A'ME Heated Grips Explained

Apr 24, 2011 at 15:57
by Richard Cunningham  
A'ME has been quietly making heated grips for three years running. If you have yet to experience them, you may be surprised that by heating your hands, your entire body becomes relaxed and feels warmer. This alone can make a bad ride into a flowing, beautiful event. A'ME's heated grips are pricey, but most of the investment is in the lithium ion battery. The grips are available with pigtail wiring to adapt to almost any lighting system's battery.

Give my buddy Brent a break. He's my high school friend, a multi-time Baja 1000 Motorcycle Champion, and he's pretty shy. I tricked him into doing this interview.

Views: 6,590    Faves: 8    Comments: 7


Find more information about A'ME heated grips and sweet online pricing. If you ride moto or sleds, A'ME has special grips for those apps' as well.

Weigh in if you live near the 48th parallel - north or south.

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Member since Mar 23, 2011
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100 Comments
  • 65 0
 next they'll have your mother follow you with chicken noodle soup
  • 23 0
 im more of a curry man.
  • 3 1
 and a hot tub
  • 1 0
 not for me
  • 1 0
 rofl!!!!!
  • 33 2
 or you could use gloves...
  • 20 0
 ya but the thicker the gloves you have on the harder it is to control your bike. and not everyone is blessed with chubby fingers to naturally keep their hands warm...
  • 19 35
flag tandembikemike (Apr 24, 2011 at 22:42) (Below Threshold)
 Or, simply, just man up. Stop being such wusses about everything. For real, your hands ajust to cold. I'm from one of the coldest states in the U.S. (I know people are yelling at their pcs for this comment since they come from colder) so I know what it's like biking in January. Once you get over the "My hands are cold" feeling, they actually start to feel fine. I've never had frostbite on my fingers, and I ride without gloves when the temperatures dip pretty dang low. Armpits are the warmest part of your body, and your crotch is next. Stick your hands there for a few seconds, it warms them right back up. If you ride without gloves a couple of times, your body has natural ways to adjust to heat as well as cold. Give it a shot.
  • 21 5
 i live in edmonton... we have -58 winters here please dont start about "im from one of the coldest states in U.S stop being a wuss" and where the fck did you get the idea i have sausage fingers?
  • 3 14
flag tandembikemike (Apr 24, 2011 at 22:51) (Below Threshold)
 Sorry, that comment was directed at the heated grip people. I have no hate for people who wear gloves. I just got mad because people are softening up so much! Soon, people are going to be wrapping their bikes in a glass dome so they don't have to deal with any sorts of weather.
  • 43 2
 ^ Coming soon: The 6 foot Freeride Hamster Ball from Maxxis...
  • 4 0
 Dude, for real. It's going to happen. I remember a time when people would just hop on their bikes without their $250 shoes, special padded shorts, super plush gloves, and all the other accessories people load up on today.
  • 7 0
 The perfect gadget for all the mid life crisis trail center riders
  • 2 0
 Not going to lie, I would love a pair of these for commuting in the winter when it hits -40 f here in northern MN. then add the chill of riding on top of that. wouldn't even think of putting it on my DH bike, but i see the logic in it after getting frost bite on my fingers.
  • 7 0
 What happens when you wear out the rubber ?
  • 7 10
 Seriously, if it's -40 outside and you need to get to work, DRIVE YOUR CAR.
  • 14 3
 I have an even better idea. How about, instead of "manning up," I just use some heated grips to keep my hands comfortable? I'm not particularly impressed with your "toughness," and have no real desire to emulate you.
  • 5 1
 Yeah! Lets talk about arm pits! Dead Horse
  • 3 0
 @tandembikemike dude although i agree that some people need to sack up in my case i have really thin fingers that will legitimently freeze in below freezing temperatures. after and hour without gloves or sometimes even less my fingers turn blueish, refuse to move, the muscles in my fingers begin to feel like a slushy (no exaggeration). so maybe you can deal with it, but not all of us can.
  • 1 0
 @I-RIDE-SPECIALIZED that was meant to be a general statement.
  • 2 0
 They should consider making a battery pack that slides down handlebars. It would be so cool to have a product like that. It wouldn't be bulky at all that way either.
  • 1 0
 ya they should put the battery in a socket that expands or contracts via a screw or something so the battery can be in your bars.
  • 1 0
 Not a bad idea, riding in the alps on the wet day with soaking wet gloves at the top of the mountain it was well into the minuses. It was so cold you could feel whether you were breaking or not.
  • 3 0
 seeing its the top of your hands that get cold not your palm, why not get some hand warmers, tuck them into your gloves and save yourself some dosh? some even last 4-5 hours a go and they're reusable.
  • 2 0
 i have Heated grips on my ski doo Smile
  • 2 0
 I never feel cold on my hand itself i feel cold on the top of my fingers , it would be better to make heated brake levers
  • 1 0
