Symtec Grip Heaters

[Tor]

Just before I get ready to slap the Symtec grip heaters on the bike (got them in yesterday), does it make sense to "insulate" the left handbar with scrinktubing or similar to avoid heatloss to the handlebar? Or is the heatloss so marginal I won't even feel a difference?

[georgeorge]

I didn't insulate and it's fine. I love my heat. It's hard to compare the left and right hands anyway, because they actually cycle hot-warm-hot-warm and they are not always cycling at the same time. I wouldn't worry about the insulation. Just my 2$. I'm sure others will argue.

[dannyk]

I didn't insulate, seem to work fine.

[dond]

No insulation for me.

I've had the heaters for 3 years now and laST Saturday I noticed the right was only working on low. I peeled the grip back a bit and removed the protective tape over the wire to heater connection and discovered a broken wire at the soldered joint. A coule of minutes with a solder gun and I'm toasty again!!
Love 'em.

[Tor]

Thanks guys. Case closed. Putting them on tomorrow.

[Mike]

Same here, there is a noticable change in temp without the shrink wrap on the left bar.

I have two bikes with symtec, one I wrapped the left bar and one I did not.....big difference, takes a while for the left grip to heat back up if I take my hand off it.

[billxp]

I just installed mine without any extra insulation. The clutch side heater is different from the throttle side for exactly this reason.

[clmixon]

Even a couple of layers of electrical tape are better than nothing. I also found that I needed to use the Honda Grip Glue. Hairspray and the like did not hold once they started heating up frequently.

Chris

[jgilmore]

I'm on the fence about buying and installing these.

Reasons are:

- I have an Starcom PTT switch mounted on the left grip. I don't see a way of removing it without ruining it to get the left grip off, because it is attached in a zip tie fashion and I don't think the strap can be "loosened". Maybe I can slip the grip off with it connected, I don't know yet. But I'd rather not ruin the switch. Every time I've ever tried to remove or install grips, it ended up being a struggle.

- Never rode a bike with heated grips, so I wasn't sure how effective they are. I do have Gerbing gloves with a heated jacket liner, but don't wear the gloves all that often unless it is really cold (too much prep). But do you really feel the grip heat with regular winter gloves on?

- I also have to do some minor re-wiring to pull power from the quartet harness, I am currently using the connector that the OEM heated grips would use for a Datel meter. I will move those to another free connector, unless ANY of the connectors from the Quartet harness can power the symtecs. Does anyone know for sure??

- Do you re-use the stock grips?

So, someone, please push me off the fence one way or another. If heated grips (any heated grips) are that worth it, I'll go for it.

-John

[billxp]

Yes they are worth the 37 dollars, not sure if the OEM 180+ is worth it :)

I did reinstall my stock grips. I used compressed air to remove and reinstall them.

I also have Gerbing heated gloves and the gloves are not heated in the palms so the heated grips still help.

Love the grips for those 45-55 degree days can still ride with normal gloves.

I don't have the quartet harness but just found a switched 12volt source where the harness should go.

These grip heaters are so good I rarely use the high setting. Ok maybe once so far but it was 25 degrees.

[NormanPCN]

- I also have to do some minor re-wiring to pull power from the quartet harness, I am currently using the connector that the OEM heated grips would use for a Datel meter. I will move those to another free connector, unless ANY of the connectors from the Quartet harness can power the symtecs. Does anyone know for sure??

- Do you re-use the stock grips?



All three have switched 12V power. Two of them have power with ACC also. Not sure about the ACC position and the factory heated grip connector. The plug (black?) with three wires has 12V always on power in addition to switched. This plug is intended for the Radio option in Europe.

I use BMW grips.

[jgilmore]

All three have switched 12V power. Two of them have power with ACC also. Not sure about the ACC position and the factory heated grip connector. The plug (black?) with three wires has 12V always on power in addition to switched. This plug is intended for the Radio option in Europe.

I use BMW grips.

Norman, thanks for the info - I did know how all of the wires and connectors are switched, but no mention of capacity. Are they all the same in that respect - meaning, does it matter which connector I get switched power to the grips from?

