cold weather commuting

[rpiian]

To remove the current grips, sometimes you can just twist them off (though one hopes they're unable to spin, it does sometimes happen); otherwise you can try shooting some WD-40-esque liquid between the grip and bar to loosen it up.

I am told compressed air (like... with a compressor, not the canned) and a nozzle work great for getting pesky grips off as well.

I can ride in low 40's with a double insulated jacket, chaps, balaclava, timberland steel toes, and summer riding gloves. My hands and legs get pretty cold after my 1hr 20min commute though. A fully faired motorcycle also helps, as I wasn't able to do that on my old nekkid KZ.

I would really need heated grips, snowmobile gloves and cold weather pants to ride indefinitely. I've used my snowboarding gear before, but it looks a little goofy...

[StrayNut]

Definitely shouldn't need hippo hands on top of the grip heaters for So Cal. I used to ride through the winter up and down the 10 fwy in a leather jacket, hoodie, and my regular gloves (not comfortably... but functionally). Unless it's really windy or you're going up in the hills...

I'd be interested in any tips/tricks you might have after installing your grip heaters.

[kawazzr]

I found this link to be helpful when installing my heated grips:

http://www.pbase.com/fredharmon/heatedgrips

Honestly though...it is quite an easy add on to do.

And as someone said earlier, compressed air is the best/easiest way to go when removing or installing the rubber grips.

[nhbubba]

Why wait until winter for the grips?

Order HotGrips, they'll be at your day in a day, and install in 30 minutes.

Meh, maybe. I am not the fastest installing such things. So the bike would probably be down for at least a day or two. Not sure I'm okay with that right now.

You know what, fuck-it. Gonna order them now. Supposed to be shitty later this week and I probably won't ride then anyway.

anyone wanna go riding?

Yes. Only 2 more hours and I can get the hell out of here and ride home!

[nt650hawk]

No need to install anything....
Jacket liner and gloves

http://www.nestreetriders.com/forum/...ts-gloves.html




Good to 10 degrees

[nhbubba]

No need to install anything....

Huh? Don't those systems require being wired to the bike? How does that work without installing a harness?

[e30addict]

Meh, maybe. I am not the fastest installing such things. So the bike would probably be down for at least a day or two. Not sure I'm okay with that right now.

You know what, fuck-it. Gonna order them now. Supposed to be shitty later this week and I probably won't ride then anyway.

Yes. Only 2 more hours and I can get the hell out of here and ride home!

It's easy. I suck at electrical work and I did it no problem. Warm is good! The first time you use them you'll wonder why you waited so long.

[tonyd]

Huh? Don't those systems require being wired to the bike? How does that work without installing a harness?

Heated clothing only requires a wire to each battery terminal.

Grips require removing and installing new grips, wiring terminals, control switch, wire harness, and usually some sort of resistor/controller on the bike.

For me it would be 10 minutes vs 3 hrs.

I would recommend the Oxford heated grips over Hot Grips for fit and finish. got mine from twistedthrottle

[Stromper]

Gerbing jacket liner with mesh jacket armor

Ride in the morning and then return in the heat with it off

Get or make the controller

Gerbing jacket but no armor?

Just road all over North New England with Gerbing Jacket liner under fieldsheer 3/4
Morning temps down to 27F and was fine

[nhbubba]

This morning was about the edge of my threshold in the gear I have. That wind is COLD @ 75 MPH.
And I want to kick whoever designed the insulated liner in my pants; it is about 9-10" shorter than the pants and fall just short of the top of my boots, creating a nice seam for the wind to get into.
Also coming to the realization that an across the frame four (a la my old Bandit 1200) provides a nice place to hide your legs behind vs a V-twin in the new V-Strom.

[nt650hawk]

Huh? Don't those systems require being wired to the bike? How does that work without installing a harness?

Most people have the have the batterry tender quick connect cord on their bikes already. That is what you plug into.

