Grip heaters.

[DX407]

Well the bike returned today after almost a week at the dealers, they have found that the grips are not as hood as previous models ( no really?) they have changed the control box and settings within.

The outcome, well they are still not as good as the oxford grips on my other bikes but much better than they were, I can now feel them through winter gloves at motorway speeds the opinion from the dealers is that BMW are working on a fix and this will come out as a software update, maybe, possibly if it is sorted.

They have however resolved another niggle I had with the bike, or the alarm anyway, love the key activation but like the idea of a remote so you don't need to use the key to reset it, well I now have a remote for it, sorted

 

[Usurp66]

Result then!

Well the bike returned today after almost a week at the dealers, they have found that the grips are not as hood as previous models ( no really?) they have changed the control box and settings within.

The outcome, well they are still not as good as the oxford grips on my other bikes but much better than they were, I can now feel them through winter gloves at motorway speeds the opinion from the dealers is that BMW are working on a fix and this will come out as a software update, maybe, possibly if it is sorted.

They have however resolved another niggle I had with the bike, or the alarm anyway, love the key activation but like the idea of a remote so you don't need to use the key to reset it, well I now have a remote for it, sorted

That's a result then on both counts, well done.

My bike will be due it's 1000km service soon so will reference your experience when asking them to resolve mine.

By the way was the alarm remote something you had raised previously with the dealer? I assume the remote was FOC from BMW rather than an option you had to pay for?

 

[DX407]

I did mention the issue of key only arming and resetting of the alarm, but was told that there is no remote option for it.

The GS does not get the option of a remote, even as a cost option, but it is possible to program one from the 1600 to work, but the remote does cost it ain't FOC

 

[Usurp66]

I did mention the issue of key only arming and resetting of the alarm, but was told that there is no remote option for it.

The GS does not get the option of a remote, even as a cost option, but it is possible to program one from the 1600 to work, but the remote does cost it ain't FOC

Thanks again for the info

 

[Titto]

I discussed this with my local dealer (pidcock) and the service manager was very helpful, producing and reading off a recent bmw bulletin. Obviously because people are bringing it up...
Now bear with me and be amazed....
It says that the heated grips go into a low power mode (50% reduction) if you start the bike and leave it idling (as I do) prior to your journey. The power doesn't increase until after certain revs (I cant recall what they were ).
Also if you leave your grips on all the time and turn off your bike off... then back on again next journey your bars are still set to "on" arent they?. This also keeps them in 50% power mode not full bifta mode.
Great eh?
So I was advised to actively turn off the grips and then wait before turning back on when moving!... anyway, After some faffing and some journeys to and from work testing the off then back on theory i think the grips are hotter than before !! ( I think!!).

My habit is to always leave them turned on, so I believe that when I come to start the bike for the next time, the grips are started at 50% power.

There was NO mention of a software fix on this 2014 bulletin either. Other than to advise customers as per above.

Suggest you contact your dealer to clarify the above and get the exact specifics, as I cant recall everything. Or contact pidcock for the info I got.

I just want hot grips that turn on 100% when you have them turned on !!! Is that so much to ask BMW???!!!

 

[Dario]

I discussed this with my local dealer (pidcock) and the service manager was very helpful, producing and reading off a recent bmw bulletin. Obviously because people are bringing it up...
Now bear with me and be amazed....
It says that the heated grips go into a low power mode (50% reduction) if you start the bike and leave it idling (as I do) prior to your journey. The power doesn't increase until after certain revs (I cant recall what they were ).
Also if you leave your grips on all the time and turn off your bike off... then back on again next journey your bars are still set to "on" arent they?. This also keeps them in 50% power mode not full bifta mode.
Great eh?
So I was advised to actively turn off the grips and then wait before turning back on when moving!... anyway, After some faffing and some journeys to and from work testing the off then back on theory i think the grips are hotter than before !! ( I think!!).

My habit is to always leave them turned on, so I believe that when I come to start the bike for the next time, the grips are started at 50% power.

There was NO mention of a software fix on this 2014 bulletin either. Other than to advise customers as per above.

Suggest you contact your dealer to clarify the above and get the exact specifics, as I cant recall everything. Or contact pidcock for the info I got.

I just want hot grips that turn on 100% when you have them turned on !!! Is that so much to ask BMW???!!!

Not sure about the 50% thing. However i have noticed that if my speed is up there is a better output from the grips. Unfortunately this better output is still shite in comparison to the heated grips on my 2010 GS

Dario

 

[Titto]

Agreed....

 

[Kaybe]

Did a back to back on my 54 plate and 13 GSs.
Out in snowy conditions external temp 3C and dry
The 54 GS on first setting was much warmer that the 13 on full, in fact had to check they were actually working!!
The 54 on full was toasy hot.
My take on the 13 GS heated grips, they are not. They are pathetic.
Come on Mr BMW time for a recall and sort this out

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I discussed this with my local dealer (pidcock) and the service manager was very helpful, producing and reading off a recent bmw bulletin. Obviously because people are bringing it up...
Now bear with me and be amazed....
It says that the heated grips go into a low power mode (50% reduction) if you start the bike and leave it idling (as I do) prior to your journey. The power doesn't increase until after certain revs (I cant recall what they were ).
Also if you leave your grips on all the time and turn off your bike off... then back on again next journey your bars are still set to "on" arent they?. This also keeps them in 50% power mode not full bifta mode.
Great eh?
So I was advised to actively turn off the grips and then wait before turning back on when moving!... anyway, After some faffing and some journeys to and from work testing the off then back on theory i think the grips are hotter than before !! ( I think!!).

