Ducati Monster Forum

Originally posted on Squidbusters.com. 
Heated grips arent just nice for colder wintery days, they are great on early morning starts before the day heats up or those slightly colder days in Spring and Fall.  They feel pretty nice when it is raining or windy too

My Monster is now the second bike that I have installed the Dual Star Heated Grips  (http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit.htm)on, and for they money they are AWESOME!  My husband had Hot Grips on his previous bike, and he now has Dual Star and likes them much better.

I had bought a mini handlebar mounted switch (http://www.hotgrips.com/product_detail.php?ID=MS&cat=accessories&acc=N&ref=accessories) from HotGrips to use rather than the huge switch that comes with the Dual Star Kit.  (Dont get the handlebar mounted switch - plastic is crap.  Myself and two others bought this handlebar mount and it just shatters.  Pictures are below.  Just get the mini switch if you get anything from Hot Grips.)

Mini Switch (L) vs huge Dual Star switch (R)
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1631.jpg)

Bad plastic
(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1633.jpg)

On the Ducati, deciding where to incorporate a switch was a problem.  There really isn’t much room anywhere on the Monsters.  I thought the handlebar mounted switch was perfect – small and out of the way on the handlebar, you don’t have to drill your bike, and it is already wired up ready to go.  From the picture, you know that didnt work out...

First things first: we took off the seat and bungeed the tank up to the ceiling to get to the battery and I took off the old grips.  Our trick is to stick a skinny screwdriver in the grip, squirt a little WD-40 in there and roll the screwdriver around the bar.  This gets the WD-40 everywhere and unsticks the grip from the bar.  It just slides right off, and they aren’t ruined so you can save them as backups or ebay them.

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1626.jpg)

Ryan started on the wiring and decided to use the tail light as the switched power source for the relay that would power the grips.  We decided to have a relay so that the grips will only be on when the bike ignition switch is engaged.  That would stink if my switch got bumped on and it killed my battery while I was at work.  Another reason to do it this way was is so that the grips won’t be piggy-backed on another circuit in the wiring harness, such as the headlight as recommended by Dual Star.    Using a relay also meant not having to splice into the other circuit wire and would allow the bike to be put back to stock easily. 

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1627.jpg)

Ryan used his birthday present, a Weller Cold Heat soldering iron to solder the power wire (red) to the tail light spade connector/wire.  This put the connection under the removable spade cover making the relay switch wire more stealthy.

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1628.jpg)

While Ryan was prepping more wiring (soldering, extending/trimming wires, putting on heat shrink tubing), I decided to put on the Dual Star heated grips.  They are basically just big stickers.  You just have to remember to clean off all the WD-40 with alcohol before application.  Here is one installed on the clutch side (yum, CRGs).

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1632.jpg)

After putting on both grips and determining how we were going to run the wires to hide them in the Ducati trellis frame and where we were going to ground the grips, we decided to install the switch we removed from its plastic housing - the shattered plastic handlebar mount was thrown in the trash.  Then we started investigating where we could hide the switch.  We tried looking in the clutch side plastic assembly and we found the switch would probably just fit.  Ryan said it was up to me on whether I wanted to drill my bike, especially since we wouldn’t know whether it would truly fit until we had it in there.  I was pissed about the crappy handlebar mount (we spent some time trying to repair it before this point) and I just wanted to be finished, so I gave the go ahead.  What do you know, it fit!!

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1634.jpg)

The rest was just wire cleanup, installing the relay, and putting the clutch side control box back together.  And putting on my new Spider grips.  Aquanet hairspray makes wonderful grip glue.   :biggrin

Relay.

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1635.jpg)

Installed switch.

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/DSCF1636.jpg)

I think it turned out really well, but if you dont want to drill your bike to install the switch, do what my husband ended up doing when he installed the Dual Stars on his bike.  We just got a little metal L bracket, cut it down, painted it a flat black, and attached it to the bike via one of the clutch instrument housing handlebar mounting bolts.  Looks very clean and no drilling.  I wish we had thought of that before we drilled my bike.

