Heated Grips for MGX

[MFed]

Hi all; first post so be gentle!

I did this mod successfully today with the Oxford Heaterz Premium Touring (non-Evo). Wired everything into the stock Guzzi harness as I prefer keeping the handlebars as clean as possible. I wanted to mention that it is possible to file out the inside of the throttle-side grip (I used a half-round file) to increase the ID so that it will fit on the throttle tube without needing to reduce the OD of it; in case you ever want to go back to the stock grips. Takes a bit of work, but you can get a very nice fit. I also needed to make short harness extensions (~6" for the throttle side and about 12" for the clutch side) to ensure that I could route the wires the way I wanted and make the connections. I just used the wires from the Oxford controller harness to make the extensions.

Thanks all for the great info in this thread; going to love nice warm hands!

 

[Vizir]

Bravo )

 

[CuttySark]

Hello all lovers of warm hands . I was inspired by @Vizir to have a go at installing the Oxford heated grips on my 2018 Cali 1400. All done and love the integration with the MG controls and dash indication. Can't believe powered connectors were just sitting there waiting to be used!

Some notes on the project:
- the wires from the grips are relatively short, needing to only reach the Oxford heater control that can be mounted to the handlebars. As I was wiring the grips direct into the loom and not using the Oxford controller, I had to extend the wires from the grips by cannibalising the controller to battery lead supplied - making the joints with weatherproof heat shrink and glued splices from Amazon. I should have also invested in a proper crimping tool as using the crimp function of my wire cutters was awkward in the confined space.
The OEM wiring has two connectors, presumably split from one source so not dedicated to either right or left grip. Each connector has a brown wire and an orange/green wire. For each grip, I connected the brown wire in the Oxford cable to the brown from the loom, and the blue Oxford wire to the orange/green.
- The throttle tube was slightly too wide for an easy installation of the Oxford grip but some 60 grit sandpaper soon removed a little of the plastic material. There was also some excess rubber from the moulding process inside the grip sleeve which I removed with a round file. With some dish soap, the grip could be pushed into place and did not need any glue.
- The clutch side needed some super glue but was a good fit from the start.
- Both grips had to be trimmed at the ends to allow bar ends to be replaced and allow the throttle to rotate freely.

Overall a successful project and many thanks to Vizir for his help with answering my questions!

 

[Vizir]

I'm very happy for you
Best regards
Vizir

 

[Rob Loef]

Hi All,

I was planning on going the same route to add heated Grips to my 2013 California 1400 Custom.
Can you confirm it will work? Since I have only seen younger Cali models mentioned in this post. Mine would be an E3?

From what I read I need either:
- Oxford HotGrips Premium Touring. Item code: OF691 (?)
Or:
- Oxford HotGrips Touring spare RH & RL Grips (OF691T7 & OF691C6).

Was thinking to go for the spare grips. No sense in buying stuff that I am going to throw away. But I could not find info on the Oxford site if these spare grips have 2 or 3 cable connections. Anyone have a clue if these are the correct ones?

 

[jbellyOH]

I did this on my 2015 1400 Custom with the Oxford Heaterz Premium Touring and a set of Molex .062" two pin connectors to match the heated grip wiring on the bike. Installation was a breeze. I cut the Oxford controller out of the equation and wired the grips directly. Similar experience as CuttySark on grip fit--tight on the throttle tube and a little grip glue needed on the clutch side. The bike recognized the grips were there immediately. Factory three-setting switch and dash display think they're the OEM heated grips.

 

[Frank Ferrante]

So do I understand that Oxford does not make a grip with the correct diameter?

 

[Rob Loef]

I did this on my 2015 1400 Custom with the Oxford Heaterz Premium Touring and a set of Molex .062" two pin connectors to match the heated grip wiring on the bike. Installation was a breeze. I cut the Oxford controller out of the equation and wired the grips directly. Similar experience as CuttySark on grip fit--tight on the throttle tube and a little grip glue needed on the clutch side. The bike recognized the grips were there immediately. Factory three-setting switch and dash display think they're the OEM heated grips.

Thanks for the confirmation! I will give it a try. I guess if it works on a 2015 Custom it should work on mine.

 

[Vizir]

It's not a problem

 

[jbellyOH]

So do I understand that Oxford does not make a grip with the correct diameter?

I wouldn't say it's off enough to be considered the wrong diameter. I didn't have to sand/shave anything--a little soapy water to help the one onto the throttle tube and a little grip glue on the clutch side to keep the other from rotating.

