Aftermarket Grips, heated grips [Archive]

bwarbiany

Mon 8/19/02, 12:46PM

Well, due to the fact that my bike didn't have valve covers on at the time, I had the chance to ride Gregg's SV yesterday at the wrenchfest... He's got some nice grips that seemed (in the short ride I had) like they would really reduce the vibration and ensuing numbness I end up getting in my hands... When I get numb, I have almost no feeling for throttle control, which ain't good...

Gregg, what were those grips? Name, model, and hopefully a website I can find them in blue :D would be helpful :)

Brad

Burst

Mon 8/19/02, 2:03PM

Brad, They are ProGrips Gel Grip. The model number I am not sure of... well here I'll find the link for you. I orderde them from Arizona Motorsports. I think they were $9 or $10.

found it....

http://store.yahoo.com/azmotorsports/17-0750.html

bwarbiany

Mon 8/19/02, 2:28PM

Stock length okay? (125 mm)

Brad

Burst

Mon 8/19/02, 2:32PM

they fit fine.... just make sure you have the right and left grip on the proper side. The left grip is slightly different thatn the throttle grip. I did have to bevel the inside of the throttle grip to avoid trimming the plastic on the actual throttle assembly. Other than that they fit great.

stough

Mon 8/19/02, 3:11PM

Yup,

I installed those too, and I really like them... I took some sandpaper to the throttle and smoothed out all of the bumps and put Kimpex grip heaters under the new grips. They'll come in handy this winter. I ended up trimming the grips a bit, but they look and feel great. Now all I have to do is wire up the heaters. The heaters are $30 in addition to the grips, and I'm sure they'll be well worth it.

Later,
Tim.

bwarbiany

Mon 8/19/02, 3:30PM

Dude... You live in Pasadena... Not Seattle... What do you need grip warmers for?

Brad
-just wonderin' ;)

Gmoney

Mon 8/19/02, 3:57PM

any one who still has the stock grips should replace them with the pro grips. i changed my grips the second day i had the bike. Highly recommend this mod! its cheep too $10 and it takes about 15 min to install but the grip glue has to dry over night.

James

stough

Mon 8/19/02, 4:16PM

Duh, see title. ;)

What I want them for is December - April! :D

I mean really... Maybe I'm a wuss, but I want to be comfy in my summer gloves year round. It was a cheap thing that was easy to do. Now I'll be toasty when you're putting on your thicker gloves. :p

Later,
Tim.

bwarbiany

Mon 8/19/02, 4:49PM

I guess Cali has totally wussified you from your days at Purdue, huh? I remember back in Jan 97 when it was 20 below (I think you may have still been there) and they shut down campus...

But seriously, I'm just giving you crap... I remember back in the bay area when I'd be riding at 5:30 AM to get to work by 6, in the middle of winter... 40 degree (and a few days down near freezing), doing 90 on the freeway because I'd rather bear the cold of 90 mph than spend any more time outside... That sucked... I'm glad I won't have to do that anymore :)

Actually though, how well to heated grips work? I always figured that since the part of your hand that will feel the heat (the inside) isn't exposed to any wind, it wouldn't really be that useful... Do they put out enough heat to keep your entire hand warm?

Brad

stough

Tue 8/20/02, 10:34AM

Originally posted by bwarbiany
I guess Cali has totally wussified you from your days at Purdue, huh? I remember back in Jan 97 when it was 20 below (I think you may have still been there) and they shut down campus...

But seriously, I'm just giving you crap... I remember back in the bay area when I'd be riding at 5:30 AM to get to work by 6, in the middle of winter... 40 degree (and a few days down near freezing), doing 90 on the freeway because I'd rather bear the cold of 90 mph than spend any more time outside... That sucked... I'm glad I won't have to do that anymore :)

Actually though, how well to heated grips work? I always figured that since the part of your hand that will feel the heat (the inside) isn't exposed to any wind, it wouldn't really be that useful... Do they put out enough heat to keep your entire hand warm?

