Author Topic: Replacing heated grips  (Read 17169 times)

Offline F14CRAZY

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Replacing heated grips
« on: March 20, 2016, 10:01:15 PM »
This weekend I figured out that my left grip wasn't heating up. My bike has Symtec grip heaters and Pro Grip 699 grips and an OEM switch (as Drake installed...there's a write up by him here).

Pulled the gas tank and found the connections for the grips. The wiring was just twisted together and taped over (don't think that was Drake's doing). Thinking that was causing a short I cleaned that up with crimp nuts. Still no heat. Up to the grip itself I poked the wiring with a multimeter and it's getting power but no heat.

The Symtec kit and Pro Grips are still around but I felt like trying something else, so earlier tonight I went and ordered an Oxford Heaterz Premium Touring kit from Revzilla ($89.95)

http://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/oxford-heaterz-premium-touring-heated-grips

I'll follow up with pix and a review when it arrives and I install them
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline Motorhobo

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #1 on: March 21, 2016, 11:33:48 AM »
I have aftermarket grips that are Symtec or something similar and one of the grips doesn't work and the other one only has one setting: way too hot. I haven't even bothered to try to fix them because it's not worth it. Saw the Oxford ones at a local bike shop and I really like that they have some kind of control interface. Very interested to know how it works out for you...I think a reasonably priced alternative to the OEM ones is long overdue. Seems a lot of people who have had the aftermarket ones for a few years find themselves with only one working. That's never happened to me in the 10 years I've had the OEM ones.
1994/1995 K75 ABS Frankenbike: original engine 136k miles, frame from Gary Weaver (RIP), 173k miles -- Current Odometer: 198k miles
1994 K75 since 2013, 82,000 mi (19k mine) w/California Sidecar Friendship II Sidecar & Black Lab 'Miss B' - RIP

Past: 1974 Honda 550/4 (first bike), 1994 K75 (sold), 1995 K75 ABS (parts bike), Sidecar Dog & Best Bud 'Bo' - RIP

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #2 on: March 23, 2016, 08:33:18 PM »
Documentation says the grips draw 4 amps. What do the OEM grips draw? The Oxford kit has enough wiring and terminals to connect directly to the battery but I wired it to the bike's factory heated grip connector under the tank (where Drake had the Symtec ones hooked up).

If you want to go straight to the battery the controller can sense when power is low (or the bike is off) and automatically turn off after a few minutes in case you leave them on. I decided to just go for switched power though.

At any rate the kit arrived today (from Philadelphia, PA). Took the tank off, snipped the old wiring, and ripped the old grips and heaters off. I took a box cutter and put a long cut across each. The part that took the most time was getting the old grip glue off the throttle sleeve. I found it best to leave the sleeve on the bar and take emery cloth to it. The goo came off with the emery cloth and brake cleaner. I took the time to clean up and re-lube the throttle sleeve and bar and the little chain and all that too.

I used the included bracket and put the controller below the left switch assembly.
 
Running the wiring wasn't difficult but it's thicker than the Symtec wiring and it's kind of big where the wiring is molded into the grips...not that big of a deal on the left side but it's kind of weird for the right side as that goes upward with the throttle being twisted...so there's like a loop that goes around and over the master cylinder reservoir.

Sorry I don't have any photos yet. It was dark by the time I finished. I'll try to get some tomorrow so this will make better sense.

I haven't ridden the bike yet to test them...it's like just above freezing tonight and raining. I would have went out if it weren't for the rain. My hands were freezing though and the grips felt rather hot after being on 100% for a few minutes (started the bike up for that).

Will follow up with pix and a review soon
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #3 on: March 28, 2016, 07:49:43 PM »
I'll have to post again tomorrow with a pic of the controller and how I mounted it...oooops





About the only real complaint as I mentioned is how large the wiring leads are. Not that big of a deal on the clutch side but on the throttle side you have all that wiring that needs to be loose enough for when you twist the throttle. I have it zip tied to be about the minimum. I need to pick up some black zip ties as you can see as I just had the natural ones in my tool bag. The zip ties that came with it broke while I was taking them out of the package...

I've had them set at 100% on an extended 30 degree ride...with my gloves (Joe Rocket Sub Zero with silk Tour Master liners) my hands still get a little cold. The big difference compared with the Symtec ones is that my hands would get cold and I couldn't tell whether the warmers were on or not. The Oxford grips stay warm through the gloves...you can always tell they're on.

Not quite as soft as the gel Pro Grip grips but I don't really think it's a negative.

They're also slightly bigger in diameter in my hands than the Pro Grips. Not a negative...they're just a tiny bit bigger. I wear size small gloves though so it's probably easier for me to tell the difference.

They're nice and grippy though. I like the pattern on the rubber.

I wish the controller would remember what setting it was last on when they get power again (which in this case is when I turn the ignition on). It'd be nice if you didn't have to turn them back on if you left them on.

And the little tube of superglue they came with isn't that great as the clutch side came off. I picked up some loctite epoxy and fixed that.