 

[Vili]

Note that probably you can fit Piaggio's original heated grips, this one is for MP3/Beverly, but the diameter is the same and they look identical in pictures as Guzzi's, but for around 100$ they are way cheaper than Guzzi's. I couldn't find the length of the handlebars.

P.S. The connectors are the same (according to pictures).

Piaggio's Part number
2S000121




After reading your post I've ordered these. I wasn't sure if I could just simply plug the heated grips on the existing installation.

P.S. I'll test them on Brava and Cali and write my feedback.
Thanx

 

[Vizir]

May be, it will be probably ok for euro 3 cali models, but not euro 4, after 2017 , due to the ride by wire different .

 

[9mary7]

P.S. I'll test them on Brava and Cali and write my feedback.

Looking forward to your results...I need a set for my 15 Cali Custom.

 

[Rob Loef]

Note that probably you can fit Piaggio's original heated grips, this one is for MP3/Beverly, but the diameter is the same and they look identical in pictures as Guzzi's, but for around 100$ they are way cheaper than Guzzi's. I couldn't find the length of the handlebars.

Now you are telling us! I just got my Oxford grips installed on my bike
Still waiting fo the plugs to arrive so can't test them yet

 

[Vili]

Sorry Rob, I did write about this in another topic a couple of weeks ago, but I wasn't sure if it would work. As @Vizir said, this should be ok for pre-EURO 4 models.

 

[Rob Loef]

Update: yes it works on a Cali 1400 Custom build 2013 too!
Not that I doubted Vizir

I took a slightly different approach. I ordered the spare L+R Hand Grips Grips (OF691T7 & OF691C6). Makes no sense to buy a controller to throw it away.
Installation was easy, no glue or heating required. Both left and right grip were a tight fit and could be moved over the handlebar with some twisting and pushing. I only needed to remove the ridge on the end of throttle (used a hobby knife for that):

Since I had difficulties to order the molex plugs I decided to replace the MG side with the same type of connecter that the Oxford Grips have. If in the future one of the Oxford grips fails I wil ba able to replace it without changing plugs. For the ones willing to go the same route, the connector you need is: L6.2 6.2mm Plug (female). Also referred to as L6.2 2p, L6.2 2.0 or sometimes KET 2p Tamiya style.....

Then Vilim messed up my plans by announcing there might be a Piaggio solution that required the original connectors to be on the Guzzi.... To keep all options open for the future I decided to grab me the Molex connectors too and just make an extension cable with both types of connectors:

Works perfect. The grips heat up very fast in mode 3..

If someone wants to go this route then I can make one extra pair of extension cables with the remaining connectors I ordered.

 

[Vili]

An update on the Piaggio heated grips: they finally arrived yesterday.


Eager with anticipation, I promptly headed to the garage to visually compare them with the originals. To my relief, they matched in size and fit down to the millimeter. Without hesitation, I dismantled the tank on my Breva to access the connectors, improvising a connection for the grips. Voila! They worked like a charm, and I couldn't contain my joy.





Moving on to the California, I partially disassembled it to connect the grips for a test run, and to my delight, they functioned flawlessly. The world seemed brighter, the birds' songs sweeter—I felt triumphant in outsmarting the Piaggio challenge. Installing the left handle was a breeze, everything fell into place perfectly.



But then came the throttle handle... It fits perfectly onto the handlebar. However, an almost 200€ "worth" of discrepancy surfaced between Piaggio's and Guzzi's handlebars. The position of the wire exit (or cable brackets) didn't align, resulting in the wire protruding towards me after mounting the handlebar, instead of neatly downward.



Although the handlebars come with the additional throttle cables bracket in the kit, which should allow you to change the angle/position of the throttle cables, there is simply no room to install it on the handlebars, and it would probably require an additional "overhaul" of the throttle cables.



It was a frustrating setback, indeed.

Considering that I finished the assembly late last night and that I'm about to go on the arranged ride, I'll leave it like this, but my OCD is screaming loudly inside me. Unfortunately, the Piaggio handles come as a compact unit and it is impossible to rotate the throttle tube independently of the heater.

Summary:

Are they the same dimensions as the original handlebars? - Yes
Do they fit? - kind of, the left fits perfectly, but the right one does not so much.
Am I going to buy another pair for the other Guzzi? - No

I hope this will help some of you.

 

[scott_m]

Thank you very much for the very detailed information.

Others will benefit from your experience and writing.

Well done Sir!

 

[Frank Ferrante]

So close.

 

[9mary7]

I'll let y'all know how mine goes..... should be here next week.