Heated Grips Install.

[Berzins]

Hey Guys.

When I purchased my 04 a few months ago I also purchased the Honda heated grips. They had to order them in and long story short is that I just picked up the bike today from getting them installed.

Well, as anyone knows who has installed them, the installer must cut a hole in the right side panel to install the on / off switch. Now I have not done it, but from what I rememer reading, etc, there is a template that Honda sends along to show hwo to cut it. Basically on my install it looks like he went outside the lines and on the four corners I can see cut marks. Add to that, the switch actually comes out very easily and does not "snap" in as it would appear it was designed to do.

Can anyone add any comments and or pictures to show their install? I dont want to seem like an ***, but I would guess they have never installed them before and I was the first. Maybe I am being to critical?

Comments?

Dave...

[Marshal_Mercer]

Hey Guys.

When I purchased my 04 a few months ago I also purchased the Honda heated grips. They had to order them in and long story short is that I just picked up the bike today from getting them installed.

Well, as anyone knows who has installed them, the installer must cut a hole in the right side panel to install the on / off switch. Now I have not done it, but from what I rememer reading, etc, there is a template that Honda sends along to show hwo to cut it. Basically on my install it looks like he went outside the lines and on the four corners I can see cut marks. Add to that, the switch actually comes out very easily and does not "snap" in as it would appear it was designed to do.

{SNIP}
Dave...

Dave:

The template is printed on the instructions that come with the Honda heated grips. Following the instructions is pretty easy.
1. Remove the left fairing components.
2. Cut out the template then fasten/glue/hold it onto the inside of black plastic that holds the lockable pocket cover -- the template shows where.
3. Use the drill bit size described in the instructions to drill the fifteen or so holes shown on the template; a rectangular piece of black plastic will be removed on completion of this step.
4. Use a box cutter or other device to remove the serrations in the remaining black plastic cover, left from the drill bit.
5. Insert the switch housing by passing through the resulting rectangular hole, the switch wires.
5a. If the hole is too small, use the box cutter to tidy-up the hole as needed. Use silicone sealer around the switch.
5b. If the holes were drilled too large or too close to the template's outer edge, the resulting rectangular hole will be too large as well. You might want to attach a rubber grommet around the switch housing, then drop it in place, or cut some black plastic strips to size and build a small box around the switch housing.
6. Hook the switch wires to the Quartet Harness.
7. Put everything back together.

If you are still not satisfied, buy a new Left, Middle Cowl, Pocket Assembly (approximate name) -- the black piece where the lockable pocket goes -- and start the process again. It's just plastic, after all.

Best of luck on this.

Marshal

[wjbertrand]

Hey Guys.

When I purchased my 04 a few months ago I also purchased the Honda heated grips. They had to order them in and long story short is that I just picked up the bike today from getting them installed.

Well, as anyone knows who has installed them, the installer must cut a hole in the right side panel to install the on / off switch. Now I have not done it, but from what I rememer reading, etc, there is a template that Honda sends along to show hwo to cut it. Basically on my install it looks like he went outside the lines and on the four corners I can see cut marks. Add to that, the switch actually comes out very easily and does not "snap" in as it would appear it was designed to do.

Can anyone add any comments and or pictures to show their install? I dont want to seem like an ***, but I would guess they have never installed them before and I was the first. Maybe I am being to critical?

Comments?

Dave...

Hmmm, every factory installation of the Hondaline grips that I've seen has the switch mounted on the left faring pocket. Could that be part of the problem?

[Tim4255]

Dave,

May I ask what dealer installed them for you? I also am in Calgary and if you want to meet up somewhere I can show you what it should look like. The good news is that that part that they overcut can be replaced. I paid about $179US for my Hondaline Grips and a friend who had already installed his made the hole and mounted mine for me. Mine does not move at all and the cut is not visable.

Tim

[Kennedy]

Some Honda dealer ows you a few replacement parts. It goes on the left side of the bike and the hole sounds like its been cut to large if your switch can be removed that easy.
My dealer installes mine and they did a good job of it.

[eddiemack]

Same here... switch is on the left,.. will not pop out.

[mageerc]

Same story here... I installed the switch under the lockable glove box on the left side of thr console and it fit perfectly with no signs of coming out in the last 12,000 miles I've ridden since it was installed.

[Berzins]

Sorry guys. I really have to get a big L and big R tattooed on my hand. They did install the control on the left side.

Add to the probelms, I was so upset about it that I was out looking at my bike again last night and noticed the LEFT mirror was a little loose on the bottom. Lifted it up and it fell off. Appartently, the guy could not get it on, forced it and from what I can tell damaged the lower mounting hole.

I will say that the dealer has always been good and this is the first time I had problems. On this install as well I noticed scratches on both side bags that I did not do (I had done two that I told the dealer about). He said no problem and has already offered to replace them.

Dave...

[Kennedy]

Well sounds like you dealer is at least going to be fair with you. That's great.

[Berzins]

Well lets hope everything works out. I'll give an update once I go see them on monday with my list.

BYW Dave, nice woodwork! Looks very impressive.

Dave...

[Kennedy]

Thanks. Well I guess some of it is, in the customers mind any how. Did a wall unit last year for a guy living in Palace peer down by lake ontario for $12,000.00 That was a new record for wall units but it took a month in the shop to build.

[Berzins]

Well I dropped an email to the dealer this morning and received the following reply.

"I would like to start out by apologizing again, for the problems.
I assure you My mechanics do take pride in there workmanship and this is in fact an isolated incident. I am not sure why this happened but I can assure you that it will never happen again.

If you could please let me know the next time that you ride your bike to work or when it is convenient for me to have someone pick up your bike up, We will take it and fix all problems that are stated below.

Please call or reply back so that we can correct this problem for you."

As I anticipated they seem to be stepping up to the plate and are going to fix my issues. Thanks everyone for the comments, etc. If all goes well I will not have to update this thread.

Dave...

[Ken]

Wow, they'll even do an Enterprise and pick it up! Sounds like he is trying to make good. Regrettable, but lesson learned for him - someone's head rolled, guaranteed. Good luck working through this. It must be frustrating.