 i have tiny hands and they constantly freeze even with gloves on... still don't think i'd go for these, i got enough cables coming off my bars... i'll stick with the pocket hand warming packs...
  • 4 13
flag poozank (Apr 25, 2011 at 15:33) (Below Threshold)
 haha Canada sucks
  • 4 0
 where i live is prolly warmer in the winter than Colarado gets in the winter.... i'll stick with my free health care & a chilly ride thanks Smile
  • 1 1
 Just wait till spring...
  • 3 0
 wave your flag and be proud buttonpusher.....
  • 15 0
 awww c'mon, heated grips - every winter for the past few years i have ripped on Christmas day with my son up on the so called Sunshine Coast at Roberts Creek { Mach Chicken Etc } it was cold enough in 2009 that our tires were breaking ice and the snow patches made my 3Cs worth the $$$ - heated grips ? GET A GRIP ! all it takes is one good rip down the Mountain, and unless you are anemic your blood circulation will give you all the heat needed in your poor widow pinkies; c'mon guys, i'll be 68 in july and i did not get to be shredding DH trails at my age by utilizing things like this unbelievable piece of overpriced crap...my suggestion is : get off yer arses, chuck the remote, chop some wood, give that money to a worthwhile charity, OR, maybe it's time to buy that walker you'll be needin for your 30th birthday - i'm certain those heated grips will work with it....
  • 5 1
 hey Brule...ATVs, Skidoos, yep, no question they have a use, but for bikes ! ? seriously....this is a product that deserves a bashing for runs down a trail and even most cross country - on the other hand i can understand why most of this generation is falling apart physically and feels the need for ever more 'insulating' gimmicks : overeating, drinking and partying and the list goes on - this is almost the only 'sport' that glamorizes excess and is THE single biggest reason no one in the sport world [ Olympics Etc; ] takes us seriously even though events like Crankworx should show otherwise....read my comment above; i too have ridden in freezing weather even in Ontario, and unless it was 20 below [ in which case WHY bother since it is usually time to bring out the skis ] a healthy body creates plenty of warmth while riding without help from a $300 brain freeze...
  • 3 1
 I think the point of heated grips is to get people out there who normally wouldn't want to ride on a -20 day. I really don't think they're the reason for young people generally being obese and party animals though. Also cross country riding is taken quite seriously in the olympics and I could see them being the target audience for these. Really any kind of racing would benefit, even if you man up and brave the cold I've had a few race runs in freezing rain where my hands being cold and sluggish sure didn't help my time. No one is forcing you to buy this and this guy is trying to make a living by developing something I'm sure most people at least once have thought about while out on a ride.
  • 1 1
 Chop some wood...or maybe...pedal your bike? If you pedaled to the top for a few runs in the cold you would probably understand the product. Your hands don't get very cold in the comfort of your shuttle rig.
  • 2 0
 I agree with jcinkits, and im tired of this shit. i went and invested in schwalbe ice spikers, ive biked in -40 in an open field of snow with my bike, all you need are a pair of ski gloves which retail for around 50$ and youll be fine, ive never had any issues with my hands being cold with ski gloves.
  • 2 0
 for Keegan and Bradwalton: my bad; you are right XC is taken seriously, but i made a mistake in mentioning it cause i do expect anyone who wears spandex and lycra to love this concept - but as far as racing goes, you will never see a DH or Slopestyle racer with these grips even if they rode in freezing weather...and as far as the comfort of my shuttle rig, as much as i am not a big Cardio fan, i have pedaled to the top of the B & K [ about an hour up ] in December on a freezing day for a run, and that was my whole point : you will not need these grips cause your blood circulation is 'pumped' and your hands are toasty - the only thing cold may be your schnoz...the bottom line [ for me ] is: even if these grips have a legit place in someones ride, for $300 [ or anything over $100 ] it will have to be Igloo weather and in that case 'hardcore' is just another word for Duhuuuhh ! go buy a snowboard for $300....or skates...or...
  • 1 0
 PS. bradboy...one more thing about shuttling as opposed to pedaling : thats why it's called 'Downhilling' - not 'Uphilling' [ ahh sheeesh! to be 30 and 200 lbs, not 68 and 135 lbs; yeh, just a little concession :-)
  • 2 1
 Look at the bike in the video. What kind of bike is it? What is it meant to do? Think about someone else's riding environment other than your own. I'm not talking about going for 'a run'. The product would be useful for epic winter riding, when it's freezing, and you are soaking wet. Or how about people that commute to work year-round and don't even own a car? Are you going to tell them to 'man up' as you pass them in your giant truck? You guys aren't going to buy the product because you don't ride like that, which is fine. Just because you don't understand it doesn't mean it's junk. It serves a purpose, and it's purpose is to keep people on their bikes for longer.

