Heated grips - factory or aftermarket - what do you think?

[rotortech71]

I am seriously considering ordering the Oxford Adventures from Amazon. The only thing that gives me pause is that the two reviews both slammed Oxford on the installation process.

The first reviews states that the supplied adhesive sets way too quickly (2 seconds) causing the grips to freeze in place before he was even able to slide the grips into place. He suggested using aftermarket grip adhesive in place of the supplied super glue to allow for a little forgiveness.

The second reviewer stated that if your grips are even .1mm larger that the specified grip size that you will NOT be able to install the grips (he didn't say what bike he had). The first reviewer also mentioned that the grips are very inflexible when it comes to the diameter of your handlebars.

A lot of you guys seem to be using these grips and have high praise for them. Any of you have comments on what the reviewers had to say? Your thought, as always, are appreciated.

BTW, the only review on the Revzilla site was from Boondocker so we know it was positive. Revzilla and Amazon both have the same price but I'm leaning to Amazon since their Prime service makes ordering such a breeze.

I've installed the Oxford grips four different times on various bikes, and they are great, so don't hesitate to get them. Especially the adventure version for this bike. What I have found though, and this is just my personal opinion, is that you should trash the super glue that comes with the kit. It IS super glue, and it WILL set fast. Too fast, especially when you glue plastic to plastic, like on the throttle tube side. The first time I installed this kit on a V-strom, I didn't move fast enough on the throttle side, and the glue bonded before I got the grip all the way on. I ended up having to cut the grip off and buy a replacement. After that happened, I did some research and found that others use Devcon two part epoxy, that's rated for higher temperatures. I used that from then on it's a far better choice than the supplied super glue. Slow cure time, so you don't have to rush, then bonds very strong. Use some sandpaper to rough up both the bar surface, as well as the interior plastic of the grips before applying the epoxy. Also, only apply the epoxy to the bar / throttle tube. Don't apply it to the inside of the grip, otherwise it will scrape off as you slide the grip on, and you risk getting it around and under the throttle tube.

 

[djm_ct]

Thanks Koinz and Rotortech. That information you guys gave is very helpful. I'm going to go ahead and get the Oxfords. ::008::

 

[OldRider]

For what's worth, I didn't use any glue at all. The Oxfords went on pretty tight, so I figured if they ever got loose, I could glue them on at that time. So far, so good, but the Summer heat will be the real test.

 

[jimbob]

For what's worth, I didn't use any glue at all. The Oxfords went on pretty tight, so I figured if they ever got loose, I could glue them on at that time. So far, so good, but the Summer heat will be the real test.

+1. No glue here either. Time will tell on the throttle tube but the clutch side isn't going anywhere as it was damn near impossible to get the grip over the knurled end on my Pro Taper ATV High bars...

Still very happy with the Oxford Adventures.

 

[arjayes]

I should probably start a new thread for this but I'm in a hijacking kind of mood. >

I have the OEM heated grips and finally needed to use them on a long ride through the mountains yesterday. I had turned them on before only to verify that they worked. Well, as several people have complained on this board and others, the heat is very uneven between the left and right grips. In my case the difference was huge. Right almost too hot to handle, and left kicking out hardly any heat at all.

After thinking and reading about the problem it makes sense. The right grip has a plastic throttle tube under it to insulate it from the steel handlebar and the grip material is thinner than the left to compensate for the thickness of the throttle tube. The left grip is mounted directly to the handlebar, and the grip material is much thicker than the right. So if the grips aren't designed to compensate for these differences the result will be much more heat delivered to the right hand than the left hand, even if the two grips are drawing the same amount of current.

Questions:

1. For those using non-OEM heated grips or heating elements, don't you all have this uneven heating problem to some degree?
2. Has anyone successfully solved this problem? If yes, what did you do? The obvious solution is to add resistors to the circuit to reduce current to the right grip, but I'd like to hear the details of a successful mod.

Thanks.

