Heated Grips for the Gixxer

[Dan Filetti]

I installed heated grips on the gixxer this past weekend.  I installed the under-grip type like these:  
http://www.symtec-inc.com/External-Handlebar-Warmer-Kit-Motorcycle-RR_p_89.html


Most of the work was figuring out how I was going to mount the switch.  In the end, I discovered the the diameter of the switch was the same as a cigarette lighter socket, which I just so happened to have lying around.  The nice thing is that the socket length allows for easy hiding of the wire connectors.  I drilled out the bottom of the socket and then I mounted it with zip ties next to my ignition switch.  On the Gixxer, there is a seemingly purpose built cut-out right there.  



Wiring was a bit of a chore, mostly because I really wanted it to be as subtle as possible.  Anyway, they work great.  On high, they get on the verge of being too hot.  So I suspect that the high setting will only ever be used on really cold days.  Low is a nice heat I can see using even on cool summer nights, or when in the rain etc.

I had them on a BMW K75 I had many years ago and used them a fair bit.  I really liked them.  Not sure why it took me so long (5 bikes) to put them on another bike.

They were cheap; ~$50 and I'm glad I did it.

Thought I'd share.

Dan  

[FJmonkey]

Dan, I have been thinking of using them, my trips up the Angelest Crest can start out warm in the lower levels and get down right cold above the 5K foot mark. My hands get the coldest so a warmer for them would fit the bill. Thanks for the post.

[Marsh White]

Dan, I have looked at those for years but never purchased them.  I had always heard through the grapevine that kind of grip heater kind of sucked - that the dedicated molded heated grips were superior (HotGrips and the like).  I'm glad to hear that you think they work well!  Do you think they would work well on the FJ too?  I use those thin foam type grips (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M/C:FoamGrip) - so I'm always curious if the heat would actually penetrate the grips AND my gloves.

Klavdy was just talking to me about getting a set of those for his Tuono.  I kinda shot him down saying that it would seem that the heat would dissipate throughout the one piece bar and that it wouldn't work well.  In your opinion, do you think that they would work well on a long single piece bar?

[racerman_27410]

Dan, I have looked at those for years but never purchased them.  I had always heard through the grapevine that kind of grip heater kind of sucked - that the dedicated molded heated grips were superior (HotGrips and the like).  I'm glad to hear that you think they work well!  Do you think they would work well on the FJ too?  I use those thin foam type grips (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M/C:FoamGrip) - so I'm always curious if the heat would actually penetrate the grips AND my gloves.

Klavdy was just talking to me about getting a set of those for his Tuono.  I kinda shot him down saying that it would seem that the heat would dissipate throughout the one piece bar and that it wouldn't work well.  In your opinion, do you think that they would work well on a long single piece bar?

Marsh,

i have read that they dont work well on aluminum bars.


KOokaloo!

[Dan Filetti]

Marsh-

I see no reason why these would not work on the FJ.  I suspect the only issue, as it was for me, would be finding a mounting spot for the switch.  I'm not one for drilling holes in fairings for after market accessories, which makes it even more difficult.  They do also sell a toggle style switch for the same money.  The wiring was time consuming but not difficult.

I too have foam grips, more like this:
http://www.solomotoparts.com/images/detailed/d_12960_01.jpg

(these are the Superbike 722 grips)

As I said, setting 'High' is really a bit '[too] high'.  Your grips are a bit thicker, so 'High' may be fine.  I left mine running for ~45 mins with no grip distortion of softness issues whatsoever and I was looking for this specifically.  I don't think these generate enough heat to damage even foam grips.

Frank,  What issues with aluminum bars?  I have aluminum bars and have not seen any issues yet. 

Being a cheap bastard, I was initially most excited about the price.  Now that they are on, I'm excited by how seamless they look, and how well they work.

HTH,

Dan

[Dan Filetti]

So I just looked up the issues Frank was referring to.  Apparently aluminum bars can act like a heat sink, more so than steel bars.  This is not a problem for the throttle side as the barrel is plastic.  I did notice that the the left bar does take a bit longer to heat up, but they are both good and warm once 100% -maybe 5 mins in.  My kit did include a different element for the throttle and clutch side.  seemed a bit beefier for the clutch side.  Guess this explains why.  I did quickly read that filling the bars with expandable foam seems to help for those with these issues. 

If you're worried about it, as you said, you can buy purpose built grips that get the element up and away from the aluminum heat sink. 

Dan

[ddlewis]

Dan, I have looked at those for years but never purchased them.  I had always heard through the grapevine that kind of grip heater kind of sucked - that the dedicated molded heated grips were superior (HotGrips and the like).  I'm glad to hear that you think they work well!  Do you think they would work well on the FJ too?  I use those thin foam type grips (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M/C:FoamGrip) - so I'm always curious if the heat would actually penetrate the grips AND my gloves.

