Dual Star Heated Grips

[Mellow]

These things work great, rode in mid-40 degree temps in the rain and they kept my hands nice and toasty. At around $30, they're cheap too...

Dual Star Website (http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit1.htm)

http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Images%20JPG/Heated_Grip_Kit_Small_2.jpg

[Mellow]

California Sport Touring (http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16025&Category_Code=st1300_Hand-Cont) also carries what I believe to be the same product under the Symtec brand for a few dollars cheaper ($27), so if you are getting other stuff, might as well throw these in the cart as well.

http://www.casporttouring.com/store/graphics/00000001/dsgripheat.jpg (http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16025&Category_Code=st1300_Hand-Cont)

[Mellow]

And... looks like Aerostitch (http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.filereader?41c19ad01179bdfa271dd1f0 ec07074b+EN/products/1400) sells a heated grip kit as well for $27 but it looks slightly different, don't have any experience with this one. It appears it has a resister in-line, the other two do not.

http://www.aerostich.com/isroot/riderwearhouse/Images/1400li.jpg (http://www.aerostich.com/riderwearhouse.filereader?41c19ad01179bdfa271dd1f0 ec07074b+EN/products/1400)

[Kennedy]

All a hell of a lot cheaper then the Honda ones although the Honda ones do work well. Road yeasterday in 0C / 32F for a few hours and hands were fine.

[Killtimer]

It looks like the 'Stich variety uses a resistor to account for the heat sink produced difference between left/right. The Dual stars use two different element densities to accomplish the same.

Steve

[Mike]

If you are going to use the Dual-Stars there is a mod you can do to help prevent heat sink.

The left resistor wrap has more wiring than the right to compensate for heat sink.The right wraps around the throttle and not in direct contact with the bar.

I have found that the left still runs cooler than the right and in temps below 30 degrees F. it is very noticable especially if you take your hand of the left bar to adjust your shield.

To compensate get a piece of shrink wrap and shrink it to the left bar then wrap the resistor around it and slide on the grip, this works great.

Can't take credit for it though as I read about this on another site.

I opted for Dual-Stars because of price and because I don't have to find a place for that heat sink.

[NewsMag]

I used the ones from Aerostitch on my ST1100. Worked fine, but they draw a lot of power on both Hi and Low settings. The heat sink means the power draw is the same on either setting, and the extra power is just wasted on Low. I believe that these grips were the straw that broke my alternator's back.

I have the Dual Stars on the ST1300, and I find them to be superior in every regard.

[crazykz]

The Honda heated grips have disconnects up by the handlebars so you can remove the handlebars from the risers. Does anyone know if you could replace the Honda grips and plug in a set of the others so you get the control benefit of the Honda grips without the need to haver your grips expoxied to the throttle housing and handlebars?

Curt

[John Mintz]

How about installing the dual star heaters directly over the OEM grips and under aftermaket slip-on foam grips. I'm sure the install over the OEM grips will not be smooth considering the irregularities (dimples) in the OEM grips, but sure would be a simple install compared to pulling the OEM grips off. I've already installed the large throttlemeister which limits alternatives for the Honda heated grips and others. Opinions please.

[Mellow]

Won't look good and doubt it will work. The dual stars are not grips but a paper/metal element meant to be stuck on to the handlebars or throttle sleeves.

Putting that over the oem grips just wouldn't look good at all and probably would tear off after a little wear.

I'm about 99% sure you wouldn't want to do that if you saw the kit in front of you.

[John Anthony]

California Sport Touring (http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16025&Category_Code=st1300_Hand-Cont) also carries what I believe to be the same product under the Symtec brand for a few dollars cheaper ($27), so if you are getting other stuff, might as well throw these in the cart as well.

http://www.casporttouring.com/store/graphics/00000001/dsgripheat.jpg (http://www.casporttouring.com/store/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=16025&Category_Code=st1300_Hand-Cont)
I wired my old lady's VROD up with one of these over the weekend. I used one of the Gerbing controllers to control the heat ($60 or $70, money well spent). Mounting on the VROD was an issue and the Gerbing solution provided variable control along with an on/off light and protection from the elements. I tossed on some foam grips just to top it off right. Total install time - 90 mins. I got a suitable reward for my efforts.

[Don-STOC237]

There's been a discussion on the ST1100 liST about the Symtec grip heaters just this week. It appears the instructions packed with the units are in error and have the Hi wires going to the Lo side of the switch, and vice-versa. :eek: Symtec has admitted the error and will correct the misprint in future edition of the instructions. In the meantime, it would be prudent to check the operation of the heaters before buttoning up the plastic. Fix is to simply switch the wiring on the switch lugs. I'm not sure if it affects the Dual-Stars (Dual-Stars are re-labelled Symtecs) purchased directly from their website (www.dual-star.com). I installed these on my wife's PC800 last week and will be checking them today to see if the instructions were correct or incorrect.

BTW, I love the Dual-Stars.

Don...

[R.Markus]

There's been a discussion on the ST1100 liST about the Symtec grip heaters just this week. It appears the instructions packed with the units are in error and have the Hi wires going to the Lo side of the switch, and vice-versa. :eek: Symtec has admitted the error and will correct the misprint in future edition of the instructions. In the meantime, it would be prudent to check the operation of the heaters before buttoning up the plastic. Fix is to simply switch the wiring on the switch lugs. I'm not sure if it affects the Dual-Stars (Dual-Stars are re-labelled Symtecs) purchased directly from their website (www.dual-star.com). I installed these on my wife's PC800 last week and will be checking them today to see if the instructions were correct or incorrect.

