Wilsons Sandbox

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:15 am**

Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget. I was looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are there other/better options out there???) then found I needed new grips (have to cut the old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to mount the controls ($35 to $40) and should figure out a relay plus the materials to wire the relay in and weather proof it etc added up to $100 to $150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was wondering about using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. Most everything is thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with mittens on? What are the pluses and minuses to using mittens? It was 28 degrees this morning and I believe I got a mild case of frost bite on my finger tips wearing a pretty good pair of nylon and leather ski gloves with gortex and thinsulate insulation. I am still trying to figure out how to handle the ice build-up on the inside of the face shield from moisture from my breath. Riding the whole way with the face shield cracked is not an option. I do have some of the vents open (experimented with which ones kept the face shield fog free the best). I ride 23 miles one way with 90% of the ride at 55 mph at 4:30 AM. The ride home is not a problem and for now everything else stays warm enough. Thanks for the ideas. Pat

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 10:28 am**

I use the type mitten that is a thumb, index finger, and then three fingers in the mitten part, all leather, and these work fine. You know what you're like with mittens on (clumsy or not) so be aware of the limitations. Stephen --- idaho_mtgoat wrote:

> Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the > budget. I was > looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are > there other/better > options out there???) then found I needed new grips > (have to cut the > old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to > mount the controls > ($35 to $40) and should figure out a relay plus the > materials to > wire the relay in and weather proof it etc added up > to $100 to > $150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was > wondering about > using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. > Most everything is > thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with > mittens on? What are > the pluses and minuses to using mittens? > > It was 28 degrees this morning and I believe I got a > mild case of > frost bite on my finger tips wearing a pretty good > pair of nylon and > leather ski gloves with gortex and thinsulate > insulation. > > I am still trying to figure out how to handle the > ice build-up on > the inside of the face shield from moisture from my > breath. Riding > the whole way with the face shield cracked is not an > option. I do > have some of the vents open (experimented with which > ones kept the > face shield fog free the best). I ride 23 miles one > way with 90% of > the ride at 55 mph at 4:30 AM. The ride home is not > a problem and > for now everything else stays warm enough. > > Thanks for the ideas. > Pat > > > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: > www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > >

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Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 11:57 am**

Pat, If you're trying to keep the cost down... I've been able to get my grips off by using compressed air and working around, under the grip. I've done this several times and have not had a problem. When I put the grips back on I use some cheap hairspray as a lubricant/glue. No guarantees, but it's worked for me. You don't really need much to mount the switch. A piece of ABS plastic with a 90 degree bend - 3/4" or 1" on either side of the bend will work. Mount the ABS either on the inside of the cowling or the front face of the instrument cluster. I used an old piece of chain guard - spare KLR parts - some JB Weld and one very short screw to mount to the instrument cluster. I thought this would be a "quick and dirty" I did last spring, but it has worked really well and is easy to get to while riding. I'll send a couple of pic's to give you some ideas. If you spend a Saturday afternoon you can come up with something that's really cheap and looks better than what I've done. You should be able to get a relay for less than $10. Try Radio Shack. The best place I've found for mounting the relay is under the tank, behind the coolant bottle. Mount it with the tangs pointing down so it doesn't act like a bucket for moisture. Even a cheap one is well protected there. Try Wally World for 14 ga. wire. 15' to 20' should be more than enough. Can't help much on the face shield. I've never had that problem here in So Cal. When I was young(er) I commuted from Boulder to Denver, CO, for about a year either on a Triumph 650 and a dunebuggy with no top - depending on which was running at the time. My helmet had a face shield, but was open at the bottom. I dressed in thin layers of clothing and used a neck shawl to protect my neck and chin. Worked pretty well. I believe there have been some posts about face shields with two layers. Some of the Shoei helmets have a snap in/velcro wind block that goes around the front of the helmet, under the chin. You sound like a hearty soul. Good on ya.... Chuck