My habit is to always leave them turned on, so I believe that when I come to start the bike for the next time, the grips are started at 50% power.

There was NO mention of a software fix on this 2014 bulletin either. Other than to advise customers as per above.

Suggest you contact your dealer to clarify the above and get the exact specifics, as I cant recall everything. Or contact pidcock for the info I got.

I just want hot grips that turn on 100% when you have them turned on !!! Is that so much to ask BMW???!!!

So, it's not the grips

It's the fancy and over complicated electrickery telling the grips what to do

Another example of perceived progress and over complication

 

[DX407]

So, it's not the grips

It's the fancy and over complicated electrickery telling the grips what to do

Another example of perceived progress and over complication

Got the bike back, and yup, this does seem to be the problem, over complicated control gizmo's

But the explanation and work round does seem to hold up.

First bit of advise is to actively switch the grips off before you switch off the ignition, don't leave them on.
If the bike is started with the grips on, they will hold at around 40% power and will not improve when the bike is running.

So start the bike, get it moving, then switch them on.
When you slow down for junctions / lights etc. the revs drop to below 2k, the grips drop to 40%
But once the revs exceed 3k, the grips go back to 100% power.

Is this a faff, Yup!

Is it an acceptable fix, Hell No!

Are my hands warmer now I have been re-taught to use a simple on off switch, YES, but it could be better.

Hope this helps people.

 

[snaponphil]

Got the bike back, and yup, this does seem to be the problem, over complicated control gizmo's

But the explanation and work round does seem to hold up.

First bit of advise is to actively switch the grips off before you switch off the ignition, don't leave them on.
If the bike is started with the grips on, they will hold at around 40% power and will not improve when the bike is running.

So start the bike, get it moving, then switch them on.
When you slow down for junctions / lights etc. the revs drop to below 2k, the grips drop to 40%
But once the revs exceed 3k, the grips go back to 100% power.

Is this a faff, Yup!

Is it an acceptable fix, Hell No!

Are my hands warmer now I have been re-taught to use a simple on off switch, YES, but it could be better.

Hope this helps people.

Already complained about mine, dealer didn't suggest this, I suppose not all dealers are 'equal'
Thanks for posting..

 

[Usurp66]

Glad this is working for you, however I have tried it out on my bike and it made no difference whatsoever, Will be pushing hard with the dealer for a proper solution when it's in for it's 1000Km service.

Got the bike back, and yup, this does seem to be the problem, over complicated control gizmo's

But the explanation and work round does seem to hold up.

First bit of advise is to actively switch the grips off before you switch off the ignition, don't leave them on.
If the bike is started with the grips on, they will hold at around 40% power and will not improve when the bike is running.

So start the bike, get it moving, then switch them on.
When you slow down for junctions / lights etc. the revs drop to below 2k, the grips drop to 40%
But once the revs exceed 3k, the grips go back to 100% power.

Is this a faff, Yup!

Is it an acceptable fix, Hell No!

Are my hands warmer now I have been re-taught to use a simple on off switch, YES, but it could be better.

Hope this helps people.

 

[Titto]

Good luck.... the solution is as posted. Get your dealer to show you the report recently released to them all about this issue.
I think the only other thing they can test is if yours arent getting as hot as others.
There is mention on the report that although the temperature is (apparently) the same as old models, because of a different thickness tubing on the new bikes handlebars it is feeling different. ( thisbis in addition to the above mentioned power saving mode it has)...

I asked for a copy but no joy !!! If I had got it I woild have posted it on here ! ( which they probably knew !).

 

[Engineer]

Hmmmmmm - the old 1200 manual said that the heated grips are turned off at low revs to save the battery, makes complete sense - not sure what the LC manual says but I am pretty certain no matter how you fiddle with the switches that the LC grips are not as hot.

 

[Engineer]

Just read the LC manual, pages 57/58 - says the same as the old bike, so is the manual wrong???????? Essentially if the battery charge is low then grips are turned off. There are two stages of heating POS1 = 50%, POS2 = 100%.

 

[DX407]

Well been running with the modded grips for about 3 weeks now, and the difference is amazing , they work as they should have from the start. No more numb fingers on cold days.
Result

 

[snaponphil]

Well been running with the modded grips for about 3 weeks now, and the difference is amazing , they work as they should have from the start. No more numb fingers on cold days.
Result

Hi Dx, has there been a modded grip available.? Or Ur last post where u turn off to restart them.?
I tried it with mine & no difference even on a reasonably warm day, 12c..

 

[DX407]

I am not 100% certain on what they actually did the bike was with them for a week guess they changed and tested things till it all worked! now very happy withit.