Triumphrat

RocketVet · 02-08-2006, 11:16 PM

Can't complain really, it is early Feb in the NW...went on a 200 mile jaunt today from Seattle to Hood Canal, Kitsap Peninsula and the views of the Olympics were amazing. Temp read 37 F as I approached my driveway and I am just getting feeling back in my fingers. I have a decent set of touring gloves but my question is this:

Heated grips or heated gloves??? Anyone set up with the Triumph heated grips that can endorse or not?

vonbonds · 02-08-2006, 11:32 PM

I have commuted to work every day this week and the temps have been in the high 20's to low 30's on the way in and in the mid 30's on the way home. The commute is ~43 miles each way with me blasting down I-95 doing 80-85mph and I haven't even remotely had cold hands.

Electric gloves is the answer for me. I have a set of Gerbing gloves. I still might add electric grips for the tweaner days in the 40's where I might not need the whole electric gloves setup.

Aussiebikerdave · 02-09-2006, 12:14 AM

Another very effective option is to cast around for a set of hand guards for winter riding. BMW make some good guards for the R1200GS which may fit the Rocket but there are plenty to choose from.

Used to do the Alpine Rally each year back in the mid seventies on the old CB750 and fitted hand guards especially for the rally. As the name suggests, it was cold up in the alpine areas of NSW and these guards basically eliminated the windchill factor as well as kept the gloves drier in the rain (and sleet) that we would often ride in. The gloves back then were not as high tech as the gore-tex lined winter gloves of today so I reckon todays gloves and hand guards for the winter might be all you need.

Some might say the hand guards look a bit dorky but who gives a rats about that if frostbite has already worked it's evil way up as far as the second set of knuckles! Once you've got your hands covered you'll begin to notice how cold the knees get so a good tip there is to head down to your local motocross apparel store and buy some cheap velcro attached knee and shin guards to wear under your jeans. Davo

Robyyy · 02-09-2006, 01:52 AM

Things have changed, well riding gear has! I remember touring the alpine regions on a old 650 trumpy ....we used Flying Boots and ex Army great coats from the local disposal store. plus leather jackets fur lined .and a good pair of footy socks and If if got relly cold we wud stuff a few newspapers down front of jackets there is some really great gear out there now....

Aussiebikerdave · 02-09-2006, 02:59 AM

Hey Robyyy, you sound like you might be an old bugga just like me! Yeah, I remember that set up, ex-army great coats were the hot fashion items back then! Davo

sbljr · 02-09-2006, 06:48 AM

Quote:

On 2006-02-08 21:16, RocketVet wrote:
Heated grips or heated gloves??? Anyone set up with the Triumph heated grips that can endorse or not?

IF hands are the only problem IME heated grips work great and are more convenient (anything that does not require the rider to plug in/unplug himself is preferable). However if you ride long miles in very cold temps frequently, heated clothing for your torso AND hands really should be considered. Then the connection you have to put up with will serve another very important purpose of warding off hypothermia, which heated gloves alone won't.

BossHoss · 02-09-2006, 09:53 AM

I have had both and IMHO the grips don't work as well when it is really cold. You still need a heavy glove and then you do not feel the heat as much. A good heated glove works much better but as someone said you have the wires to deal with.

Bill

rick05rocket · 02-09-2006, 01:15 PM

Triumph heated grips; one of mankind's BEST inventions.

I endorse them without hesitation or reservation.

keep your hands toasty no matter the temp. I've used them with the temps in the 20s F and have had no problems.

ride on

rick

IceT · 02-09-2006, 05:06 PM

Rob and Dave....you aint the only old knobs...i used to ride an RD250 in the 70s, same deal....rossi mx boots...newspaper down the jacket and glad bags over the gloves for extra water resistance...

i also did the Alpine Rally back in the late 70's, the unoffical fireworks, snow and sliding and hell on the dirt roads, the donut show on the saturday night....it was a great event

dougl · 02-09-2006, 06:51 PM

Quote:

On 2006-02-08 21:32, vonbonds wrote:
I have commuted to work every day this week and the temps have been in the high 20's to low 30's

I could have commuted to work (10 minutes, not including side trip to Starbucks) this morning but it was 25 and dark when I left so I punked out. I drove home at lunch and picked up the bike - temp 55. More like it.