Heated grips?

[Simon#83]

Just replaced my older Oxford heated grips with the newer Oxford Hotgrips. I was a little dubious as the reason I had to replace the grips on my DR was because the grip on the clutch side had worn through to the thin metal elements and the throttle grip had stopped working completely.

They were quite hot when they worked though and I'd heard that the rubber used in the newer ones is more durable. The newer grips have a new controller with four heat settings and is ment to shut off if the battery is not putting out enough voltage to prevent flattening the battery.

What swung it for me to go for the Oxford grips again was that M&P had an offer on a few months ago for £39.99 plus a free pair of handlebar muffs. Just checked on their website and the price is the same but no free muffs. The muffs seem to fit around the hand guards on the DR, so I'm looking forward to very warm hands this winter!

On my previous grips I'd wired the grips into the live running to the horn as I was concerned about them being permanently on if connected direct to the battery. In the wiring instructions for the new ones however, they recommend wiring in directly to the battery. If the grips are left on accidentally the logic in the controller should turn them off if the voltage drops too low from the battery. Time will tell if I leave it wired in this way!

HTH,
Simon

[trophydave]

I have Oxford heated grips on the Africa Twin.They have the older rotary tyre switch.I wired them via a relay just incase I forget to turn them off.Winter drawers on.

[guest18]

Have ordered the Oxford jobs so too late Andy! Thanks for the input though 
If the switch goes I shall just hint down a marinised alternative 

Looking forwards to (hopefully) toasty fingers in the mornings!

[andy230]

Hi

The newer grips have a new controller with four heat settings and is ment to shut off if the battery is not putting out enough voltage to prevent flattening the battery.

This is the one that kept shutting off when I indicated (or pressed the brake).  Due to the small battery on my early DR I suppose...

Hey Andy
How did you wire them up to the switch?I am having the same problem with my grips,so i bought a 3 pin togle switch from Maplins, and wired thus : red wire input,black common and white output.But the grips do not get warm.I have checked the voltage on the out put which is reading 13/14 volts.
Any IDEAS?

Regards
Alan

Hello Alan, sounds like it SHOULD work mate...  I presume you've tried connecting the grips themselves directly to a battery??  I have noticed that they wont work unless my engine is running - it actually needs the alternator output as the battery wont run them.

what bike??  Big battery?  Tried running the engine?

cheers for now

a

[bullet350]

 grips wired into the horn?

 does this mean for half the year you ride with your finger on the horn?

 probably would be okay in london but quite anti-social anywhere else. i suppose it reduces the chance of getting flattened.

 

bullet350

[guest7]

The Oxford grips that are fitted to my outfit have survived many years of chair use with its associated wrenching of the bars. I think the earlier ones were pants but I bought mine after they went to the new style grip.

GC

[squirrelciv]

Just fitted new Oxford 'hotgrips' to the VX. Love 'em. get hotter on green setting (one more level to go) than I can hold on to at the moment. My old Oxford grips on Dolly never got that warm, but I think these will do me this winter.

Anybody got any tips on how to keep your thumbs warm??

[guest7]

Anybody got any tips on how to keep your thumbs warm??

I nearly had a siezure trying to stop myself from replying to this with the first thought that came to mind 

GC

[trophydave]

Hello Alan, sounds like it SHOULD work mate...  I presume you've tried connecting the grips themselves directly to a battery??  I have noticed that they wont work unless my engine is running - it actually needs the alternator output as the battery wont run them.

My heated vest is the same.Battery voltage on it's own is not enough to get it warm,it needs the engine running to get the 13.5 volts or whatever it is that the alternator supplies to the battery.

[srx6]

Thanks for the input gents,Been in the shed for an hour with a multimeter and got them working by connecting the black and white to one pole on the switch and splitting the red into two and connecting them to the other two poles.IT  WORKS ANYWAY.

Regards
Alan

[OMEGAMAN]

 Preserve your grips!!!!!!!

 Trick I used when courier (to save money!)  was, when a new pair of heated grips were fitted,  I would smear some silicone on the grips,   then use an old long bootlace, tie one end around the grip at the end, & then wind the lace round & round in a close spiral motion until reaching the other end, tie it off,  then smear some more silicone into the lace, finishing with a thin coat over all of it, allow to dry overnight & you have.....

 1- fatter grips=  more comfy over long distance (for me anyway!)

 2- Grippier grips that will last quite a while (& very little heat loss)

 3- if/when they wear or get damaged, just replace in the same fashion, very cheaply, (the original hot grip undrneath staying in pretty well perfect condition) mine would last for 150,000 miles or more!

 4- A great talking point when people see it (it looks like grease is smeared all over!)

[guest7]

Frankly I'm lost for words 

GC

[Andy M]

I electrified a sweeping brush over the weekend! 4m of ni-chrome wire, heat shrink and voila, heated grip while sweeping 

The Oxford ones work but are *****y expensive and waste a lot of heat at the ends. I've also used the velcro over type in the past and hate the fact I then can't use a throttle rocker. The plan then is to concentrate Oxford levels of heat only where the palm of my hand will sit and leave space for the rocker. Less power, faster warm up and just as much comfort. Just waiting for some 40mm heat shrink to turn up. Project cost to date £2.02 

Andy