| Author | Message | ||
     Xgecko |
Has anyone installed heated grips on a Blast? It's getting cold here in new england and I've been thinking about adding them but I'm unsure if the Blast's power system can deal with the 40w-60w (depending on brand) start up spike/drain. I know it can deal with the maintaining draw of 12w-20w. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
It handles my electric vest (45w / 3.3 amps per aerostichs website) just fine. I'm also running dual halogen H4 55W headlights. My battery is also on its last legs so I dont turn it on until after I've started the bike. But with a good battery its no problem (to leave it on while starting). | ||
| Xgecko |
hummmm thanks that's good to know, did you wire it directly to the battery of did you tap off someplace? Now I gotta decide on what heated grips I want. Do I go with one of the integral heated grip sets or should I install the heaters under my existing grips? I've been leaning towards the integral units but....I thought about a yes but frankly I have plenty of winter gear for my body but my poor fingers they are unhappy and it was only 26 degrees this morning. Not interested in wearing mittens until its really really cold as i don't like the lake of control. | ||
| Mabueller |
Perhaps the Uly hand guards to block the wind? No electricity needed. I bought some from Dave and am waiting for new handlebars to come in from Chaparral before installing them. | ||
| Wsplrll |
I have Oxford grips that wrap with velcro. Connect to the battery. Get very warm - actually got a blister last winter. They are the easiest IMO. Used 'em on the Blast and the CityX, - handguards don't make that much difference. | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Wired directly to the battery with a fused link. "it was only 26 degrees this morning. Not interested in wearing mittens until its really really cold as I don't like the lack of control." Whats 'really, really cold' then? I guess you do need heated grips!!! | ||
| Xgecko |
well I ordered a set of heated grips from Aerostitch...I am thinking of wiring a relay into the headlight or the ignition so I don't leave them on and drain my battery (or melt my grips). Now I just have to find and 3-4amp relay, that's waterproof, and figure out where to mount the switch. BTW 20's is normal here in the winter...it's the low teens and single digits that scares me. | ||
| Wsplrll |
Now I just have to find and 3-4amp relay, that's waterproof..... when you do post the details ! | ||
| Buellistic |
BLASTers: Every time you add a 3-4Amp Relay into the Elictrical System it is just another load in the System ... Hard wire in with a Fuse and a ON/OFF Toggle Switch is the way to go so that when you turn off the IGNITION EVERYTHING IS OFF NO MATTER WHAT THE POSITION OF THE SWITCH OR SWITCHES ARE IN !!! In BLASTing LaFayette | ||
| Xgecko |
OK then where would you wire in? I was just planing on using the relay to switch on power from the battery but if you think that wiring into the fuse block would be better speak up. How would you do it? | ||
| Buellistic |
Xgecko: The word here is : "IMPROVISE" Off the fuse block, feed off a vacant position or the feed side of another fuse ... In BLASTing LaFayette | ||
| Gearheaderiko |
Xgecko: What about heated gloves instead of the heated grips? Then you can use them on another bike. | ||
| Xgecko |
not really interested in heated gloves...tooo bulky. My goal is to be able to wear just a pair of Elkskin gloves, my dad rides his BMW in the much the same weather with these. Besides I have the grip heaters on the way from Aerostitch...on a seperate note anyone know the page number in the Blast manual of the complete wiring diagram? I can't seem to find it. | ||
| Ezblast |
Physically its in the back of the book and electronically - Appendex B Contains them. GT - JBOTDS! EZ  | ||
| Buellistic |
Xgecko: It is page 7-77 in my 2000 BLAST Factory Service Manual ... The grip heaters from Aerostich should have a wiring diagram universial hook up ... IMHO the pick up should be off the hot side of a fuse that is hot only when the ignition is on ... Like "i" said before, hot side of ignition controled fuse position, grip heater fuse, on/off toggle switch to heated grips ... In BLASTing LaFayette | ||
| Mabueller |
All this talk of heated grips has caused me to put off today's installation. Planned in-between today's HS game (We won 33-6 Yea!) and dinner at 6:00PM I was going to install new Daytona handlebars, new Uly hand guards, new Traction grips, and a battery charging system. I installed the oversized Viper Strykes last week which I really am enjoying. Very stable with a more "secure" feeling when tipping into a corner. I wish everyone a safe Thanksgiving and I hope your team won! | ||
| Xgecko |
ho ho ho Mabueller...The Stitch grips heaters I have on the way work great on the bikes I've riden with them and they are easy to install once you figure out where/how to wire them... thanks for the page number but sadly I'm working off the PDF and it stopps at 7-71...really need to find my manual..sigh more boxes to unpack (Message edited by xgecko on November 24, 2006) | ||
| Xgecko |
OK so I installed the grip heaters today and tried them out a bit while making sure I got everything else right. Wow...nice and warm. As for the howz well I spent a few hours digging through the wiring diagrams (in the appendixes duh) and then taking readings on all the circuits of the Blast. What I really didn't want to do was rewire the fuse block, so I ended up wiring the grip heaters to the high beam circuit. I chose to do this for a couple of reasons, 1) Short of running a new circuit at the fuse block the headlight is the only circuit that can handle the load 2) I rarely ride at night and 3) I almost always ride with my high beams on regardless of day or night (just tilt if need be) Installation was fairly straight forward I drilled a whole in my aluminium dash rather close to the trip meter reset button. The switch mounts horizontal here perfectly. I mounted the throttle side heater pad fairly easily and used my air hose to reinstall the grip (the best way INHO). For the clutch side I used a piece of large heat shrink to cover/insulate the handlebar before mounting the heater pad. This will stop the pad from pumping all the heat into handlebars. I zip tied the resistor to the headlight bracket on the left side. The wiring was easy though time consuming to do it right, though to be honest there were a number wiring "fixxes" I needed to do, especially turn signals as I've been using crimp connectors for years and those have to go. So all wires got soldered and heat shrink cleaning up the mess I have made of the wiring system over the years. I also took this opportunaty to replace the mirrors I damaged when I dropped my Blast in the rain, with a set of Buell Logo mirrors from Ebay. So now I'm ready for the winter and I'm looking better than I have in years. | ||
| Mabueller |
Sounds like a real nice job Xgecko. Heat shrink the clutch side ... hmm. The details one can pickup from reading the posts. | ||
| Xgecko |
We have heat shrink at work to cover large cables...The stuff I used was a tight fit on a 7/8" bars, I used a bit of dish soap but would recommend hairspray if you had it. I did a bunch of research for the installation some of the best info coming from adventure riding sites and guys who work on KLR's most say to find a way to wrap the clutch side. The Idea to use heat shrink though came from a VFR guy in my building at work...I should have a good test tomorrow AM. My dad and I are gonna ride a hundred miles or so in 20-30 degree weather before he drops his Dakar at the dealer for its 600mile checkup. my only issue in the cold has been my hands so I should be golden. | ||
| Luckyduck |
I just put on a set of heated grips (from DualStar.com) and the way I wired them was hooked into the 7.5Amp accessories circuit that runs up to the headlight connector and doesn't go on (the orange and white wire). The kit I used has a clamp onto the wire through the sheath type connector. The only other thing on that circuit is the tail light. I wrapped the clutch handle with 3 layers of electrical tape. The grips are lovely as the warmest it has ever been since I got my blast was 48. The coldest I have ridden it in so far is 9F. It took a long time to warm up. I need better gloves since my thumbs still get so cold I have to warm up to get the dexterity to get my helmet unstrapped. Paul |