(http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b168/mangeldbug/Heated%20Grips/Ryangripmount.jpg)

How come i dont get a hazard light?

That last picture is not a Ducati.  That is my husband's Kawi Z750S

May I recommend that a little silicone sealant be applied to any place where water could penetrate (hole for switch on your bike).

another note about the switches provided by dual-star, they are NOT weatherproof at all...

that's it

great HOW TO.

Q

Awesome write up.

Another tip - placing a piece of heat shrink tubing around the bar on the clutch side before applying the element. This acts as a barrier between the heating element and the bar so both sides heat evenly (the bar doesn't soak up the heat this way). Kyle from BCM Motorsports uses this trick for all of his heated grip installs and my beau can attest to the fact that it truly does work.

lol, thanks for mentioning that qfactor.  I forgot to mention that in my write up.  We actually used silicone sealant AND heat shrink around the switch base and its been great.  I ride in the rain and have never had an issue. 

Never thought of using heat shrink on the bar.  Thats a good idea though.  The clutch side does heat up slower due to the heat sink, but once its all warmed up it doesnt bother me much

Yet another tip: use an air compressor to take the grips off (works to put them on too). Takes about 2 seconds and no mess from WD40 or scratches from screwdriver.

Pressing on a piece of this on left side

(http://www.byggherren.se/images/vp.jpeg)

easily done w a heat gun, makes both sides of handlebar equally thick & warm. It isolates just like the throttle.

Thanks for the instructions and pictures on your install.  I went the Hot Grips route and installed those this weekend and they are nice.  Only thing I did different than you was use a wiretap on the taillight instead of soldering like you did.  Quicker and easy to change if I ever sell the bike. 

Where can one buy this heat tubing offline?  Will a hair dryer work to shrink it?

Also will any mini 3-way toggle from radio shack work? The one that comes with the kit is HUGE.

I'll take a pic-what we did on the wife's monster is remove the gauge cluster from the housing, run the wires up into it, and mounted the switch to the side of the cluster, then reassemble. I found the size switch we had was just too large to fit in one of the existing switches, so this seemed the best compromise. I then ran a bead of epoxy around the outside to keep the elements out.

Here you go:

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/switch01.JPG)

(http://paularickert.net/albums/userpics/switch02.JPG)

Want to install these on my 900ss

Where does one get the shrink tubing in SF for the insulation? Hair dryer will work?

What type of Relay do I need?  Radio Shack? 

Can I use a mini 3-way switch?

What type of extra fuses do I need?

Any hardware store. Hair dryer should work-I just use my zippo, typically.


The kit should come complete, afaik-if you want help, wait until a wrench day-one of us in the bay area can help.

Yep, you can buy the shrink tubing and the black rocker switch with the heated grip kit from Dual Star.
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit.htm (http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Rider/heated_grip_kit.htm)

I don't think it comes with extra fueses and relay...

We mounted the heater switch right on the headlight housing of my B400 as there was literally no other place to put it that would be easy to access while riding.

(http://i173.photobucket.com/albums/w50/Rockhopper15/1991%20Suzuki%20Bandit%20400/P5240084.jpg)

Can someone in SF help me install my heated grips on the weekend?

I have some 360/PS3 games to offer...  ???

I have the dual star heated grips but I want this done right with insulation, relay, fuses, and silicone seal.  I looked over my bikes wires (1999 900ss) and I don't even know where to begin.  I have a drill.

I will need a list of parts to buy, I went into radio shack and was just lost at what relays and fuses.

can anyone help out a retard?

 :-\

Post up a wrench day in the MOB (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=19.0 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?board=19.0)). We haven't had one in a while. We should be able to do it then.

You should also PM somegirl-she had the dual star setup. She had everything all together and just gave me a bag o' parts. I installed it all in an hour or so. I can do it for you, assuming you get everything together.

SweeT! I love the rocker button on the monster. I will have to do this mod.
How did they eliminate the heat sink? Some sort of resistor or elfin magic?
I still have one more set to purchase install on my ST3s. Adding heated grips adds riding days where you would have dread frozen hands.

