Cold hands in the Antipodes

spdtwn · Settling In Nicely Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 16

Greetings,
Maybe it's just that the years of living in New Zealand have thinned my blood down..I'm an ex pat Glaswegian..but for the past few years the amount of covering needed over my digits has increasedly by..well,lots.
So,my question to you riders experienced in the joys of UK summers..I was going to write winters..is : do heated grips do the job, are Yamaha's hand/wind deflectors worthwhile, any other tried and true suggestions for combating the frozen finger syndrome. Please, not the most obvious one which is too difficult anyway in leathers.
On my T-Max I have fitted the small,expensive but quite effective, leg wind deflectors. Tried three different screen sizes, settled on the smoked sports for somewhat reduced helmet wind roar ( had more bikes than hot dinners..never heard anything like it!) and it looks better balanced.
The time I have spent trawling through past posts has been most entertaining..better be careful what I say, it may be taxed. My thanks to Hughie for his insite into the T-Max's innards. I've bookmarked the 'belt-variator'section as my time is getting close. Bits have to be pre ordered via Oz or Japan and aftermarket goodies are unheard of. Most enquiries I make to Euro.companies are either not answered or met with 'nothing outside EU countries'. Ah.Well..as they say 'Abcess makes the fart go Honda'
Sorry 'bout that.
Obviously time for a coffee.

SPDTWN

Mr Angry · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:28 am Post subject:

I find that a good pair of gloves with wind stopper liners works for me. I recently fitted hand guards and they keep the rain off and hopefully will improve winter riding too. I have heated gloves for serious long distance cold weather riding. Maybe a combination of heated grips, hand guards and good gloves would suffice as I found heated grips on their own still left the back of the hands cold.

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Bob · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 6:37 am Post subject:

I couldn't get on with heated grips, they made my hands too hot. I've fitted handguards to my Burgman and they're brilliant. I also recomment Hein Gericke lobster claw gloves.

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Gren. · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:19 am Post subject:

ASK Craig, About COLD hands.

Silk inner gloves also help to keep the cold at bay.

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Gren.

Dave G · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:33 am Post subject:

I love me heated grips, they made last winter so much more comfortable. If I could find some hand wind deflectors that fitted, and looked good then I would probably go for them too.

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Gren. · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:51 pm Post subject:

Dave, Ceck out your local " OFF road " dealers, You may well find they have something that will do the job.

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Gren.

MrGrumpy · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:05 pm Post subject:

Personally, I think Handlebar Muffs are very wonderful things and really keep your hands warm. Not a fashion item, but they work. AND they keep your hands dry when its bucketing down, and your gloves aren't up to it. See Tucano Urbano for instance.

The wind deflectors are OK, but are pretty marginal at keeping your hand warm. I don't find heated grips very effective for some reason...I think I hold the bars so lightly, and am always grabbing the brake levers, that I'm never gripping the bars enough to feel the effect!!

If you don't like Muffs, another option is heated gloves (eg from Gerbing). In theory these should be better than heated grips, if less convenient.

dylanberks · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:16 pm Post subject:

Have had heated grips on my last 3 scoots & do really make a difference - also good for keeping gloves drier than normal when its pissing down

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Dead Majesty 400, now Tmax 06

Ginger Phil · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 5:46 pm Post subject:

I used to have some handlebar muffs on my silver X8, they worked a treat! Cool

It's just a shame they look so shit but if you can live with that then muffs are your answer. Very Happy

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Maxman · Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:54 pm Post subject:

I've got Hand Deflectors & Heated grips on my T-Max & my hands are always warm & cosy.

Even the deflectors on their own are very efficient, by keeping both the windchill & rain off your hands.

Think I'd miss the deflectors more than the grips.

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Les

FunkyCowie · Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2008 6:38 am Post subject:

tiger · Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:21 am Post subject:

Hi ya spdtwn.

I am also in the middle of winter here in Tassie.

I have Hand Deflectors and heated grips on my Mk1 T-Max (leg deflectors too, small but effective.)

Heavy frost this morning, I knew it was cold but my hands did not suffer after a 30km ride at 8 am. it was -3 degrees I only wear regular leather gloves. Very Happy

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spdtwn · Settling In Nicely Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 16

Thanks for all the info guys. The wind deflectors appeal..as I said I fitted the leg ones and appreciated the improvement. Used to have 'Elephant ears' on my bike in Scotland, quite a fashion statement !

Tiger, do your dealers carry T-Max parts and accessories. Ours don't. I'm told the deflectors would have to come from Europe..that's many weeks of winter away.

Cheers.

spdtwn · Settling In Nicely Joined: 07 Aug 2008 Posts: 16

Big Cuz Oz came to the party and found me a pair of Hand-wind deflectors. While awaiting their arrival I fitted some Oxford Hot Grips. Both items fitted with ease and don't look out of place on the T-Max.
WOW! What a difference. The best thing since.....
My first trial run..out to one of the many vinyards that 'do' lunch.. was made doubly enjoyabe 'cos the roads were dry and the corners free of diesel and road works. I had a good play with the +/- buttons on the hot grips,however, like other riders, I found the greatest comfort came from the wind deflectors.
Lunch was good too and Max's underseat cubby hole holds half a dozen bottles quite nicely.
Our days are beginning to lengthen. Spring is on it's way ! Very Happy

Bob · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 9:30 am Post subject: Re: Sliced Bread

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