Tips for installing KOSO heated grips on your GRiSO

Here are a few simple tips for installing the KOSO Heated Grips

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After removing the stock grips, you will have to shave off the grip ribs from the throttle tube in order to install the KOSO grips.  This can be accomplished with a utility knive/file/sandpaper for the most part, but it is painstaking work.  If you are careful, a Dremel tool can shorten the amount of time, but you have to take great care to keep from taking unwanted divots out of the tube.  After smoothing out the throttle tube, an appropriate length of shrink tube shrunk down over the throttle tube can make for a nicely secure fit.  I also found that reshaping the "cone" on the inboard end of the throttle tube with a Dremel cut-off wheel into more of a "wafer" provided a better fit.  Take care when routing the grip power supply on the throttle side.  You have to allow for a slight "loop" that allows for throttle travel without interfering with any of the existing cabling nor with your grip changes to utilize the brake lever.  I found that positioning the power wire slightly ahead of, and below the throttle cables with sufficient slack allows for the best clearance.  Allowing for just the right amount of slack in the grip wiring allows the power wires to nestle in amongst the throttle cables at wide open throttle while not interfering with finger motion to the brake lever.  Secure the power wire to the throttle side cable bundle with two or three cable ties and route the wire behind the headlight bucket and over to the left side of the frame to enter the left side cowling.  Routing the left side power is much simpler, just have it follow the left hand cable bundle and enter the left cowling next to the steering head.  As on the throttle side, a length of shrink tube nestled on the bar between the grip and the bar allows for a nice, tight fit.  A little bit of persuasion with a rubber mallet is required on both sides.

I found that the best way to provide power is via a switched relay installed in the tail section, accessing switched power from the brake light.  Eastern Beaver offers a great option for this in their 3-Circuit Solution for the V-Strom which uses the same brake light connector as the GRiSO.  It also allows for adding two additional powered leads that you can use for driving lights or a dash mounted power point.

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The lead for the grips' power control is a bit on the short side, but it is just long enough to route it up to the clutch reservoir to be attached with some stout velcro or double-sided adhesive tape.  The provided bar mount is not appropriate for the GRiSO as the bar diameter is too large.  Alternatively, you could just secure the power control to the left side grip cabling with a cable tie just inboard of the clutch reservoir.

Just take your time and allot a few hours for the job.  Beer helps...

I installed the grips last night, as well as the eastern beaver 3 circuit solution, all went well, but I am having no fun trying to tie everything down under the seat - where did you fit everything?

Good work!

If I were in Seattle at the moment, I'd take a picture for you.  So a description will have to do.  I located the relay in the back left (exhaust side) corner next to the snorkel.  I zip-tied the tab on the relay to the tab in the frame (opposite the fuse panel on the back right.)

The three fuse panel is tucked in along the left side of the airbox.  All of the wiring is run up the left side of the bike along the frame.

Brock, how did that Eastern Beaver kit work for you? did it patch into the taillight lead simple enough?

worked perfect - very simple set up. I ended up tucking the fuse box behind the left side panel just in front of the latch mechanism for the seat release. Today ended up being a beautiful day so I went for a couple hour ride with a couple who ride matching ninjas. He has the 1000 and she has the 600. They also have a couple of harleys which they usually bring out. Today was the first time the ninjas have ridden with the GRiSO. The 1000 is bloody fast, but the GRiSO held it's own, and of course did it with style. The heated grips were nice to have and worked great.
I still haven't velcro'ed the control panel, I need to figure out how I want it. The bike is so clean I really don't want the panel to stand out.

Picked up this kit from Motorcycle Superstore under the Bike Master brand. Tapped into the hot to the headlight (pulled it out, then re-inserted the brass female plug with the red power wire at the same time). Tucked all of the surplus wire behind the left side piece - heated grips!

I had to remove the Oxford heating elements first, as I was unhappy with the loss of heat to the handle bar on the Clutch side and at a loss to make a clean switch install. This kit solved both of those issues very cleanly.

Testing in cool weather proved very nice. Now when it gets truly nippy I have options besides glove liners.

I'm considering these heated grips for my 2015 GRiSO.  However, I'm confused by sizing, I thought I would require 7/8" + 7/8", but the Koso site suggests 7/8" + 1".

What size did you fit?

Oh lordy, that was several years ago. I learned about it here, I think I just took a caliper to the handlebar and measured.

I did that, both bars were 7/8" (22mm). However, I appreciate the throttle has a larger outer diameter, and so might require the 1" (25mm) for the RHS.

Other heated grip manufacturers don't specify a different size, just make the throttle one larger to compensate. Are the Koso somehow different in their specifications?

You get the full kit. So I assume they size it for 7/8" - I just assumed - correctly since it worked - that they would include the proper sized bits for 7/8" bars. I think you may be over thinking this just a wee bit.

Yes, 7/8" clutch side (bare bar) and 1" throttle side (throttle tube).  That's the kit you want, regardless of brand.

I opted for the re-styled Oxford Premium Adventure Hotgrips on the Stelvio and really like them.  

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The have an improved, very tactile texture, over the old waffle style Oxfords.  KOSO grips were an improvement over the old Oxford style as well, but the new premium stuff is very nice.  If I were to replace the KOSO grips that are currently on the GRiSO I would probably go with the Oxford Premium Sports Hotgrips.

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