Heated grips vs. heated gloves

[alexg]

Hi you all:
As winter has taken its rightful place here in SE Michigan, I am wondering how to extend the riding season. Apart from the ice on the road problem, there is the cold hands problem. As the K75 has the possibility of heated grips, I am wondering what is more effective: A good pair of deerskin winter riding gloves (which I already have) plus heated grips or heated gloves. The heated grips retrofit will be more costly, but will also last longer and can be a more convenient option than cables or recharging batteries.


I would be interested in your expert opinions/ findings.


Thanks for all the time and work that goes into maintaining this great site.

[Chaos]

hippo hands are another option, I ride the Ural down to 0F and they're great.  I've had heated grips that stopped working and have a phobia about plugging myself in.  Usually a couple pairs on ebay, I modified mine with a grommet for the mirror stalks, they should fine on a K also. 

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I have heated grips on all my bikes.  They are okay, but they really only heat your palm while the back of your hands gets cold from the wind. 

I also have insulated gloves, but find that they are uncomfortable and make it hard to move my fingers to grip the bars or operate the clutch and brake.

What I would like to find are gauntlet gloves that only have insulation on the back of the hand and fingers.  Together with heated grips that would probably be the very best answer to cold fingers.

As far as other cold weather riding gear, look into Us Army cold weather wear.  They have some very good fleece under garments that are very comfortable and not very expensive.  I have a system of two layers of fleece under my riding gear that works with one layer down to about 40F, and with the second layer I'm good to ride all day at 20F on my RT.

[Scott_]

My '95 has heated grips while my '97 does not.
I also have Gerbings heated gloves.
Like others have mentioned the grips heat your palm, yet the Gerbings gloves only heat the backside of your hand/fingers(so you aren't pinching the heating wire when gripping).
So for me the gloves and grips of the '95 make for a good combination. I haven't had either bike out lately, but hopefully I'll be able to get back on 2 wheels by the weekend.

[stokester]

My '95 has heated grips while my '97 does not.
I also have Gerbings heated gloves.
Like others have mentioned the grips heat your palm, yet the Gerbings gloves only heat the backside of your hand/fingers(so you aren't pinching the heating wire when gripping).
So for me the gloves and grips of the '95 make for a good combination. I haven't had either bike out lately, but hopefully I'll be able to get back on 2 wheels by the weekend.

My experience as well although just using my Gerbing's on the non-heated grips on my Airhead leaves my palms cold I think from the cold-soak of the grips while using some ancient Bates winter gloves on my K75 with heated grips is comfortable to tolerable in the more temperate weather here in coastal VA.

[alexg]

Thanks to all for the replies. I have ordered a heated grips retrofit from BMW MC Chattanooga. The kit was 315$ compared to >500$ from Max BMW. The part number is the same. Will update when I receive the package.


 

[K1300S]

I have heated grips on all my bikes.  They are okay, but they really only heat your palm while the back of your hands gets cold from the wind. 

I also have insulated gloves, but find that they are uncomfortable and make it hard to move my fingers to grip the bars or operate the clutch and brake.

What I would like to find are gauntlet gloves that only have insulation on the back of the hand and fingers.  Together with heated grips that would probably be the very best answer to cold fingers.

.

Here you go.



Insulated back,  thin palm.   I wear them down to upper twenties temp with heated grips on k75s and k13s.

[John Lang]

I would like to install aftermarket heated grips on my K75C, wires to run inside the handlebars. As I see no exit hole in the handlebars for the wiring I will have to drill one. I assume this is normal procedure and that it won't weaken the bars. Advice?

[stokester]

Here you go.



Insulated back,  thin palm.   I wear them down to upper twenties temp with heated grips on k75s and k13s.

I like 'em!

[Scott_]

I would like to install aftermarket heated grips on my K75C, wires to run inside the handlebars. As I see no exit hole in the handlebars for the wiring I will have to drill one. I assume this is normal procedure and that it won't weaken the bars. Advice?

You won't have the entrance holes either... you would have to drill all 3, not impossible, but the wiring could just as easily be bundled with/alongside of the other cables that already are in place at each side of the bar.(IE clutch and throttle)

[John Lang]

Thank you Scott. I thought the bar ends were open: no holes needed. But you are no doubt correct that adding wires to run along the clutch and brake cables is no big deal. Oxford heated grips require another perch but do away with the switch in the pad. Snow is expected any hour in bleak, sub-arctic Ottawa and will bring riding season to a sudden end. This project can wait until spring.

[Martin]

Plastic hand guards help by keeping cold air off your hands. And better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick are those chemical pocket warmers, poke them into your gloves.
Regards Martin.

[K1300S]

Thank you Scott. I thought the bar ends were open: no holes needed. But you are no doubt correct that adding wires to run along the clutch and brake cables is no big deal. Oxford heated grips require another perch but do away with the switch in the pad. Snow is expected any hour in bleak, sub-arctic Ottawa and will bring riding season to a sudden end. This project can wait until spring.

i was just up in ottawa two weeks ago for a meeting...was dang cold then!!!

[jaxon]

Here you go.

Insulated back,  thin palm.   I wear them down to upper twenties temp with heated grips on k75s and k13s.

Firstgear makes some fairly decent gloves for the price. I have a older version of them and they not only hold up well but very comfortable. The fact the insulation is more padded on the top is really helpful. One thing for sure, the handguards that came with my K75S help out. I think these might be it:


http://www.maxbmwmotorcycles.com/fiche/PartsSearch.aspx?&searchtype=partnumber&parts=71609062160


Wife sprung for the BMW version of the Held 2n1's. They seem to be really good gloves got them on sale at $150. If these don't work out I'll have to get the Firstgear ones and wear them when the wife isn't looking.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

Here you go.



