBLIN RED]

My '96 R11RT  had the correct orientation, down for low, the 2000 I now own is opposite. The heating diagram is on the bottom of the switch, matching the other switches . I had a few cold rides before I found the problem but it is what it is and it isn't worth tearing everything down to find the source. Just a little strange......

[Tri750]

My '99 was up for low. Confusing. 

I just swapped the wires on the switch so low was low and high was high. Posisiton and temp matched. 

[CNred]

My first set of heated grips came on a R1150gs bike I bought new in 2004.  I didn't want them on the bike but they came with the bike so I didn't have a choice. A couple months later I was caught in rain and cold in the mountains so I thought I'd give them a try. OMG, every bike I have owned since has had heated brips from the factory or I have added them. For me, best thing since "Popcorn at the Movies".

I have noticed that BMW grips work best when the bikes battery is in good condition - weak battery or electrical system less heat.

[tallman]

They work.

How well depends. As above.

Get heated gloves.

Easy enough to access battery and direct connect.

I rarely used heat grips after I found heated gloves/

Why would one?

Best wishes.

[SAS]

I agree with tallman.

[RAMBLIN RED]

When it is very cold I use heated gloves and grips......to each hie own.

[SAS]

Ramblin Red  nothing wrong with that

[AndyS]

Well, I have an RT,  I am one of the supporters of heated grips. I think they are fantastic. They extend the time I can be running on my summer gloves considerably. When the time comes for winter gloves, they make a significant difference too.

[SAS]

I am a supporter of heat period.  It makes it possible to ride all year around without having to think about being cold, and being able to concentrate on the ride instead of being cold.

[tallman]

On ‎2‎/‎21‎/‎2019 at 7:23 AM, RAMBLIN RED said:

When it is very cold I use heated gloves and grips......to each hie own.

 

Oh yes.

Silk glove liners.

Heated Gerbings.

Aerostitch Triple Digits over that.

Coldest was around 10. Lots of low temps with that setup and hands stayed warm.

Best wishes.