Well over a month ago I initiated a post concerning aftermarket heated grips for my 2007 VFR 800A. ( http://vfrworld.com/forums/general-vfr-discussions/17794-aerostich-heated-grips.html ). I've since learned more about heated grips for the VFR. For example, my dealer ordered "OEM" heated grips from Honda for my VFR, but what we recieved was a pair of grips that were just as fat and noncountoured as the one's I'd purchased through Aerostich. In fact, they were nearly identical. We sent these grips back to Honda, and meanwhile it was up to me to try to find aftermarket heated grips that matched the comfort and contours of the FVR's unheated, stock grips as closely as possible. So I did a Goggle search, and I stumbled upon HOT GRIPS-heated grips, hand warmers, grip warmers. I called them, and soon found myself talking with Jim Hollander, the owner and founder of Hotgrips. I explained my situation to Jim, and he first informed me that his company (located in New Hampshire) actually makes the heated grips that I purchased from Aerostich, but with the Aerostich name. (By the way, Aerostich prices these grips at a nearly 100% markup compared to Hotgrips' online price for the same grips...) Here's what I purchased through Aerostich: Model 475-875 - kit - for 7/8" Handlebars . Note how fat and uncontoured these grips are. I've lived with these fat grips for a while now, and as I said in the previous post, I've found them to be very uncomfortable from the start. Upon describing my problems with these grips to Jim Hollander, he recommended that I try his Ergo2 heated grips (Model Ergo2-520-760 - kit - for 7/8" Handlebars ). These grips are very well contoured for one's hands, and they are a close approximation to the contours of the stock (unheated) grips. So, we ordered the Ergo2's, and after they arrived at the dealer's shop a few days ago the previous Aerostich/Hotgrips were removed from my motorcycle (this was a bitch due to the epoxy glue), and the Ergo2's were then installed. Yesterday I rode 200+ miles with the Ergo2's. First impressions: I've finally found a very comfortable and well-contoured set of aftermarket heated grips for my VFR. Temperatures here yesterday were in the low-to-mid 60's most of the day, so I had these grips on the low-heat setting most of the ride, and I found that they are not only very comfortable to my hands, they are also toasty warm. Set them to the high-heat setting, and they get very, very warm indeed. Highly recommended. One downside is that the dimensions of the Ergo2's on the 2007 do not permit the use of a ThrottleMeister. (The aforementioned "Aerostich" grips do, but Hotgrips and Jim Hollander strongly advise against using any of their hot grips with throttle locks, since expansion of the grips when heated my impede the safe use of a throttle lock.) I'm now looking into an aftermarket electronic cruise control for my VVR.
I found this thread looking for heated grips since it is getting colder. I expect more people might be searching it too. Grabbed the Model Ergo2-520-760 from Hotgrips last week (shipped the same day) and installed them this weekend. Took about 3hrs total, mostly because of my inexperience working on motorcycle electronics. And I took apart a whole bunch more of the fairings then I needed to. Easy install (after finding the fuse box) and finally had a chance to try them out this morning. They are a little bit thicker than the stock '04 grips but ohhh my do they make a difference. I purchased the variable heat controller and drilled a small hole by my right hand for it. This morning it was about 40 heading into work and they made a huge difference once they warmed up.