 

[rotortech71]

I should probably start a new thread for this but I'm in a hijacking kind of mood. >

I have the OEM heated grips and finally needed to use them on a long ride through the mountains yesterday. I had turned them on before only to verify that they worked. Well, as several people have complained on this board and others, the heat is very uneven between the left and right grips. In my case the difference was huge. Right almost too hot to handle, and left kicking out hardly any heat at all.

After thinking and reading about the problem it makes sense. The right grip has a plastic throttle tube under it to insulate it from the steel handlebar and the grip material is thinner than the left to compensate for the thickness of the throttle tube. The left grip is mounted directly to the handlebar, and the grip material is much thicker than the right. So if the grips aren't designed to compensate for these differences the result will be much more heat delivered to the right hand than the left hand, even if the two grips are drawing the same amount of current.

Questions:

1. For those using non-OEM heated grips or heating elements, don't you all have this uneven heating problem to some degree?
2. Has anyone successfully solved this problem? If yes, what did you do? The obvious solution is to add resistors to the circuit to reduce current to the right grip, but I'd like to hear the details of a successful mod.

Thanks.

I can't speak for the OEM heated grips, I've never tried them. But to answer your question on the non-OEMs, I've run more than one set of Oxfords, and have never felt them heating unevenly. If there IS some heat loss through the left side, it's too minor for me to notice.

 

[ejy712]

Questions:

1. For those using non-OEM heated grips or heating elements, don't you all have this uneven heating problem to some degree?
2. Has anyone successfully solved this problem? If yes, what did you do? The obvious solution is to add resistors to the circuit to reduce current to the right grip, but I'd like to hear the details of a successful mod.

Thanks.

I use the Warm & Safe handgrip heat troller kit.
http://www.warmnsafe.com/heated-handgrip-wrap-single-semi-mount-handgrip-heat-troller-kit/

The left and right grip warmers are different to compensate for the plastic vs metal mounting substrate. These work very well for me. The heat to the hands is not noticeably different. The heat troller is very efficient in that it supplies full power for some fraction of each second instead of using a rheostat (variable resistor). Even when it is very cold to ride (in the low teens fahrenheit) I can't use but little over half power for fear of burning my hands. They are warm.

I have found you don't want to keep your hands warm! The trick is to use just enough power to keep your hands not cold and not sweating. Sweat is the enemy in cold weather.

 

[Sckill]

I am running a set of Oxford ADV grips. Heat feels even on both sides and temps are very warm, but not too hot even at the 100% setting. From what I've been reading here, I didn't want to take a chance on $400 OEM grips that you can only use to half power or else risk burning yourself.

Agree on earlier comments about the super glue setting way too fast. I couldn't push the grips on all the way in with my bare hands and I needed to put on rubberized work gloves to hold onto the grips and get into place. I also had some issues with a sticky throttle when some of the glue got between the bar and the throttle tube, but I solved by taking off the throttle tube and sanding away the excess glue. If I had to do it again, I would have tried not using any glue.

 

[Roadminge]

::026:: no glue on previous oxford installs, and I plan to go glueless on the S10 too

 

[Tenman]

I've got oem heated grips. Had them bout a month. Probably got 10 hrs of time on them. No problem putting them on and so far they are great. As far as what setting to run them on. Well I did have a little problem finding the pigtail to plug it in to. It's stuck in a hole and I couldn't see the end to plug it in. I start on low and slowly turn them up. Learned quik that if I turn them too high my hands will sweat in my gloves and then it gets cold. I didn't use any glue just in case I had to remove them. They are ON there too. Bypass the glue. It's can be a pain in the ass. Use hair spray. It works too and isn't a messy pain like grip glue.

 

[Ron_Luning]

I reviewed the Oxford grips here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009T4P1DE/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Really that is all about installation issues most of which i assume has been discussed elsewhere in this and other threads.

They put out a decent amount of heat. I would not rely on them in sub zero temps.

They have a bit more girth than the original grips, but once i got used to them they increased my riding pleasure.

 

[OldRider]

Sub zero = heated gloves, no doubt about it.