Heated grips - working or not working ?

[bumble beemer]

Started the bike this morning and put the heated grips on (second setting). After a mile or so I realised the heated grips were not getting hot. Over the next few miles I toggled between the off position, first setting and second setting but still no heat in either first or second settings.

I decided to pull over and switch the ignition off. I waited a few moments and then started the bike again and switched on the heated grips again.
Bingo ! heat at last.

So what was that all about ?
Has anyone else experienced this ?

 

[herrdirektor]

Nope, but it does take a couple of minutes before the heated grips kick in. Perhaps they were about to startup when you decided to switch off and stop de ignition. If your issue stays I would have it looked at.

 

[Ali-bear]

I think there is some kind of cutout on the heated grips that stops the current drain under certain circumstances - when idling with low battery charging voltage for example.

Maybe its a safety feature to stop us from burning our poor little mitts at the traffic lights?

 

[TyreMark]

As Grizzly says grips will switch off if battery low. After a particularly cold night in the Swiss Alps when the bike barely started I found mine were not working. After a run and coffee stop to thaw out I found the battery had re-charged and the grips worked fine.

 

[bumble beemer]

Thanks for the reply chaps. Sounds about right. I also had the fogs on and the bike struggled to idle on cold start up. Will monitor it and take back to dealers if continues.

Thanks again.

 

[Rosahane]

This is a standard safety feature on my '08 GS.

The grips will not work initially if the low air temp. warning is flashing. I have to switch off and restart the bike to get heat

I think this is BMW's way of making sure you have noticed that the road is icy

 

[bumble beemer]

That is really funny. I take it it was meant to be a joke ?

I have had many GS's and this is the first 1200GS that has done that !

They will next invent a way of switching off the fuel pump as you reach your last 4 litres of fuel just to remind you that you only have 40 miles left in your tank.

 

[bowser]

crossed wires with the indicators, they come on, they go off, they come on, they go off, they come on etc etc etc

 

[NYUK]

This is a standard safety feature on my '08 GS.

The grips will not work initially if the low air temp. warning is flashing. I have to switch off and restart the bike to get heat

I think this is BMW's way of making sure you have noticed that the road is icy

Phew I thought there was an issue with the wiring as I just fitted a new alarm. Had the same thing had to restart and heh presto.

 

[claw]

crossed wires with the indicators, they come on, they go off, they come on, they go off, they come on etc etc etc

Perhaps thats what has happened to mine, if i never turn right again i wonder if my right grip might start working

 

[Timhearn]

I've recently had the same issue and seems mad if its a design feature. My symptoms are the same - when starting up grips dont warm up. If I kill the ignition and start up again, the grips heat up. It was only when you said about the low temp warning that I realised that it was flashing. The battery is fine. I dont see the logic if its supposed to be like that? I have it booked into Bahnstormer on Saturday so I'll ask then.

 

[jimmystewpot]

same issue

I had the same problem on my 07 GSA. I ended up getting my grips replaced under warrantee and have not had a problem since. Very happy especially with the "warm" weather we have been having lately in the UK.

 

[Timhearn]

Heated Grips

Just had mine sorted today. It was software! Bahnstormer upgraded it this morning and I've had toastie mitts ever since.

 

[sockpuppet]

I wonder if this makes a difference with the oddesy battery or another non oe battery.

 

[lorus]

just took my 2008 gs 1200 in for first service today at cooper bmw sunderland,explained that heated grips didnt get very hot and was told that he thinks it is user error,eh, was also told that if switch was on for grips before you start bike they would not work properley,and that they would look at them anyway,pick bike up on monday,will let you no the outcome

 

[lorus]

just a litle updare on heated grips for anyone interested,picked bike up and service guy said there was no problem with heated grips but did agree with me that they were not as hot as some models,to his credit he did come back to me two days later and told me that bmw have reconised a problem with the heated grips but there was no fix as of yet for them and when was available he would get back to me.when this happens i wil forward imformation to you all.

 

[claw]

Had my bike serviced on monday also at Coopers @ Boldon. They replaced my right grip under warranty which had failed, but they're still not very warm, even on the highest setting.
I might call in again next week if i'm passing and chase them up a bit as well to find out what can be done.

 

[Dennis the Menace]

Changed my 04 GS which I had for 4 years, for an 08 model. First thing I noticed was heated grips where crap in comparison to 04 model.

Bike went in for new heated grips software update, abs pipes mod.

Heated grips are no better, other day went out riding temp at time down to -1 degree c. Stopped for a coffee, a couple also stopped on same model 08GS. I asked if I could feel his grips, "Oh yes he said" they are really hot, but in fact where no hotter than mine. Will ask dealer to look at grips again.

In 1995 I bought a 1100RS complained to dealer heated grips where poor, would he sort it but he never did. Spoke to BMW GB service deptment they confirmed when their RS in workshop heated grips were hot but when out on the road went cool quickly.Bike had aluminium handle bars.

04 - 08GS has steel handle bars. 08 upddate model has aluminium handle bars. Steel is a good conductor of heat. i.e. holds heat better and longer.

Aluminium is a poor conductor of heat, so on a cold day the heat will be just wicked away off the bars. Use handle bar muffs and the grips are much better, but muffs are a aquired taste.

Maybe its a simple matter of handle bar material.

 

[big_kitch]

It's also very dependent on glove thickness. I fitted Tucano Urbano muffs for this winter and am now wearing lightweight gloves. After about 10 minutes if it's above freezing have to turn them down to the low setting. The muffs look a bit crap but they make a huge difference (as does a big screen, winglets and a heated vest). Even when it was really cold recently I was toasty warm!

Nick (07 GS)

 

[davedyer]

...04 - 08GS has steel handle bars. 08 upddate model has aluminium handle bars. Steel is a good conductor of heat. i.e. holds heat better and longer.

Aluminium is a poor conductor of heat, so on a cold day the heat will be just wicked away off the bars. Use handle bar muffs and the grips are much better, but muffs are a aquired taste.

Maybe its a simple matter of handle bar material.

Not quite right. If it's a good conductor of heat then heat will dissipate quickly, ie bars will stay cold. It also has something to do with thickness of bars. Thick steel bars will retain the heat longer than thinner aluminum bars but will need more heat input to begin with.

Another factor to consider is the thickness of your gloves. If you've got very good gloves then the heat from the grips can't get through. Sometimes a lighter glove such as a 3 season glove will work better with heated grips. You'll also have a better feel for the controls.