BTW, I love the Dual-Stars.

Don...

I put Dual Star Heated grips on both my ST1300 and my wife's VFR. Both times I noticed that the Hi/Low was backwards. Either I inadvertantly mixed them up myself twice, or the instructions are wrong.

[Redeye]

Just been thinking about the difference in heat between the throttle and clutch sides of the bars with heated grips.

This may sound stupid :confused: but has anyone used an old throttle sleeve and fixed it to the clutch side before fitting the grips? It would then provide insulation and stop the heat draining away into the bars, or am I totally ... :confused:

[dond]

Just been thinking about the difference in heat between the throttle and clutch sides of the bars with heated grips.

This may sound stupid :confused: but has anyone used an old throttle sleeve and fixed it to the clutch side before fitting the grips? It would then provide insulation and stop the heat draining away into the bars, or am I totally ... :confused:
Then you'll need two throttle side grips :wink:

[Redeye]

Then you'll need two throttle side grips :wink:
That shouldn't be a problem so long as you don't try and accelerate with your left hand :p:

[Aulia]

The heaters are tempting this time of year. But getting new grips have never been easy, especially throttle side. Are the heaters thin enough?
I can just see the heater getting bunched up & sliding forward as you push the grip on.

TIA
Aulia (new mexico)

[nurseBob]

The heaters are tempting this time of year. But getting new grips have never been easy, especially throttle side. Are the heaters thin enough?
I can just see the heater getting bunched up & sliding forward as you push the grip on.

TIA
Aulia (new mexico)
I had no problem "floating" the OEM grips over the heaters. I just used a can of compressed nitrogen (Dustoff - for darkroom geeks) to accomplish the task. Getting the grips off was done the same way. No problem. The grip has an adhesive backing that prevents the potential bunching problem. Also, FWIW, I had no need of any additional adhesive/epoxy with the OEM grips - there's absolutely no slippage, friction is hold all in place just fine.

bob

[Horst]

I'm seriously considering doing this ... cheap and it works, right ?

The PNW is one area where heated grips should be standard ... as they are on a certain EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE ! .... :D

As Honda does not have them std, I'll go this route ... all this reading makes me want them even more ... and the sticky side works ... and they won't short right ? ... :)

Nice write-up ... thanks !

:biker:

[nurseBob]

I'm seriously considering doing this ... cheap and it works, right ?

The PNW is one area where heated grips should be standard ... as they are on a certain EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE ! .... :D

As Honda does not have them std, I'll go this route ... all this reading makes me want them even more ... and the sticky side works ... and they won't short right ? ... :)

Nice write-up ... thanks !

:biker:I've had no problems with my Symtecs from CaSportTouring; have ridden in significant rain and they were truly a boon! I realized after seeing Curt's comments about a disconnect that I may need to address that in the future; I'll wait and see if I have to remove the handlebars. I've not experienced any difference in temps between throttle and clutch sides, but I'm not a good judge of that, I tend to not notice such things unless they're extreme.

bob

[jgilmore]

I'm seriously considering doing this ... cheap and it works, right ?

The PNW is one area where heated grips should be standard ... as they are on a certain EUROPEAN MOTORCYCLE ! .... :D

As Honda does not have them std, I'll go this route ... all this reading makes me want them even more ... and the sticky side works ... and they won't short right ? ... :)

Nice write-up ... thanks !

:biker:

Do it, do it, do it. They rock.

-John

[Bora20]

I ordered mine from dualstar this morning.

I got the optional black rocker switch, grip cement, and heat shrink for the left bar.

I think it will be well worth it for $50 CAD. I just have to get a set of BMW throttle grips now.

Anywhere to buy them online? My closest BMW dealer is 4 hours away. Long trip for $20 parts.

[Bora20]

I am going to hook them up through the Quartet harness, using the factory plugs that can be found in another part of the forum.

Should I use the factory fuse sizes or use another size? Dual - Star told me to uprate the circuit I am using by 5A, so wouldn't it make sense to replace the factory fuse, the size that I don't currently know, with a 5A fuse?

[ligito]

Sorry, I just caught up with some posts.

"so wouldn't it make sense to replace the factory fuse, the size that I don't currently know, with a 5A fuse?"

It sounds like they want you to increase the size of the fuse by 5 more amps.

[ST090]

Yes. I put a slip on nylon throttle on the clutch side for the dual stars and use BMW grips --both throttle side grips. Works great and the left side actually gets warmer (hotter) than the right side. I also use a thermostat with the Dual Stars which allows me to turn down the heat with thse grip heaters as they can get very hot over a period of time on high.

[STeve1300]

Sorry, I just caught up with some posts.

"so wouldn't it make sense to replace the factory fuse, the size that I don't currently know, with a 5A fuse?"

It sounds like they want you to increase the size of the fuse by 5 more amps.

I am not an electronics geek, but I do know that fuses protect the wires and wiring up to the fuse point. They are not designed or sized to protect the device. That said, I would never replace a manufacturer sized fuse with a larger one.

[Bora20]

I will be running the grips off of a new circuit, so I don't need to upsize the fuse, which is perfectly safe though.