-John

[Tor]

Well they went on tonite. First time I took the tupperware off. Not a bad job, just need to stay organized when taking the stuff apart. The +12 switched from the q-harness plug. (I don't have the harness, so I just fed it directly from the red/black. Used hair styling gel (The kind Joe always use :D) to get the grips back on. The stuff get sticky as heck when it dries. Anyway, they work flawlessly, and can't wait for the morning ride. As always, thanks for all the pointers from ya'll. Appreciate it.

Tor

[wjbertrand]

All three have switched 12V power. Two of them have power with ACC also. Not sure about the ACC position and the factory heated grip connector. The plug (black?) with three wires has 12V always on power in addition to switched. This plug is intended for the Radio option in Europe.

I use BMW grips.

One of those 3 plugs in the Q-harness is always hot. I used it to power my GPS.

[NormanPCN]

I just checked. The plug intended for the heated grips is not on in the ACC position. The others are.

The always on circuit is fused at 10A. It is labeled as "Battery" in your fuse box. Blow that fuse and you clock, trip and fuel comsumption meters will reset every time you shut the bike off.

The ACC circuit is fused at 15A. I think the heated grips are on the ACC circuit. Easy to check this out.

[Tor]

It was 34 degr. this morning. Yeah baby, toasty, cooking. Even with thick Held Narvik winter gloves, which are pretty thick, the heat comes right through. Niiice.

[STWannaBe]

I'm going to do the heated grips now that you have been through the process and have officially OK'ed their functionality Torlang.

I would like to know more about where the Quartet Harness plugs into. I am not familiar with the harness. I do have a RoadyXT and the grips to plug up so it would be nice to know where to run that power from. :bow1:

[jgilmore]

You can get the quartet harness here:

http://www.hondadirectlineusa.com/stores/product.asp?pid=2414&str=10&ID=1039508404

Info about installing it here:

http://koczarski.com/ST1300/QuartetHarness/QuartetHarness.htm

Connectors to plug into it here:

http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=17123&Category_Code=ECONN

Info about which plugs are which above in the thread.

-John

[dond]

Riders that are having more heat on the right....
If you got the heaters w/o the large white resistor* and got the heaters for MC use not ATV use, the left side is configured to create more heat to offset the heatsink effect**. Billxp touched on this but I wanted to clarify.

* Early Symtecs had the resistor and the same heat output rt. to lt.


**OR you got them on backwards, they are marked :eek:

[STWannaBe]

Thanks JGilmore! Because I forgot to ask, what types of switches are best to use for the heated grips? I'm sure it would have to be waterproof and low profile...

[Tor]

Thanks JGilmore! Because I forgot to ask, what types of switches are best to use for the heated grips? I'm sure it would have to be waterproof and low profile...

Dave,

I used the switch that came with the heaters. It is a low profile switch I placed just below the left fairing pocket lid. Looks like it was installed from the factory.

Tor

[jgilmore]

I got the Symtecs from CA sport touring yesterday, am going to install them this weekend.

I am curious, how much space did you leave between the heater pad and the throttle housing plastic on the throttle side?

-John

[Tor]

I got the Symtecs from CA sport touring yesterday, am going to install them this weekend.

I am curious, how much space did you leave between the heater pad and the throttle housing plastic on the throttle side?

-John

On both sides I put the elements smack in the middle, i.e. when the rubber is off, I put the elements on so the distance from the bar end and the distance from the switch housings were the same. I don't think it's critical though.

[jgilmore]

On both sides I put the elements smack in the middle, i.e. when the rubber is off, I put the elements on so the distance from the bar end and the distance from the switch housings were the same. I don't think it's critical though.

Thanks.

My concern was my throttlemeister, if the grip hangs out too far because of the wire, it may not work right. I was going to place the pad as close to the switch housing as I could, but not too close so that it would pinch.

-John

[NormanPCN]

For the throttlemeister, mark how far the friction washer slides on the throttle tube and make sure the heater element will not overlap. For me, I place the grip heater element to the edge of the TM friction washer.