Klavdy was just talking to me about getting a set of those for his Tuono.  I kinda shot him down saying that it would seem that the heat would dissipate throughout the one piece bar and that it wouldn't work well.  In your opinion, do you think that they would work well on a long single piece bar?

Marsh,
i have read that they dont work well on aluminum bars.
KOokaloo!

I had symtec (aka dualstar) grip heaters on the vstrom since '05 - hot grips (circa 2002) on the FJ.

I prefer the symtec style.  vs Hotgrips they were easier to install, MUCH less expensive, work similarly and more comfortable.  The hotgrip grips were hard plastic.  the symtec's work under any gel grips you choose to cover them with and you can replace as necessary.  the hot grip has one heating element per grip and via hi/low switch shunts the current through a resistor (mount elsewhere where it can get ventilation) to create the hi/lo effect.  The symtecs have two sets of elements one each for hi/low.  The high on hotgrips is probably a little warmer than symtec on high.

on aluminum bars I wrapped the non throttle side in hi-temp silicon tape to prevent the aluminum from heat-sinking my warmth.  also if the aluminum bar has knurling it will eventually wear through the laminate and short the heat element, dahik.. the throttle side has the plastic tube to isolate it from the metal.

[Dan Filetti]

Marsh-

I never answered your pointed question.  I am not 100% sure what the one-peice hollow bar will do. But in my opinion, it's likely not a huge problem, and per Danny, it sure sounds like the bar can be wrapped with tape, (filled with expandable foam?) to minimize heat loss.  It's only really a problem for the clutch side.  If you look at the pictures

http://www.symtec-inc.com/assets/images/210019rr(2).jpg

You can clearly see that the clutch side has a great deal more heating elelement to it to try and help with this, apparetly.


Dan

[ddlewis]

Marsh-

I never answered your pointed question.  I am not 100% sure what the one-peice hollow bar will do. But in my opinion, it's likely not a huge problem, and per Danny, it sure sounds like the bar can be wrapped with tape, (filled with expandable foam?) to minimize heat loss. 

Agree, and for record it was a one piece, hollow aluminum renthal dirt bike bar on my vstrom.  With combination of the tape and a rubber "barsnake" on inside of bar (which probably works similar to foam for insulation) - the heating was fine.  no noticeable difference between throttle/clutch sides for me.

[Marsh White]

Cool - thanks guys!  I'm going to do the tape and the foam (I never would have thought of the foam) on Klavdy's Tuono.  I'll report back on my findings - but it sounds like it will work great.  Thanks again!

[Pat Conlon]

When it comes time to remove those foam grips, for replacement or whatever reason, don't plan on using a razor knife.

[Dan Filetti]

When it comes time to remove those foam grips, for replacement or whatever reason, don't plan on using a razor knife.

Naaaa, I use an air compressor, all the way.  They pop off in seconds.  Going back on?: Spit (Like Klavdy's chain jube) and a wee bit of work.

Dan

[jvb_ca]

I installed heated grips on the gixxer this past weekend.  I installed the under-grip type like these:  
http://www.symtec-inc.com/External-Handlebar-Warmer-Kit-Motorcycle-RR_p_89.html


They were cheap; ~$50 and I'm glad I did it.

Thought I'd share.

Dan  

Dan. Those look nice. If they work half as good as the grip heaters we have on our snowmobiles, I will be gettin me some. I hate wearing cold weather riding gloves or worse yet my snowmobile gloves. Loose all feel of throttle and brakes.
Question: Can our FJ's handle the extra load of heated grips?
Any pics of the wires going into the grips themselves? Does the wire clear everything when twisting the throttle?

Cheers...Jake

[Dan Filetti]

Question: Can our FJ's handle the extra load of heated grips?
Any pics of the wires going into the grips themselves? Does the wire clear everything when twisting the throttle?

Jake-

Anything extra that gets added to the electical system needs to be understood in terms of consumption of available watts. This grip heater system is 36W/ 3amps -fairly small in the grand scheme of things.  I suspect the FJ has a total wattage production of ~500 watts, and uses perhaps 350 of those for it's routine opperation.  This in turn leaves ~150 extra watts to spare, so these, and even maybe a heated vest (+/- 90 watts) would both work -seems to me.  Someone around here will know the exact available extra wattage, but I gotta figure these grip heaters would be no problem by themselves.

The wires do clear when twisting the of the throttle.  This is obviously pretty important.  I'll take some more pictures and maybe a vid of the throttle movement and post it out.

Dan

[racerman_27410]

i dont know how many watts the FJ really has but i know i can run my heated jacket liner, heated pants liner, heated gloves,GPS and my HID driving lights without discharging the battery.

I have a voltmeter in my FJ dash so i can keep tabs of it but i also use this device (see link below) on my DRZ to monitor the voltage situation. A simple glance tells you everything you need to know about how your electrical system is working.


http://www.signaldynamics.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=56&category_id=14&keyword=voltage+monitor&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=77


26 bucks beats push starting any day of the week.

KOokaloo!