For the past 4 months, I've been building a 'downhill' trail that has no vehicle access, so I ride my xc bike up there. When it's raining and just above freezing and I'm on my way back down the mountain not even able to feel my fingertips after a long day of building, I have often wondered when this product would come to market. I can't justify the price, but some people can, and they will be more likely to ride with this product. Isn't that why we're on this site, to celebrate riding?
  • 1 0
 agree w/ you that these grips have their place, but i hold fast on the 'dumb' factor of the absolutely outrageous price - the only thing missing is Troy Lee getting his 'handle' on these grips and the price of $300 will seem cheap...
  • 13 0
 its a good idea but they still need to come down in price
  • 1 0
 well i think they can't because lithium batteries are notoriously expensive. i'm sure if they could they would but its because that would increase sales which would increase revenue.... but as of right now the batteries are still extremely expensive so they kinda have to work with what they've got.
  • 10 1
 I can't understand all of the criticism - this company found a problem and solved it. If your cold hands are preventing you from riding then spend $300 and ride your bike all winter long. As a user of the Sidi heated insoles, I can say that this sort of investment in your riding is completely justified, pound of weight or not. I have tried these and they work remarkably well, but thankfully my hands don't get too cold.
  • 2 11
flag jcinkits (Apr 24, 2011 at 23:29) (Below Threshold)
 no, this company found a market with a bunch of wooses...this product [might] be worthwhile for someone who is just commuting and isn't getting their body heat up with some serious ripping - maybe it's a good time for someone to market something to keep your balls warm...if you have any...
  • 2 1
 Heated seat! i cant see these being useful in any situation other than winter xcountry or commuting.
  • 5 1
 You're absolutely right. If you want them/get cold hands then great, and if not thats fine too, just don't buy them. Theres no reason to judge or call names, that just makes you look ignorant.
  • 3 0
 What about grips made from rabbits or seal blubber? Eh? Mmmmm so warm
  • 5 0
 Sooo...am I missing something? I'm paying $300 for something that will wear out and I'll eventually replace? I understand that it's possible to replace just the grips, but $129 is still a very steep price for a pair of grips. They ought to make a system with a replaceable outer grip design so that you can replace it when it gets worn out, which all grips inevitably do.
  • 3 0
 You think they would be able to use some chemical reaction like hot paws for skiing. much cheaper and dont have to replace the whole system.
  • 3 0
 Like my studded tires, these grips would only be used a dozen times or so each winter--should last quite a while. Still, that's some cash for these guys.
  • 1 0
 @ seraph, Your right, the grip needs to be replacable, or at least the rubber outer needs to be. They've put the switch and the circuit into the rubber. High mileage commuting and then leisure riding at night can go through some grips pretty fast. The electronics would need to be in the internal structure, with a replacable outer for them to be realistic product. Maybe less power options so the battery could be smaller and fit inside the handlebars. Which adds steering weight, but the battery is sat high on the bike anyway, and its massive. Might be a good product for electric bicycle users. I bet the battery from the small rechargable exposure lights would fit in the handlebars.