Insulated back,  thin palm.   I wear them down to upper twenties temp with heated grips on k75s and k13s.

Sweet!!!  Just what I've been looking for.  I have a First Gear touring jacket and find that their stuff is very well made.

[alexg]

I received the retrofit kit, but the grips are closed at the ends. My bike (K75 S) has weights at the ends of the handlebar. So, my question is, what do these weights do, and how difficult is to remove the innards of the handlebar; that is the small threaded pipe that serves as the attachment point of the weights.


I believe the proper set of grips, from looking at the Max BMW fiche is for the 90-94 K100 RS.


Any feedback will be most welcomed.


Alex

[The Mighty Gryphon]

I have both a K75S and a K100RS.  It sounds to me like someone has installed K100RS bars on your bike.  Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me will give better information, but I think that the bar end weights were intended to help dampen engine vibration on the K100RS.  Since the K75S has a balance shaft in the engine, there is no need for the dampening so the K75 didn't come with the bar end weights.

I think the threaded mounts for the bar end weights are welded in.  Since the bar end weights aren't required on the K75 it may be possible to simply cut the threaded tube off flush with the end of the bar and install your grips.  Are your bars designed for heated grips?  There should be a hole in the bar between the mounts on the triple clamp for the wires to enter, and two holes at the left grip to screw the left heater in place.  Additionally, my bars had slots at the ends for the wires to get from the heater into the bar.  It might be useful to post a photo of the bar ends.

[alexg]

I have both a K75S and a K100RS.  It sounds to me like someone has installed K100RS bars on your bike.  Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me will give better information, but I think that the bar end weights were intended to help dampen engine vibration on the K100RS.  Since the K75S has a balance shaft in the engine, there is no need for the dampening so the K75 didn't come with the bar end weights.

I think the threaded mounts for the bar end weights are welded in.  Since the bar end weights aren't required on the K75 it may be possible to simply cut the threaded tube off flush with the end of the bar and install your grips.  Are your bars designed for heated grips?  There should be a hole in the bar between the mounts on the triple clamp for the wires to enter, and two holes at the left grip to screw the left heater in place.  Additionally, my bars had slots at the ends for the wires to get from the heater into the bar.  It might be useful to post a photo of the bar ends.

Thanks for the reply. The bar does not have a center hole, but I have a drill. The kit instructions indicate the position.

I would like to pull the threaded insert clean, as the electrical wires need to be routed inside the bar, from the end to the center hole.

I will be away this weekend, but will post photos next week.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[K1300S]

I received the retrofit kit, but the grips are closed at the ends. My bike (K75 S) has weights at the ends of the handlebar. So, my question is, what do these weights do, and how difficult is to remove the innards of the handlebar; that is the small threaded pipe that serves as the attachment point of the weights.


I believe the proper set of grips, from looking at the Max BMW fiche is for the 90-94 K100 RS.


Any feedback will be most welcomed.


Alex

one of my K75s's had bar weights when i bought it.  they are just add on's.  unscrew the end, then the center part in the bar just pulls out.

[The Mighty Gryphon]

It's easy to run a messenger line to pull the wires. 

Block one end of the bars, take an air nozzle and put it into the other end.  Loosely put one end of a three foot chunk of heavy string in the bar.  While holding the other end of the string give a shot of air into the end of the bar.  ZIP!  The other end of the string comes out of the hole in the center of the bar ready to pull the wires through.

Do the same thing for the other end of the bar.

[billday]

I think the threaded mounts for the bar end weights are welded in.  Since the bar end weights aren't required on the K75 it may be possible to simply cut the threaded tube off flush with the end of the bar and install your grips.  Are your bars designed for heated grips?  There should be a hole in the bar between the mounts on the triple clamp for the wires to enter, and two holes at the left grip to screw the left heater in place.  Additionally, my bars had slots at the ends for the wires to get from the heater into the bar.  It might be useful to post a photo of the bar ends.

The bar end weights supposedly dampen vibration at the grips. I've had a set for ever but I can't really tell you if they do anything. But they look cool IMO.

Each weight has a screw that expands a plug-type thingie inside the handlebar. No threads or anything involving the bars, no modifications needed to add or delete the weights.

I am pretty sure some handlebars come drilled for heater wires, and have their own part number. But if the person asking the question is too lazy to look it up, then so am I.

[alexg]

Hi all:
An update on the heated grips. Installation was a breeze with the BMW kit from BMW of Chattanooga. Same part number as the one from Max BMW, but 150$ cheaper. Good instructions. My handlebar was drilled for electrical grips already, as one of the replies suggested.
I also bought the BMW hand guards, which are a direct fit. I believe this will make Michigan spring riding bearable. Will post pictures once the bike is assembled, including the temp gauge install.


Thanks for all the good advice.


AlexG

[Inge K.]

Each weight has a screw that expands a plug-type thingie inside the handlebar. No threads or anything involving the bars, no modifications needed to add or delete the weights.

K11's have a threaded pipe welded into the bar ends for the weights, so Alex have bars from a K1100RS.

[billday]

K11's have a threaded pipe welded into the bar ends for the weights, so Alex have bars from a K1100RS.

Thanks Inge. If I knew as much about K bikes as you do, there wouldn't be room in my noggin for anything else.

[alexg]

The weights, and the threaded pipes on each end are held by an o-ring that is compressed, and thus expanded radially upon tightening of the bar ends. Very German. I was able to get them out quite easily.
Alex