GS heated grip replacement
Title: GS heated grip replacement
Sourced From: advwisdom.com/a/gs-heated-grip-replacement/
Published Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2020 19:34:31 +0000
After 92k miles, the rubber grips on my 2002 GS Adv are looking pretty worn…
…so, inspired by Steve Currell, from GSClubUK, I decided to swap the rubbers, whilst leaving the heating elements in place. Unlike Steve, who replaced his grips with bright yellow ones 
�€“ I decided to follow the more traditional route of sourcing some standard black replacements.
I bought the grips, made by Ariete, from Motorworks, where Kevin told me that, to fit these (pattern) grips, I’d need to buy 2 pairs and use the throttle sized grip on each side, to allow for the extra diameter of the heating element.
The two pairs of grips came to a total of just over �20.
So, equipped with Allen keys, replacement grips and hair-spray (Tesco’s value range – 37p), I set about the task…
I first undid the countersunk Allen headed bolt at the end of the handlebar…
…then removed it, and the chamfered washer that it fits in…
…I then pulled the handguard out and forward before removing the bar end weight…
I have a throttle lock (from Bob�€
s BMW in Maryland), but I understand lesser mortals have standard BMW weights…
Having done this on both sides, I turned my attention to the left grip. I carefully peeled back the rubber from the switchgear (inboard) end. The grips seem to be glued at both ends, so you have to slowly and carefully let the tension you are putting the rubber under to break the seal of the adhesive…
Once the circumference of the inboard end of the grip had come away, I started to gently roll the grip back, like taking a, erm, sock off. Yes, that’s right – a sock…
As you can imagine, this gets progressively more difficult the further you go. I eventually managed to get the grip almost all the way off – only to find that the ring of adhesive on the outboard end was more difficult to shift. Indeed, the resin like coating covering the heating element wire had torn slightly as a result of my efforts…
To make life easier I decided to cut most of the rubber off with a craft knife…
…before rolling the remainder back on…
…in order to try and peel it back from the outboard end.
It didn’t want to cooperate, though. So I peeled off the remainder and pulled it off, leaving several bits of rubber still attached. I carefully trimmed these down with a craft knife and checked, by offering up the replacement grip, that they would not obstruct fitting the new grip.
I turned my attention to the right hand grip and, after loosening the inboard glue, tried rolling back the outboard side. For some reason, the glue on the right hand grip was stuck much faster. After a little effort, I was able to start rolling it off the heating element…
…but I decided to give myself a bit of assistance by cutting the rubber as I rolled it off. I was very careful to only cut the rubber that was folded double – I didn’t want to damage the wires in the heater…
Soon I had the right hand grip off too – it took some of the brown resin cover with it – but I decided not to worry about that, as the grip was going to protect the wires from water ingress etc anyway.
Time to fit the new grips. The secret weapon here (thanks Steve 
) is hairspray. It acts as an excellent lubricant, and a pretty good fast-drying adhesive. I sprayed the inside of the grip liberally (at 37p per can, I was willing to go a little crazy)…
…then, covering the tank, sprayed the grip heater�€�
…before sliding the new rubber on.
The hairspray ‘went off’ in about 4 minutes, leaving both grips stuck fast. I did a quick function check, which proved both heated grips were working fine, then replaced the bar end weights…
…and fitted & tightened the countersunk bolts through their washers…
…before declaring the job done.
