How to Install Heated Grips on Your Motorcycle: A DIY Guide to Warm Hands and Comfortable Rides

For many motorcyclists, the joy of riding extends beyond the warm summer months. Crisp autumn mornings, chilly spring evenings, and even mild winter days can offer some of the most exhilarating experiences on two wheels. However, cold hands can quickly turn these rides into a miserable ordeal, compromising comfort, dexterity, and ultimately, safety. This is where heated motorcycle grips become an absolute game-changer. By providing consistent, adjustable warmth directly to your hands, they transform cold-weather riding from a challenge into a pleasure.

While the idea of installing electrical accessories on your motorcycle might seem intimidating, fitting heated grips is a surprisingly straightforward DIY task that most riders can accomplish at home with basic tools. This comprehensive, step-by-step guide will demystify the process, from testing your new grips to wiring them correctly and securing them in place. By the end, you’ll feel confident in tackling this essential upgrade, ensuring your hands stay warm and your rides remain enjoyable, no matter the temperature.

Why Heated Grips Are a Must-Have for Cold Weather Riding

Heated grips offer more than just a luxury; they provide significant benefits for any rider venturing out in cooler temperatures:

Enhanced Comfort: The most obvious benefit. Warm hands prevent the painful numbness and stiffness that cold can induce, making long rides far more enjoyable.
Improved Dexterity and Control: Cold fingers lose their sensitivity and ability to move precisely. Heated grips keep your hands nimble, allowing for accurate control of the clutch, brake, and throttle, which is crucial for safe riding.
Reduced Rider Fatigue: Fighting the cold is tiring. By keeping your hands warm, heated grips reduce overall body fatigue, allowing you to concentrate better on the road and ride for longer periods.
Safety: Maintaining full control over your motorcycle’s levers and throttle is paramount. Heated grips ensure your hands are always ready to react quickly and effectively to any situation.
Versatility: With adjustable heat settings, you can tailor the warmth to suit varying temperatures, making your bike comfortable across a wider range of weather conditions.

Tools and Materials You’ll Need

Before you begin the installation, gather all the necessary tools and new components. Having everything ready will make the job smoother and more efficient.

New Heated Grips Kit: Ensure you have a complete kit that includes the grips, wiring harness, and controller.
Screwdrivers (Flathead and Phillips): For removing bar ends, loosening clamps, and potentially prying off old grips.
Hex Keys (Allen Wrenches): If your bar ends or controls are secured with hex bolts.
Wire Strippers/Crimpers: For making electrical connections.
Multimeter (Recommended): For testing your power source to ensure it’s only powered when the bike is on.¹
Electrical Tape: For insulating connections and tidying wires.
Zip Ties: For securing new wiring neatly along existing pathways.¹
Utility Knife or Shears: For carefully cutting off old grips if they are stubborn.¹
Sandpaper (Fine-grit): For smoothing out any rough edges on the throttle tube after trimming (if necessary).¹
Grip Glue (Motorcycle-specific): Essential for securely attaching the new grips.
Clean Rags: For cleaning handlebars and wiping up any residue.
Gloves and Safety Glasses: For protection during the process.
Motorcycle Stand (Optional): A rear stand or center stand can stabilize the bike and make access easier.

Step-by-Step Guide: Installing Heated Grips on Your Motorcycle

This guide provides a general procedure. Always consult the specific instructions included with your heated grips kit and your motorcycle’s service manual for model-specific details, wiring diagrams, and torque specifications.

Step 1: Test Your New Heated Grips

Before you start disassembling your bike, it’s a good idea to test your new grips to ensure they are not faulty.²

Connect to Battery: Temporarily connect the ring terminals of the heated grips’ wiring harness directly to your motorcycle’s battery (red to positive, black to negative).
Connect Grips and Controller: Attach the new grips to any connector blocks on the harness, and connect the temperature controller as well.
Power On: Turn the controller on and ensure the grips begin to warm up. If they don’t, check all wiring connections. If they still don’t work, the grips might be faulty and should be returned.²
Disconnect: Once tested, disconnect the grips from the battery.

Step 2: Remove Existing Handgrips

This step involves carefully removing your old grips from the handlebars.

Remove Bar Ends/Handguards: If your motorcycle has bar ends or handguards, remove them first. These are usually secured with a screw or bolt at the end of the handlebar.²
Remove Existing Rubber Grips:
- Glued Grips: Most rubber grips are glued onto the handlebars. You’ll need to break this seal. Try sliding a flathead screwdriver or a thin, blunt implement between the rubber grip and the metal handlebar. Twist it around to break the glue’s seal.² You can also try using compressed air to get under the grip and break the seal, which can make them slide off easily.¹
- Stubborn Grips: If the grips are particularly stubborn and you’re replacing them anyway, you can carefully use shears or a utility knife to cut them off. Be extremely cautious not to scratch the handlebar or throttle tube underneath.²
- Throttle Side: The throttle side grip is usually on a plastic throttle tube. Be extra careful not to damage this tube.
Clean Handlebars: Once the old grips are removed, thoroughly clean any remaining glue residue from both the metal handlebar (clutch side) and the plastic throttle tube (throttle side). Use a clean rag and a suitable adhesive remover if necessary. The surface must be clean for the new glue to adhere properly.²

Step 3: Prepare the Throttle Side Grip (If Necessary)

Some throttle tubes have a raised lip or flange at the end that can prevent the new heated grip from sliding on fully.

