TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted January 01, 2008 05:22 PM
TourMaster Heated Gloves
Sunday I bought a set of the TourMaster heated gloves. I am going to get a whole Gerbing setup but I figured I would get the TourMasters in the interim. And it gives me a spare set I can take with me (so nice to have saddlebags)
I decided that the best way to wire them in was to tap into the big orange wire in the fuse holder under the seat. Which worked out well.The connector comes out the left side about were he rear rack starts.
So now I wire up the jacket, WTF were they thinking? The controller is wired to the harness that goes in the jacket and it is sticking out the right sleeve. The holder for it is stitched into the right glove and it slips into a clear plastic pocket. So now every time you take the gloves on or off you have to remove the controller from it's pouch.. Morons. So fiddling around for a few minutes to get plugged in and wires tucked away I was ready to get on the bike, So once on the bike you have to plug into power, Well the plug was coming out the back of the jacket and after fooling around I got it plugged in. The control is not bad to use, a red and green button ,3 LEDs to tell you about the setting; On med you can feel a small amount of heat. Now on the road, well not quite yet, I need gas. So at the station I only undo the left glove and being a righty I mugged through getting gas. Another bout of fiddling around getting plugged back into the bike ( actually the plugs and jacks are nice quality) and I am on the road. I turn the things onto high and all is good, The gloves are not too bulky and my hands are for the most part warm. After a few miles I can feel the palms of my hands getting cool but nothing uncomfortable. Now about an hour in at freeway speeds my hands are fine although my thumbs are cool The C14's hand protection leaves a bit to be desired. So after 2 hours my hands are not toasty and my thumbs are cold but a minute or 2 out of the wind and the thumbs are a bit better. But for the most part my hands are OK to continue on indefinitely at least in this temp, any colder may be an issue without better wind protection.
Now my feet are frozen, the C14 just doesn't generate enough heat to warm anything.
All in all they work and despite the poor wiring arrangement one could be reasonably comfortable and enjoy a cool days ride.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
  
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08CC14
Expert Class
Posts: 109
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posted January 01, 2008 08:20 PM
I also have Tourmaster Synergy Gloves Ted. I feel the same as you about the wiring setup. I found through trial and error it is easier to run the wires from left glove to right glove across my chest instead of behind me. The cord drops out of my jacket between my legs and I plug it right in on the left side under the seat. Gassing up is always a chore if you have to dig for a credit/debit card, but removing the gloves isn't much worse than regular gloves except for tucking the wires into the cuff once donned. On days below 40 *F I also flip on the heated grips to keep my palms and thumbs warmer. I like the controller, but would prefer not to have it attached in the manner that it is. Maybe they could/should make it detacheable like each of the glove connections are. I agree that the connections and the gloves are high quality and do not feel bulky. I am however, thinking twice about the Gerbings heated gloves, especially since they're made near here. I hear he has an in-store discount area. 
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'08 ABS Concours 14
'97 YZF600R
'00 ZX6e (rideable but needs paint)
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wormgear
Expert Class
Posts: 339
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posted January 01, 2008 08:37 PM
They may be headquartered near you but my Grebing's liner and gloves say made in China on them. 
I got 10% off mine at a BMW dealership after poor mouthing them a while. Don't ask me how I poor mouthed a BMW dealer. Maybe because I kept hanging around with my C-14 out front and they wanted it off their lot!
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GodDamnit there's always such a big temptation to be good, to be good! (Tom Waits)
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted January 01, 2008 10:32 PM
I will just have the Kwak shop order them if they can. I get a cost plus 10 on everything I buy there.
I really think I need to look at making some sort of hand wind deflector and then the gloves will work really well. Something that mounts to the mirrors just to deflect the wind. I wish the aftermarket would come up with something, I don't have a lot of time to fool with this stuff right now.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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TedG
Moderator
Posts: 8222
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posted January 01, 2008 10:42 PM
This is an interesting solution
Maybe something removable.
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Ted
2000 Green ZX12 sold
The fast color!!
Green 2005 ZX10R
2009 Concours Black ABS
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