I got my ducati awhile ago but I barely realized it had grip heaters and They are amazing to ride with in cold weather...

so i did a lot of internet research on the brands and different types and went with the symtec "style" its a very generic kit with a few feet of wire, a switch, and two clear plastic sheets with a metal circuit on them and two wires coming out, these wrap around your handlebar underneat the grip and when activated, heat up and project this heat through the grip to your hands.

it cost 23 bucks on ebay, with another 8 for shipping. got it yesterday, installed it this morning, rode all day and i gotta say it makes the BIGGEST difference in riding comfort besides bars/pegs/seats.

does anyone else use these? if you do enough riding in the cold weather that having cold hands is bothersome, then buy a set of these, the install is VERY simple. My old bike doesnt have an accesory line but I wired it into the ignition so it will turn off when the bike is off.

I would show you pictures but the kit is a really behind the scenes kind of deal. the only part that shows is the switch, and you can mount that any where to keep it hidden.

this is the kit

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ATV-M...ayphotohosting


anyone else use grip heaters?

 

From what I've heard, the heaters that slip under the grip aren't as effective because the handlebars act as a massive heat sink.

Are you having better luck with them?

 

yeah thats why I did my research before buying them!

on a normal installation of these grips, when you turn them on, the throttle side gets hotter becuase the heating element is wrapped around plastic and the clutch side is wrapped around the steel bar, so the heat gets absorbed by the the steel faster than the plastic on the other side, so one side gets hotter faster until they reach an equilibrium and balance out.

I decided to insulate the clutch side bar with a few wraps of different kinds of tape BEFORE wrapping the heating element onto it.

this way, both sides heat evenly and I dont have that problem. it worked out just fine too

 

I don't know about those style kits, but I installed Hot Grips brand heated grips on my bike and they are great. Not too bad at around 85 bucks I think. They only have a high, low switch, but you can get a dial type one if you want. I don't understand how people buy the harley ones for major $$$ especially considering how much I hear people have problems with them.

 

What happens when it is warm out with the way you have it installed?

 

Do you have to change your grips when you install these? I have the glue on grips on the clutch side. Thanks!

 

They have a switch.

I guess I just never understood how they would help... It's mainly the parts of my hands that are in the wind that are cold. These cannot replace heavy gloves in real cold weather right? Just "chilly" weather?

 

If the grip wont come of without cutting it off, then you will have to change it. Sorry.

 

Heated grips are nice. Heated gloves are much BETTER!