Test Fit: Test fit the new heated grip onto the throttle tube. Don’t push too hard yet.
Trim Lip: If a plastic lip prevents the grip from sliding on completely, you may need to snip it off using dykes or a sharp knife. Wear eye protection when cutting plastic bits.¹
Smooth Edges: After trimming, use sandpaper to smooth out any rough edges on the throttle tube to ensure a clean fit and prevent damage to the new grip.¹

Step 4: Find a Switched Power Source for Wiring

This is a critical electrical step. You want your heated grips to turn off with the ignition to prevent draining your battery.

Locate Accessory Power: You need to find a “switched” power source that only comes on when the bike’s ignition is on (or the engine is running). This is often referred to as “accessory power.” Your motorcycle’s service manual might indicate an accessory power lead or a spare connector behind the radiator or near the battery.¹
Test with Multimeter: Once you’ve identified a potential power source, use a multimeter to test it. Ensure it only provides power when the bike is on and running, and cuts power when the ignition is off.¹
Connect Wiring Harness: Connect the positive (red) wire of your heated grips’ wiring harness to this switched power source. Connect the negative (black) wire directly to the battery’s negative terminal. Do not connect the negative wire to the motorcycle’s frame if it’s an aluminum and steel frame, as this can cause an electrolytic reaction.

¹
Route Wires: Route the wires neatly from the power source through your motorcycle’s frame towards the handlebars. This may involve removing panels or even the fuel tank to properly hide and secure the wiring.² Use zip ties to secure the new wiring along existing wire pathways, keeping it tidy and preventing it from snagging or rubbing.²

Step 5: Dry Mount and Trim Grips

Before gluing, ensure the grips fit correctly and don’t interfere with controls.

Dry Mount: Temporarily place the new heated grips onto the handlebars without glue. Make sure they are in the correct position, consulting the instructions if unsure.²
Check Clearance: Verify that the brake and clutch levers can operate freely without the grips hindering their movement. Ensure there’s no interference with any switches or controls.²
Trim to Fit (If Necessary): If the grips are too long, they may need trimming. This can be done with a sharp knife once in place. Be careful not to remove too much material or cut into the heated element. Consult the instructions for an acceptable “cutting range.”²

Step 6: Mount the Controller

Choose a suitable and easily accessible location for the temperature controller.

Optimal Placement: Consider where you can easily reach and operate the controller while riding, without it obstructing your view or other controls. Common locations include near the left handlebar controls or on the dashboard.
Secure Mounting: Mount the controller securely using the provided brackets or adhesive. Take your time to ensure optimal placement.²

Step 7: Secure the Grips in Place

Now it’s time for the final, permanent installation of the grips.

Apply Glue: Remove the grips. Apply a thin, even layer of motorcycle-specific grip glue along and around the handlebars (both metal bar and throttle tube). Work quickly, as grip glue often sets fast.²
Slide Grips On: Quickly and carefully slide the heated grips back into their final position. Ensure they are fully seated and correctly aligned before the glue sets.²
Allow to Cure: Allow the glue to cure fully according to the manufacturer’s instructions before riding.

Step 8: Tidy Up All New Wiring

A neat wiring job is essential for safety and aesthetics.

Route and Secure: Route all new wiring neatly along existing wire pathways on your motorcycle. Use zip ties to secure the cables, ensuring they are not loose, pinched, or rubbing against any moving or hot parts.²
Bundle Excess: Gather any extra wire into a neat bundle and secure it with electrical tape, tucking it out of the way in a safe, dry location.²
Reinstall Components: Reinstall any fairings, the gas tank, or other components you removed to access the wiring.

Step 9: Final Test Run

Start the Bike: Take your motorcycle outside (do not do this in an enclosed garage due to exhaust fumes). Start the engine.
Test System: Turn on the heated grips system and ensure everything is working correctly. Check all heat settings.
Check for Issues: Listen for any unusual noises and visually inspect all connections.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not Testing Grips First: Discovering faulty grips after installation is a major time-waster.²
Damaging Throttle Tube: Be very careful when removing the old grip and trimming the throttle tube.
Wiring Directly to Battery (Unswitched): This is a common mistake that will drain your battery if you forget to turn off the grips.¹ Always use a switched power source.
Not Using a Multimeter: Guessing your power source can lead to electrical issues.
Cross-Threading Bolts: Be careful when re-installing any bolts, especially those for bar ends or fairings.
Not Cleaning Handlebars: Old glue residue will prevent the new grips from adhering properly.
Not Using Grip Glue: Heated grips need to be securely glued to prevent them from rotating during use.
Messy Wiring: Loose wires can get caught, rub, or short out, leading to safety hazards.

Conclusion

Installing heated grips on your motorcycle is a highly rewarding DIY project that significantly enhances your riding comfort and safety in cooler weather. By carefully following this step-by-step guide—from testing your new grips and preparing your handlebars to correctly wiring them to a switched power source and securing them in place—even beginner riders can confidently tackle this upgrade. Embrace the satisfaction of self-sufficiency, and look forward to countless miles of warm-handed, comfortable, and enjoyable adventures on your motorcycle, no matter what the thermometer says.