Dual Star heated grips install with new grips

[lucas]

Hi all,

I hope this is not too basic a series of questions. I have reviewed all the posts I could find regarding grips and heated grips. After reading the posts I ordered the Dual Star heated grips. I have a 05 b12s.

Now my questions:

1. My understanding is that I CUT off the old stock grip? I can't say I have a good feeling about taking a knife to my bandit. But I guess that's the way it's done right?

2. Aparently there is a plastic sleeve under the grip and the heating element is glued (use hair spray) to that sleeve after dremmeling off the ridges on the plastic. How do I go about cutting off the grip without harming the plastic sleeve?

3. I must have small hands because the stock grips seem large to me when I am wearing any kind of gloves. So, considering that I will have the heating element under the grip and I want the grip to be small what grips would be recommend?

4. And finally, I would like to add the shot in the handle bars to dampen vibration. Will that detract from the performance of the heating elements?

Thanks to all that respond. I am not an accomplished mechanic by any strech of the imagination (I have done oil changes, spark plugs, air filters) and I like to know exaclty what I am getting myself into when I decide to try one of these projects.

Thanks,

Lucas

[RUSS M8]

I havn't installed heated grips before, but I have pulled plenty of grips on and off!

Yes, you can cut the old grips off.  Or, if you don't wanna cut up your Bandit, use an air compressor and a nozzle.  Get the nozzle up under the grip, and squirt the air in there.  That should relese the grip, and you keep blowing and twisting till it comes off.
If you cut it, you can even use scissors, get them in there and you can't damage anything then.

As for grips, if you want them small, maybe some motocross grips?

[lucas]

Hi,

That's a great idea to use sissors. That's just the kind of tip I was hoping for. I don't have access to any compressed air.

Thanks Again

[PaulVS]

Are you worried about damaging the grips or the bike when you cut them off?

[lucas]

Are you worried about damaging the grips or the bike when you cut them off?

Yup, My fear is I'm going to F something up and then the bike will be disabled and I'll have to spend a small fortune to get it fixed.

My biggest worry is cutting off the old grips. All the manual says is cut off the old grips. No mention of how to go about it.

But it sounds like if I cut the ends off the grips and use scissors to get under them then I can avoid damaging the plastic piece under the grip. Scissors never occurred to me. Great idea

I'm not much of a motor head/wrencher. I don't want to end up with a mess to fix.

Thanks for your interest. If you can think of any other tips for doing this job please let me know.

Lucas

[PaulVS]

Just pull up on the inner part of the grips (flange end) and start a 1/2" cut with a razor knife.  Then you can just rip them the rest of the way off.

[mklep]

I was able to use a little heat from a heat gun and peel the grips off without cutting them at all. After installing the Dual-Star grip heaters, I reused the stock grips. The stock grips were the smallest diameter grips I could find.  By the way, I insulated the left bar with two layers of shrink tube prior to installing the heater.  That way, the grips heat evenly, and less heat gets lost transferring to the cold handlebar in the left grip.

As far as the lead shot goes, sorry, never tried it.

[lucas]

I insulated the left bar with two layers of shrink tube prior to installing the heater.  That way, the grips heat evenly, and less heat gets lost transferring to the cold handlebar in the left grip.

.

Hay, thanks for the response. I have read that many people just wrap some electrical tape around the clutch side bar. But what is shrink tube? Maybe I'll use that instead.

Lucas

[mklep]

Shrink tube is plastic-type tubing used on electrical connections to help create a water-tight connection.  It shrinks when you apply heat to it...with something like a heat gun, torch, lighter.  I've seen it in sizes from 1/8" to 1-1/2".  There is also a grade of shrink tube that has an adhesive on the inside, often used in marine applications.  This is the one I used.

[B12NScott]

I have been using mine for about a year.  They are sweet.  Dual-Star sells the shrink wrap if you are looking for some.  I believe you only really need it if your running Aluminum bars (Dirt bike, snowmobile, quad), since they conduct more.  The Dual Stars also are bar specific.  There is a Throttle side and a Clutch side.  They re-designed them to make them heat evenly with out the diode or having to insulate your grips.  I installed them directly on to the bar on the Clutch side( used one marked "clutch side") and the other on the throttle tube.  Works great.  I need to get a set for my DRZ.

[lucas]

Hay, thanks for the info.

It gets down to 40 here in the winter (don't laugh) and even with thick gloves on at 70 it's only about 30 minutes and my hands are numb. I also want to put hand guards on. That's my next project.

Do you have an s model with the faring? If so where did you mount the switch?

Thanks

[B12NScott]

Yes the S model. I mounted it  on the little dash area just behind the wind screen.

[Rotten_Ronnie]

I found this thread very useful as I live in Canada, and need to extend the riding season with Heated grips such as the Dual Star product.

Has anyone tried the hi/lo/off versus the Heat Troller method?

I've ridden my bike five days straight on a trip to Cape Breton Island N.S. and return to the Toronto area on a GSF600s with a Corbin seat, but what hurt the most was my hands from the minute vibration off of the stock bars.

Can anyone recommend a good set of anti-vibe or gel grips that are superior to the OEM grips for long trips?

Thanks!

Btw, I found some very excellent Dual Stars installation tips here.

[Red01]

Pro-Grip is pretty popular and they have a bunch of different models to choose from, so you should be able to find something that is comfortable AND has a look you like.

[Rotten_Ronnie]

Thanks Paul, I found a bunch of them listed in the Motovan catalogue.

My suzuki dealership stocks the grips for 11.95 cdn, and the grip heaters but in the "Symtech" style for 49.95 cdn.

Now we need to talk about a heated vest... :)