Oxford provides a 2 year warranty. Made in China according to the box but this is typical of most everything (and probably typical of heated grips)

Overall they're nice grips...they're hot, seem to be of high quality, easy to wire up. The only bad thing I can really say is about the large wire leads. Pick up your own zip ties and epoxy though (or grip glue or w/e else you prefer to use)
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #4 on: March 31, 2016, 02:31:28 PM »
the controller:



  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline johnny

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #5 on: March 31, 2016, 02:45:33 PM »
can you go full lock on the steering...

can you easily adjust it with  tank bag on there...
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #6 on: March 31, 2016, 03:40:59 PM »
no issues with full lock johnny...haven't tried it with the tank bag yet. Will report back
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline Motorhobo

  • +25 years of K75
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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #7 on: April 13, 2016, 04:52:06 PM »
Am I the only one who can't see these pics?
1994/1995 K75 ABS Frankenbike: original engine 136k miles, frame from Gary Weaver (RIP), 173k miles -- Current Odometer: 198k miles
1994 K75 since 2013, 82,000 mi (19k mine) w/California Sidecar Friendship II Sidecar & Black Lab 'Miss B' - RIP

Past: 1974 Honda 550/4 (first bike), 1994 K75 (sold), 1995 K75 ABS (parts bike), Sidecar Dog & Best Bud 'Bo' - RIP

Offline Laitch

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #8 on: April 13, 2016, 05:54:53 PM »
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #9 on: April 13, 2016, 06:36:11 PM »
See what?
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline Laitch

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #10 on: April 13, 2016, 06:38:54 PM »
I bet they look pretty darn good though.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #11 on: April 13, 2016, 07:30:43 PM »
Weird...they show up for me. I used another browser and logged out and they still showed up. Should be 4 pix
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline Elipten

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #12 on: April 13, 2016, 09:56:46 PM »
Not seeing them on my iPad


2014 CB1100 DLX
2013 CB1100 Std
1990 BMW K75 RT
  • San Antonio, TX
  • 1990 K75RT

Offline Bill

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #13 on: April 13, 2016, 09:58:51 PM »
Ubuntu Linux and Chrome can;t see them either .....
  • Sutton, Ontario, Canada
  • K100 LT
Current:  88 K100 LT

86 K100 R-?L?T parts collection in loose formation...

previous:
84 V45 Sabre
74 CB400
72 CB750

Offline Martin

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #14 on: April 14, 2016, 03:25:44 AM »
I thought they might have been posted in Braille but I can't feel them or see them. :dunno
Regards Martin.
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Offline Scott_

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #15 on: April 14, 2016, 07:07:58 AM »
No pics visible here either. Multiple browsers and os's, even logged while logged into my google acct, no difference.

Linux with Firefox and Chromium.
Win 7 with IE and Chrome.
Win 10 with IE, Edge, and Chrome.

I did notice that they are posted thru his google acct if that makes any difference. I even tried the direct google links, no dice.

Just sharing what I see( ie don't see......lol)
  • My Garage
1995 K1100LT 0302044
2017 FLHTK Ultra Limited
1997 K1100LT 0302488 (R.I.P.)
1997 R1100RT ZC62149(sold)
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Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #16 on: April 14, 2016, 07:53:24 AM »
Can you guys see this photo?



I've switched to Google Photos to (try) to use with sharing on forums versus Facebook, which worked but it seems like after a few weeks the links would change or something
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline Elipten

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #17 on: April 14, 2016, 08:19:19 AM »
Yes see it on iphone


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Offline Laitch

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #18 on: April 14, 2016, 08:50:04 AM »
I see it on my desktop Mac.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

Offline The Mighty Gryphon

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #19 on: April 14, 2016, 09:19:11 AM »
Can see it on my Vista Laptop.
  • In my garage in Marilla, NY
  • '91K100RS White/Blue
Current:
'91 K100RS16V "Moby Brick Too"

Past:
'94 K75RT "Ilsa, She Wolf of the SS"
'92 K100RS16V "Moby Brick" (RIP, deceased in a vehicular assault)
'94 K75S Special Edition Dakar Yellow "Cheetos"
'89 K100RS Special Edition "Special Ed"

Offline johnny

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #20 on: April 14, 2016, 09:31:11 AM »
i can see it on my tandy2000... gonna copy to a floppy...
  • :johnny i parks my 96 eleven hundert rs motobrick in dodge county cheezconsin  :johnny

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #21 on: April 14, 2016, 09:47:46 AM »
Thanks. It seems with Google Photos I need to move pix to shared album and then I can use the pic's location to post on the forum. I'll fix the photos in this in a short bit
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline TimTyler

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #22 on: April 14, 2016, 10:14:33 AM »
Why not just upload the images to motobrick.com?

Offline F14CRAZY

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #23 on: April 14, 2016, 10:16:34 AM »
Why not just upload the images to motobrick.com?

That'll be my next move if this doesn't work.

At any rate there should now be a total of 5 photos in this thread, with the 5th being the same as the 4th. Are they showing up?
  • Grand Rapids, MI
  • '87 K75C
'87 K75C w/ Pichler V1 fairing. LED's, CATZ driving lights, Audiovox cruise, LT top case, tons of other mods by Drake...


Offline Laitch

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Re: Replacing heated grips
« Reply #24 on: April 14, 2016, 11:32:41 AM »
At any rate there should now be a total of 5 photos in this thread, with the 5th being the same as the 4th. Are they showing up?
Yes.
  • Along the Ridley in Vermont.
  • 1995 K75 89,000 miles

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