Luck with heated handgrips

[consitter]

Anybody out there put heated handgrips on their trike and had good luck with them lasting? In reviews I'm seeing several that state they go out after about a year. Of course I know you are mostly going to hear from the people that have negative experiences in public reviews.

But for here, I'd like to hear from the people that have them on their trike, and your experience with them. I'm seriously considering purchasing a set and having them put on my '15 TG.

 

[Casper]

I've had them on a couple of bikes, Harley and Honda. While they worked ok, I didn't think they were worth the money. I prefer heated gloves. Gloves keep all of the hand warm and don't lose heat when had is removed from bars. Just my opinion...

 

[tfdeputydawg]

Several years ago I installed HD heated grips on my Ultra. Used 5 times after install. The next fall turned them on to find no "worky". Turned out the left grip, in which the thermostat is located, was full of water. Shorted out the grips.
When replaced(paid for by the dealer, good customer service)we put a bead of silicon sealant on the front edge of the grip sealing it to the bars.
No more problems. Grips still worked when I sold the bike 5 years later.

 

[Dave59]

I had them on my "14" Ultra Limited they were awesome. I really missed not having them this fall. I will have some put on the TG one of these days.

 

[azbob09]

I've had the rubber type that come on the ultra limited & they have always worked really well & never had a failure.The older ones 10 to 15 years ago were not very reliable but I think the newer ones ok.

 

[rhino 2]

The only time i road with heated grips, Was many years ago at my club and had to go to the other side of the property 2 miles or so' to out lake. The snow was too deep for my rhino, So i took my sons snowmobile, It had heated grips, They were set on high and i couldn't figure out how to lower them, Had to move my hands off the grips they were so hot... If the bikes heat like that there well worth the price...:Shrug:

 

[NHBAGGER]

Had Heat Demons on my 01 Bagger. Really liked them and my daughter is now riding it and they still seem to be working fine after a few years.<br />
On the Tri I went with an Avon setup that was brand new. I think they partnered with Heat Demons to develop. Shortly after the install the switch went bad and they were on high all the time. They actually had to replace a number of them as it was a switch mfr problem. Got a new switch and worked fine this year. Only has Hi and Lo and I don't think they work as well as the Heat Demons did.

 

[paws]

Anybody out there put heated handgrips on their trike and had good luck with them lasting? In reviews I'm seeing several that state they go out after about a year. Of course I know you are mostly going to hear from the people that have negative experiences in public reviews.

They came installed on our Honda Gold Wings - really like them but they only heat the palm of your hand. This leaves the tops of your fingers and back of hand exposed as they are wrapped over your grip. On "Late Nighters Unite" thread it was suggested to purchase heated gloves instead of installing heated grips. We concur with this suggestion as the gloves heat the WHOLE hand, not just the palm - plus the hand stays heated while the hand is not around the grip. We are in Texas so don't see the need to purchase the gloves ourselves but it would have been nice several times to have had them.

 

[Wheeler]

I had them on my 2011 Limited. They worked for the 5 years I had the bike. I have a 2014 Tri Glide know. I installed heated grips on it. Only been on for one season,but so far so good.

 

[woodmnctry]

Have the HD variety on two bikes -- love em!

 

[ScottUSN]

I had HD heated grips on my '09 and now on my '15. Since I ride year round, I get a lot of use out of them. It seems like the left grip (thermostat) lasts about 2 years or so. Since I had them put on when I bought the bikes, it's covered under ESP. But, as said here on other posts, they only keep my hands warm above 45 or so. Below that you better have heated gloves.

 

[MikeyTX]

Have the HD variety on two bikes -- love em!

:Agree: If I were to go with heated grips, I would install the OE grips that come standard on the Ultra Limited. Only issues I've read about were self created by peeps doing the install themself and pinching the wires or, messing up the small terminals during the install. Me, I'll let the dealer do it. Cheap insurance imho. ymmv

 

[azbob09]

:Agree: If I were to go with heated grips, I would install the OE grips that come standard on the Ultra Limited. Only issues I've read about were self created by peeps doing the install themself and pinching the wires or, messing up the small terminals during the install. Me, I'll let the dealer do it. Cheap insurance imho. ymmv

I have to agree. I've had them on 3 Tg's & no problems.