On 11/1/07, idaho_mtgoat wrote: > > Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget. I was > looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are there other/better > options out there???) then found I needed new grips (have to cut the > old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to mount the controls > ($35 to $40) and should figure out a relay plus the materials to > wire the relay in and weather proof it etc added up to $100 to > $150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was wondering about > using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. Most everything is > thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with mittens on? What are > the pluses and minuses to using mittens? > > It was 28 degrees this morning and I believe I got a mild case of > frost bite on my finger tips wearing a pretty good pair of nylon and > leather ski gloves with gortex and thinsulate insulation. > > I am still trying to figure out how to handle the ice build-up on > the inside of the face shield from moisture from my breath. Riding > the whole way with the face shield cracked is not an option. I do > have some of the vents open (experimented with which ones kept the > face shield fog free the best). I ride 23 miles one way with 90% of > the ride at 55 mph at 4:30 AM. The ride home is not a problem and > for now everything else stays warm enough. > > Thanks for the ideas. > Pat > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 3:39 pm**

It's pretty hard to keep two fingers on the brakes and clutch with mittens on. Have you tried glove liners? Another option is buying a pair of rubber gloves that fit over your current pair (if that setup still allows good control use). Aerostich sells "Warm Wrap Grips" that wrap around your current grips for $45.00, or they have a heated grip kit for $27.00. Whatever you do, keep those hands warm so you can use them when you need them! You might try a Fog City visor liner or an anti-fog coating to keep the ice down. On cold days, I wear a tube of cloth around my neck that I can pull up over my face and it seems to help keep my breath from getting to the shield. Many brands of helmet now come with anti- fog shields standard. One I know that works is Scorpion. They make snow helmets too so a snow shield might fit their moto helmets. A new helmet is a budget buster I know, but one day you'll need a new helmet so might as well get what you need. Good luck, __Arden --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "idaho_mtgoat" wrote:

> > Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget. I was > looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are there

other/better

> options out there???) then found I needed new grips (have to cut

the

> old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to mount the controls > ($35 to $40) and should figure out a relay plus the materials to > wire the relay in and weather proof it etc added up to $100 to > $150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was wondering about > using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. Most everything

is

> thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with mittens on? What

are

> the pluses and minuses to using mittens? > > It was 28 degrees this morning and I believe I got a mild case of > frost bite on my finger tips wearing a pretty good pair of nylon

and

> leather ski gloves with gortex and thinsulate insulation. > > I am still trying to figure out how to handle the ice build-up on > the inside of the face shield from moisture from my breath. Riding > the whole way with the face shield cracked is not an option. I do > have some of the vents open (experimented with which ones kept the > face shield fog free the best). I ride 23 miles one way with 90%

of

> the ride at 55 mph at 4:30 AM. The ride home is not a problem and > for now everything else stays warm enough. > > Thanks for the ideas. > Pat >

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:15 pm**

Stick with the gloves and put 1-gallon zip-loc bags over the handguards as gauntlets That's CHEAP and effective. For the face shield issue, you can make a breathing tube that directs downward out the bottom of the helmet. Breathe in through the nose and exhale out the mouth. You can also use a Dremel tool to cut another stop-notch in your visor to allow a just a slight amount of cracking-open for added ventilation. Feasibility depends on the make and model of your helmet. Mark At 3:15 PM +0000 11/1/07, idaho_mtgoat wrote:

>Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget. I was >looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are there other/better >options out there???) then found I needed new grips (have to cut the >old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to mount the controls >($35 to $40) and should figure out a relay plus the materials to >wire the relay in and weather proof it etc added up to $100 to >$150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was wondering about >using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. Most everything is >thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with mittens on? What are >the pluses and minuses to using mittens? > >It was 28 degrees this morning and I believe I got a mild case of >frost bite on my finger tips wearing a pretty good pair of nylon and >leather ski gloves with gortex and thinsulate insulation. > >I am still trying to figure out how to handle the ice build-up on >the inside of the face shield from moisture from my breath. Riding >the whole way with the face shield cracked is not an option. I do >have some of the vents open (experimented with which ones kept the >face shield fog free the best). I ride 23 miles one way with 90% of >the ride at 55 mph at 4:30 AM. The ride home is not a problem and >for now everything else stays warm enough. > >Thanks for the ideas. >Pat

