After going through multiple sets of heated grips on the Ural ($$$), I decided to go cheap and use generic heat pads designed for a snow machine or ATV and generic dirt bike grips. The heat pads were designed to be used with a simple two position switch for high and low heat settings. The resistance of the functioning left heated grip is 7.2 ohms. The resistance of "high" on the generic pads is 7.3 ohms. Close enough. I stuck the heat pad onto the throttle tube and run a couple of beads of grip glue on the heat pad. I also put some of the grip glue inside of the rubber handgrips.
They slid on easily and within seconds, the glue "set" and I couldn't move the grip anymore. Now, it just needs to set overnight. I spliced the white-red pair into the old temperature controller and tried them out. Within 30 sec or so, the grips was already starting to warm up. It may seem odd to install grip heaters in the middle of the summer but I've had these sitting around since the middle of January when the left grip heater failed. Shortly after this the engine in the Ural failed so the grip heaters fell way back on the "list".
The generic heat pads were $14 at the local Polaris shop. And the generic rubber grips were $10 on Amazon (free shipping!). For some reason, I couldn't find any grips at the local motorcycle shops in the middle of January. Pretty cheap when compared to the $120 + shipping from one of the Ural dealers. We'll see how well they hold up this winter. I suspect that these generic rubber grips won't be very comfortable and they are smaller in diameter. Which for me, means tired hands....
I always thought the wiring looked a bit delicate for these type of grip heaters but hope they work out for you, the cost is right. I've been happy with my Oxford heated grips but then again I don't ride in the lower temps like you do regularly in Winter.
ReplyDeleteI have the wiring running around the handgrips twice before heading out to the splice. In the past, the wiring always broke due to flexing at low temperatures. The first set I had were the Oxford and the second was Show Chrome. Both lasted only about three months each of cold weather. I don't have high expectations for these either but willing to put up with short life due to the price.
DeleteHopefully they hold up well. I have the same type of grip heaters on both my bikes and never had an issue with either. They even get hotter than the Oxford grips on Troubadour's Tiger.
ReplyDeleteI tried the grips out this morning and the new ones heat up a lot faster. But that's probably because they grip is thinner and with the plastic throttle tube thermally isolating the heater, they don't need to heat up the metal handlebar.
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