One of the Honda accessories that came with my 6th gen is the Honda heated grips. The grips are very hard and after a day of riding, my hands are sore. I would like to replace them with gel grips and under grip heaters. Another person on this forum suggested that it won't be a problem, but the least expensive Symtec units appear to us a hi/lo switch and the Honda control unit has electrical system protection and more settings. Any reason these can't be mixed and matched?
I also thought about checking to ordering parts of the Heat Demon system as I don't need another controller.
Please note that this is my second motorcycle and I didn't have this problem on my prior bike that had softer grips.
I believe the Symtec and DualStar grip heaters have two sets of elements per heater - one high and one low. If you wire your rheostat to the High element on both heaters, it should work the way you want it to. Not sure though...
Interesting. I had the factory grips which I change to the Honda heated grips. They are thicker and larger, and they are hard, but I have less soreness and issues with the new heated grips.
Someone here mentioned wrap on foamies for grips. Can't remember what they were called. Cheap and will work with any grip.
[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on 07 June 2010 - 04:56 PM, said:
Interesting. I had the factory grips which I change to the Honda heated grips. They are thicker and larger, and they are hard, but I have less soreness and issues with the new heated grips.
Someone here mentioned wrap on foamies for grips. Can't remember what they were called. Cheap and will work with any grip.
I think they are called Grip Puppies or something equally as corny.
:biggrin:
[image: View Post]Africord, on 07 June 2010 - 02:00 PM, said:
One of the Honda accessories that came with my 6th gen is the Honda heated grips. The grips are very hard and after a day of riding, my hands are sore. I would like to replace them with gel grips and under grip heaters. Another person on this forum suggested that it won't be a problem, but the least expensive Symtec units appear to us a hi/lo switch and the Honda control unit has electrical system protection and more settings. Any reason these can't be mixed and matched?
I also thought about checking to ordering parts of the Heat Demon system as I don't need another controller.
Please note that this is my second motorcycle and I didn't have this problem on my prior bike that had softer grips.
The answer is YES,
This is what I do, the Oxford heated grips were terrible but I still like the LED on/off and dial up feature, so I made my own just like you are thinking.
I use this set up on 3 bikes and works fine, using kimpex peel-n-stick heaters under regular grips. I did not use the big resistor either.
Nice set up. Go for it.
Yes, that's the ones.
I'm guessing that if you're getting sore hands you're probably hanging on to the bars to tightly regardless of the grip size.
The Grip Puppies have a good reputation and they are a cheap fix.
[image: View Post]2thdr, on 07 June 2010 - 05:38 PM, said:
[image: View Post]superfunkomatic, on 07 June 2010 - 04:56 PM, said:
Interesting. I had the factory grips which I change to the Honda heated grips. They are thicker and larger, and they are hard, but I have less soreness and issues with the new heated grips.
Someone here mentioned wrap on foamies for grips. Can't remember what they were called. Cheap and will work with any grip.
I think they are called Grip Puppies or something equally as corny.
:biggrin:
Seems to me you can reuse the wires and contoller from the Honda Grips, just cut the grips off with a knife carefully cutting around the wired section then solider on a new heat pad in, kimpex or dual stars whatever, they all run on 12 volts so it wont be an issue. Seems like a fairly easy modification, put the heat pad on the grips - soldier off the existing pad wires - soldier in the honda wires and put on your chosen grips over it. I found that epoxy works best with heated grips since normal grip glue or contact cement does not stand up to heat.
Think it would be a best case scenario if you can ust the Honda controler with the Grips of your choice. I used the cheapo symtec elements with the hi lo toggle. A very welcome improvement on a cold day. I didn't like the stock Honda Grips at all and actually installed harder (firmer) grips which suit me better.
[image: View Post]VFR Capt.Bob, on 07 June 2010 - 07:04 PM, said:
Think it would be a best case scenario if you can ust the Honda controler with the Grips of your choice. I used the cheapo symtec elements with the hi lo toggle. A very welcome improvement on a cold day. I didn't like the stock Honda Grips at all and actually installed harder (firmer) grips which suit me better.
I found the larger diameter of the much firmer hot grips worked best for me. I have fairly large hands and have had a few surgeries on them (the last was Carpal Tunnel relief back in 2001).
I don't do well on the smaller diameter gel grips, where as the larger ones work great.
Good feedback. I'll probably wait until fall to carry out the mod as heating your grips during a Great Plains summer is a little silly. You may have something about holding the grip too tight. The 6th Gen triples the horsepower and adds 200 lbs over my prior bike. I'm also considering a glove change as well. Looking at the Velocity Gear Exhibition Pro.
[image: View Post]Africord, on 08 June 2010 - 08:28 AM, said:
Good feedback. I'll probably wait until fall to carry out the mod as heating your grips during a Great Plains summer is a little silly. You may have something about holding the grip too tight. The 6th Gen triples the horsepower and adds 200 lbs over my prior bike. I'm also considering a glove change as well. Looking at the Velocity Gear Exhibition Pro.
You mean 7th gen.
But I would do the grips now for two reasons.
1. you'll get used to their feel now while its no big deal to change them out again.
2. the epoxy will set much better in warmer weather.
Someone mentioned Grip Puppies. I use these all the time. Not very pretty, but make a huge comfort difference. The stock bars/grips are like grasping pencils. These make a fatter and softer grip. They slip right over any grip you use, heated or not.
[image: View Post]Knife, on 08 June 2010 - 03:12 PM, said:
Someone mentioned Grip Puppies. I use these all the time. Not very pretty, but make a huge comfort difference. The stock bars/grips are like grasping pencils. These make a fatter and softer grip. They slip right over any grip you use, heated or not.
[image: Posted Image]
I've tried them and they work.
I just found the bigger grip was more important for comfort than the soft.
At one point in time I slipped a hard rubber sleeve over the grips on the rc51 (before I installed the hot grips).
They are even harder than the hot grips, but the larger than average diameter was much more comfortable.
My beaten up hands, work better if I don't have to crunch them down so much. I do better with a big old fat bat handle than, one of those new skinny neck softball ones.