Heated grips - recommendations

[WarrenH]

I haven't seen a recent discussion on this topic. I'm looking for a good set of heated grips for my 2014 Valkyrie.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks, Warren.

[dinosnake]

I like Drag Specialties' heated grips for several reasons:

- the controller is built in to the left grip so you don't have to figure out a separate place to mount it
- there is only one power cable from the battery, it goes to the left grip (only), making for easy routing of the wiring up to the bar
- the wire from the left grip to the right grip is internal in the bar, with no external wire to the throttle there is nothing to snag and it's very clean looking

their negatives are:

- left grip is always too short for metric cruisers

The grips are available in "Harley" version, where the left grip has a ring that goes underneath the control pods, and a "Metric" version where the left grip simply ends flush at the point of the controller.  The Metric versions are harder to find but, if you get them, you can easily solve the "too short" problem by removing the chromed plastic inner trim ring from the stock grips, along with the matching rubber underneath, reassembling both together and simply placing them on the bar before installing the grips.  The trim ring perfectly fills the space and makes the left grip look just about 100% factory.

I liked the Avons but were told that they are actually too long for our bikes, but still work, but the main problem I didn't want to deal with was their all-internal wiring and external controller.  I did not have any place to mount the controller since I have my left grip full of other accessories, so that's out.

Every other heated grip except OEM Harleys either used external wiring on both grips (ugh!) or external controllers (maybe I could have mounted a dial controller on the rear of the radiator pod).  Harley's heated grips are really nice, with slick internal controllers built into the end of the grip, but I hear nothing but horror stories about their [un]reliability - some people have gone through 3 sets of grips before they just give up and never replace them again (they fail in the wet, which I've never had a problem with from the Drag Specialties, even power washing the bike).

[texrider]

I've got the Oxford set for cruisers with 1" bars, works great.

[st2sam]

Hey guys, bringing this thread back from the dead.  

I want to install heated grips this winter and thought I'd ask for updates, likes - dislikes, on the grips your using.  
Most important question, 1" or 3/4" when ordering?  (looks like 1"  )

Thanks.

[bscrive]

I am going to be installing some Avon heated grips. I have a pair of their regular grips on and I really like them so I figured they're heated grips would be just as good. You will need them for 1in bars.  just look at their site and order the ones for metric Cruiser they have a listing for the valkyrie

[st2sam]

I am going to be installing some Avon heated grips. I have a pair of their regular grips on and I really like them so I figured they're heated grips would be just as good. You will need them for 1in bars.  just look at their site and order the ones for metric Cruiser they have a listing for the valkyrie

Thanks Brian, I'll check them out.

[bscrive]

I just bought the Avon heated grips for my Valk. I got the same looking one as I have now. The instructions require the wires to go through the bars to hook both sides together.  This means that I need to drill a hole at the bottom of the bars between the clamps. That is not an issue, but it means that I have to take the bars off to drill the hole and then put them back on.  Hooking the wires together and installing the switch looks pretty easy.  I then need to find a switched wire to get my power. Don't want to hook it to the battery directly in case I forget to turn the grips off. That means that I will need to put in a relay. I imagine that these guys use a lot of juice when on.
I will take pictures an do a write up on the install. I get the grips in a couple of weeks.

[st2sam]

I just bought the Avon heated grips for my Valk. I got the same looking one as I have now. The instructions require the wires to go through the bars to hook both sides together.  This means that I need to drill a hole at the bottom of the bars between the clamps. That is not an issue, but it means that I have to take the bars off to drill the hole and then put them back on.  Hooking the wires together and installing the switch looks pretty easy.  I then need to find a switched wire to get my power. Don't want to hook it to the battery directly in case I forget to turn the grips off. That means that I will need to put in a relay. I imagine that these guys use a lot of juice when on.
I will take pictures an do a write up on the install. I get the grips in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the up-date Brian.
I did visit their website and WOW not shy about pricing! However, they look well made and might be worth the price.

Looking forward to your write up. 

[bscrive]

I bought mine off eBay.  Much cheaper.  I got them for $147.

[bscrive]

I got the grips put on and all I can say is that I hope they get warmer when I ride the bike.  I had them on for over a minute and the grips were just starting to get warm and that was on the high setting. 

It is a pretty straight forward install.  The only time consuming thing that you have to do is drill a 3/8" hole in the bars between the clamps, so the bars have to come off.  Also, the tank has to come off the bike to run the wires.  The wiring is child's play.  You just have to connect same coloured wires together after you put the grip's wires through the bars.  There are a few videos on YouTube on how to do this.

If the heat doesn't get better, then I would say that these grips are a bust.  I won't know for sure until spring.  Hopefully, they will be better.

[Jess from VA]

B, if heated grips are like heated clothing, it makes a huge difference when you run the bike (and motor & charging system) on the road, and not idling in the driveway.

The first time I used my Gerbing jacket liner (over just a Tshirt, as they recommend), I got only a small bit of warmth sitting in the driveway.  But when I got out on the road at 55, the heat quickly came up to the point of painfully microwaving my nipples.  I then discovered I could not manipulate the little bitty heat control knob with my big fat heated gloves on, so I had to pull off the road and rip the wires out.  Though I doubt heated grips ever get that hot.

[bscrive]

Well Jess, I am not putting my nipples on my grips to find out.   

[Jess from VA]

Well Jess, I am not putting my nipples on my grips to find out.   

Good idea, and besides hands can take a lot more heat than most other parts of the body.

That's why most electric users have twin controllers; one for the gloves, and one for everything else. 

[st2sam]

I got the grips put on and all I can say is that I hope they get warmer when I ride the bike.  I had them on for over a minute and the grips were just starting to get warm and that was on the high setting. 
It is a pretty straight forward install.  The only time consuming thing that you have to do is drill a 3/8" hole in the bars between the clamps, so the bars have to come off.  Also, the tank has to come off the bike to run the wires.  The wiring is child's play.  You just have to connect same coloured wires together after you put the grip's wires through the bars.  There are a few videos on YouTube on how to do this.
If the heat doesn't get better, then I would say that these grips are a bust.  I won't know for sure until spring.  Hopefully, they will be better.

Thanks for the update Brian.
I'll wait a few weeks before I start the install.

[ledany]

I had my heated grips installed last week. It took 2 hours because of the OEM grips of the Valk which as you know are not standard at all and because the harness in Europe is not as complete as the one you have. The guy had to plug from the headlight (the wires of the heated grips were too short), fix the fuse on the right side of the fork.

There are five heating levels but I use the first one only (even when the temperature is between 0/2°C) with my summer gloves. Of course, I have these ugly hand grips cover, so useful : no wind, no rain ! 

I don't regret the install at all, shoud have done this long ago, so I skip using enormous wintergloves  and as my Valk has now 80.000 mls on the clock, I don't regret the slick OEM grips 

Bonne année à tous !