Hippo hands

[zeke]

Anyone use or have experience with Hippo hands? I found two types on the net the name brand and then a similar product offered by Wunderlich. I really do not think they look nice at all, but I need something for the colder weather. I have a set of GS handguards, but they have been a real pain to install, or more accurately still trying to install. Anyway thanks for the info and opinions.

[Buckster]

zeke,
I had to modify my GS hand gaurds to make them fit although many others swear they don't have to trimmed in any way. I know a few here have tried the hippo hands because I've heard of them before on the forum. You might try a search with those key words.
I'm not sure where in VA you are, but I would be willing to help you with the hand gaurds if it's not too far. I have a dremel tool that I used to cut mine down to fit.

[Airman]

Anyone use or have experience with Hippo hands? I found two types on the net the name brand and then a similar product offered by Wunderlich. I really do not think they look nice at all, but I need something for the colder weather. I have a set of GS handguards, but they have been a real pain to install, or more accurately still trying to install. Anyway thanks for the info and opinions.

The BMW parts guy at my dealer uses Hippo Hands and says they work really well when the heated grips are on. I'm partial to the Gerbings heated gloves. I now have the G5 gloves and the jacket liner which takes all the pain out of riding in the cold. I have my GS guards off right now because i changed handle bars and I need new clamps to get them mounted up. The guards will protect your hands from the cold rain, flying rocks, bugs and all sorts of other stuff. Well worth the trouble to install.

[zeke]

Installing the GS guards is like a never ending saga. Is seems every time I try to install them I need something else. I got the guards and mounting kit used, and some key parts were missing. I think I have all that I need now. I was hopeful I'd be able to avoid dremeling stuff. Maybe I'll take another run at the installation process today, since the weather might be in the mid forties. I'll let you know how I make out.
One thing I like the idea of with the Hippo Hands is that I can wear my uninsulated gloves. The winter gloves I have work great, but do reduce my sense of touch since they are bulky in the palm.

[tcm92678]

I just googled hippohands and went to their website because I didn't know what you guys were talking about.

http://www.hippohands.com/

Anyways, I can just see all my buddies pointing and laughing at me if I were to ever put these on my bike. Even guys on scooters would probably laugh. I might as well put pink tassels all over my bike, jacket, tankbag and helmet. Then again, all my friends (and I) are rugged, testosterone-fueled, alpha-males. We don't hold back when it comes to telling our opinions and we love telling and hearing the truth especially if it hurts.

[zeke]

I just made my final attempt at installing the GS guards. Even with moving the wires and stuff I could not get the guards to stop hitting the brake and clutch levers. Time to stop trying to fit a square peg into a circular hole, which I swear it can be done, but I just don't have it in me this time. I am done wrenching and want to ride, damn you snow (but I am getting off on tangent),
I agree the hippos are not attractive at all, but as a red meat eating, flannel wearing, stubborn, and slightly impatient alpha myself I am saying f- it. Looks like there is a pair of hippos in my future. You can send the pink tassels and maybe even tiara whenever you have a chance.
Incidentally look for a set of hand guards to come up for sale soon.

[Motorcycle_Girl]

I used hippo hands on my Nighthawk. If you haven't bought any yet send me a pm. If the size that I have will fit your bike you can buy mine as I won't use them anymore. My heated grips combined with the Gerbings gloves work fine for me

Celeste

[tlwood28]

Zeke, on the GS guards, it can be done.

I did it (meaning therefore anyone can do it!) by bolting the insides down first, and then twisting the outsides to clear the brake and clutch levers and, when clear and where I wanted them, bolting that down as well. The result is the GS hand guards are slightly torqued. You therefore need to be sure to bolt down the guards well to avoid any issues in the future (or the results of not doing this might not be pretty).

Be looking for clearance issues, which may necessitate slightly loosening and turning the brake line slightly to accommodate the notch that comes on the guards.

In short, give it another go! I definitely like them on the bike for all the reasons previously stated, although they will not, by themselves, and in combination with heated grips and gloves satisfy your need for warm hands. At least they didn't for me.

I have a Gerbing jacket liner and gloves on order. While pricey, I concluded it was the only way for me to be comfortable.

[Airman]

I have a Gerbing jacket liner and gloves on order. While pricey, I concluded it was the only way for me to be comfortable.

So tell me, did you buy the G5 gloves or the smaller G3s ? Mine are off for repair at Gerbings, and if there's an exchange I've been thinking about trying to get the G3s out of them because they are not as bulky. I hope you bought the dual controller, it's well worth the money.

[tlwood28]

I got the smaller G3 gloves, the jacket liner, and the dual controller. Not cheap.