 

[jimgpayne]

I had them my 2012 Limited. I thought they were nice and used them quite a bit.

However, as soon as I got my Trike, I bought heated gloves and found them to be far superior to heated grips. I'ld never go back to just grips again.

And generally the heated gloves are cheaper as well.

 

[Side by side]

Heated Grips

I had them installed on my "14" Ultra Limited Tri Glide when I purchased it new from the dealer, I use them a lot, even in the summer months on "1" it seems to keep my fingers from going numb I'm guessing the heat keeps the blood flowing??? My grips have been working non stop from day one. I wish I purchased a grip that was bigger in diameter, I have big hands and the grips I purchased seem to small. I would get them on the next Trike without thinking twice.

 

[Kevinch]

I have them on my '14 UL as they came stock with the bike. Absolutely love them; I won't want another bike without them. They will not keep your hands warm in really low temperatures; that will require heated gloves.

But - I hate the bulkiness of gloves in general & especially heated gloves. For me, it is harder to manipulate the handlebar switches & be as smooth with the clutch with gloved hands. The heated grips allow me to ride in cooler temperatures without gloves, and probably allow me to ride with non-heated gloves longer before I would have to switch to the heated ones. The HD heated grips that came standard on my UL have a range from 0 to 6; with bare hands I can't get them past maybe 2.5 & then they are too hot.

Sadly, it looks as though we will not be able to add them to my wife's new ride. She is buying a new TG, and we are going to have the HD Reach Handlebar added before we take delivery. Apparently, none of the HD accessory heated grips will work with this handlebar & that is a shame. I'm surprised they don't fit; further I'm surprised HD doesn't sell a set that will fit with this handlebar. :xzqxz:

 

[consitter]

I have them on my '14 UL as they came stock with the bike. Absolutely love them; I won't want another bike without them. They will not keep your hands warm in really low temperatures; that will require heated gloves.

But - I hate the bulkiness of gloves in general & especially heated gloves. For me, it is harder to manipulate the handlebar switches & be as smooth with the clutch with gloved hands. The heated grips allow me to ride in cooler temperatures without gloves, and probably allow me to ride with non-heated gloves longer before I would have to switch to the heated ones. The HD heated grips that came standard on my UL have a range from 0 to 6; with bare hands I can't get them past maybe 2.5 & then they are too hot.

Sadly, it looks as though we will not be able to add them to my wife's new ride. She is buying a new TG, and we are going to have the HD Reach Handlebar added before we take delivery. Apparently, none of the HD accessory heated grips will work with this handlebar & that is a shame. I'm surprised they don't fit; further I'm surprised HD doesn't sell a set that will fit with this handlebar. :xzqxz:

The grips that come on the Ultra Limited WILL WORK on the TG. That's what they put on mine. A little more expensive, but like you said, worth it! Just tell the dealership to order the grips for the UL.

BTW, I have the reach handlebar on my TG.

 

[Kevinch]

The grips that come on the Ultra Limited WILL WORK on the TG. That's what they put on mine. A little more expensive, but like you said, worth it! Just tell the dealership to order the grips for the UL.

BTW, I have the reach handlebar on my TG.

I received your PM on this, thank you. My wife is still not convinced of the value of heated grips so we'll see if they make it onto her TG.

But for those interested, I have the Parts Manual for my '14 UL. The left side heated grip PN is 56209-10; the right side is 56249-10. The right side requires an end cap; 56250-10.

 

[GARYD]

I had them (H-D)on my 2010 Limited, 2012 TG and now on my 2014 TG. Never failed once. I also have heated gloves, but who wants to get them out in the spring/summer/fall when it only cools down in the evening? Well worth the money. If you have winter gloves all you really need is the grips - save the money on heated gloves.

Have the dealer install them, that way "IF" you have a problem, they're covered under warrantee.
I did a ride last Sunday, my friend didn't have heated grips or gloves. I just had the grips on. Every time we stopped at a light, he kept putting his hands on the engine - not me, I was very comfortable. He said he was going to get a set next week. BTW: it was only 39* out - not cold enough for heated gear - they don't come out until 30* and lower.

 

[davek]

What ??

What are "heated" hand grips ?? OH, my bad , we don't know about that kind of thing here in FL. Ha! Dave