artistic rider
Well-known member
I see articles on grips and articles on gloves but which are better? Had to delay getting my bike for a week because of the cold and still managed to spend quite a bit for farkles!
which is better? Heated handgrips or gloves?
- Thread starter artistic rider
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Mike-H
Independent
If your hands get that cold....try both.... :dntknw: ....
It's subjective.
For watt-challenged Gen 1 bikes that want to have HID lights and other electric clothing V-Strom hand guards are usually better because one doesn't have to dip into the valuable watt reserve.
If you're not watt challenged the convenience of heated handgrips means you might need to buy and carry less glove choices. But heated gloves are probably more efficient and warm the back of the hand.
FJRay
Well-known member
The advantage with gloves is that they go with you. That being said heated grips and VStrom hand guards work very well and may be cheaper depending on which ones you choose.
raclow
Well-known member
BOTH.... 
feejer222
Well-known member
I have grips. While they stop your hands from getting to the painfull point, they only heat the palm sides and I find the outsides and thumbs still get cold.
artistic rider
Well-known member
ok. I will get the heated gloves. I took the motorcycle safety class and yesterday was the coldest ever for them. The clutch and brake handle froze my fingertips!!!! Its been awhile since I felt that pain! I can't say I missed it.
kindofblue
Well-known member
I've got both. When it's really cold outside I prefer the gloves because they heat the outside of your hands/fingers where the cold wind's blowing on them (can't put guards on my AE). With grips on high your palms can be toasty and the backs of your hands and fingers freezing.
Toecutter
What would DoG do?
I think Smitty figured out a way....
I'm going with grips and guards. They're always there, just in case.
Checkswrecks
Well-known member
I'm a daily commuter, have both, and the answer depends on how cold it is. When it's below 40, the gloves are the way to go and I can't imagine going day after day without them. When above that, the grips are enough. There's a big difference in the heat you get, kind of like the difference between getting a nice toasty pair of gloves out of the clothes dryer or wrapping your gloved hands around a warm pipe in a freezer.
Downsides to each:
The gloves have to be plugged in before flight, which means I need to put on the Gerbing jacket liner that they plug into. Not really a big deal, but an added expnse if you don't have the jacket and heat controller, and just something more to do pre-ride.
With the grips, my fingers are normally resting on the brake and clutch levers, so not getting heat from the grips.
Bob
Downsides to each:
The gloves have to be plugged in before flight, which means I need to put on the Gerbing jacket liner that they plug into. Not really a big deal, but an added expnse if you don't have the jacket and heat controller, and just something more to do pre-ride.
With the grips, my fingers are normally resting on the brake and clutch levers, so not getting heat from the grips.
Bob
Inlaw1
Well-known member
Try a decent pair of winter / rain gloves. I've got a pair of Joe Rocket winter gloves that are water proof and they work very well down to mid 30's for over an hour at a time. Might have to get off and warm up the hands for a bit after that. With heated grips they probably would work for extended periods down to colder temps.
Heated gloves would be the best, especially if your riding any length of time on the bike in cold weather. But as already stated, that can mean an extra pair of gloves to carry and having to plug them up before starting out. Other than long times spent in the cold, a decent pair of winter gloves and heated grips should work well.
Heated gloves would be the best, especially if your riding any length of time on the bike in cold weather. But as already stated, that can mean an extra pair of gloves to carry and having to plug them up before starting out. Other than long times spent in the cold, a decent pair of winter gloves and heated grips should work well.
markjenn
Well-known member
Good comments here. Each has its place.
The grips are always there, don't require any connect/disconnect hassles, allow you to wear gloves of your choice, and are just the ticket to allow you to wear summer gloves in brisk weather, and less bulky gloves in cold weather. They're as easy to use as flipping a switch.
Heated gloves work on your whole hand and are great for really cold weather. But personally, I find them too much hassle. But I don't often ride in really cold weather.
Instead, I often ride in 40-60 degree weather in rain. And I've always found it very difficult to find gloves that will stay watertight in a long ride in the rain. I don't know what options are available in heated rain gloves, but I bet it is more limiting, so another reason to first go with the heated grips, IMHO.
- Mark
The grips are always there, don't require any connect/disconnect hassles, allow you to wear gloves of your choice, and are just the ticket to allow you to wear summer gloves in brisk weather, and less bulky gloves in cold weather. They're as easy to use as flipping a switch.
Heated gloves work on your whole hand and are great for really cold weather. But personally, I find them too much hassle. But I don't often ride in really cold weather.
Instead, I often ride in 40-60 degree weather in rain. And I've always found it very difficult to find gloves that will stay watertight in a long ride in the rain. I don't know what options are available in heated rain gloves, but I bet it is more limiting, so another reason to first go with the heated grips, IMHO.
- Mark
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dbvolfan
Well-known member
Good pair of gloves have worked fine for me during 2 years of commuting in weather as low as below 0 however it's only 30 miles to work. Any further and I would have to say both gloves and heated grips. I am just too damn cheap to buy heated grips.
I also have had a lot of sucess with my Gordini ski gloves combined with Oxford Mitts that fit over the bars/controls. Did 100+ miles in sub 10 degree weather and my chin was cold but fingers happy. Only drawback is the muffs fit my cruiser very well but are kinda bulky on the FJR...difficult to operate turn signals with them on but it didnt matter since I was on the interstate.
I also have had a lot of sucess with my Gordini ski gloves combined with Oxford Mitts that fit over the bars/controls. Did 100+ miles in sub 10 degree weather and my chin was cold but fingers happy. Only drawback is the muffs fit my cruiser very well but are kinda bulky on the FJR...difficult to operate turn signals with them on but it didnt matter since I was on the interstate.
Geezer
Parsimonious Curmudgeon
If the levers were painfully cold while wearing normal motorcycle gloves then the heated glover are the way to go. Heated grips won't help with cold levers.
Toecutter
What would DoG do?
artistic rider
Well-known member
I'm still feeling the gloves are the best route to go. I also hold my fingers feathering the clutch and brake and grips won't do me any good there. I know grips are always there but with this weather in Chicago...current temp is 39 degrees and damp form and earlier rain, I want all the heat I can get!
velvet fog
Well-known member
I just bought a pair of Gerbing G3 gloves. Heating elements extend down the back of each finger and they have a waterproof membrane. Haven't tried the waterproofness yet, but the heat is very nice. I also have two bikes and didn't want to put heated grips on both. The down side is that you need a dual circuit controller to control your jacket heat separately from the glove heat.
The G3's are a bit less bulky than the classics and the smaller gauntlet lets them fit under you jacke or suit during those monsoons. (You do put your gloves inside for rainy weather don't you? )
The G3's are a bit less bulky than the classics and the smaller gauntlet lets them fit under you jacke or suit during those monsoons. (You do put your gloves inside for rainy weather don't you?
)
FJR Steve
Well-known member
I always felt that the heated grips could only keep the palms of your hands warm...and leave the fingers prone to frost bite.
My wife has just bought me some thermal 'inner' gloves to wear on the inside of my normal road gloves. Can't wait for the cooler weather to try them. Which means anything between 12 and 17C here in Western Australia.
Suffer guys
My wife has just bought me some thermal 'inner' gloves to wear on the inside of my normal road gloves. Can't wait for the cooler weather to try them. Which means anything between 12 and 17C here in Western Australia.
Suffer guys
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