Heated Gloves vs. Heated Grips

[Murrgh]

Thoughts on these two? It’s getting pretty cold on my commute and I’ve decided I need either. Can’t decide which. Looking for any recommendations.

[hubcapsc]

The wires make heated gloves awkward to use unless you have a heated
jacket liner with glove connections at the wrist.

I don't have heated grips, but that's a modification to your
bike.

So... those are two downsides I can think of... if your hands
are warm when it is cold, there's no downsides 

-Mike

[Hook#3287]

I can't comment on the heated grips, but I have 15+ year old Gerber heated gloves that plug into my heated jacket/liner and they're excellent.

[Jersey]

I don't have the heated grips, but have been commuting for years in the east coast with heated gloves and they work great.  What helps in my case is the windshield deflecting most of the wind.  I've ridden in 0F and can't imagine heated grips would work as the real cold spot is on the back of the fingers.  Really depends on where you're riding and how cold you want to ride.

[Bagger John - #3785]

I have both...on my Concours 14s.

2008-ABS has no heated grips so I have to use heated gloves. Certain brands last longer than others, and my experiences with the lot show Gerbing to be the best...but not necessarily the warmest. You won't freeze while wearing them, though. I've ridden a with combo of gloves, heated vest, layered clothing (including a neck gaiter) and an armored leather riding outfit in temps of 4 degrees F, at speeds of (redacted) and was as warm as I am sitting here typing this.

2012 has grip heaters from the factory. These can get anywhere from warm to Ouch!, depending on the controller setting. The latter works well for sub-freezing riding, if used in conjunction with a well insulated pair of non-heated riding gloves.

I'd thought about putting a set of Heat Demon grips on my first I/S when I had it, but never got around to doing so. Were I to ride a Valkyrie in cold weather these days I would probably go for the glove option, but both of mine are usually put away by the time heated clothing is really necessary.

ETA:

I echo the sentiments above about the windshield. Both C14s have excellent air management, and I augmented the '08 with a tall California Scientific shield and a pair of Baker Air Wings for the cockpit area.

[MarkT]

I had first a pair of Widders heated gloves.  They used an odd plug - one failed on a cold ride and my fingers froze.  They are bulky - not recommended.  Then I got a pair of WarmNSafe gloves.  Very well made and so are the controllers.  Impressed with the quality, got 2 WarmNSafe jacket liners.  Wired all my bikes to power them. And the Magna - got the same gloves for the wife.  It takes a couple more minutes to plug in before a ride - but when your hands and body are warm regardless of the cold, how much better the ride is!  When the temp drops into the low 40's - if I'm going 5 miles or more, I plug in.

BTW you can put the same kind of plug on your charger - makes it quick to top off your battery if the bike isn't seeing much riding.  I put that plug on 3 of my chargers.

I've never tried grip heaters.  No doubt they are more convenient once installed but I don't think they work as well.

[Grandpot]

I installed heated grips two years ago.   Should have done it long ago!  I have heated gloves also, but prefer heated grips.

[Valker]

I've had both. Heated grips keep my palms warm, but where the wind hits on the backside, my hands froze. I much prefer heated gloves unless I am using my HippoHands (bought in 1973), then the heated grips are fine. I've ridden for hundreds of miles in single digit temps and occasionally below zero (F).

[..]

I have both.

Heated gloves for cold days.

Heated grips for cool days with lighter gloves.

BOTH if it's colder than a well diggers ass.

[sandy]

Chris; Whichever you choose; there are gloves designed for heated grips. The palms have very little insulation so the heat transfers better. The back of the glove is heavily insulated to hold the heat in. You'll find the right gloves on websites.

[Murrgh]

Chris; Whichever you choose; there are gloves designed for heated grips. The palms have very little insulation so the heat transfers better. The back of the glove is heavily insulated to hold the heat in. You'll find the right gloves on websites.

Thanks! This is going to be my first experience with heated gear, so I wanted to hear everyone's thoughts. Especially since it's going to be in the low teens here this week.

[pais]

    I had factory heated grips, hi and low settings on my 2000 Concourse. Absolutely loved them and miss them very much. Does not have to be bone chilling cold to use and enjoy them. Put new grips on the Valkyrie recently and was not smart enough to put heated grips on at the time  .

[Cholla]

On the Valk, I have just heated gloves (FirstGear, work OK). I too have heard good things about Gerbing brand. Would be nice to have both heated gloves & grips

Either direction, one thing that you may consider are some wind deflectors that mount on the handlebars.  I added them after a couple of yrs of just using the heated gloves and by reducing the wind hitting the heated gloves, they really helped keep heat.  Originally, I thought I'd take the deflectors off during warmer weather, but I just leave them on year round now.

Brand I got were made by National Cycle

Also, if you go with heated gloves... I would not get "wireless" (battery operated) heated cycle gloves (vs. the style that plug into your 12V system).  I've got both, and the "wired" gloves far outperform the wireless (batteries in cuffs-"Fly" Brand).  

[clanky]

I've got both.  By far the heated gloves are better!  Heated grips keep the palm side of your hand warm but the top of your hand freezes.  The gloves keep the entire hand warm and comfy.  I ride in weather down to about 36 F.  I've learned below that it's best to ride in heated vehicle cabin!

[Fazer]

I have these heated liners.  My cold weather gloves fit over them and I have to keep the controller on low or they get really warm.  Admittedly, I have not used them extensively so cannot offer any opinions as to how long they last, but the half dozen times I have used them have been excellent.

https://www.activheat.com/Mens-Heated-Glove-Liners-Information-s/647.htm

[Bambam650]

I don't like the hassle of messing with the wires so I have also gone the heated grip route on my daily commuter bike, which is not my Valkyrie.  With heated grips, they are always there when you need them at the touch of a button.

I ride all year round with temperature sometimes getting as low as single digits in Cincinnati in the morning.  When it's that cold I use my Heaterz heated grips with winter gloves and silk glove liners.  I also have hand guards that help deflect the wind.  I usually also install my controls muffs (similar to hippo hands) for winter riding, but I didn't do that this year and was okay without them.  However, my commute is only 8 miles each way.  If it was longer then I definitely would have also used the muffs.

I really like idea of the battery operated heated glove liners that Fazer pointed out in the previous post.

BTW, my every day commuter bike is a 2017 Zero DSR.

[baldo]

On the Valk, I have just heated gloves (FirstGear, work OK). I too have heard good things about Gerbing brand. Would be nice to have both heated gloves & grips

Either direction, one thing that you may consider are some wind deflectors that mount on the handlebars.  I added them after a couple of yrs of just using the heated gloves and by reducing the wind hitting the heated gloves, they really helped keep heat.  Originally, I thought I'd take the deflectors off during warmer weather, but I just leave them on year round now.

Brand I got were made by National Cycle

Also, if you go with heated gloves... I would not get "wireless" (battery operated) heated cycle gloves (vs. the style that plug into your 12V system).  I've got both, and the "wired" gloves far outperform the wireless (batteries in cuffs-"Fly" Brand). 

You beat me to it. I was going to mention the deflectors. I think I installed mine upside down though. I don't feel much of a difference and they just don't look right.

I have the gloves from Warm and Safe, like Mark mentioned. They're excellent.