Replaced my throttle side Heated Grip

[Firehawk068]

Since I have had to repair the wires on my throttle side Heated Grip 3 times now(After the first repair, where I had to cut into the grip to find the wire break, it was never going to hold very long), I decided to just replace it altogether................................

(The original break was inside the rubber grip. No visible wire chafing or pulling) It was starting to get old cutting this apart, and splicing, and gluing/taping it all back together.


Luckily, Oxford sells single replacement grips (either side, $19.99) They offer a few different styles. I bought their "Touring" grip.


Cut the old one off!


Cleaned off the Throttle Tube, and clipped the wire.


Test fitted the new grip on, and found it is slightly shorter than the one I had on there..................


Luckily I saved these from last time (I didn't need them as the original heated grips were longer)


Now for the wiring. The Oxford connector, and my original connector are different.


I then cut off the Oxford connector, and spliced on my original connector. I like to use crimp and heat shrink connectors. Some people like to solder their connections, but I am not a fan of solder joints in a high vibration environment.


All spliced solid, and taped back up with the original connector.


Routed the new wire. Connected everything back up, and a quick test. Works just fine with my original controller.


I noted that the Oxford grip heats up quicker than the other one, and gets noticeably hotter..................................I'll ride it like that for a little while, but I may end up just buying the clutch side Oxford grip to match, and replace that one soon.

These were the original grips that I purchased before..............

[ribbert]

Great job Alan, good plan to have a matching LHS sitting on the shelf for when it dies. As testament to the quality of the Oxford grips, mine have about 80,000kms / 6 Winters on them and still going strong and I ride all year round.
Yes, they do get very hot on high, too hot to leave your hand there with thin gloves.

Noel

[Capn Ron]

I then cut off the Oxford connector, and spliced on my original connector. I like to use crimp and heat shrink connectors. Some people like to solder their connections, but I am not a fan of solder joints in a high vibration environment.

That is definitely the way to do it!  Crimp connectors on stranded wire with adhesive-lined heat-shrink tubing.  Take it from a guy who rewired the sailboat 17 years ago in a salt water/engine vibration environment and hasn't had to revisit electrical since!   

[Derek Young]

Nice work Alan. I have also had my Oxford heated grips for several years and really like them. I do find that the right grip gets a little hotter than the left. I think it's because the right side is attached to the plastic throttle tube while the left attaches to the steel handlebar, which will dissipate more heat.

Derek

[movenon]

Nice work Alan. I have also had my Oxford heated grips for several years and really like them. I do find that the right grip gets a little hotter than the left. I think it's because the right side is attached to the plastic throttle tube while the left attaches to the steel handlebar, which will dissipate more heat.

Derek

Well that's a mystery solved  .  I have the low buck version of heated grips and have wondered occasionally why the throttle side got warmer.  Now I know, thanks Derek !
George

[ribbert]

Nice work Alan. I have also had my Oxford heated grips for several years and really like them. I do find that the right grip gets a little hotter than the left. I think it's because the right side is attached to the plastic throttle tube while the left attaches to the steel handlebar, which will dissipate more heat.

Derek

Well that's a mystery solved  .  I have the low buck version of heated grips and have wondered occasionally why the throttle side got warmer.  Now I know, thanks Derek !
George

I reached a different and less scientific conclusion for this over many long rides. The heat achieved is very dependent on your grip. For example, If you remove your left hand to rest it for a few minutes while riding, you will notice most of the heat is gone and takes some time to rise again. We tend to do everything with our left hand while riding which means it spends more time off the bars, also, we don't grip the LH quite as tightly as the RH around the throttle.

On a recent trip I caught in rain storm that was only a few molecules short of total immersion and low single digit temperature. The smugness that had kept me bone dry and warm for the previous 500km's of solid rain was now replaced by being soaked to the skin everywhere. My hands were potentially the most vulnerable body part to wind chill and freezing. I turned my grips to high heat and made a point of wrapping my left hand around the grip more than usual and not letting go unless I had to. The heat from both sides was exactly the same. I agree though, the left side always seems cooler but I think it is for the above reasons.
I don't think I could have completed my trip that day without them.

Interestingly, my saturated gloves were such a good conductor of heat that even under those extreme conditions I had to slacken my grip periodically to cool my palms, which was odd when the rest of me was freezing. When I removed my gloves there was steam rising from them.

Can't speak highly enough of the Oxford grips, 6 Winters/80,000km's and they are on all day every day when it's cold or even when it's just cool. You tend to use them a lot more of the time than you think you will.

Noel

[FJmonkey]

I recently installed grip heaters from RPM along with foam grips. During my last ride with Simi_Ed and Cap'n Ron I got some good use out them. I noticed that the Left side seemed warmer than the Right. I figured out why, I ride with two fingers on the brake lever all the time. When I put two fingers on the clutch lever to test this, the heat seemed the same on both sides. With two fingers off the grips I have less contact with the heat. That is my $0.02...