[nhbubba]

I guess I'm not most people. I've always pulled my battery for winter.

[TheIglu]

If you ditch the vanson and get a nice 3/4 length Cortech jacket with a liner, you should be fine without heated anything. Add a heated jacket liner to that mix and things get nice and toasty in all but the coldest days.

Don't go for a heated vest, heat in the arms means no need for heated grips. Plus you'll have more storage in the form of pockets.

[Father Ribs]

I picked up a set of them there Gerbil gloves after riding to work 3 days of 35 degrees with mesh gloves. Only used 'em once so far and didn't turn the heat on, but warmpth wise they kept me fine in 40 degree weather. Took some getting used to the increased bulk though...not sure I'd like to wear them in stop-go traffic.

[breakdirt916]

got my grip heaters

does it matter which kind of grips I replace the old ones with? Any of them better for the elements?

I also am going to tap into my fuse box so that they turn off with the bike.

[Rossco]

Just ordered heated grips and V-strom handguards for my bandit.

With those and my Cortech scarab winter gloves, along with fully insulated textiles, I should be good until the snow flies.

[KB]

I roll with a Gerbings jacket liner with a thermostat, AStar waterproof 3/4 lenght jacket. A Pair of frogtoogs mc rain pants. Hippo hands, heated grips, balaclava is an absolute must! Toasty down to about 20 degrees. All of this and a 1973 Yamaha 400.

KB

[nhbubba]

I'm about thiiiis ][ close to pulling the trigger on a set of hot-grips. Need to figure out the order permutations I need for my bike. Also trying to decide if I want to just ponny up for a heat troller for them now, or live with the included 2-position switch setup for now.

I recently ordered a nice accessory plate and fuse box setup for the bike with the hopes of doing it 'right' and not butchering the electrical system or fairing plastics.

Rossco. I put a set of the suzi hand guards on my 'strom recently. I'm actually kind of surprised at how well they cut the wind from your hands. I feel a little nervous about having the guards in the way as it is a little harder to grab the levers in a panic.. But the price was right and I used 'em to fill out an order and qualify for free shipping.

[nt650hawk]

balaclava is an absolute must!

http://www.klim.com/en-us/shop/snow/headwear/3085-000

[Rusty the Scoob]

I ordered this heated jacket liner a week or two ago, been using it most days ever since. Totally awesome!

http://store.teizms.com/venture-heated-jacket

[e30addict]

I'm about thiiiis ][ close to pulling the trigger on a set of hot-grips. Need to figure out the order permutations I need for my bike. Also trying to decide if I want to just ponny up for a heat troller for them now, or live with the included 2-position switch setup for now.

I recently ordered a nice accessory plate and fuse box setup for the bike with the hopes of doing it 'right' and not butchering the electrical system or fairing plastics.

Rossco. I put a set of the suzi hand guards on my 'strom recently. I'm actually kind of surprised at how well they cut the wind from your hands. I feel a little nervous about having the guards in the way as it is a little harder to grab the levers in a panic.. But the price was right and I used 'em to fill out an order and qualify for free shipping.

2 position switch works fine for my liking on the grips. You WANT a heat troller on the heated clothing.

[Motoboosey]

Wow, this is some fancy stuff...to he honest I read the title and thought Carhartt.....haha ah the beauty of my simple mind... My cold weather gear of choice

http://www.carhartt.com/webapp/wcs/s...category=10926.

Woo farmers!

[nhbubba]

Equally as expensive too!

[Motoboosey]

Equally as expensive too!

I know, but I really love carhartt my current jacket I have been working in for about five years, so they are built to last even in harsh conditions wanna work jacket, get carhartt! Or good jeans, or warm hoodies or winter hats, gloves, boots, socks , umm yea everything I wear on any given weekend is carhartt

[backinthesaddle]

Pardon the pun, but could the 2012 BMW S1000RR with heated grips be the hot sportbike setup? All that power and warm hands? If only they could keep the tires warm on a cold day.