Concours Hippo Hands

To order Concours C10 Hippo Hands, $64.95 US, US and Canadian Customers. Shipping/handling of $15.00 US (10 bus. days delivery) will be added at check out for all USA and Canadian destinations:

Hi Ronnie,

I've been using a pair of Dan K's handlebar muffs since the fall of 03 and I've come to regard them as essential travel gear. They're easy to store (each mitt flattens to about the size of a folded long-sleeve T-shirt), they're easy to install (less than 30 seconds total), and, most importantly, they do an amazing job in keeping your hands warm and dry.

I recently put the muffs to a little test on an 8200 mile (11 travel-day) run to Daytona Beach. The muffs were in place virtually the whole time as I was eastbound during the South's mid-Dec cold snap and westbound during the west coast's early Jan downpours. I believe the lowest temperature I saw was 24 degrees (passing through some Texas highlands, at night, enroute to Big Bend National Park). The combination of heated grips (HotGrips with a variable controller) and the muffs allowed me to ride in comfort wearing my wrist length, ventilated, SUMMER gloves. I carried two heavier pairs of gloves (one electric), but the only time I needed them was when I got off the bike (particularly at gas stops).

NOTE to current and potential Garmin 26XX GPS users: I found that I was UNable to reliably operate the unit's touch-screen display while wearing anything heavier than my summer weight gloves. Even the light glove operation was less than ideal. I tried repeatedly to calibrate the screen, but never experienced a successful calibration secession wearing ANY of the gloves I own. Hence the muffs enabled me to continue to access all the GPS functions despite temperatures that which would normally dictate the use of winter gloves.

On the westbound leg I caught MORE than my fair share of rain. However, the combination of Connie's fairing, a one-piece Stich, and the muffs kept me comfortably dry. Following those occasions when I intentionally exposed my gloves to the weather (wiping rain/snow from my face shield, playing with the GPS, off-bike excursions, etc.) I found that the muff-enclosed heated grips were able to quickly dispelled the dampness.

The one time I was AWARE of moisture inside the muffs was following a "static" exposure on a previous trip. I'd left the muff-equipped handlebars turned full-lock left when parking the bike for the night. This positioning exposed a small portion of the bottom-edge of the opening of the right muff to the heavens, thus effectively transforming that muff into a rain gauge. When I straightened up the bars the next morning, water poured out. The good news revealed by this incident was that your hand "almost" never touches the inside of the muff while riding. Wind blasts from trucks (and Wyoming grade crosswinds) can cause the muff to move/collapse momentarily, resulting in glove-to-muff liner contact, but the only part of the body that appears to be in routine contact with the muff is the top of your forearm (upon which the top edge of the opening rests) and possibly your knuckles. Water that runs down your arm and drips onto the inside of the muff (as well as that collected while the muff is in rain-gauge mode) never reaches your hand, so life is good. I've since learned to park the muff-equipped bike with the handlebars straight ahead, and the muffs rotated slightly so that their openings point downward. Of course a smarter, less slothful, man would simply remove the muffs (a 7 second job) thereby protecting them from the elements and eliminating the possibility of loss to thieves.

There are a few things I don't like about these muffs, but I willingly concede that my "issues" are generally self-inflicted, and stem for the most part from "farkle-mania". For example:

1) I wish my right muff were a little wider as I'm aware of glove-to-muff contact whenever I operate my throttle lock. The "limited" confines of the muff don't cause me (a little guy who wears size Small gloves) any problems, but I am aware that I'm pushing against the muff when ever I slide my hand down the grip to turn the lock.

Confounding factors probably contributing to my less than optimal situation: HeliBars and Throttlemeister (heavy) throttle lock. Note: the limited volume of the muff would probably preclude the use of reservoir mounted switch gear (something I've been contemplating for future "upgrades").

2) I also wish my muffs didn't project as far forward in the region of the master cylinder reservoirs. I'm aware of muff-to-dash shelf contact during full lock motion of the handlebars (particularly to the left). The muffs don't limit bar motion, but the "touch" is transmitted to your arm and this can be a little unnerving the first time it happens - especially if it occurs while attempting to execute a tight U-turn, at night, at the end of the day! DAMHIK.

Confounding factors: HeliBar "settings"; BST Dash shelf; Reservoir/lever positioning; Two-line brake kit

3) I also wish the muffs were a little shorter (front to back - at least the inside edge) and maybe narrower (at the back) to possibly reduce tank bag interference. Given that I'm unwilling to trade hand protection for stowage capacity, I make do with a small tank bag (12L).

Confounding factors: HeliBar "settings"; Throttlemeister heavies; Chase Harper magnetic mount tank bag

4) Perhaps the only "valid" complaint I have with Dan's muffs deals with an apparent "manufacturing decision" (my assumption - based on the fact that both muffs are the same) which leaves a small portion (~3" long) of one of the panel's edges exposed. This allows one to see the three layers of material from which the panels are made. This "rough" finish (when compared to that of the other edges) is SO conspicuous that I hadn't noticed it before today, when I took a close look at the muffs prior to penning this response. (Note: Thanks to Jeff for bringing this to our attention, this item has been corrected).

Bottom Line: Dan's muffs aren't perfect, but between Oct and Apr I won't leave home with out them.

Give me a call (360 714-1624) if you've got questions or would like to see some pictures.

Looking forward to riding with you this year,

Jeff Beecher Bellingham, WA COG 4943 2001 Concours (104K) 2002 VFR (14K)

If you would like to have the items you just purchased shipped to you faster than the normal 10-12 business day delivery, as charged automatically in the shopping cart, please click on the "add to cart" button below here. It will add $10 US to ship the items Express Post, which delivers in under a week.

These pictures are of my prototype Hippo Hands for the C14. They don't show the nylon skirt that closes the handlebar opening on the inside of the muffs. They will be replaced soon with pictures of the final production model.

To order Concours C14 Hippo Hands, $69.95 US, US and Canadian Customers. Shipping/handling of $15.00 US (10 bus. days delivery) will be added at check out for all USA and Canadian destinations: