Heated grips

Charlotte · Jul 14, 2025

Hi everyone
I was wondering if anyone had installed heated grips on their 961. Preferably with conventional handlebars?
The 2 manufacturers I’ve seen supply their own grips and there are a few manufacturers that provide a heating element and you use your own grips. I would like to use my grips as I have recently changed them. I’m wondering how difficult it would be to slide your on grips over a heating element? I have replaced grips on a BMW with factory heated grips and there was no drama so maybe its not a big deal?
Any reviews or thoughts on the install would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Shayne

robs ss · Jul 14, 2025

Charlotte said:
Hi everyone
I was wondering if anyone had installed heated grips on their 961. Preferably with conventional handlebars?
The 2 manufacturers I’ve seen supply their own grips and there are a few manufacturers that provide a heating element and you use your own grips. I would like to use my grips as I have recently changed them. I’m wondering how difficult it would be to slide your on grips over a heating element? I have replaced grips on a BMW with factory heated grips and there was no drama so maybe its not a big deal?
Any reviews or thoughts on the install would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Shayne

Isn't it mid-Summer there?

MAK · Jul 15, 2025

Charlotte said:
Hi everyone
I was wondering if anyone had installed heated grips on their 961. Preferably with conventional handlebars?
The 2 manufacturers I’ve seen supply their own grips and there are a few manufacturers that provide a heating element and you use your own grips. I would like to use my grips as I have recently changed them. I’m wondering how difficult it would be to slide your on grips over a heating element? I have replaced grips on a BMW with factory heated grips and there was no drama so maybe its not a big deal?
Any reviews or thoughts on the install would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Shayne

Why not try heated gloves,fly lead off the battery through a controller.
Much better than grips.

Elfix · Jul 15, 2025

I have been using the Symtec Heat Demon grip heaters and have installed them on many bikes. These are intended to go under your stock grips but I do have some “tuning” suggestions.

I find they work best on steel handlebars- aluminum bars will wick away heat and even with the difference in the heat elements between the throttle and clutch sides you sometimes end up with a super hot throttle grip and a tepid clutch grip. Symtec now includes a large bit of shrink tubing to put between the element and bar on the clutch side, and I find this works very well on steel bars but aluminum bars can still be uneven.

A fix for this is to insulate the heater from the bar by adding another layer or two of shrink tubing before installing the heater. This makes the diameter of the bar larger and you may find it necessary to purchase another set of grips and use the throttle grip on the clutch side.

….which will yield strong and even heat but leave you with a pair of clutch side grips. I’ve put those on bicycles and ATVs that do not have a twist grip…

Last, your selection of grip has a big influence too. The thinner the grip, the more effective the heaters will be. Pillow top grips are awful at heat conduction, for example, but thin racing grips from Renthall work great- and are stretchy enough to handle the small increased diameter of the heaters.

Elfix · Jul 15, 2025

I’m abnormally fussy about grips and gloves, preferring thin palmed uninsulated gloves and smaller diameter tacky grips. The Symtec heaters allow me to keep the grips and gloves I like and still ride comfortably in colder weather.

I’ve installed them on my G15, offsetting their power draw with an LED headlamp and tail light, as well as a higher output stator.

Hiding the switch and wiring was the largest challenge

peebee · Jul 15, 2025

Charlotte said:
Hi everyone
I was wondering if anyone had installed heated grips on their 961. Preferably with conventional handlebars?
The 2 manufacturers I’ve seen supply their own grips and there are a few manufacturers that provide a heating element and you use your own grips. I would like to use my grips as I have recently changed them. I’m wondering how difficult it would be to slide your on grips over a heating element? I have replaced grips on a BMW with factory heated grips and there was no drama so maybe its not a big deal?
Any reviews or thoughts on the install would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!
Search 'heated grips' in the search bar. or look for 'One way to keep warm on the 961'

peebee · Jul 16, 2025

Search 'heated grips' in the search bar. or look for 'One way to keep warm on the 961'

Deets55 · Jul 17, 2025

I have a set of those Koso grip on my '78 Gold Wing. They work very well. I think they were a little loose on the throttle tube so I had to wrap it with that self sealing black tape, one thin, tightly wrapped coat did the trick.

Charlotte · Jul 23, 2025

Thanks everyone for the info….
1) Yes.. it is warm weather ridding here now. But of course spring and fall can get brisk in the mornings.
2) I have treated the gerbing (?) heated gear. I found all the wiring doable but cumbersome. So would prefer to have it hard wired to the bike.
3) I will take a look at the Symtec units..
Thanks again!!!

Clive · Jul 23, 2025

Bought some standard Oxford ones a while back and they did not fit so do check sizing.....

Heated grips

Charlotte

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