factory heated grips now available!

[Slim]

on the motorrad website, if you go build a bike, theres heated grips as an option. anyone know if these will be able to be fitted to an 2010/11 model? i would imagine so, but you never know. haha

http://www.bmw-motorrad.ca/buildandb...p_2.php?step=1

i called my dealer, he had no parts listed for factory heated grips. i had him look at the website and he said he would have to call bmw and call me back. i hope they arent just fitting aftermarket ones. that would make no sense as they already have them on other bikes.

[BCMC]

that only for the 2012 model unfortunately

[Slim]

unless they completely redesigned the switch gear, i would imagine we could use it too!

[markjenn]

I'm doubt fitting the 2012 grips to an earlier bike will be a simple bolt up, but I'm sure it can be done. Probably very expensive though and mods may be significant.

I hope BMW does a well-sorted, reasonable-cost retrofit kit to the earlier bikes, but I'm not holding my breath. BMW doesn't want you to update your old bike - they want you to buy a new one. In this segment, its all about planned obsolescence.

Symtec grip heaters can be added for about $35 and work well.

- Mark

[H-2 CHARLIE]

good call MARK .. i have seen $19-50 ones on ebay and if you must enjoy the cold, wet, slick ride get a heated vest for sure .

[Slim]

i have grips installed already, i went for the oxfords, but man they are ugly. i would much rather factory looking ones!

[viperclaw]

Doubt that it will be retrofittable to older bikes--inexpensively that is. On other model bikes that don't come with the heated grips installed from the factory--BMWs of course--it is fairly easy to retrofit. The terminal connector for the heated grip element is already on the bike and hidden in the left and right combination switchgear housings. You simply remove the old grips and plug in the new ones--with a new switchgear that has a button to activate the heated grips. They have to be "retrofitted" with the shop computer as well otherwise they won't work.

$250 is cheap compared to getting them installed after the fact. You have to buy the heated grips, a switch housing, and have them programmed. Even if you installed them yourself and had the shop program them in it would be more than the $250.

I installed some grips on my bike. K1200GT heated grips, a switch from an F650GS (single), a male and female BMW connector that will plug into the laptimer power plug (and still allow the use of that plug as I wired in a male and female), and a few connectors and some wire. They've worked great for a year and a half. No blown fuses or such.

The 2012 will have a different wire harness (a guess but fairly certain) that has the connectors for the grips in the switch housings like the other BMW models. The switch gear is pretty much the same as on other newer BMWs except the buttons may be labeled differently. The 2012s also have a different instrument cluster so that is probably what will "control" the grips.

So in conclusion: They won't be retrofitable--at a reasonable cost at least.

You can get them done to a fairly "stock" look. There is a parts list on the forum somewhere for the BMW grip install. Find a competent shop and they can do it for you. The hardest part is getting the switch installed and looking decent. I will snap some pics and post them up.

[metalhead]

Who needs heated grips on a sportbike?

[Slim]

yeah i read that thread, it wasnt worth the time or money, haha. it just re sparked my hope for factory heated grips.

[viperclaw]

Originally Posted by metalhead

Who needs heated grips on a sportbike?

It is not really a "need", it is more of a "nice to have" on a cold morning or evening. Warm hands fatigue less than cold ones. Don't knock it till you try it. To each his own and all that.