Sealskin gloves worked pretty well for me this winter, bought them after my hands got painfull a few times on the early morning start wearing x-country gloves. Although it was mainly only when sleating that I suffered with pain and this was just in the thumb and breaking finger. What about handlebar Gortex/fleece handwarmer pockets like on quad bikes?
  • 1 0
 A battery in each grip would be nice, switch on the inside aluminium stopper, replacable outer. Smile
  • 1 0
 I agree on that point seraph - the outer grip rubber should be replaceable. That being said you will probably only run these 2 months out of the year max, and I wouldnt think the grip wear would be as rapid as summer month riding. Plus the rubber used is most likely pretty firm.
  • 4 0
 At first I was kinda put off by this product, but having tried hand warmers on ATVs and Skidoos in freezing temps I was a little more into the idea. REcently I was talking to a shop on Vancouver Island and the employee was telling me that several regular riders at their shop rides run these in the winter as it's close to freezing temps and it enables them to still wear XC gloves for better control and they stay more pleasant on rides. HAving ridden on the coast for 6 winters and in ALberta before that, i see these as a niche product and those of you out there that are looking for it already know who you are, those that don't ride when the weather turns south, this isn't a product for you, so maybe just keep an open mind instead of bashing.
  • 1 2
 is it water proof?
  • 3 0
 Cool idea. Ive ridden sleds with heated grips for years and think that if you are one of those riders who wants to keep it going right through the off season this is worth the investment. If its really cold, your hands will get cold and stiff after a couple hours- doesn't matter how badass you are. What's funny is that if any of these people saying "suck it up" has actually ever ridden more than a couple hours in the dead of winter - they would know your hands get cold.
  • 1 0
 It's hard to keep an open mind when the product costs $300, brule. A set of regular grips and really nice winter gloves could cost about as much as $80. Keep in mind that even heated grips won't help your braking fingers stay warm in the freezing cold, so you'll still need expensive insulated gloves on top of the exorbitant price tag for the A'ME grips.
  • 1 0
 Agree with Darkstar. For those of you who think we all need to 'man up', you obviously haven't been riding in conditions that warrant this product. I would buy for wet winter trail building commutes, but $300 seems a little high. Glad to see this product come to life for the hardcores that will use it. Wool gloves work better than anything else so far, but they don't offer much dexterity on trails.
  • 3 0
 I just re-watched and something that a lot of us may have missed is that he says the grips will be able to plug into most lighting systems' battery set ups - so for a lot of us that ride year 'round in adverse conditions and tend to own lights, this is a little better for the rides in the day time at least (from a cost perspective).
  • 1 0
 I definitely didn't miss that part, brule. I mentioned that it's still $129 for just the grips, which is way more expensive than the alternative.
  • 3 0
 Why is it that whenever anyone criticizes a clearly flawed or niche product on pinkbike they get a tonne of neg props. I'm sorry, but I don't see the need for spending $300 on something that is basically a gimmick.
I'm not a fan of the phrase "man up" but some kind of more intelligent equivalent is definitely called for. If you buy these you are, to put it kindly, utterly senseless. If turning the biking population into a bunch of complaining pansies is the goal, then why not have helmets with built in humidifiers for when it's hot, or why not line up mattresses along the edge of racecourses to stop racers getting hurt when they fall? In fact biking gets you dirty, and who want's to be dirty, lets not do it anymore.
When you're pumping the pedals or ripping the tracks in the winter, you'll stay warm enough when you get going. You do not need these.
  • 2 0
 yep. what you said !
  • 3 0
 this is bringing the whole sport away from being away from everything, it should be just you, and the bike - hard core shit i hate stupid idiots who come into the sport not knowing wat the sport is all about, and then complaining about it being cold. you know, the stupid people who are gonna ruin glentress by turning it into some kind of motorway drive through. its amazing the amount of retards ive nearly killed coz theyr sitting on theyr fat arse on the bike in the middle of a downhill section. and its stupidly overpiced!!!!!!
  • 6 0
 nice idea, was liking it till I saw the battery.
  • 3 1
 All these tough guys ought to come ride to work with me in Jan at 2:30 am with winds gusting to 40km/h wind chill temps at -50C that's -58F for those south of the 49th that being said good gloves and balaclava and I've been ok for the last 10 years. Oh since were all "manning up" give up your suspension and ride downhill on a rigid.
  • 1 0
 hmmm downhill on a rigid...bin there dun that, and that is not 'manning up' it is 'dumbing down'...
  • 3 1
 After ridding for 6hrs in almost freezing rain and your nuts are blue, you can't feel your fingers on the levers and your on the final triple black diamond vert downhill to get home I wish I had this product. How often are wimps in this state? Ya the market share pretty small.
  • 1 0
 Read the ame website. It already has them for sale. 130 grips, 170 battery, 10 mount, and 150 for an eskimo pie! Thats 350ty like I say. So what you going to do flush money down toilet or buy some good gloves and 2 eskimo pies?
  • 1 0
 agree with mtbr15 dont like the idea of having something that could get destroyed in a fall, and then ur out of pocket by alot. and id rather get cold hands than pay that much even in sterling.
  • 1 0
 Just put some chemical hand warmer in glowes and thats all ... it will do the job for lot less money www.theheatcompany.com/shop/handwarmer-pair-p-37.html?gclid=CKrZjrDVt6gCFdFX4QodGTdkBg
  • 1 0
 I am SOOOO impressed with everyone's toughness on this thread! I mean the machismo is just OOOZING through your keyboards! You all must have such huge balls! I'm so impressed! Did I mention that?
  • 1 0
 hmmm, why are you impressed with our huge balls....
  • 1 0
 all good and that, but the button is placed on the grip, wudnt it be proper easy to accidently turn it up?.. and wtf is that box haha, wouldnt mind a set myself though if i was offered them for free lol ..
  • 1 0
 you can we used to sell something similar when i worked at polaris it was under 100 bucks you could slide it under any grip its jsut heating elements.
  • 1 2
 i just buy good gloves. simplicity at its best...


