GS-Riders International

This is an excerpt of a heated grip test undertaken by the German motorcycle magazine MOTORRADFAHRER, edition 01/2008.

CLS-Heat
Price (in Germany): Euro 189
Length: 125 mm, open ends
Adjusting system: Automatic electronic system with external sensor, automatic function can be manipulated by a 11 step turn-switch
Electrical consumption: up to 29 W
Subjective heat development: Very even and intensive, heats up very fast
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped tight with partially overlapping loops in parallel to the grip. Heat reaches the grips from end to end.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 40 C (electronically regulated)
Summary: Clever constructed system with highly efficient sensor regulated heat output. It would be better if the LED was separate from the blackbox, so it could be mounted easier on the dashboard. The heater elements are identical to the product from Oxford.

Daytona
Price (in Germany): Euro 59.95
Length: 127 mm, closed ends
Adjusting system: Two step switch (high / normal)
Electrical consumption: 57.6 W / 14.4 W
Subjective heat development: Even and intensive heat, needs long warm-up time.
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped with loose loops in parallel to the grip. Heat concentrates on 4/5 of the grips surface, and does not quite reach the outer sides.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 48 C
Summary: Unfortunately does not heat up the entire length of the grips. Otherwise it functions well after the long heat-up time. Fuse not included!

Hein Gericke
Price (in Germany): Euro 21.95
Length: 128 mm, closed ends
Adjusting system: Two step switch (high / normal)
Electrical consumption: 40 W / 18 W
Subjective heat development: Grips need a very long warm-up time, afterwards they feel pleasant and evenly warm.
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped in loose spirals around the grip. Heat reaches the grips end-to-end.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 42 C
Summary: Average heat for an attractive price. Some details do reflect the price, like the hard to operate switch and the somewhat too big connectors.

Motrax Griptronic
Price (in Germany): Euro 64.95
Length: 133 mm, open ends
Adjusting system: one
Electrical consumption: -
Subjective heat development: Grips only feel "hand-warm" and take a long time to reach this status.
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped in close spirals around 80 % of the grip. The heat does not reach the inner sides.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 37 C
Summary: Weak results.

Oxford Hot Grips
Price (in Germany): Euro 74.90
Length: 125 mm, open ends
Adjusting system: Stepless
Electrical consumption: 30 W
Subjective heat development: Grips heat up very fast and reach very cosy temperatures.
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped with tight loops in parallel to the grip. Heat reach the grips end-to-end.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 49 C
Summary: Very good heat development for a price that's not cheap, but acceptable in view of the positive results.

Saito SG1 (Louis)
Price (in Germany): Euro 19.90
Length: 127 mm, closed ends
Adjusting system: Two step switch (high / normal)
Electrical consumption: 30 W / 10 W
Subjective heat development: Grips only feel lukewarm and take a very long time for reaching this temperature.
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped in two loose spirals around the grip. Heat does reach the grips end-to-end. Unevenly heated surface with more heat at the inner side, where it does not reach the hand.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 39 C
Summary: Design looks very similar to the Hein Gericke grips, but heater wires are different. Very weak performance.

Saito (Louis)
Price (in Germany): Euro 39.95
Length: 133 mm, closed ends
Adjusting system: Three step switch (high / medium / normal)
Electrical consumption: 40 W / 20 W / 10 W
Subjective heat development: Grips only feel lukewarm and take a very long heat-up time, even on the highest position of the switch.
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped in two loose spirals around the grip. Heat does reach the grips end-to-end. Unevenly heated surface with more heat at the inner side, where it does not reach the hand.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 37 C
Summary: Best switch around and a reasonable price, but weak performance makes this grips trailing the test field. Similar to some OEM heater grips (Honda and Suzuki).

Oxford Heat Wraps
Price (in Germany): Euro 69.95
Length: 100 mm
Adjusting system: on
Electrical consumption: 18 W
Subjective heat development: Grips heat up very fast and reaches very hot temperatures.
Termography results: Heater wires are wrapped with tight and partially overlapping loops in parallel to the grip. Heated surface does not reach the grips end-to-end, but still warms the hands completely.
Temperature after 10 minutes: 54 C
Summary: Very effective heat development and in terms of temperatures best set around. Not suitable for smaller hands.