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:17 pm**

I have ridden with snowmobile mittens and while doable it is a strange feeling especially if like me you brake with 2 fingers, they make snowmobile gloves, what I use on cold rides now that seem to be a good compromise between warmth and control feeling although on longer rides my fingers seem to get uncomfortable because they are so thick between my fingers spreading my fingers out on the grips....probably just the type I have now maybe. On the helmet shield fogging you can use a double shield which I have used that work excellent but since you have to look through two shields vision in some opinions visibably isn't as good, can't say I've noticed. Combined with that I use an insert in my helmet that creates a barrier at the lower part of you helmets eye opening that forces your breath down, an example of which can found at www.motovan.com in the helmet section of their online catalog but i'm sure lots of places sell them. They definiately do in my opinon of keeping your shield fog free. Fog sprays work but so does a weak mixture of liquid dishsoa and water....anyway have a great evening...Greg Arden Kysely wrote: It's pretty hard to keep two fingers on the brakes and clutch with mittens on. Have you tried glove liners? Another option is buying a pair of rubber gloves that fit over your current pair (if that setup still allows good control use). Aerostich sells "Warm Wrap Grips" that wrap around your current grips for $45.00, or they have a heated grip kit for $27.00. Whatever you do, keep those hands warm so you can use them when you need them! You might try a Fog City visor liner or an anti-fog coating to keep the ice down. On cold days, I wear a tube of cloth around my neck that I can pull up over my face and it seems to help keep my breath from getting to the shield. Many brands of helmet now come with anti- fog shields standard. One I know that works is Scorpion. They make snow helmets too so a snow shield might fit their moto helmets. A new helmet is a budget buster I know, but one day you'll need a new helmet so might as well get what you need. Good luck, __Arden --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "idaho_mtgoat" wrote:

> > Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget. I was > looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are there

other/better

> options out there???) then found I needed new grips (have to cut

the

> old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to mount the controls > ($35 to $40) and should figure out a relay plus the materials to > wire the relay in and weather proof it etc added up to $100 to > $150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was wondering about > using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. Most everything

is

> thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with mittens on? What

are

> the pluses and minuses to using mittens? > > It was 28 degrees this morning and I believe I got a mild case of > frost bite on my finger tips wearing a pretty good pair of nylon

and

> leather ski gloves with gortex and thinsulate insulation. > > I am still trying to figure out how to handle the ice build-up on > the inside of the face shield from moisture from my breath. Riding > the whole way with the face shield cracked is not an option. I do > have some of the vents open (experimented with which ones kept the > face shield fog free the best). I ride 23 miles one way with 90%

of

> the ride at 55 mph at 4:30 AM. The ride home is not a problem and > for now everything else stays warm enough. > > Thanks for the ideas. > Pat >

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Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:21 pm**

Greg May wrote:

> I have ridden with snowmobile mittens and while doable it is a > strange feeling especially if like me you brake with 2 fingers, they > make snowmobile gloves, what I use on cold rides now that seem to be > a good compromise between warmth and control feeling although on > longer rides my fingers seem to get uncomfortable because they are so > thick between my fingers spreading my fingers out on the > grips....probably just the type I have now maybe.

Get yourself a set of lobster claws, they're basically two-fingered mittens. Pearl Izumi make a nice pair for bicycling that work great on a motorcycle. Z

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 4:51 pm**

They gave me a really hard time when I used two fingers on the brake at the motorcycle safety class. I still find myself doing it, but they say not to. Chuck

