Heated Grips, which ones are best?

[mecki]

I have to admit that I am not too impressed with the linked brakes myself, but having traction control on such a powerful bike especially in the wet or on gravel is great.
And you can turn it off if you like the adrenalin kick wheel spin may give you or intend to do stunts. ;D
The brakes (at least on mine) are a bit temperamental. Sometimes they are very firm and another time they seem rather soft.
Otherwise I think it is a great idea to have linked brakes.
Of course the more electronic gizmos you have the more likely it is that one of them fails sooner or later. ???

[Kwikasfuki]

Linked brakes is one of the reasons I'll be getting a newer model. The last bike I had, a Honda Varadero, had linked brakes and worked well. I don't know if the Kawasaki technology is as refined but the concept is good.

[Hans]

Linked brakes is one of the reasons I'll be getting a newer model. The last bike I had, a Honda Varadero, had linked brakes and worked well. I don't know if the Kawasaki technology is as refined but the concept is good.

If any interest, Honda's Dual Combined Braking System is described here:  (quite good)    :)
http://nerdrider.com/?p=35

GTR1400 does not have it...  well, anyone know that, right?
But... GTR1400 has ABS!

I'we owned a Honda VFR800FI since 98' to 08' - about 10 years - and was quite happy for the dual brake system! *BUT* it will *NEVER* be as good as ABS! *NEVER*   

As Andrew from NERDrider state... Honda/DCBS "only" distribute different level of pressure onto brakepads ie. 90% front and 10% at back. But you still can establish 100% block on wheels! That can't happen with ABS!

Anyway... the new VFR1200 has is all... ie. DCBS & ABS!

[Winston Smith]

ABS and CBS are totally different systems and perform totally different functions.

ABS allows maximum braking with control by reaching the lock-up point and releasing time after time so steering and control is retained.

CBS allows rider to brake under all conditions with full control with a front brake bias (70/30% ish) balancing braking for normal condtions.  Application of rear brings about a nearer 50/50 balance and doesn't effect dragging rear brake for mid corner control under normal conditions.

The two combined provide more control when really going for it, balancing front and rear appropriate to circumstances and retaining control when it gets a bit hairy and avoiding hazards.

[routemaster]

If any interest, Honda's Dual Combined Braking System is described here:  (quite good)    :)
http://nerdrider.com/?p=35

GTR1400 does not have it...  well, anyone know that, right?
But... GTR1400 has ABS!

GTR1400 doesn't have the Honda linked braked system I would be surprised if it did  :o but the 2010 model onwards does have the Kawasaki linked braked system as well as ABS. The advantage of the Kawasaki one is that you can change the front/rear balance from 70/30 for a solo rider to 50/50 if you have a pillion on board - that's if you remember push the button.

Steve

[Boomer]

I can see the attractions of TCS and ABS but I would still prefer not to have them.
Linked Brakes (whatever flavour) I hate.
I've ridden a CBR1000 (awful!), an ST1300 (bad), pre-VTEC VFR800 (bad), CBR1100XX (bad) and a GL1800 (who can tell what's happening at the wheels?).

I learned to ride on MX bikes and whilst I rarely trail brake, I will dab the back brake to correct/change line mid corner.
Do that on a bike with Linked Brakes and you are headed for the ditch.

For me the whole point of a motorcycle is my control of it.
I don't want anything else interfering with my choice of how I control it.

Pretty soon you will be able to buy a motorcycle that rides itself and is 100% safe, at which point they will outlaw the "dangerous" motorcycles.
You have been warned. We are already well into that downwards spiral.

[fatharry]

On my old Honda CBF 1000 the linked brakes only worked in one direction, so you could use the rear brake in isolation, for exactly that reason, and when you operated the front brake it operated one pot on the rear, just to steady the machine...worked fine for me

[lizard555]

Hi guys, anyone had an issue with one of the grips not heating? The original is quite expensive to replace I found.

[keith]

i had the sport oxford grips fitted from new on my zzr ,they were crap!!!complained to oxford ,who would not deal with me direct told me to go through my kawasaki dealer ,i did ,they sent me out a new controller no problem, i fitted the new controller ,they were just the same the right hand side would get warm on the hottest setting the left one was crap warmed up occasionally ,i contacted oxford again ,they said the grips are best wired up straight to the battery ,i dont like to do this but as they have an inline fuse and if you forget to turn them off they turn themselves off,wired them to the battery they are now much ,much better ,but i still find you need them on the highest or second highest setting to feel the warmth.i wouldn't go for the oxford grips again. 

[Burchy]

I put oxford grips on my previous GTR and found them excellent.  I rate them better than the OE ones on the later versions.  the Oxfords heated up much quicker and I found the controller easy to use.  I wired them up through the front accessory socket so that they were ignition controlled

[Rusty]

I love this forum ....  The title is about heated grips .. I skip through the pages and there is a load of stuff about "linked brakes" ... no idea what they are    ...If you want really hot grip buy a BMW !!!

[O.C.]

I love this forum ....  The title is about heated grips .. I skip through the pages and there is a load of stuff about "linked brakes" ... no idea what they are    ...If you want really hot grip buy a BMW !!!

Exactly what I was thinking Rusty   

[Ant]

I love this forum ....  The title is about heated grips .. I skip through the pages and there is a load of stuff about "linked brakes" ... no idea what they are    ...If you want really hot grip buy a BMW !!!

Rusty, Linked braking is designed for heating your seat........
Go round a corner,
touch your rear brake pedal mid lean,
shit yourself.........heated seat............simples 

[Foody]

I've got the Oxford heated grips on mine.  With the push button settings (not the dial).

They are on their third switch unti as the others hae not proven to be waterproof!

But since these were fitted Oxford changed the connections so I couldn't just replace the switch but had to change most of the harness that goes with them.

That has happened twice.

Currently the left grip doesn't heat up at all and the right grip comes on even with the unit switched off.

So it looks like the switch unit has fouled again and needs replacing once more.

It's a bit ridiculous that the switch unit is not fully waterproof and would need to be mounted somewhere other than conveniently on the handlebars.

I wouldn't recommend Oxford.  They are ok when they are actually working correctly but having an unreliable (and expensive to replace) switch unit  is getting a bit annoying.

Maybe the new dial type of switch is more reliable.

[Boomer]

I have had the "dial" Oxford Hotgrips on my 1000 for 10 years now. Had to replace the left grip after a crash in 2007 but otherwise they are superb. Have never had them over 3/4 as are too hot, even with winter gloves on.
You could put Grip Puppies over these and still they'd warm yer hands.
Shame they can't warm the back of yer hands too. :-(