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メナHey, I’m Mena (@menachite), a hybrid mechanical/electrical engineer. This time I’m comparing motorcycle heated grips — for anyone whose hands go numb on cold-weather rides or commutes.
The short version: if you just want to try heated grips without committing to a rewire, start with a wrap-on overgrip. If you want a permanent, weatherproof setup with real heat output, a built-in replacement grip is the better long-term choice.
Since Daytona and Kijima (the brands used in the Japanese-market version of this comparison) aren’t sold outside Japan, this English version compares verified, internationally-available alternatives instead: Oxford Products and Koso — 5 heated grip models plus one USB power accessory, all confirmed current on the manufacturers’ own sites.
Conclusion: Quick Pick by Purpose
Here’s the short answer. Never tried heated grips before? Start with Oxford’s HotGrips Premium for a proper built-in setup, or the HotGrips Wrap if you’d rather avoid a rewire entirely. Want an alternative brand to Oxford? Koso’s Apollo, Artemis, and Titan-S all cover that, with the Artemis adding low-battery protection and the Titan-S adding a chrome finish.
| Product | Type | Heat control | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oxford HotGrips Premium (OF690) | Built-in | 5 heat settings | Riders trying built-in heated grips for the first time |
| Oxford HotGrips Wrap (EL694) | Wrap-on overgrip | 2 heat settings | Riders who want no rewire, no grip swap |
| Koso Apollo | Built-in | 5 levels | Riders wanting an Oxford alternative |
| Koso Artemis (120mm) | Built-in | 5 levels + low-battery cutoff | Riders worried about battery drain |
| Koso Titan-S (chrome) | Built-in | 5 levels + memory | Riders who want a dressed-up finish |
Motorcycle Heated Grips: 5 Verified Picks
Oxford HotGrips Premium (OF690)
メナThis is Oxford’s standard touring/adventure-fit built-in grip, and the one I’d point most riders to first if they’ve never tried heated grips before.
The Oxford HotGrips Premium (OF690) is a bar-end-through, built-in replacement grip with an intelligent heat controller offering 5 heat settings. A battery-saving mode protects against flat batteries, and the switch automatically cuts power if voltage drops too low, so you don’t need to fit a separate relay.
Installation replaces your factory grips entirely. I’ve fitted a set of these myself on a friend’s adventure bike, and the wiring loom, glue, and mounting bracket that come in the box made the job more straightforward than I expected.
As a full grip replacement, this is best suited to riders who want a permanent, weatherproof setup rather than a temporary add-on.
Oxford HotGrips Wrap – Advanced Heated Overgrips (EL694)
メナIf you don’t want to touch your bike’s wiring or replace your factory grips at all, this wrap-on overgrip is the one I’d try first.
The Oxford HotGrips Wrap (EL694) is an overgrip design that wraps around your existing grips rather than replacing them, fitting grips up to 32mm in diameter. It has 2 heat settings and a low power draw of under 3 amps.
Because it doesn’t require removing your factory grips, installation is much quicker than the built-in Premium line — you’re mainly running a thin wiring loom to the included controller bracket rather than doing a full grip swap.
I’d recommend this to riders who want to try heated grips without committing to a permanent rewire, or who simply don’t want to give up their current grip’s feel and compound.
Koso Apollo Heated Grips (Universal Fit)
メナKoso is the other name that keeps coming up alongside Oxford in the US aftermarket, and the Apollo is their most common built-in replacement grip.
The Koso Apollo is a universal-fit, built-in replacement heated grip with an integrated thumb switch and 5 temperature levels, shown by a multi-color LED indicator.
Like the Oxford Premium line, installation means removing your factory grips and wiring the heating element into the bike’s electrical system. Koso is a well-established name in motorcycle electronics, so this is a reasonable alternative brand at a similar price point to Oxford.
I’d pick this over the Oxford Premium mainly if you already run other Koso electronics on the bike and want to keep the brand consistent.
Koso Artemis Heated Grips (Universal Fit, 120mm)
メナThe Artemis is Koso’s newer model, and it adds low-battery cutoff protection plus a memory function on top of what the Apollo already offers.
The Koso Artemis (120mm, universal fit for L: 7/8-inch, R: 1-inch bars) is a built-in replacement grip with an integrated thumb switch, 5 temperature levels, low-battery cutoff protection, and an internal memory that resumes your last heat setting.