On 11/1/07, Arden Kysely wrote: > > It's pretty hard to keep two fingers on the brakes and clutch with > mittens on. Have you tried glove liners? Another option is buying a > pair of rubber gloves that fit over your current pair (if that setup > still allows good control use). > > Aerostich sells "Warm Wrap Grips" that wrap around your current grips > for $45.00, or they have a heated grip kit for $27.00. Whatever you > do, keep those hands warm so you can use them when you need them! > > You might try a Fog City visor liner or an anti-fog coating to keep > the ice down. On cold days, I wear a tube of cloth around my neck > that I can pull up over my face and it seems to help keep my breath > from getting to the shield. Many brands of helmet now come with anti- > fog shields standard. One I know that works is Scorpion. They make > snow helmets too so a snow shield might fit their moto helmets. A new > helmet is a budget buster I know, but one day you'll need a new > helmet so might as well get what you need. > > Good luck, > > __Arden > > --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com , > "idaho_mtgoat" > wrote: > > > > Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget. I was > > looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are there > other/better > > options out there???) then found I needed new grips (have to cut > the > > old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to mount the controls > > ($35 to $40) and should figure out a relay plus the materials to > > wire the relay in and weather proof it etc added up to $100 to > > $150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was wondering about > > using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. Most everything > is > > thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with mittens on? What > are > > the pluses and minuses to using mittens? > > > > It was 28 degrees this morning and I believe I got a mild case of > > frost bite on my finger tips wearing a pretty good pair of nylon > and > > leather ski gloves with gortex and thinsulate insulation. > > > > I am still trying to figure out how to handle the ice build-up on > > the inside of the face shield from moisture from my breath. Riding > > the whole way with the face shield cracked is not an option. I do > > have some of the vents open (experimented with which ones kept the > > face shield fog free the best). I ride 23 miles one way with 90% > of > > the ride at 55 mph at 4:30 AM. The ride home is not a problem and > > for now everything else stays warm enough. > > > > Thanks for the ideas. > > Pat > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:31 pm**

Zachariah Mully wrote: Greg May wrote:

> I have ridden with snowmobile mittens and while doable it is a > strange feeling especially if like me you brake with 2 fingers, they > make snowmobile gloves, what I use on cold rides now that seem to be > a good compromise between warmth and control feeling although on > longer rides my fingers seem to get uncomfortable because they are so > thick between my fingers spreading my fingers out on the > grips....probably just the type I have now maybe.

Get yourself a set of lobster claws, they're basically two-fingered mittens. Pearl Izumi make a nice pair for bicycling that work great on a motorcycle. Z Lobster Claws, different concept, we generally chuck them in the garden for fertilizer after we take the meat out. Will check them out though.....Greg --------------------------------- Ask a question on any topic and get answers from real people. Go to Yahoo! Answers. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Posted: **Fri Nov 02, 2007 10:39 am**

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "idaho_mtgoat" wrote:

> Once I looked into heated grips they exceed the budget. I was > looking at the "Symtec Heated Grips" ($42.50)(are there other/better > options out there???) then found I needed new grips (have to cut the > old ones off) ($9.50) and a dash of some sort to mount the controls > ($35 to $40)

You don't need a dash, just someplace to mount the switch. Some people have mounted the switch on that little plastic covering behind the speedometer, which is not what I recommend (it's a long reach there) but for a temporary thing... (shrug). I have barkbusters and thus the screwhole on the left clutch pedestal where the stock brushguards hook up was open, so I went to Fry's Electronics and got a little metal project box and mounted it there (actually I started with a plastic one from Radio Shack, but it broke off when I dropped the bike so I switched to metal). As for the relay, you can do without the relay if you wire straight to the battery, just make sure you turn off the grips when you get where you're going! The relay was $5 from Kragen Auto Parts, just a standard 12v automotive relay, and I didn't bother waterproofing it in any way (just put some dielectric grease on the exterior contacts to keep them from corroding and arcing, and you're good). It's screwed to the inside of my cowling. That said, I estimate I spent around $60 total on my grips, between the grips themselves and the wire and such. But remember that I already had wire and such in my "junk box", since I've been wiring stuff like this up for over 30 years (eep!).

> $150. So until the extra funds can be raised I was wondering about > using an old set of mil surplus mittens to ride. Most everything is > thumb operated so has anyone tried riding with mittens on? What are > the pluses and minuses to using mittens?

As a temporary measure, try putting plastic newspaper bags over your gloves. The problem is that your gloves are warm but not wind-proof enough for a motorcycle.

> I am still trying to figure out how to handle the ice build-up on > the inside of the face shield from moisture from my breath.

Some folks have recommended a snorkel (!!!) to take the moisture elsewhere. Be aware that unless you preheat the air somehow (like running the snorkel down your jacket), you can get lung frostbite from breathing through your mouth in extremely cold weather. Me, I just don't ride when ice buildup is a problem. Call me a wimp, or call me sane, whatever

. You may want to look into a helmet intended for snowmobiles, they typically have a heated visor option. They're not DOT-certified, but (shrug). -E

Wilsons Sandbox

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