For those running heated grips...

[Guth_imp]

So here's my question for those of you running heated grips on your CB1100: what temperature (or other general weather conditions) seems to inspire the "turn 'em on" point?

 

[the Ferret]

I turn on my electric gear (grips or jacket liner) anytime below about 45, sometimes 50 if it's a damp 50. I also wear my balaclava under my helmet during those conditions.

 

[emptysea]

I turn my heated grips on at about 50, but sometimes a lot warmer than that if it's damp out -- I've had them on when it was in the 70's in a downpour. The lowest setting when it's warm and damp.

 

[rboe]

No heated grips on the CB, but I do have them on the Griso. I only turn them on when it is pretty cold out, well below 50 - and I'm on a road trip. However; I have a heated jacket liner and glove liners (that seem to work sometimes, not a 100%) and I'll make use of them a lot. If on a long ride they will get used at around 70 ( jacket liner only, below 60 for the liners; that seems a bit high but I also dress fairly lightly knowing I have the supplemental heat so I don't feel all stuffed up like a spaceman in gear).

I've gotten into hypothermia at 72 on a motorcycle, I don't like it.

Since I bought the heated liners I tend to use it rather than pile on layers. For rides of 15-20 minutes I'll just add an extra layer or two and not bother with the electrics. Around 45 degrees my gloves are simply not enough for rides over 20 minutes. It does not help that the CB does not have shields in front of the grips like the Griso and my dirt bike. Breaking that wind is big help. The Griso did not come with them stock; I added the ones that Guzzi uses on the Stelvio.

I have become a believer in heated gloves, not so much the grips (around freezing hot grips and liners are da bomb though!!). Your inside bits get toasty while the outside bits freeze.

Since the liners have proven to be unreliable I'm in the market for gloves with built in elements.

 

[the Ferret]

Rboe you can get shields for the CB. I have them on mine. Seen them as low as $40 on ebay. Easy on easy off

between the hand guards and this cut down shield they block a lot of that cold wind. I take them all off in the summer.

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

Ferret, kinda hard to tell from the pics but are those brackets just put on below the mirror stalks?

 

[Bosti]

When I have gotten the heated grips i thought I would use them only seldomly. But now more and more .....

 

[the Ferret]

Ferret, kinda hard to tell from the pics but are those brackets just put on below the mirror stalks?

Yes, unscrew the mirror, put the hole in the bracket over the hole in the mirror bracket, screw the mirror back in. Done.

Easiest to do with windshield off the bike, but it takes 2 minutes to remove or install the windshield.

 

[Bheezy27403_imp]

Thanks. Sorry for the drift.

 

[the Ferret]

Not a drift imo. The handguards go a long way towards making heated grips efficient. Keeping cold wind off the back of the hands, allows the grips to work more efficiently at keeping the hands warmer

 

[RockHop_imp]

My CB and Triumph Tiger both have heated grips since I lived in the mountains of Northern New Mexico when I bought the bikes. A necessity even in the summer when afternoon thunderstorms can bring rain, hail and temperatures in the 40's or lower real quick.

I have been using them occasionally this winter in Lubbock when my hands are cool enough that I notice. The Tiger has a temperature display so I would say 55 or below. Even the 2 lane roads have up to 75 mph speed limits, so the wind chill is definitely a factor. Humidity not so much here on the high plains.

 

[Acrobat_imp]

Not a drift imo. The handguards go a long way towards making heated grips efficient. Keeping cold wind off the back of the hands, allows the grips to work more efficiently at keeping the hands warmer

This is the reality. No matter how efficient the heated grips are , the wind is the enemy. So do not take your hands of the grips or put some guards on.