can i get a seat warmer to please? and a pedal warmer? and a tire warmer to melt the snow where i decide to ride and a heater for my brake fluid and my fork fluid so they feel pretty in the winter..... to far... yes.
  • 2 0
 This is one of the products where you still need to wait 3 or so years for it to be fully refined.
  • 1 1
 usually the palm of my hand isnt cold, the top of my hand is. This product is only an expensive grip used for people who are too lazy to get a decent pair of gloves. 350$ is way more than 70$.
  • 3 0
 "In any situation down tooo.... In the negative numbers"

lmao!
  • 1 0
 Well, that battery is huge and stupid... yeah, inside the bar(no wires) or water bottle would be better. Will they keep your frozen brake fingers warm, unlikely.
  • 1 0
 with these, this somewhat removes the need for gloves for warm hands. if they do what they say they do then these are such a good addition to biking
  • 1 0
 apart from gloves are $290 less...
  • 1 0
 and thats also a big issue too XD
  • 1 0
 i thought everything was built into the grip... i dont like that big battery thing at all
  • 1 0
 especially because that battery only lasts for 2.5 hours, what about two thinner, longer batteries inside the handle bars?
  • 1 0
 man that just looks wacky on your bike with all those cords and shit its too much wiring
  • 1 1
 baaahahaha this is so ridiculous... a good idea...(to keep in your head) but not likely to succeed.. i would never strap that thing to my bike... if its t
  • 1 0
 I'd rather have a one pound, mini microwave for just one minute so I could heat up a burrito during the cold rides
  • 1 0
 i cant imagine who these are marketed at.. too expensive for the average rider, to heavy for the pro xc rider.
  • 1 0
 Hmm, the battery will be a pain and wind chill will require you to wear gloves still, granted, thinner ones.
  • 1 0
 OR, you can just move to the Southwest. Southern CA and Bootleg in Vegas rarely get to freezing, let alone below.
  • 1 0
 just how expensive are we talking ?
  • 1 1
 129.00..... look at their site
  • 2 0
 just for the grips not including the 170 battery pack and the mounting kit thats 10 and the the charger thats 40for grips that will wear down and be useless in a season?
  • 1 0
 I consider myself very fortunate to be blessed with chubby hands
  • 1 0
 thats very expensive for grips!!!!!
  • 2 1
 $350 plus a pound of weight..id rather have cold hands or wear $20 gloves
  • 1 0
 Ya agreed, $350 is out of control. $170 for a battery of any kind is stupid. Ame is trying to get you to pay for they patent campaign. My $35 board gloves did the trick all winter in the subzero blizzards I was pedalling through last year. Extra pound and huge dent in the wallet isn't going to help anyone. Try again AME, come back at $100 and maybe we consider it. go to www.cabelas.com and get $35 goretex gloves and say eat on these AME!!!!
  • 1 0
 I thought he'd say something like 60 dollars.. jeez... o.o
  • 1 0
 Thats rad. especially for those dula sport moto riders.
  • 1 0
 I'd buy it if it kept my "JUNK" warm too.







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