Getting to the #$%& horn lead...

[JPryce]

After a solid week of riding to work in 30-ish degree temps, I finally cracked and ordered a set of non-OEM grip heaters.

The dealer is an inconvenient 40 miles away (no lead in stock), so I was planning to snip off the factory plug and replace it with Honda OE-style bullet connectors.

The problem is that the lead on the bike is only about 2" long, so I can't get my hand AND any tool in there to work.:confused: Looking at it from the outside, it doesn't appear that removing anything short of the tank, airbox, etc. will make any room to work. I hate the idea of stripping the bike to get to one stupid wire. So may others have done this - any tips?

[V-Tom]

It doesn't help much but why not do a nice enjoyable 40 mile run on the Strom and get the right part? I'd phone ahead to make sure the part is in stock. (My daily commute one way is about that distance.)

I found getting to the lead really hard. The only saving grace was that once I got my big hands in there the plug went "click" and everything worked. I have heard of suggestions of moving the rad ahead but didn't followup up on that.

..Tom

[TouringDude]

you might regret the bullet connectors. heating elements require a pretty beefy connection. bullets might get hot.

[IslandStrom]

After a solid week of riding to work in 30-ish degree temps, I finally cracked and ordered a set of non-OEM grip heaters.

The dealer is an inconvenient 40 miles away (no lead in stock), so I was planning to snip off the factory plug and replace it with Honda OE-style bullet connectors.

The problem is that the lead on the bike is only about 2" long, so I can't get my hand AND any tool in there to work.:confused: Looking at it from the outside, it doesn't appear that removing anything short of the tank, airbox, etc. will make any room to work. I hate the idea of stripping the bike to get to one stupid wire. So may others have done this - any tips?


Do you plan maintaining your own bike?

How many miles on your bike?

Do you plan on adding other electrical farkles in the future? such as radar, gps, tunes.....

The reason I ask is the factory plug is hot at all times which runs the risk of draining the battery if the grips are left on. Stripping the bike down really isn't a big deal as long as you do a few things like add vaccum hoses for TBS which will make life so much easier down the road. Adding a aux. fuse box, removing secondaires, adding Iridium plugs............

[greywolf]

The reason I ask is the factory plug is hot at all times which runs the risk of draining the battery if the grips are left on.It's only on when the ignition is on.

[IslandStrom]

It's only on when the ignition is on.

Funny, my factory grips were on regardless. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is the Suzuki Part No. 36852-06G00 for the plug which would plug into the factory connector.

[greywolf]

Did you install them? If they were dealer installed, they could have been connected somewhere else by mistake. That is the correct part number. I had Hot Grips on that part on my '05 and they went off with the ignition.

[Night_Wolf]

My dealer wired mine so they were always "hot" I wasn't impressed :rolleyes: and changed it myself

Did you install them? If they were dealer installed, they could have been connected somewhere else by mistake. That is the correct part number. I had Hot Grips on that part on my '05 and they went off with the ignition.

[IslandStrom]

On my 04 wee they were dealer installed. The factory kits is plug and play so I can't see where else they would plug them in. I haven't installed heated grips on my 06 Vee yet. To bad, I had the bike apart acouple weeks back I could of put a test light to that plug to see for sure.

[aircav]

The tips from someone who did it in the dark on a cold November day:
1. Take out the lower bolt on the rad so it can swing forward.
2. The heater lead is bundled up with another harness. If you follow the wires up with your hand you can find where the other harness plugs into the plastic piece behind the rad. You can pop that connector out and you will have more wire to work with.
3. Now remove the electrical tape and extend the heater lead so you can plug into it.

It was a serious PITA but now I could do the whole operation in 15 mins or so.

[hdatontodo]

I agree with aircav. Pivot the radiator forward and it's right there.

[IslandStrom]

There you have it, some options to consider. Once you accesses the plug use a test light to see if it's hot at all times, I think it is, you may want to consider other options for a power source.

[JPryce]

Thanks gents. I ordered the lead. For $5, I should have just done it in the first place. I should have heat by the end of the week.

I'm not at home to test it, but usually orange is used by Suzuki as a switched source. I built a wiring harnes for a buddy's supermoto project out of a GSXR unit, so it's sort of burned into my brain.

[greywolf]

The heated grip plug has an orange/green ignition on hot and a black/white ground. The horn lead has two brown wires. Like JPryce says, Suzuki's standard color for ignition on hot is an orange main body color.

[savvy]

Thanks Aircav. was having alot of trouble finding the lead.
mike