Brad

Yeah, sure, whatever... I still see no need for parks and mittens in LA!

Anyhow, from my experience on snowmobiles, keeping your palm warm will help your whole hand be warmer. The leather gauntlets will protect against the wind, but not against radiative heat loss, the grip heaters will easily add more heat to the system than my hands will radiate. To that end, I wrapped the left bar in friction tape before putting on the heater; this should reduce heat loss directly into the bars. I'm sure I'll comment on it this winter. As of right now, I haven't wired them up. The wires go from the grips into the headlight bucket and are just waiting there for me to hook up the power and a switch.

Later,
Tim

zp_SV

Mon 9/9/02, 7:01PM

anyone done replacements of these wonderful inventions? The left...no problem, it was already slipping due to my summer in the desert..pop it's off...new rubber on. Now on to the throttle......aftermarket grips are not made like the oem ones....a friend told me to cut down the top plastic edge and drop the grip on. Just trying to get another's opinion before i start cutting away.

thanks,
zp

filthyboatguy

Mon 9/9/02, 10:27PM

I cut the crap out of the throttle grip, glued it with Scott's grip glue. No problems.

JT

filthyboatguy

Mon 9/9/02, 10:29PM

Cut the throttle sleeve down, not the grip...........

Burst

Mon 9/9/02, 10:47PM

I actually ended up just beveling the inside edge of the grip so it would fit over the inside end of the throttle sleeve. No glue necessary. Used a dremel with one of the mini drum sanders to do the bevel.

No_Brakes23

Mon 9/9/02, 10:58PM

Anybody know what the difference is between bicycle grips and moto grips? I know BMX/MTB grips were actually developed from MX grips.

Most motorcycle people seem to get irate with me when I suggest sourcing parts from bicycles, but if it works it works. Bicycle grips selection vastly outstrips moto grips selection, and if you have to modify them any way,....

And, can I do anything to improve those shitty mammoth levers that seem to be on every bike?

Punkbrad

Mon 9/9/02, 11:02PM

an old bicycle trick (if you dont have or want to buy the grip glue) is to put a small amount of hairspray in the grip, it helps slip on, and it dries fast, making the grip hold tight like a bum on a bologna sandwich. ;)

zp_SV

Tue 9/10/02, 11:53AM

wonderful....

No_Brakes23

Tue 9/10/02, 6:48PM

I still have a can of Aqua-net in with my bike tools.

I wonder if anyone has ever wrapped their grips, 10-speed style?

stough

Tue 9/10/02, 7:37PM

I think it was a suggestion on sv650.org to wrap a layer of friction tape on the left bar to insulate it from the grip heater (if you're installing them). So I did... The Gel grips are very flexy, so you can put a layer of tape under them no problem. You can even make the tape barrel shaped to make the grips thicker in the center (some find this more comfortable).

Later,
Tim.

tmonroe

Mon 11/3/03, 7:35AM

I put up an article for installing heated grips.

If you ride in cold climates, these are great. $30.00 (plus shipping).

http://www.itrocks.com/motorcycles/sv650heatedgrips.htm

I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks

Tom

svspete

Mon 11/3/03, 7:39AM

$30 is all a kit costs? Wow... I think I'll be buying one of these. Now all I need is a heated vest :-p

pinhead875

Thu 12/11/03, 7:31PM

Just installed my Pro Grips Gel Grips. Have yet to ride and test them out, but they DEFINATELY feel better than the stock ones, which were pretty thin. I tried to slide them on dry, didn't work well at all. Then i got out the wife's $20 hair spray (shh, don't tell her) and it slid on very nicely. Thanks for that tip, Punkbrad.

mark754

Thu 3/11/04, 7:35AM

I'm installing some Pro Grips right now. The screw holding the bar end in was tighter than a mofo and I has to drill it out. Do I have to go to a dealer to get a new screw? Home depot didn't have one that long.