[jeff4912]

When you put your grips back on over the heater elements, did you use grip glue or just put them on over the heating element without any adhesive?

[NormanPCN]

Aqua Net hair spray. First time I have tried hair spray. Previously I had used rubbing alcohol to install grips.

[dond]

Put mine on dry. JuST popped them on with the heal of my hand.

[Rolling Thunder]

Why do you need heated grips?

[jeff4912]

Why do you need heated grips?
Because like this morning here in Seattle, it was 28f and they keep my hands warm. :confused:

[BikemanKZ]

No insulation for me.

I've had the heaters for 3 years now and laST Saturday I noticed the right was only working on low. I peeled the grip back a bit and removed the protective tape over the wire to heater connection and discovered a broken wire at the soldered joint. A coule of minutes with a solder gun and I'm toasty again!!
Love 'em.

Are they the Hondaline? Mine are. After two years of good use, I found a burnt fuse, after replacement they worked fine once. Now the fuse is still good but no heat. I have been unsucessful in finding the cause. Any suggestions?
KZ

[Tor]

Are they the Hondaline? Mine are. After two years of good use, I found a burnt fuse, after replacement they worked fine once. Now the fuse is still good but no heat. I have been unsucessful in finding the cause. Any suggestions?
KZ
Take loose the el. connection to the grip in question, and ohm out (using a multimeter) the grip element. I bet you will have no connectivity through the element, i.e. burned element.

[dbst1300]

Saved by the information provided by Norman PCN.

Yesterday, I installed the accessory Hondaline harness, additonal connectors from Electrical Connection, and the Symtec heated grip liners. The grip liners work great (just like they do on my VStrom), but my A/B tripmeters and my clock keep resetting every time I turn the bike off and on. This goes on all day and I am thinking I will have to pull the left middle side fairing off again. But, a search of this forum links me to the 10 amp mini-fuse for accessories. I check it, it is blown, and I replace it. I must have touched one of the wiring combos on the accessory harness leads. We'll see if the fuse cures the problem. I'm thinking it will.

Dennis

[wjbertrand]

I tried using adhesive tape as an insulator on the left bar a couple of times on various bikes, both electical and duct tape. I found that the glue gets all sticky and squishy letting the grip slide and rotate around the bar when the heat is turned up. :( I've had better results putting 1" heat shrink tubing under the heater foil and grip, using either isopropyl alcohol to slide the grips on (letting the natural tack of the rubber hold them in place) or hairspray.;)

[NormanPCN]

Saved by the information provided by Norman PCN.

But, a search of this forum links me to the 10 amp mini-fuse for accessories. I check it, it is blown, and I replace it. I must have touched one of the wiring combos on the accessory harness leads. We'll see if the fuse cures the problem. I'm thinking it will.

Dennis

Thanks for the kudos and welcome to the club. :D

That is exactly how I found this out. I must have accidentally touched the always hot line to something when I was wiring my power socket for my GPS to the accessory harness.

[ligito]

Cut the zip tie off and reinstall it with a new zip tie.:confused:

[Mike]

Looks like Dual-Star Grip Heaters now come with shrink wrap in the package. The shrink wrap is for the left handlebar to off set the heat sink effect.

This is something many of us have been doing in the past. Looks like Dual-Star has listened and is now supplying the heat shrink.

[st_rider]

Looks like Dual-Star Grip Heaters now come with shrink wrap in the package. The shrink wrap is for the left handlebar to off set the heat sink effect.

This is something many of us have been doing in the past. Looks like Dual-Star has listened and is now supplying the heat shrink.

Was your package actually marked Dual-STar or Symtec? I ask because I juST bought a pair of Symtecs and they did not come with the shrink tubing you describe (nor have any of the previous 6 or so sets I have bought).

[deanrd]

I just bought a set to install and was wondering if you can just pull the left storage pocket out to route everything without pulling the middle fairing?

Is just below the lower left side storage area the best place to run the switch?

Any pictures of switch location?

Thanx - Dean

[billxp]

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=316&d=1107052080

Picture was posted HERE (http://www.st-owners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2462&highlight=switch+location)