Heated grips - sticky throttle (but not the normal problem!)

[metropolis2k]

I've had my GS for a few weeks and it has aftermarket Saito heated grips. I know the normal issue is that when the grips get warm the throttle gets sticky but I've got the opposite issue!

When the bike and grips are cold the throttle is extremely stiff (in both directions) but loosens up when the grips get warm. Not sure how it acts in warm weather because as I say, I've only had it a couple of weeks.

Any ideas?

 

[dancata]

Simple, as they heat up, they expand That's how you would put a bearing back on the bike, like the FD. Put the FD in the oven and the bearing in the freezer. The FD expands and the bearing shrinks.

To your problem, you have to add something under the grip, and prior to installing it back, get it hot so it expands to the max, then put something like duct tape and put the grip on. Don't hammer it in, your buttons on the right side will break. I did it

Dan.

 

[metropolis2k]

Simple, as they heat up, they expand

I knew the theory but was just a bit confused as to why mine seemed to have the opposite problem to everyone else's!

Thanks for your help Dan.

 

[nud1e]

try loosening off the bar end bolt - cure my heavy and sticking throttle

 

[Wrigsby1]

try loosening off the bar end bolt - cure my heavy and sticking throttle

The OP is complaining the aftermarket grips are tightening against the bars when cold as the BMW grips expand lengthways onto the bar end weight when hot and sometimes need respacing via a washer or moving the switchgear.

 

[dancata]

try loosening off the bar end bolt - cure my heavy and sticking throttle

My gs had like a large plastic washer made out of some credit card plastic or so. This way, I got friction between plastic and metal and not rubber on metal.

On the RT, I just cut down the large o-ring like part at the end of the grip, where the weight is. It now snaps right back

Dan.

 

[metropolis2k]

Will be giving dancata's fix a go when I can (didn't get a chance this weekend). Bit of a pain to have such a stiff throttle at the beginning of every ride. The previous owner ran the heated grips the whole time which has in turn killed off the battery which has led to constant ABS failure lights. I'm hoping that the solution is to fix the throttle issue then get a new battery

 

[dancata]

Regarding ABS lights failure and battery, do the ABS relay mod first I have done it and solved all my low battery ABS problems

Dan.

 

[dancata]

Regarding ABS lights failure and battery, do the ABS relay mod first I have done it and solved all my low battery ABS problems

Dan.

 

[Steptoe]

Simple, .

Regarding ABS lights failure and battery, do the ABS relay mod first I have done it and solved all my low battery ABS problems

Dan.

It is simple. So don't add confusion to the issue by answering a question that hasn't been asked about nothing to do with heated grips.

Plus he said it was the previous owner who had a battery problem. Not him.

 

[dancata]

It is simple. So don't add confusion to the issue by answering a question that hasn't been asked about nothing to do with heated grips.

Plus he said it was the previous owner who had a battery problem. Not him.

The OP sayd that "The previous owner ran the heated grips the whole time which has in turn killed off the battery which has led to constant ABS failure lights. I'm hoping that the solution is to fix the throttle issue then get a new battery" so I suggested the ABS realy mod first, prior to getting a new battery.

What's wrong with that?

 

[metropolis2k]

UPDATE:

And after putting up with it for 3 years I've finally cracked it!

I'm sick of the aftermarket grips, and because I'm not paying for new switchgear to go to OEM heated grips (£230!), I've fitted standard grips while I keep an eye out for a second hand unit.

After putting it all back together, even before putting the bar end on the action was still extremely stiff. It all looked well lubricated so I was left scratching my head for a bit. Then it dawned on me the grease on the bar wasn't lubricating it at all, it was causing the problem. When the old grips were hot it was heating up the grease and making the action lighter. I cleaned it all up, refitted everything and job done.