I also tried the hairspray thing. It seems to work on the right side grip (where the grip is stuck directly to the steel bar), but on the throttle side where it goes over the plastic sleeve, it hasn't stuck as well and there's some movement. I guess I'll have to redo it with grip glue.

rlhotka

Wed 8/18/04, 2:27PM

Does anyone know how to install the handgrips?

TheCopperOne

Wed 8/18/04, 3:03PM

Originally posted by rlhotka
Does anyone know how to install the handgrips?

Take of the bar-end weights. Pull off the old grips...you can stick a long screwdriver under the grips and move it around the bar to get 'em loose. Put grip glue on....squirt some in the end of the grip also. Slide grip on. Let dry.

Rinse, lather, repeat.....

:D

cateye36

Fri 9/3/04, 5:18PM

Just out of curiousity, would most of you prefer:

A: Heated grips

B: Pro Grips with the Kimpex underneath?

Even tho I live in California, I live in the high desert......gets pretty cold here in the fall/winter, and I don't want to give myself ANY reason to wimp out on riding.....

Anyone else live in California where it snows? I'm thinking of storing my bike in Bakersfield during that time so I can drive down and ride in the winter.......

Thanks!

SV650sk3

Sat 9/4/04, 9:08PM

Hey! If anyone decides to buy some new grips would you mind giving me the stock ones?

Thanks,
-Rob

BioTek

Sat 9/4/04, 9:48PM

Originally posted by SV650sk3
Hey! If anyone decides to buy some new grips would you mind giving me the stock ones?

I had to cut my old grips off when I put the Pro Grips on, dunno as they can come off without cutting.

Originally posted by cateye36
Just out of curiousity, would most of you prefer:

A: Heated grips

B: Pro Grips with the Kimpex underneath?

Even tho I live in California, I live in the high desert......gets pretty cold here in the fall/winter, and I don't want to give myself ANY reason to wimp out on riding.....

Anyone else live in California where it snows? I'm thinking of storing my bike in Bakersfield during that time so I can drive down and ride in the winter.......

Thanks!

With the chillier times of the year coming in a few months I think I'll be fitting some heater tapes to keep me riding in relative warmth this year.
It's SoCal but Julian is freakin cold in February! Brrrr.

gregbenner

Sat 9/4/04, 9:49PM

I have heated grips on my Multistrada and my Tuono, www.dual-star.com, cost about $30 or so.

Last winter, I remember leaving my place on Wrightwood for the city at 7;30 am, temperature UNDER 20 degrees F :eek:

Its pretty common in the Crest for the temps to be in the fourties. Lots of tough guys who make fun of heated grips don't really ride in the mountains when it gets cold:p :D

BioTek

Sat 9/4/04, 10:15PM

Originally posted by gregbenner
I have heated grips on my Multistrada and my Tuono, www.dual-star.com, cost about $30 or so.

Tried the link, it didn't work. :(

TheCopperOne

Sun 9/5/04, 12:29AM

Originally posted by BioTek
Tried the link, it didn't work. :(

Try this one.... Clicky (http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit1.htm)

BioTek

Sun 9/5/04, 6:59AM

Originally posted by TheCopperOne
Try this one.... Clicky (http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit1.htm)

Thanks. :)

gregbenner

Mon 9/6/04, 2:48AM

Not sure if this is different, but works for me http://www.dual-star.com/

greg

BioTek

Mon 9/6/04, 3:04AM

Originally posted by gregbenner
Not sure if this is different, but works for me http://www.dual-star.com/

Weird,this worked fine,but the other link doesn't. Very strange.
Thanks to both Greg's for hooking me up with a good link.
I will definitely be fitting these,I think I'll also wire in a small red indicator light so I can get a visual reminder to turn the things off at the end of the ride.
I have a tendancy to forget such trivial details and then find my vehicles batteries drained...and that sucks.

