Broken heated grip again

[cr0ft]

Ouch. Yeah, gotta read and re-read to catch the incompatibilities. Me, I'm just annoyed now because every choice I can make comes with some downside now.

Iso-grips with bar-end weight and throttle boss? Exactly what I want - except that custom bar-end weight precludes using the Blizzard wind deflector, plus no heated grip (would have to take a drill/hacksaw to the bars to mount an internal heat demon).

Avon heated grips? Great, except now no bar-end weight at all so more vibration and still no wind deflector.

Stick with the Triumph set? Never know when that's going to fail so live in suspense and be in danger of some mishap when it does.

It can never be easy can it?

 

[ScottishR3T]

I'm hoping the Avon grips will be as sturdy/heavy as the show chrome ones. The a triumph grips weigh next to nothing but have the bar end weight. If the Avon grips themselves have a decent weight I'm hoping they'll have the desired effect. If not I'll have to have a think and sort something.

I hate buzzy bars

 

[Joesmoe]

Update with Avon heated grips.

Technically, Avon doesn't make heated grips, and as stated on their web site,
"Avon Grips has teamed up with Symtec (Heat Demon) to create the best. . .
"

That means a complex integration (how hard can it be ?) that is harder than at least two companies give credit. I put OEM on my Suzuki V-Strom, and they were totally unacceptable, and the dealer recommended Oxford heated grips, and those really worked.

For the Rocket, after reading on this site about the inadequate OEM grips, I specified the Avons. I just put 1,200 miles on the bike this past weekend for my first trip, and it was chilly enough to want to use the heated grips, and alas, they were no better than the Suzuki OEM grips - unacceptable.

I'm now planning to replace the Avons with the Oxford Cruiser Heaterz grips. And curiously, the Oxfords are much less expensive than the others. Go figure.

 

[cr0ft]

The OEM ones heat up pretty nicely, but it's nerve-wracking to use them because who wants to get stuck by the side of the road changing the grip? And just the fact that I feel it's necessary to carry the original one in a pannier at all times is annoying.

Oh well, I bought some Gerbing heated gloves as well a while back and those do an outstanding job. Hassle with the wires, but I'm thinking about going without heat at all in the grips.

 

[ScottishR3T]

Update with Avon heated grips.

Technically, Avon doesn't make heated grips, and as stated on their web site,
"Avon Grips has teamed up with Symtec (Heat Demon) to create the best. .

That means a complex integration (how hard can it be ?) that is harder than at least two companies give credit. I put OEM on my Suzuki V-Strom, and they were totally unacceptable, and the dealer recommended Oxford heated grips, and those really worked.

For the Rocket, after reading on this site about the inadequate OEM grips, I specified the Avons. I just put 1,200 miles on the bike this past weekend for my first trip, and it was chilly enough to want to use the heated grips, and alas, they were no better than the Suzuki OEM grips - unacceptable.

I'm now planning to replace the Avons with the Oxford Cruiser Heaterz grips. And curiously, the Oxfords are much less expensive than the others. Go figure.

I had my first decent run out with the Avon grips today. I was chuffed with them tbh. They take longer to heat up than the T ones but they get hotter and look 10 times better. The integrated switch is a great bit of design.

On the flip side installation is a faff. I decided to take a chance and do with out the bar end weights. I have the throttle boss on the right so wanted to leave the Avon end caps in place. This involved cutting a section off the end of the bars as the throttle assembly at the bar has a notch it fits into. Section cut off of left side to maintain equilibrium. Then ground to smooth out the cut.

I also had to take the dremel to the throttle assembly on the bar where the two half's form a circle around the throttle. The Avon throttle is slightly fatter in diameter where it enters the assembly and it was binding. Put a good dolop of grease between the bar and throttle and combined with my dremel work it has made the throttle feel considerably lighter than stock. Makes me wonder if there was a slight bind with the stock throttle too.

In summary I am very happy with the Avon heated grips and would recommend anyone wishing to change from the Triumph time bomb set

 

[ScottishR3T]

Further to my last post, I have no noticeable increase in bar vibration sans end weights

 

[cr0ft]

The integrated Heat Demon switch alone is certainly an upgrade... the OEM heated grips come with a giant ugly-ass box on the handlebars, looks hideous. I want that bar-end though... can you retain the bar-end weight with the Avons?

 

[ScottishR3T]

Yeah you could but not if you want the throttle assist as it's fixed utilising the Avon end cap. If you unscrew the end cap then you certainly could keep the end weights.

I've certainly felt no difference in bar vibes since I removed the weights though. I like the look of the bars without them, much neater. The Avon grips are shorter than the OEM ones, I prefer the look.

Getting rid of that ugly box from the bars doesn't do any harm either! The Avon controller is made of alloy, feels well made and works well. If you hold the button down it even dims the LED's for night time so it doesn't distract. Well thought out product imo

 

[cr0ft]

Yep, the Heat Demon product they've integrated is pretty well tested I guess. I'm using a Throttle Rocker that's essentially a clip on throttle boss so I would rather have the bar-end weight. Oh well, all I can do is start buying stuff and seeing how it goes on during the off season.

 

[Joesmoe]

Got my bike back today with the Oxford Cruz grips replacing the Avons. Yes, the Oxford has a hideous box controller on the handle bar, and yes I prefer the integrated design of the Avons, and their look. Alas, the job was botched by the dealer, and I took the bike and manual to my trusted Honda dealer who did the work for me. The Oxford grips are warm enough, and that's all I ask. Also, in installing the Oxfords, I took advantage of populating a circuit on the Eastern Beaver auxiliary fuse box.