Author Topic: Hand warmers (Read 6357 times)

amboman · « **on:** June 28, 2005, 12:22:33 AM »

Not sure what they are called but they are installed under the handgrips and you turn them on and your hands are now warm. Does any one have any info on these things or any thoughts. Are they hard to install??

Red01 · « **Reply #1 on:** June 28, 2005, 01:31:45 AM »

Grip heaters

Don't know about the best sources Down Under, but I got mine from Dual-Star up here in Washington. They do ship internationally.

amboman · « **Reply #2 on:** June 28, 2005, 01:35:49 AM »

Thanks for that. Do they work as well as some folk say. I am riding in about 2-3 celsus thats about 39 farenheit. It would be so nice to be able to feel my fingers at the end of my ride to work.

Red01 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 28, 2005, 02:23:00 AM »

Everyone's a little different in how they feel the heat and cold, and the kind of gloves and/or grips you put on will have an impact, but here's my personal experience. I like my hands WARM! I didn't spring for the heat-troller option and just went with the hi-off-low switch. I ride down to freezing and often wear my summer weight gloves and don't use hi, in fact, I cycle it on and off in the low position. If it's below 40F and I plan on riding for most of the day, I will use my winter weight gloves to keep the backs of my hands warmer, but if it's just an hour or two, I don't.

amboman · « **Reply #4 on:** June 28, 2005, 10:19:54 AM »

Sound good. Will look into local suppiers and see what prices are. Money is a bit tight cause of buying new bike. Thanks for reply.

chippi · « **Reply #5 on:** June 29, 2005, 12:35:34 PM »

VERY IMPORTANT to remember to shut them off or always have a supply of pusher friends

I know this from being a pusher

Don't wire it straight to the bat. If you have to, make sure:
the switch is not in sight of passers-by
you don't get sidetracked while dismounting (I just can't bring my-self to typing "getting-off")

and forget to shut them off

I love my heated gloves. If I leave them plugged in while dismounting I.... fall... down

land_shark · « **Reply #6 on:** June 29, 2005, 05:59:07 PM »

I got the Symtec grip heaters through 2-wheel innovations. $26 or so. I ran a power wire to my front end from a relay connected to the battery with a fuse. That way, they're only on when the bike is on. As for comfort, makes 20F mornings a lot more tolerable!

amboman · « **Reply #7 on:** July 02, 2005, 06:54:06 AM »

Hey thanks guys. I have been investigating here in NZ and the cheapest hand warmers I have found will run me about $ 180.00. will keep looking off shore but at that price my hands won't be warm untill next winter.

ray nielsen · « **Reply #8 on:** July 02, 2005, 03:49:11 PM »

Check the Dennis Kirk snowmobile catalog at <www.denniskirk.com>. They ship internationally and they carry Kimpex brand foil heaters that install under the grips. A high-off-low switch and a voltage dropping resistor are included in the kit for about $26 USD.

I've used these on my last few bikes with very good results. I did wire them through a relay, activated by the ignition switch to avoid running down the battery should I forget to turn them off. Radio Shack carries a relay with 20Amp contact ratings -- it draws only about 0.160 Amps for the coil and has a mounting tab on top.

amboman · « **Reply #9 on:** July 03, 2005, 04:29:04 AM »

Thats great, I will e-mail them for all the info and hopefully have warm hands soon!!

Red01 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 05, 2005, 08:13:20 PM »

The Dual-Star grips are similar to the Kimpex ones, but don't have (or need) a resistor. Dual-Star also ships to NZ.

Only problem with a snowmobile or ATV grip heater is the right had one will get a lot hotter than the left one. Buy heaters made for motorcyles! They have a right and a left heater to account for the handlebar mounted one needing more heat than the throttle sleeve one. (Kimpex and Dual-Star make heaters of both designs.)

banditII · « **Reply #11 on:** September 12, 2005, 08:55:31 PM »

I have the Dual Star set-up on my B-12. Works fantastic. You can also order what I believe is the same product thru the Rider Warehouse catalog, and the Rider Warehouse price is $27.00 plus shipping.

Warren

oremike · « **Reply #12 on:** September 12, 2005, 11:14:41 PM »

One way to keep your hands warmer is to put on V-Strom handguards. They keep the wind and rain off and my hands stay warmer. Those and an electric vest and I'm toasty warm.

deltabravo · « **Reply #13 on:** September 19, 2005, 12:09:15 AM »

I've been using the Dual Star grip heaters on my DR350SE since about 1995 and swear by them... in fact, they kept my hands quite toasty while doing a trail ride on Friday in a rainstorm.

I am going to call them tomorrow and order a set for my B12.

Doug

oldandslow · « **Reply #14 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:31:52 PM »

Quote from: "Red01"

The Dual-Star grips are similar to the Kimpex ones, but don't have (or need) a resistor. Dual-Star also ships to NZ.

Buy heaters made for motorcyles! They have a right and a left heater to account for the handlebar mounted one needing more heat than the throttle sleeve one. (Kimpex and Dual-Star make heaters of both designs.)

I installed Kimpex heaters - either I bought the wrong (snowmobile) version, or installed them backwards, because my throttle hand is nice and warm, but the clutch hand is only luke-warm. Still better than nothing. I think they cost about $22.

Yes, connect them to a switched circuit so you can't kill the battery.

Yes, handguards (or a BIG windscreen like my National Cycle Plexistar 2) that block the wind make a huge difference.

Good luck!
Rob