They didn't have my size, but the quality of the G3 gloves they had in stock was impressive.

Should get it all this week. If so, everyone in the Southwest will be in for a heat wave.

Tom W.

[R4R&R]

Zeke,
I have a pair of hippo-hand like covers. I used them many years ago, and only needed them on the coldest of days. They are in fact:
Not attractive, no matter how you look at them (unless you are blind)
a good way to keep your hands warm on extremely cold days.

You're welcome to try mine out if you want. I recommend you wear thinner gloves and try to come/go from your house in the dark so your neighbors won't laugh!

Seriously, let me know if you want to give them a try.

[MattPie]

I just googled hippohands and went to their website because I didn't know what you guys were talking about.

http://www.hippohands.com/

Anyways, I can just see all my buddies pointing and laughing at me if I were to ever put these on my bike. Even guys on scooters would probably laugh. I might as well put pink tassels all over my bike, jacket, tankbag and helmet. Then again, all my friends (and I) are rugged, testosterone-fueled, alpha-males. We don't hold back when it comes to telling our opinions and we love telling and hearing the truth especially if it hurts.

If I lived in Florida I'd probably laugh at you too, it's a little warm there to require hippo hands. Most other parts of the country they can be pretty useful. For me, even with the heated grips, I haven't found a pair of gloves that work much below 45 degrees.

[Dr. Strangelove]

do the GS handguards work with the Throttlemeister?

How well/poorly do they keep your hands dry in the rain?

On my recent trip to Ohio/WV etc I ran into LOTS of cold rain. My Held's were soaked. At a gas station they had some free disposable clear plastic gloves they give out for pumpng deisel. I put these over a pair of $10 textile garden gloves I carry for emergencyrepairs, and my hands were warm and dry. The plastic covers did not leak at all and with a little care lasted for the trip, as needed, more than a couple of days.

[Airman]

I just googled hippohands and went to their website because I didn't know what you guys were talking about.

http://www.hippohands.com/

Anyways, I can just see all my buddies pointing and laughing at me if I were to ever put these on my bike. Even guys on scooters would probably laugh. I might as well put pink tassels all over my bike, jacket, tankbag and helmet. Then again, all my friends (and I) are rugged, testosterone-fueled, alpha-males. We don't hold back when it comes to telling our opinions and we love telling and hearing the truth especially if it hurts.

If I lived in Florida I'd probably laugh at you too, it's a little warm there to require hippo hands. Most other parts of the country they can be pretty useful. For me, even with the heated grips, I haven't found a pair of gloves that work much below 45 degrees.

I agree about warm hands below 45 degrees. I originally bought the G5's because I'd found that even if I had Goretex lined gloves once the leather got soaked with cold water it would suck the life out of my hands. The G5s are waterproof, insulated and heated. I miss them. Mine are still off at Gerbings being "evaluated". They've had them for 3 weeks, but my BMW parts guy says he sometimes goes down to Gerbings to pick up stuff, and the operation is really small. Just a few people handling warranty work.

[BMWEW1]

Don't feel so bad about your problems with installing the GS handguards, esp if you were installing them with the idea they'd keep your hands warm, cause they WON'T, at least not to anything below 45/50 F. For that you need either HippoHands, heated gloves, or thick winter gloves. I did notice they help with keeping a light rain of my hands, but in a soaker forget it, and they do keep bugs from smacking your hands.

[tlwood28]

Don't feel so bad about your problems with installing the GS handguards, esp if you were installing them with the idea they'd keep your hands warm, cause they WON'T, at least not to anything below 45/50 F. For that you need either HippoHands, heated gloves, or thick winter gloves. I did notice they help with keeping a light rain of my hands, but in a soaker forget it, and they do keep bugs from smacking your hands.

I notice a considerable difference when I pull rain covers on winter gloves. Likewise I have to thing the GS handguards act in the same way, by diverting the constant flow of air over the back of the hands. I can't say I have done a back to back comparison but it stands to reason that they help.

I agree with your comment that they wont keep your hands warm much below 50 F, but they do help. I am definitely glad I have them and would recommend them.

[zeke]

The hippos arrived the other day!! I put them on and confirmed that I will not be winning any aesthetics contests, but the warmth provided is perfect. I rode to the office today, granted it was in the mid-40 F this morning not exactly the frigid test I had in mind, but I wore my summer gloves and the heated grips and the hippos performed well. I am very happy with the hippos and recommend them. Thanks to everyone who contributed!

[tlwood28]

... granted it was in the mid-40 F this morning not exactly the frigid test I had in mind, ...

Wow. I rode in the high 40's once and thought I was going to die. I don't know what you had in mind, but you're scaring me....