Mon, 12 Oct 1998 09:58:30 +0100 - Message No. 4240
From: clonghur@es.com

Subject: Heated grips


I've had a motorcycling revelation this weekend. I finally got around to
fitting heated grips to my RD04 AT. They're some Japanese brand I was
recommended by my dealer and they're excellent. If you've ever wondered
about these things and decided not to fit them, change your mind and get
some!
The instructions recommended wiring the grips into the headlight
circuit, but I decided that wasn't wise because the extra current load
on the wires and fuses might have caused problems. Instead, I calculated
the maximum current the grips would take (4.8Amps) and then bought some
8amp cable, an in-line fuse holder and some 5amp fuses. I've glued the
fuseholder to the top of the battery and run a small wire from the
positive (+) terminal to one side. From the other side, I've paired the
wire up with the wire coming from the negative (-) terminal and wound
them together with black tape giving me a single cable. I ran this up
under the fuel tank and out over the radiator, around the outside of the
right fork and through one of the wire-guides on the head. I then wired
this into the power supply cables for the grips and mounted the heat
control on the left handlebar.
To get the old grips off, I used a big knife. I fitted the new grips by
spraying hairspray on the handlebars and sliding the new grips into
position (hairspray is a great invention - it's like teflon when it's
wet, but like glue when it's dry!). I cut the end off the right grip to
fit the bar end weight again and that was that.
I rode for the first time with them this morning. It wasn't really cold
- 10 degrees C - but they still made a heck of a difference. The "Boost"
setting warms the grips up in about a minute and then you turn the
setting down to "On" whilst riding. My hands actually got so hot I had
to turn them off again after about 40km!
If you ride your AT in the winter and don't already have some heated
grips - get some! You'll be a converted rider!


"Aaalrighty then" - Ace Ventura.

Chris Longhurst, Flight Simulator Graphics Modeller.
http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/2195/
Work:clonghur@es.com
Home:chrisl@audicoupe.demon.co.uk
ICQ Chat ID: 17057116






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