TheCopperOne

Mon 9/6/04, 10:18AM

Originally posted by BioTek
Weird,this worked fine,but the other link doesn't. Very strange.
Thanks to both Greg's for hooking me up with a good link.

I think there was an extra "." after the .com that screwed up the link....

I will definitely be fitting these,

Here is a great link that helped me out...thanks to Tom for the info. It was a bit different for the 2003 because we now have hazard lights and the switch took the place of the blank insert he spoke of.

I think I'll also wire in a small red indicator light so I can get a visual reminder to turn the things off at the end of the ride.

I wired mine to the marker light (clear, small light next to the headlights). I'm not sure if Pre-03's have them, but when I turn the key off, they go off. This prevents leaving them on to drain the battery.

I did find a different switch from ACE Hardware that looks stock when installed (except the scuff marks from me getting the drill to close....:mad: ). The switch is a three position, HI-OFF-LOW.

About the light...that is the only think I wished I had installed. I would like the light to know that they are ON! I've tried to use them twice, the first time it was heaven! The second time, they never warmed up so I have to check up on the connections I guess.

After I installed the heaters, I wrapped friction tape to give me a raised center under my grips...kind of like Chris (BioTek) has on his bike. Its great!

Long post, but I love my heated grips! I'll try to post some pics of my install.

Greg

gregbenner

Mon 9/6/04, 6:54PM

Originally posted by BioTek
Weird,this worked fine,but the other link doesn't. Very strange.
Thanks to both Greg's for hooking me up with a good link.
I will definitely be fitting these,I think I'll also wire in a small red indicator light so I can get a visual reminder to turn the things off at the end of the ride.
I have a tendancy to forget such trivial details and then find my vehicles batteries drained...and that sucks.

BT, 2 things to think about, based on my experiences.

1. Wire them into the ignition so you cannot leave them on (I had both of mine installed and wired by Crago Racing, thats how they did it).

2. If you have aluminum handlebars (like a Tuono) the left grip won't work as good as the throttle grip (Al absorbs heat, i think). Either put tape, paint or someting between the heater and the bar (ask Dual-star as well).

I remember a few times, last winter, riding with some guys on this forum in canyon country, and I think they all would have loved to have had heated grips:love:

greg

TheCopperOne

Mon 9/6/04, 8:02PM

Originally posted by gregbenner
If you have aluminum handlebars (like a Tuono) the left grip won't work as good as the throttle grip (Al absorbs heat, i think). Either put tape, paint or someting between the heater and the bar (ask Dual-star as well).

I wrapped some electrical tape around the bar first and then installed the heater. The right grip seems to be a little warmer, but not a drastic difference.

BioTek

Tue 9/7/04, 4:57AM

Originally posted by gregbenner
2. If you have aluminum handlebars (like a Tuono) the left grip won't work as good as the throttle grip (Al absorbs heat, i think). Either put tape, paint or someting between the heater and the bar (ask Dual-star as well).

Was thinking I'd use some shrink tubing from work,I had already envisioned the heat exchange thru the bar robbing me off all my heat. Thanks. :)

kpalmer

Wed 9/29/04, 12:31PM

I've been thinking about getting new grips for a while now. The problem is that when I go to AZMotorsportscom, there are a dozen to choose from and I don't know which ones to get.

http://store.azmusa.com/control-grips.html

If I had to guess, I would say the "Dual Compound Grips 719" are the ones I want.

http://store.azmusa.com/dualcomgrip7.html

After taking another look -- Do I need open end grips? (Gel Grips Model 699 ( Open End ))

http://store.azmusa.com/progsporbikg.html

Are the grips one size fits all? Will they fit the CBR1K as well?

Next topic.....

The picture of the Dual Star heated grip kit looks a little more sturdy than the kimpex kit.

http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit1.htm

I'm not real talented when it comes to electrical projects. I should probably find someone who can give me a few pointers. The two electrical mods I did on the CBR1K are still working -- but the wiring is a mess. The only good thing is that I was able (just barely) to tuck everything inside the seat and fairing.