Along with the heated grips, I also added the Acerbis Dual Road hand guards.

flickr it up if you like...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32154204@N07/sets/72157611227750889/ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32154204@N07/sets/72157611227750889/)

OKay.  I know this is an old thread, but I'll try anyway.

I noticed in this tutorial, the rubber grips put on afterward are different, but there is not mention of which ones were used. I'm assuming after putting on the bar heat shrink on the left and the elements, that the diameter would be too large to reuse the factory grips, so does anyone know which rubber grips I need that still allow the use of bar ends?

Thanks!

At the time of heated grip installation, I also swapped out the factory bar for a 3/4 diameter one with a more wrist-friendly bend.  The Dual-Star grips described in this thread is basically clear stickers with thin wire heating elements.  The amount of width it contributes to the bar is infinitesimal.  You dont need special grips, just get some that you like and will fit the diameter of your bar.  

I didnt reuse the factory grips just because there was glue residue in there that I didnt want to clean out, plus I wasnt all that crazy about the factory grips (I bought "anti-vibe" grips to replace them).  I suppose I could have reused them if I wanted to since I managed to get them off in one piece.

I think if you did a wiring setup of series or parrellel of the 2 grips it would give 2 heat options, normal and half heat

Chewcati, the Dual Star grips come with wiring instructions for "hi" and "low".  Low is pretty much half heat.  The first time we installed these grips on my first bike, we tried to get fancy and wire for "hi" and "HIGH!".  They warn against this because it could melt the throttle but we didnt believe them.  While it didnt melt my throttle, it gets VERY hot.  The stock hi is plenty hot.  ;D

Really like some of the switch placements you guys have done using the left hand switch block  [thumbsup]
and headlight bucket and gauges
this is my low teck solution bit of CF and also hides the void under the clocks
(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff57/ohana181/photo-13.jpg)

Is there any special consideration putting the heat pad on the throttle side? With regards to the fact that the grip needs to twist freely.  Is it just a matter of having enough slack in the wire that it doesn't bind when twisting the throttle? 

Just thought I'd ask before I dive in.

That's basically it right there.  Put the heated sticky on where you want it (I wrap it around so that my fingers will be on the heated element and the gap will be at the palm of my hand) and adjust your wiring length so that it allows for full throttle roll on and it doesn't bind at all.  I have the wire secured to the throttle cable with a zip tie to clean it up, and there is a little slack in wiring when your throttle is closed. The wire loop is pretty much masked by the rubber grip though, once you reinstall that, and isn't noticeable.  
I just used my heated grips this morning....soooo nice  :)  [Dolph]

Installed heat demon grip warmers tonight. Thought I'd post where I ended up mounting my switch since I hadn't seen it before.

(http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x34/jakeketchmark/5D6F8EBE-B7DE-4CC7-9AC8-B1FE84CE4684-3595-00000433C0B76A3E_zps9fdd3c9f.jpg)

Fit perfectly.

I know it's not weather proof but don't regularly ride in the rain when it's cold enough to use them so I'm not worried about it.

^^That is pretty clean^^  I have gone another route.  These grips wire straight to the battery and will turn off when the current drops if you forget to.  They also have built in switches right in the grip and LED indicators.  From the reviews I read the individual switches cure the "left hand cooler" issues most heated grips have. 

I am waiting for them to get here so I can install the new Rizoma bars sitting in my shop.  I will post a full review as soon as I get them on.  By the way these grips sell all over the place for $129.00 to $139.00.  I ordered from these guys as they are on one heck of a sale @ $89.00 including shipping.

http://www.ridersneeds.com/motorcycle/50311/street-bikes/ame/heated-grips#Color%3DBlack%26select-partnumber%3DAGHMCCHB (http://www.ridersneeds.com/motorcycle/50311/street-bikes/ame/heated-grips#Color%3DBlack%26select-partnumber%3DAGHMCCHB)

(http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f149/Skybarney/Ducati/95e1420e9f31240bcde3828c1a742b52_zps3532dbd0.jpg) (http://s46.photobucket.com/user/Skybarney/media/Ducati/95e1420e9f31240bcde3828c1a742b52_zps3532dbd0.jpg.html)