Heated hand grips

[Matty589]

One reason manufacturers don't want to get involved with non-standard mods is that they can quickly become a liability - if want you experiment and accept any consequences then that's up to you.

BMW have apparently said that the heated grips cannot be changed - I don't know whether or not it can be done without any downsides but I can see why perhaps that it can't.

The company I work for designs and manufactures electronic products that transport video over IP - the hardware and software is very complex - we try to get the specification right but customers do sometimes come to us and say why didn't you do it like this, or why didn't you do that etc etc......

We make most of our software field upgradeable so that we have the flexibility of adding features and correcting bugs at a later date - hardware cannot be practically changed so we have to try to get it right first time but sometimes we cannot second guess what all of our customers may want in the future - so some will be disappointed when it is impractical or uneconomical for us to make changes - it is just a fact of life with all manufactured products.

With respect, bollocks. You're comparing apples and pears and expecting to be happy that one year's heated grips are massively colder than another year's just because of a pretty widely acknowledged design/manufacturing fault is ridiculous. An example - the F800ST rear bearing was faulty and could fail catastrophically. BMW did a recall, just like they've done for countless faults across their range for years. Just because heated grips won't cause an accident doesn't mean that it's not a fault that should be fixed. You need to live in the real world and stop spouting rubbish that doesn't solve anything or help anyone on here affected. Crap gear boxes = user error, you need to "learn how to shift"? Rubbish.

 

[tecman]

bmw wants save themselves couple of quid by denying that there is a flaw in earlier grips design, if they were perfect, why would they wanted them to be changed to 5.5 Ohm?! what ain't broken don't fix it!

 

[DRAIN MAN]

Hi Engineer, I am not trying to shout you down and I am not an expert in electronic. Why does a set of heated grips have to be so complicated!!! The Oxford grips I had on my XJ900 gave me over 200,000 miles of use and were still working when I sold the bike. All you had to do was connect them to the battery or a live feed and they worked, they had 4 different heat setting and never upset the bike electronics.

Are BMW are trying to be to clever!!! keep thing simple, less chance of a breakdown and less of a problem to fix if it does go wrong.

All I want along with many others is a set of grips which work as previous grips did, is that to much to ask!!!
I do not need to know how they work, all I want is for them to WORK to the same level as my previous 09 plate bike did.

Is that to much to ask!!!

According to BMW the bikes evolve with time and equipment improves with new models, am I missing something !!!

If I pay for a piece of machinery or plant I expect it to work to a reasonable standard, would you????

Out of interest have you had any problems with a WC model !!!

 

[JimVonBaden]

No I don't work for BMW, just trying to add a bit of mental imbalance to this subject.

fify

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

I went to my dealer today and enquired about the 2015 heated grips.
He made a phone call to Bracknell (?) and asked if the later grips could be retro fitted.
The reply was no as the ZFE monitors the current taken by the grips and they said that if the resistance was more than one ohm different to what was expected, the ZFE would shut the heated grips down. Thus as the new grips are 2.5ohms less than the original on the 2013/14 bikes they could not be successfully fitted.
He was also told that the ZFE could not be reprogrammed to accept the new grips.
This flies in the face of Bikerboy108's successful upgrade.
They also told him that there had been much comment of on a US website and this had been checked out and found to be a false posting.
I guess that this thread will continue run for some time to come.
Mind I would like hotter grips on my 2014 TE.

If the ZFE does monitor the resistance and I would be surprised if it did not - systems like this often do a check that things like lamps etc are not short circuit or open before applying power. There will be limits placed on the measurement and it may be possible that these limits cannot be changed - the tolerance of the measurement might be just wide enough to allow the 2015 grips to work on some bikes but not others - it could be a bit hit or miss, perhaps even working sometimes and not others - I don't know but this could be why BMW say that it cant be done?????

And yet, contrary to your delusions, changing to the 2015 grips has PROVEN to work!

Jim

 

[mrtee43]

If what BMW says about the ZFE is true, then it is blindingly obvious that the earlier grips are sub standard. Do you really think if they thought there was nothing wrong with them, they would have decided for the 2015 model year to go to the expense of putting on different grips and a new controller just for the hell of it ?

No, BMW has cocked up.They should admit it and do the right thing.

 

[tecman]

If what BMW says about the ZFE is true, then it is blindingly obvious that the earlier grips are sub standard. Do you really think if they thought there was nothing wrong with them, they would have decided for the 2015 model year to go to the expense of putting on different grips and a new controller just for the hell of it ?

No, BMW has cocked up.They should admit it and do the right thing.

that's exactly my thinking

 

[Nutty]

Crap gear boxes = user error, you need to "learn how to shift"? Rubbish.

According to another thread, a certain "technique" has always been required to change gear properly, ever since the 1150.

 

[Engineer]

.........................

Out of interest have you had any problems with a WC model !!!

Yes, cracks in the screen, faulty switches and leaky brake reservoir cap - BMW sorted the issues out very promptly and without argument - but they were clear unequivocal faults.

The heated grips do work and keep my hands much warmer than if I didn't have them, so they clearly are not faulty, so expecting them to be replaced (even if it is technically possible, which it may not be) just because the later ones are a bit hotter is going to be a difficult case to argue.

I hope that you get a satisfactory solution - but whatever the outcome I wouldn't let the issue stop me enjoying a truly great bike.

 

[Engineer]

According to another thread, a certain "technique" has always been required to change gear properly, ever since the 1150.

Well the 1150 was always criticised for its agricultural gearbox - BMW have always been criticised for their idiosyncratic gearboxes but it hasn't stopped people buying them in droves has it?

