1100gs - Heated Grips.

[MattW]

I finally got the chance to investigate the existing bars and grips today.

The bars have a hole drilled through each side, close to the centre brace, so that was encouraging.

I took the twistgrip off, and just inboard of the threaded end (on to which the end weight is screwed) there is an opening in the bar which seems likely to be for the wiring from the heated grip to run.

So far, so good.

On the l/h bar, the grip is glued in place, so I cut around the bar to loosen the grip on the last inch or so, expecting to find an opening for the h/g wiring (like the r/h bar.)

No such luck! So it looks like I have a centre-section handlebar designed for h/g wiring, a r/h end which suits the h/g's, but a l/h end that doesn't.
I think I'll attack the l/h end with drill/grinder/file, as necessary, to form a recess for the wiring, to replicate the r/h one.

I'll order the BMW grip kit (h/grips + switch&wiring) in the meantime, and keep you posted (I bet you can't wait........!)

A picture or two of these holes in your bars would be much appreciated

 

[justabof]

A picture or two of these holes in your bars would be much appreciated

Will do. When I dismantle it all again (when the parts arrive) I'll take some pics.

 

[MattW]

Will do. When I dismantle it all again (when the parts arrive) I'll take some pics.

Great thanks

 

[Poucher]

Hey Justabof,

I've got OEM heated grips on my BMW and Oxford sports ones on my KTM.

The BMW ones are crap by comparison to the Oxford ones , so bad in fact that I'm thinking of taking the BMW ones off and fitting Oxford ones to the BMW.

4 heat settings on the Oxford ones but I've never got them past 75% - too bloomin hot , by comparison, its difficult to tell if the BMW ones are switched on until you go through a 30 limit and feel a bit feeble heat creeping through.

Probably not what you want to hear, but sorry, that's been my experience.

 

[Canuck]

Hey Justabof,

I've got OEM heated grips on my BMW and Oxford sports ones on my KTM.

The BMW ones are crap by comparison to the Oxford ones , so bad in fact that I'm thinking of taking the BMW ones off and fitting Oxford ones to the BMW.

4 heat settings on the Oxford ones but I've never got them past 75% - too bloomin hot , by comparison, its difficult to tell if the BMW ones are switched on until you go through a 30 limit and feel a bit feeble heat creeping through.

Probably not what you want to hear, but sorry, that's been my experience.

DOnt I feel good for having only spent 19 quid on my set... Looks more like a bargain! Must have been a miss priced item of something!?

 

[ChrisH Kerry]

Hey Justabof,
I've got OEM heated grips on my BMW and Oxford sports ones on my KTM.

I got OEM ones on my BMW and Oxford ones on the Transalp - I find the BMW ones work fine and much easier to use than the fiddly little buttons on the Oxford ones, plus the Oxford ones are too hot after the second setting. Also the controllers aren't great on the Oxford ones... well that's my experience.

 

[justabof]

Hey Justabof,

I've got OEM heated grips on my BMW and Oxford sports ones on my KTM.

The BMW ones are crap by comparison to the Oxford ones , so bad in fact that I'm thinking of taking the BMW ones off and fitting Oxford ones to the BMW.

4 heat settings on the Oxford ones but I've never got them past 75% - too bloomin hot , by comparison, its difficult to tell if the BMW ones are switched on until you go through a 30 limit and feel a bit feeble heat creeping through.

Probably not what you want to hear, but sorry, that's been my experience.

Thanks for the info. I've not ordered the BMW ones yet, and now you've got me thinking...

 

[justabof]

I got OEM ones on my BMW and Oxford ones on the Transalp - I find the BMW ones work fine and much easier to use than the fiddly little buttons on the Oxford ones, plus the Oxford ones are too hot after the second setting. Also the controllers aren't great on the Oxford ones... well that's my experience.

Well, a different viewpoint, and thanks for telling us!

I'm beginning to feel like the character played by Paul Whitehouse on the 'Fast Show' who agreed with whatever the last person said.

Maybe we need to do a poll on 'Effectiveness of oem BMW heated grips versus Oxford.'

 

[Littledumptruck]

Rarely put my GS ones on second setting. I wonder what the guys that say they don't work expect. Sometimes you think there not doing much, but turn them off and you soon notice they're off. Second setting and yer hands start to cook. Same on my old RS, the 1150GS I had a few years back, and the 850GS I have now.

 

[Trullion]

Well, neither the ones on my 850GS, nor those on my 1100RS produce much heat, certainly far less than on my old K series bikes. What I expect of heated grips is heat.......It's not as if the wiring is creating a resistance, since they've never been much good even when new.

I've just bought a set of Oxford Hot grips for my H*nda. These produce much more heat and I paid the same for them as I had to pay for a r/h heated grip for my 1100RS - the second replacement in as many years. Admittedly the wiring is neater for the BMW ones. Personally I find the Oxford controller fine. FWIW Ride magazine recently did a test on various heated grips. I can't recall what was best (Oxford grips were commended), but I wouldn't sleepwalk into buying the BMW ones as in my opinion they are over-priced and not the best performers.

 

[justabof]

OEM grips versus 'others'.....

Some interesting experiences, thanks. It's good to get the views of people who are using a product, rather than those who are just selling them.

I've held-off ordering oem h/grips until I get a clearer picture.

Keep the feedback coming, guys!

 

[Steptoe]

I've held-off ordering oem h/grips until I get a clearer picture.

Keep the feedback coming, guys!

Nothing wrong with BMW heated grips, and i've been using them since 1980 and on more BMW's than you could shake a stick at.

If they aren't hot enough i'd suspect a problem somewhere.

 

[warmshed]

The ones on my GSA need to be turned to lower setting if you dont want to cook your hands, funny though, my K1200RS were feeble compared to the GS. I like the fact that the wires are not on show on the OEM ones, I feel the Oxford ones look messy with the wires popping out at the base of the grips and rotate when you twist the throttle so you have to leave a big loop. The Oxford ones work well but I find the controls a bit of a fiddle. Either are better than nothing.

The original K100 had bad earthing on the heated grip circuit that contributed to poor performance.

 

[Littledumptruck]

I've held-off ordering oem h/grips until I get a clearer picture

Naf all chance of getting one of those on a forum

Let me throw another idea in, when it comes to selling the bike, cheapo grips may well put a buyer off, especially with a beemer.