Warm hands on the bars.
In short: heated grips warm your palms through the handlebar. On a motorcycle or scooter they run on the 12 V system. For a bicycle or e-bike there are grips on USB or on the bike battery, though the choice is smaller. Handlebar muffs have no heating, yet they keep wind and rain off your hands. Heated gloves warm the back of your hand and your fingers, and need no fitting.
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Gløde does not sell heated grips, grip covers or handlebar muffs (yet). This article compares types on how they work and on what manufacturers state. It is not a test and we did not try the products. We do sell heated gloves, and we say what they suit and what they do not.
The types compared
| Type | Power | Where it warms | Fitting | Wind protection | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 V heated grips | The vehicle's 12 V system | Palms and the inside of your fingers | Replace the standard grips; a workshop job | None | Motorcycle and scooter riders who ride all winter |
| Heated grip wraps or covers | 12 V or USB, depending on the model | Palms | Wrap over your existing grips; removable | None | Occasional winter rides, trying it out |
| Heated grips for bicycle and e-bike | USB power bank, own battery or the bike battery | Palms | Replace the grips; depends on the bike | None | Daily commuters on a bike or e-bike |
| Handlebar muffs (unheated) | None | Nowhere: they keep the cold out | Slip over the bar ends and levers | High | Scooters, cargo bikes, couriers, rainy commutes |
| Heated gloves | Their own batteries | Back of the hand and fingers | None | The glove itself | Bicycle and e-bike, and after you get off |
Palms or the backs of your hands?
A grip warms the inside of your hand. The wind hits the outside. That is the weak spot of every heated grip: on a cold, fast ride your palms are warm while your knuckles and fingertips are not.
Heated gloves work the other way round: the heating runs along the back of the hand and the fingers. Muffs simply stop the wind. That is why the types combine so well.
Type by type
12 V heated grips for motorcycles and scooters
These replace the standard grips and connect to the bike's electrical system, with a controller for several heat levels. Once fitted, they are always there, with no batteries to charge. The downsides: fitting takes time, thick winter gloves keep part of the warmth away from your hands, and the backs of your hands stay in the wind.
Heated grip wraps and covers
Heated sleeves or pads that go around your existing grips, held by laces or Velcro. They come off again in spring. They make the grip thicker, and they can shift if they are not tightened well. Check that the throttle still turns and returns freely.
Heated grips for bicycle and e-bike
For bicycles there are heated grips with their own battery or a cable to a USB power bank. For some e-bikes there are grips that draw on the bike battery. Whether that is possible depends on the bike's system and brand, so ask your dealer before you buy.
Handlebar muffs
Large covers that slip over the bar ends, brake levers included. You put your hands inside. No heating, no power, and still very effective, because wind and rain no longer reach your hands. The downsides: the look, and it takes a ride or two before you find the levers without thinking.
Heated gloves
Batteries in the cuff, heating along the back of the hand and the fingers. Nothing to fit, and they come with you when you get off the bike. The limit is the battery: you have to charge it, and the highest level shortens the runtime.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding heated grips. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
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Fitting and electrics
How heated grips are fitted depends on the vehicle: the bar diameter, the throttle and the electrical system all differ. On a motorcycle or scooter, anything that connects to the electrical system is best fitted by a workshop. They know where power may be taken and what your bike can spare. That is why you will find no wiring instructions here.
Settle two things before you buy:
- Size. Bar diameter and grip length must match your bike.
- E-bike battery. Ask your dealer whether accessories may run on the bike battery, and what that means for your warranty.
Heated grips or heated gloves?
- Motorcycle, all winter: 12 V heated grips with proper winter motorcycle gloves, and muffs if you ride daily. For the layer under your jacket, see heated motorcycle clothing.
- Scooter in town: handlebar muffs first; add grips if your rides are long.
- E-bike commute: heated gloves or muffs. More in heated clothing for cycling.
Where Gløde Øven gloves fit, and where they do not
Øven are heated gloves with three heat levels, 35–50 °C, that keep your fingertips warm. They are water- and windproof. One pair of batteries is included, and a charge lasts about 2 to 5 hours, depending on the level. They suit the bicycle, the e-bike, the walk and the wait.
Honestly: Øven are not motorcycle gloves. They have no protectors and no motorcycle certification. On a motorcycle, wear gloves made and certified for riding.
What Gløde offers today
No grips, but warmth for your hands and your core. A heated vest is a warm layer under your own jacket, not protective gear.
Comparing gloves? Read our guide to the best heated gloves, or see all our heated gloves.
Frequently asked questions
Are heated grips worth it?
If you ride a motorcycle or scooter all winter, usually yes: they are always on the bike and need no charging. For short or occasional rides, heated gloves or handlebar muffs are simpler, because nothing has to be fitted.
Heated grips or heated gloves: which is warmer?
They warm different sides of your hand. Grips warm your palms; the wind still cools the backs of your hands and your fingertips. Heated gloves warm the back of the hand and the fingers. On long, cold rides many riders combine grips with handlebar muffs.
Can you fit heated grips to a bicycle or e-bike?
Yes, there are heated grips for bicycles that run on a USB power bank or their own battery, and for some e-bikes grips that use the bike battery. Whether that works on your bike depends on the system. Ask your dealer first.
Can I fit heated grips to a motorcycle myself?
That depends on the motorcycle and on your experience. Because the grips connect to the bike's electrical system, fitting is best done by a workshop.
Are Gløde Øven gloves suitable for motorcycling?
No. Øven are heated gloves for cycling, walking and standing outside. They are not motorcycle gloves: they have no protectors and no motorcycle certification. On a motorcycle, wear gloves made and certified for riding.
Does Gløde sell heated grips?
No, not at the moment. Leave your email in the form on this page and we will send you one message if we launch them.
Interested? We'll let you know.
Gløde is considering adding heated grips. Leave your email and we'll send you one message if we launch it. No newsletter unless you ask for it.
We only use your email to send you one message about this. More in our privacy policy.
All our heated clothing comparisons →
Gløde — warm the person, not the room.