My very early 2013 LC gearbox seems to be getting better the more miles I put onto it - I don't know what it will be like in 50,000 miles because I am swapping it for a new TE very soon

 

[matchbox]

Too hot!

I've owned 2 x R1200R, a G650GS and a '13 R1200GS. The heated grips on all these worked well though they were never hot. Seeemed to adjust to ambient temperature. Yesterday I collected a new R1200GS. I had ridden to dealer about 50mls on the old GS so had a good comparison. For me the '15 grips are definetely hotter and probably too hot for comfort even on low setting. In fact had to keep switching them on and off.
To be fair ambient temp was 5-8 C, so not really cold.
All very subjective so make of this what you will...

 

[DRAIN MAN]

Hi Engineer,

I do enjoy the bike, It was a year old last weekend and it has just done 28,000 miles to date, I have had a few problems so far but nothing to major. No paint left on the centre bar of the centre stand after just 1 week and 1000 miles. It did get replaced after a few emails with a new stand which had a protective plastic coating on it. Left hand switch gear failed while on holiday but bike kept running ok, this was changed without problem on my return. Also had a intermittant problem with the throttle not working, bike would only tick over and not rev at all. Throttle change but problem still there, in the end I found the block connecter to the throttle was pulling loose so I cut a few of the ties holding the wiring in place and managed to get another 1/2" of wire at the top end, fitted new ties and never had a problem since.

The bike is great for what I do with it and I really enjoy riding it, all I now want is for my hands to be as warm as my previous GS which they are no were near, I do not think that is to much to ask on a newer model bike, as BMW stated designs evolve and go forward, to me 20 degree less heat is backwards not forwards.

With a bit of luck we should all soon know the outcome when the new grips arrive, one way or the other.

 

[Bikerboy108]

Constructive ideas? - if you want hotter grips, go buy some hotter ones, there that was very constructive! Also I suggested just as Nutty GSer did that it might be best to talk to your dealer rather than whinge on-line.

The fact is that the present ones clearly work, but a minority of people don't think that they are hot enough, fair enough that is their opinion BUT it obviously isn't a recall issue, or safety issue or even a fit for purpose issue other than for that minority.

Don't have to buy hotter ones BMW agreed they did not work and gave me hotter ones (2015) that do work ..at no cost under warranty.. See post 347

 

[cusi]

My very early 2013 LC gearbox seems to be getting better the more miles I put onto it - I don't know what it will be like in 50,000 miles because I am swapping it for a new TE very soon

Spooky that the warranty runs out soon.

 

[Engineer]

Spooky that the warranty runs out soon.

I'd just extended it before I decided on the new bike.

 

[Engineer]

I've owned 2 x R1200R, a G650GS and a '13 R1200GS. The heated grips on all these worked well though they were never hot. Seeemed to adjust to ambient temperature. Yesterday I collected a new R1200GS. I had ridden to dealer about 50mls on the old GS so had a good comparison. For me the '15 grips are definetely hotter and probably too hot for comfort even on low setting. In fact had to keep switching them on and off.
To be fair ambient temp was 5-8 C, so not really cold.
All very subjective so make of this what you will...

Indeed subjective.

 

[Engineer]

Hi Engineer,

I do enjoy the bike, It was a year old last weekend and it has just done 28,000 miles to date, I have had a few problems so far but nothing to major. No paint left on the centre bar of the centre stand after just 1 week and 1000 miles. It did get replaced after a few emails with a new stand which had a protective plastic coating on it. Left hand switch gear failed while on holiday but bike kept running ok, this was changed without problem on my return. Also had a intermittant problem with the throttle not working, bike would only tick over and not rev at all. Throttle change but problem still there, in the end I found the block connecter to the throttle was pulling loose so I cut a few of the ties holding the wiring in place and managed to get another 1/2" of wire at the top end, fitted new ties and never had a problem since.

The bike is great for what I do with it and I really enjoy riding it, all I now want is for my hands to be as warm as my previous GS which they are no were near, I do not think that is to much to ask on a newer model bike, as BMW stated designs evolve and go forward, to me 20 degree less heat is backwards not forwards.

With a bit of luck we should all soon know the outcome when the new grips arrive, one way or the other.

I hope that it works out to your satisfaction

 

[snaponphil]

Over 20,000 views..
I do hope Bmw are reading this as I'm sure all the potential buyers of an 18 month manufacturing run will be looking for a positive outcome, & at cost not an expensive rectification. (After all they put them on there)

 

[Hamslay]

I test-rode a 2015 on Friday and I'd forgotten just how good proper heated grips are after 2 winters on my early 2014 bike.

In case BMW do monitor this, here's my message to BMW:

I agree with Engineer that technically the early grips do "work", but agree with everyone else that they are simply not good enough. I personally would be happy to contribute to the cost of fitting the 2015 grips as I concede that the grips aren't faulty as such, I'd just like the improved version. So BMW, you supply the parts, and I'll pay the labour fee. I'm OK to put £100 in to get the new grips.

Thanks you!

 

[DC]

I test-rode a 2015 on Friday and I'd forgotten just how good proper heated grips are after 2 winters on my early 2014 bike.
I'm OK to put £100 in to get the new grips.

Thanks you!

So…to sum up , the grips aren't getting warm enough even though they work (BMWs words) some riders are getting them changed free, others are getting compensation of £250 and others are offering to pay towards them ?

Me thinks this the heat will come out of this thread ( see what i did there) as now the warmer weather is here the grips won't be required, so BMW get some breathing space etc…DONT LET THEM , KEEP POSTING TO GET WHAT YOU WANT