marcparnes
Guest
Hi Guys,
My bike came with BMW's heated grips installed. I find the original grip size too small which causes my hand to cramp up after awhile. I tried installing a set of Griptex foam covers but they are really too large. The grips I've always liked are the tapered BMW grips that come on many of the other models as well as the earlier GS. They seem to fit my hand and don't cause any cramping problems at all. I like them so much I even installed a set on my last two FJRs.
I spent some time with the dealer and discovered that there isn't any other BMW model with the tapered heated grip that will interchange with the 1200GS. The method they used in routing the wires, etc is completely different. Determined to make the tapered style work I purchased a set of non-heated tapered grips for $9 each and went to work. I decided to use a set of Dual-Star's heating elements that I had laying around and stay with the GS's original switch and wiring. It took a couple of hours of work but it turned out perfect
One nice thing about the Dual-Star elements is that their electrical resistance is very close to that of the originals. I was concerned that any substantial difference in ohms might cause the computer to fault resulting in a loss of power in that circuit. The OE grips are about 9.4 ohms each and the Dual-Star are 9.6 on the clutch side and 7.5 on the throttle side. The computer doesn't seem to mind the slight difference so no problem.
The clutch side is pretty straight forward. The OE heated grip is mounted to a plastic tube that slides over the bar. This plastic tube is attached to the switch assembly and also acts as its fastening point to the bar. I simply cut the wires that go from the small conector located inside the switch housing to the grip element, sawed off the old grip and tube and discarded them. I then drilled a couple of new mounting holes through the switch housing into the bar and used the original screws that held the heater tube to the bar to secure it. There is a convenient spot to drill new holes under the housing's front cover. I installed Dual-Star's clutch side heating element and soldered its white and red wires to the original wires and covered the connections with shrink tubing. Installing the new grip over top of the heating element is quite simple.
The throttle side is a bit more work. I needed to retain the original throttle tube which necessitated cutting off the rubber grip which is bonded to the tube. I removed the throttle/switch assembly and using an Exacto knife carefully sliced off the rubber grip so as to not damage the tube itself. The heating element consists of a thin strand of wire that wraps around and around the tube. I removed the heating element being careful not to damage the heavier wires that connect up to the plug inside the switch housing. I installed the Dual-Star element and soldered its red and white wires to the original wires. I used shrink tubing here as well. I reinstalled the throttle/switch assembly and pushed on the new grip.
The result looks as original as you can get. The heaters are still controlled by the original switch and get just as hot as before.
Problem solved
My bike came with BMW's heated grips installed. I find the original grip size too small which causes my hand to cramp up after awhile. I tried installing a set of Griptex foam covers but they are really too large. The grips I've always liked are the tapered BMW grips that come on many of the other models as well as the earlier GS. They seem to fit my hand and don't cause any cramping problems at all. I like them so much I even installed a set on my last two FJRs.
I spent some time with the dealer and discovered that there isn't any other BMW model with the tapered heated grip that will interchange with the 1200GS. The method they used in routing the wires, etc is completely different. Determined to make the tapered style work I purchased a set of non-heated tapered grips for $9 each and went to work. I decided to use a set of Dual-Star's heating elements that I had laying around and stay with the GS's original switch and wiring. It took a couple of hours of work but it turned out perfect
One nice thing about the Dual-Star elements is that their electrical resistance is very close to that of the originals. I was concerned that any substantial difference in ohms might cause the computer to fault resulting in a loss of power in that circuit. The OE grips are about 9.4 ohms each and the Dual-Star are 9.6 on the clutch side and 7.5 on the throttle side. The computer doesn't seem to mind the slight difference so no problem.
The clutch side is pretty straight forward. The OE heated grip is mounted to a plastic tube that slides over the bar. This plastic tube is attached to the switch assembly and also acts as its fastening point to the bar. I simply cut the wires that go from the small conector located inside the switch housing to the grip element, sawed off the old grip and tube and discarded them. I then drilled a couple of new mounting holes through the switch housing into the bar and used the original screws that held the heater tube to the bar to secure it. There is a convenient spot to drill new holes under the housing's front cover. I installed Dual-Star's clutch side heating element and soldered its white and red wires to the original wires and covered the connections with shrink tubing. Installing the new grip over top of the heating element is quite simple.
The throttle side is a bit more work. I needed to retain the original throttle tube which necessitated cutting off the rubber grip which is bonded to the tube. I removed the throttle/switch assembly and using an Exacto knife carefully sliced off the rubber grip so as to not damage the tube itself. The heating element consists of a thin strand of wire that wraps around and around the tube. I removed the heating element being careful not to damage the heavier wires that connect up to the plug inside the switch housing. I installed the Dual-Star element and soldered its red and white wires to the original wires. I used shrink tubing here as well. I reinstalled the throttle/switch assembly and pushed on the new grip.
The result looks as original as you can get. The heaters are still controlled by the original switch and get just as hot as before.
Problem solved
I'm one of those guys that when I start something I get so focused on completing it I forget about everything else. It didn't even enter my mind. Not until I was done, anyway 
