Heated Grips - Warm Enough?

[justsmile0808]

For those of you that currently have the OEM heated grips on either the F3T (installed after the fact), or the F3 Limited - do you find them to be warm enough? I purchased the 2020 RT Limited just for the heated grips and seat and find the grips to be AWESOME (both heat settings). However, I test rode the 2021 F3 Limited yesterday, and found myself constantly turning the grips off/on because I did not feel anything. The deal had the bike running for several minutes before I got on, so they definitely had time to warm up. Thoughts???

 

[vario]

I put mine on for the first time during yesterdays ride. It was around 50 here and my hands were pretty warm after 15 min into the ride.
I do not ride in colder weather than this, so, it may not matter.

 

[justsmile0808]

Thanks, Vario - but my ryde yesterday was in the 60s - felt nothing. I am looking forward to gathering opinions on this one. This option is very important to me.

 

[Mikey]

There was probably some thing going on with the switch or grips, they should have been working better than that! If you where thinking of buying that bike I would get them to check it out before sale. Good luck!!

 

[blacklightning]

I had a 2014 RT first, and then purchased a 2016 F3T. The F3T and F3 Limited grips only have one setting, and they are not as warm as the RT grips on the low setting. I can say that they are better than nothing, but I do wish they were warmer. If they were like the ones on the RT for low setting, it would be just right.

 

[KidDoc]

I installed OEM heated grips on my 2019 F3T and, compared to the factory grips on my 2014 Goldwing and BMWs I've owned, they are puny. They warm but don't heat. Although better than nothing, I was a bit disappointed.

 

[troop]

I have the accessory heated grips on my F3S. Single setting. They are just "warm". In all fairness, I do have foam slip on grip covers installed. I wouldn't buy them again.

 

[Ex-Rocket]

I have a 2017 F3 Limited and the heated grips are a joke. I got spoiled on my 2 previous Spyders a 2012 RTS and 2015 RTS where you had 2 heat settings. On a chilly day the low setting was a little too much or just right and on a real cold day you were thankful you had a high setting. BRP dropped the ball on the F3 Limited heated grips in my opinion.

 

[Rattlebars]

Some heated grips have an ambient temp high limit. I've heard that 60° is too warm for them to work, but can't recall the bike mentioned. I made my own anyway. Attach with velcro and controlled with a 12v strobe light remote.

"click: to see MY "make your own heated clothing" PAGE

 

[Steve W.]

I can understand why there might be single or dual heat settings, based on the trim level, but why would they bother to use different heaters based on bike model? We have the foam covers on her '17 RT-S and even the low setting can get a bit warm at times. Have not ventured out in really cold weather yet to test the high setting.

.

 

[ARtraveler]

My RT's seemed to have better handgrip heaters than the F3 does. I call my F3 heaters "warm" but not "hot."

Get a good pair of gloves and problem solved.

 

[ChicagoSpyder]

You would think BuRP could get the heated grips right only because they have been standard issue on sleds since the 80's, the grips on my 2018 F3L are adequate at best on a 30F degree day, at 10F degrees I'd imagine they would be useless.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

You would think BuRP could get the heated grips right only because they have been standard issue on sleds since the 80's, the grips on my 2018 F3L are adequate at best on a 30F degree day, at 10F degrees I'd imagine they would be useless.

:agree: .... back in 90's I remember a week-long Sno-mobile trip up in Maine .... the warmest it ever got was -29 F :gaah: ... the grips worked fine as long as you had " hippo hands " over them ( 75 mph speed and the Air really sucks the heat from anything ) ...... Mike :thumbup:

 

[2dogs]

Is it possible to retrofit a newer spyder's controller with one from 14 RT? If it's just a simple swap out and doesn't cost an arm & a leg it may be the way to go.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Is it possible to retrofit a newer spyder's controller with one from 14 RT? If it's just a simple swap out and doesn't cost an arm & a leg it may be the way to go.

Just a guess, if the handle bar diameter is the same, I think it's very possible ..... check - cheapcycleparts the entire piece might be a bit expensive..... good luck .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Shadowrun]

I’ve had my eyes on the F3 Heated Grips for a few weeks, as I knew cold weather was approaching.
I don’t even have them, but given what I’ve researched (Pricy $$$, 1 setting only, not as warm as the RT, etc...),
I’m not seeing a promising return on this particular ...umm “upgrade”.

I like your thinking BlueKnight911, check sizing on the RT version and retro-fit if possible.
Those RT grips are incredible on High, and “Just Right” on Low (which is what I assumed the F3 would come with, but not even close).

@2dogs- please do post back if you find anything promising.
Me? Going to do my own research when I get time, see if this is even possible.
Cause if this is just a case of “an RT HeatedGrip ‘Rocker’ doesn’t ‘natively fit’ on an F3 series console”,
then I smell a purchase coming for RT HeatedGrips in my F3Tfuture.

Saying this... I fully realize the cheaper/easier/faster route is using Heated Gloves(/Liners) and Done, but...
THEY >ALREADY< MADE *THE GOOD ONES* Dangit!
:gaah:

I get it, the RT is the FlagshYp of the Fleet, so it gets the Premium accessories.
So (research pending) unless they purposely engineered an intentionally high hurdle/gap to prevent this...
(I assume I’m not the first one to dig into this)
then I might have to see whats possible.

ohh, and Happy Thanksgiving everyone. GIVETHANKS. EAT. NAP. REPEAT

 

[BajaRon]

The answer is, it depends on conditions. For average to somewhat cool conditions. Or, cold conditions for short periods. Or speeds less that 40 mph, heated grips are fine. For temperatures at or below freezing, especially at speeds above 45 mph and for long periods. Heated grips will probably not do the trick. You will need heated gloves.

 

[2dogs]

@2dogs- please do post back if you find anything promising.
Me? Going to do my own research when I get time, see if this is even possible.
Cause if this is just a case of “an RT HeatedGrip ‘Rocker’ doesn’t ‘natively fit’ on an F3 series console”,
then I smell a purchase coming for RT HeatedGrips in my F3Tfuture.

I did a cursory search on cheap cycle and only found the grips themselves. Very spendy. I didn't find the controller/moduel but it has to be in there somewhere. I'm sure it has to be listed, I just didn't find it. Things got blurry after a while. LOL, it's hard to imagine that they'd make a different unit for all models including their snowmobiles. Ron's answer with the heated gloves is a good option. My 14 RT heated grips used along with insulated gloves work fine for me. But, I don't ride in 40 degrees anymore.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The answer is, it depends on conditions. For average to somewhat cool conditions. Or, cold conditions for short periods. Or speeds of 40 mph, heated grips are fine. For temperatures at or below ...freezing, especially at speeds above 45 mph and for long periods. Heated grips will probably not do the trick. You will need heated gloves.

:agree.... Or you could add the Hippo Hands mitts that will fit over the controls and cover your hands .... because of Frost Bite issues, ( I need gloves at 45 F when not riding :gaah: ) So I attached my Mitts to my ski poles ... I can comfortably ski at 0 F even on on a windy day ...... Mike :thumbup:

 

[pegasus1300]

I like my heated grips on my RT I use them with Warm and Safe heated gloves. If the F3 grips are less then adequate then add the RT grips.