--KP

Rocko

Thu 12/2/04, 9:37PM

Originally posted by tmonroe
I put up an article for installing heated grips.

If you ride in cold climates, these are great. $30.00 (plus shipping).

http://www.itrocks.com/motorcycles/sv650heatedgrips.htm

I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks

Tom

can you post some pics on what wires you tapped into and how you did it? i've never done any electrical work but i'd like to learn how.

thanks

wadaribaba

Mon 12/6/04, 11:55AM

Originally posted by tmonroe
I put up an article for installing heated grips.
If you ride in cold climates, these are great. $30.00 (plus shipping).
http://www.itrocks.com/motorcycles/sv650heatedgrips.htm
I'd appreciate any feedback. Thanks
Tom
Good writeup ! I have one question: I've heard that the wires can be ripped out pretty easily from the heating elements. Whats your experience with this ? Any suggestions ?

tmonroe

Mon 12/6/04, 1:37PM

Wires ripped out?!? Maybe if you yanked on them really hard. I concealed the wires as much as possible... and as long as you leave a short loop on the throttle, they shouldn't interfere or get caught on anything. Where the wires attach to the elements is reinforced, and I didn't pull on them to find out how strong they are, but they looked fine to me.

Rocko, I sold the bike about 2 months ago, so unfortunately if the pictures I posted aren't enough, then maybe somebody else can recommend the best way/place to tap into power. Maybe if you know somebody who's comfortable with the wiring on the SV, you have them help...

Its been over a year since I did that article... the heated grips were working just great when I sold the bike! As a matter of fact, the owner of the new bike showed them to a mutual friend, and now he wants me to set him up!

My wife decided she wanted to move up from the SV, so she got a 2003 VFR800 - which is a really sweet bike. She made me do the same thing with the grips on the VFR, and they work just great on that bike too. It took me longer on the VFR, but mostly because I was futzing with the handlebar housing.

Next, I need to do the grips on the Goldwing (I bought the elements at the same time) I don't suppose you guys would be terribly interested in how that goes, so I guess I'll have to go torment the old farts on the Wing boards*

As far as heat, the clutch side takes longer to warm up... since the throttle is insulated. It is noticable that the amount of heat isn't exactly the same, but its not all that different - and personally, anything warmer than "freezing my fingers off" is an improvement. Its been in the upper 30's, and raining here in Washington State, and my wife is still using summer gloves (and she's very sensitive to cold, trust me ;) )

I'm actually debating whether or not to get a heated seat myself...

* if there are any other cross-posters from the Wing boards here, I'm just kidding, of course...

Rocko

Mon 12/13/04, 9:31AM

DEFINITELY use hairspray!

I installed heated grips on my bike (big ups to TIFOSO for answering all of my silly questions) and used SCOTT grip glue on the throttle grip and hairspray on the other.

First of all, you only have a couple seconds to try and get the grip on the bar once you put the grip glue on...that stuff starts setting FAST!!! That is why i put hairspray on the left grip. I got it like halfway on, then couldn't get it any further. so i peeled it off and used hairspray. The hairspray was like a lubricant to slip the grip on. I let both grips set overnight.

I have used the heated grips several times, and neither side is showing any signs of coming loose. That's why i'm giving hairspray two thumbs up...for ease of use.

mojo mofo

Mon 12/13/04, 9:59PM

Hairspray is definitely easier, but it's much scarier when you get caught out in a rainstorm...

Darth Lefty

Thu 2/9/06, 9:18AM

klenoth

Sat 6/24/06, 12:44PM

Hello I have just purchased a set of heater grips to my SV1000 (its cold here in Northern Norway) and the question is: where should I take power from?
The grips use about 1,6 Amps and I dont want to connect the directly to the battery(I will absolutely forget to turn them of some time)
It would have been great to also mount a sigarette lighter outlet in the fairing at the same time, for other misc. power usage.

Best Regards
Jim