Like the Apollo, this is a full grip replacement requiring the factory grips to come off and the heating element to be wired in.
If you’ve been caught out by a heated grip draining your battery on a long ride before, the Artemis’s cutoff protection is the feature that would push me toward this one over the Apollo.
Koso Titan-S Heated Grips (Universal, Chrome)
メナThis is Koso’s dressed-up option — same core electronics as the Apollo, but a chrome finish and soft-touch composite grip material for riders who care about looks too.
The Koso Titan-S is a universal-fit built-in replacement grip (7/8-inch left, 1-inch right) with an integrated thumb switch, 5 heat levels shown on a 5-color LED, low battery cutoff, and internal memory — the same feature set as the Apollo, in a chrome finish with soft-touch rubber composite construction.
Installation is identical to the other built-in grips here: factory grips off, heating element wired in.
If the plain black Apollo or Artemis don’t match your bike’s finish, the Titan-S is worth the small premium for the chrome look alone.
Related Accessories
One accessory that pairs naturally with any heated grip setup:
Oxford Weatherproof Dual Port USB Charger (EL102, 5V 2Amp)
メナIf you’d rather run the wrap-on HotGrips Wrap off a phone charger than a power bank, a dedicated USB socket like this is worth adding to the bike anyway.
The Oxford EL102 is a weatherproof dual-port USB charger (5V, 2 Amp total) with a 1.2m wiring loom and 10 Amp fuse, clamped onto tubular handlebars up to 25mm or mounted on the mirror stem with the included adaptors.
For riders using the wrap-on HotGrips Wrap rather than a hard-wired built-in grip, this kind of dedicated socket is more reliable than relying on a power bank strapped to the bike.
It’s a general-purpose accessory that pairs naturally with any of the built-in grips above too, since most riders end up wanting a USB socket on the bike regardless.
How to Choose Motorcycle Heated Grips
Wrap-on overgrip vs. built-in replacement
The HotGrips Wrap is the only wrap-on option in this comparison — it goes over your existing grips with no rewire beyond a thin controller loom. The other four (Oxford Premium, Koso Apollo/Artemis/Titan-S) all replace your factory grips outright and wire into the bike’s electrical system for higher, more consistent heat output. I’d suggest the wrap-on option first if you’re not sure you’ll keep using heated grips long-term.
Bar diameter and grip length
Confirm your handlebar diameter before ordering — the HotGrips Wrap fits grips up to 32mm, while the built-in options are sized for standard 7/8-inch and 1-inch bars. Getting this wrong is the single most common installation headache I’ve seen riders run into.
Low-battery protection and memory
If you’ve ever had a heated grip drain your battery on a long, cold ride, look for a model with low-battery cutoff protection — the Koso Artemis and Titan-S both include this, along with a memory function that restores your last heat setting on startup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Which is easier to install, the Oxford Premium or the HotGrips Wrap?
A. The HotGrips Wrap is significantly easier since it doesn’t require removing your factory grips — you’re mainly running a thin wiring loom to the controller. The Premium and all three Koso grips require a full grip swap and wiring into the electrical system.
Q. Is Koso a good alternative to Oxford, or is Oxford clearly better?
A. Both are well-established brands with similar feature sets. I’d pick based on which extra features you want — the Koso Artemis’s low-battery cutoff or the Titan-S’s chrome finish, versus Oxford’s simpler Premium lineup.
Q. Can I use a wrap-on overgrip instead of replacing my grips?
A. Yes — the Oxford HotGrips Wrap is exactly that, though it generally produces less heat than the built-in replacement types compared here.
メナOnce you know your bar diameter, choosing a heated grip mostly comes down to wrap-on vs. built-in, and whether you want extra features like low-battery cutoff. I’ve come to rely on mine every winter, and I don’t think I could go back to cold hands now.
Summary
We compared 5 heated grips from Oxford Products and Koso, plus one USB power accessory, by fit, heat control, and installation. Since Daytona and Kijima aren’t sold outside Japan, this comparison uses verified, internationally-available alternatives instead.
Start with Oxford’s HotGrips Premium or Wrap depending on how much installation work you’re willing to do, or consider Koso’s Apollo, Artemis, or Titan-S as alternative brands at similar price points.