Grip Heater Repairable?

HampshireBiker

HampshireBiker

Jim
Site Supporter
Joined
May 31, 2017
Messages
18
Age
46
Location
Aldershot, UK
Bike
ST1300A (2009)
When I went to collect my newly-purchased bike from the dealer in December, they had installed a new grip heater/controller (red arrow) to replace the original HondaLine controller (yellow arrow) which had apparently failed. Not an issue in itself. I mean, having never had heated grips on any other bike, I never got to find out how great they are until now.

But as most of my riding so far has been done at night, I've found the new controller to be annoying, with its bright red LED's shining right up at my face. Even if they weren't directed upwards, they're easily much brighter than any other indicator light on the dash. Yes, I could potentially bend the bracket to redirect the light, but I don't actually like the new controller being mounted where it is anyway.

The original HondaLine controller is still present, albeit with loose cable tails hanging down inside the fairing. But it got me wondering if anyone has attempted to repair/successfully repaired these controllers? I'd like to still use it if it's an easy fix. Especially since I can't currently think of any other way to cover the hole that will be left behind if I remove it.

Any ideas/thoughts?

Screenshot 2026-02-05 021856.jpg
 
I think you'd have to remove the OEM unit and get it open to see what if anything inside may look suspect. Does it power on? Does it respond at all to pressed buttons? My guess is there is a MOSFET inside that controls the high-amp load of the heaters. Considering the heat the 1300s generate, that location may not be the greatest for it and could have fried a component or caused a solder joint to break, or both.
 
Some good considerations there. The unit did power on at the time I went to test ride the bike, and the buttons did work, as did the LED display. The grips just wouldn't heat up. I'm more than happy to take the unit apart if necessary, but would prefer to have some idea of what I'm looking for before I delve into it. I was hoping someone may have documented a stripdown/repair of one of these units lol
 
I know it's not the crux of your question but what about in the meantime covering the LEDs with something so they're not so bright at night so you can enjoy the ride?

And I would bet that with pictures of the factory unit once you get a look at it, someone here would be able to help get it connected to the grips and working again. It sounds to me like it was functional, maybe just not wired right and something came loose on the way to the grips?
 
Gus1300 said:
you get a look at it, someone here would be able to help get it connected to the grips and working again. It sounds to me like it was functional, maybe just not wired right and something came loose on the way to the grips?
Click to expand...
Possibly. If you can gain access to the connector going to the grips, you can test for voltage from the controller and continuity of the grips to ground. No voltage means it's the controller. No continuity means it's the grips or ground conx, though it depends if they are powered in series or on separate circuits. In series, a break would make both not heat. For separate circuits, a break would only affect one grip.
 
Those units did have a habit of failing - personal experience of two. The ‘manual’ warned against probing with an ohmeter.
But they were good - and cut out if they were drawing more power than the alternator could supply with a yellow flashing led to inform you.

If this is an issue from the previous owner, it might be a bad connection. The Honda connectors are a VERY tight fit and they need a firm push - no, much harder than that - and they click into place very positively. You cannot tell whether they are connected through the translucent soft insulation. So my suggestion is that it is possible that whoever fitted them didn't push them hard enough.

They take a great deal of effort to separate - if they come apart with only a bit of effort, they were not connected properly. There is two such joints - bullet conenctors in plastic waterproof seals - between the two bars - around the steering head - find that and make sure that it is connected. There’s a chance that they were not properly pushed together and they worked for a while but the metal bullet connector halves drifted apart inside the shroud. (You'll see what I mean when you find the connectors).

Since the Honda grips are wired in series rather than in parallel - ie the power goes into one, then out to the other, them back to the controller - if that joint is faulty, neither grip heats up and the symptoms will show as a dodgy controller.
 
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HampshireBiker said:
When I went to collect my newly-purchased bike from the dealer in December, they had installed a new grip heater/controller (red arrow) to replace the original HondaLine controller (yellow arrow) which had apparently failed. Not an issue in itself. I mean, having never had heated grips on any other bike, I never got to find out how great they are until now.

But as most of my riding so far has been done at night, I've found the new controller to be annoying, with its bright red LED's shining right up at my face. Even if they weren't directed upwards, they're easily much brighter than any other indicator light on the dash. Yes, I could potentially bend the bracket to redirect the light, but I don't actually like the new controller being mounted where it is anyway.

The original HondaLine controller is still present, albeit with loose cable tails hanging down inside the fairing. But it got me wondering if anyone has attempted to repair/successfully repaired these controllers? I'd like to still use it if it's an easy fix. Especially since I can't currently think of any other way to cover the hole that will be left behind if I remove it.

Any ideas/thoughts?

Screenshot 2026-02-05 021856.jpg
Click to expand...
I have a brand-new, unused Honda heated grips controller if you discover the original unit has failed. PM me if you're interested.
 
They may have replaced the grips along with the new controller. It could have been the old controller failed, or the old grips had an issue and an aftermarket was the cheaper fix. Leaving the old controller in prevented a hole in the plastics to try and fill. If the old Honda controller is OK, or could be fixed, it still may not work properly if they are not the OEM heated grips.

You could colour the LED to dim it down, but that still wouldn't help with your not liking the location.
 
Thanks for all the replies and advice so far, guys. The weather here in the UK is pretty atrocious at the moment, so I'll start poking about with a multimeter tomorrow night when the bike will be parked underground at work. I really wish I had a garage!

I had thought about covering the LEDs on the new controller. I've used a permanent marker pen for this purpose on a dashcam in the past. It significantly reduced the intensity without blocking the light completely.

@J.Murphy - Thank you, I'll PM you.
 
Worst case, I make the filler caps for the 1100 carb access holes. And I've made custom fillers. With a few caliper dimensions I could make a cap to fit where the old controller is.
 
jdmccright said:
Worst case, I make the filler caps for the 1100 carb access holes. And I've made custom fillers. With a few caliper dimensions I could make a cap to fit where the old controller is.
Click to expand...
Thank you. If all else fails, and I can provide the necessary measurements, do you think you might be able to come up with a filler/adapter plate which would incorporate the new controller? Just a thought at the moment, seeing as the new controller is smaller. It could make for a tidy finish. :unsure:
 
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