The kit is only needed for Road Kings and Road Glide Ultras which don't have a P&A power connection right at the handlebars or close in the fairing like most models do.

If you look at the installation instructions for these grips, it's a little more clear-ish than the blanket statement you found on the website.

Also, there is only one Parts and Accessories (P&A) circuit on the whole bike. No matter where you connect, it's the same circuit/voltage etc, goes to the same power relay. There is no dedicated circuit for heated hand grips/seats etc.

 

Actually my suspicions are correct regarding the amperage needed to operate these heated grips after doing some more research on it this morning.

According to the P & A catalog, these heated grips require up to 3.5 amps of power from the electrical system to operate correctly.

If you have too many accessories operating off the electrical system you can overload it and cause some damage to it.

The reason for the additional electrical power harness is to provide the dedicated amps that the heated grips need directly from the P & A plug off of the BCM to the grips, so that it won't be taxing the electrical system to provide it.

 

I actually love the look of the Kahunas. I wanted to get them on my Fat Bob, but didn't because they were not available at the time, so, I got the Avon contours, which worked out really well.
So, me saying that they are uncomfortable is pure hearsay - it's just what I read on the forums and in the reviews. I was not convincing the OP that they are uncomfortable - just shared what I read.
It's best to try out everything for yourself.

Personally, I would prefer the Empires and the Kahunas in the same diameter as the stock Harley grips - it's too bad that Harley does not make them.
I'm considering to give the Empires a shot because I'm getting my handlebars done soon and I want heated grips, and the Empires look good to me.
It's too bad that they don't make a heated version of the Defiance grips - I like those too and they are the same diameter as the stock.

Glad to hear that the Kahunas work well for you, a real live opinion is great to have, not just the ones you read in the reviews

 

For sure! That's why there are numerous options...different strokes for different folks.

 

OP, did you check the grips with an ohm meter before condemning them? They should read a resistance across the leads on both of them and they should be about equal on both. If they both test good you need to check your wiring downstream.

 

16 Tri Glide

Do what you need to do, but... that harness plugs into the "Accessory Connector" under the side plate... Its still on the "accessory circuit". Then they want you to use 3 of the short "extensions", that come with the heated grips, all plugged together to make that accessories harness long enough to go under your tank and out at the front where you will then plug the grips in at... more connections, more potential for issues.

I could see this as being a potential issue IF you had stuff already plugged in and running off the connector under the fairing, and with new grips you're now adding more current/load to the same wires... but you said you don't. IF you had a some accessories already plugged in up front, or even one that draws a good load up there, then I could see this harness addition being a good thing, but I would still get around plugging three short extensions together to make it reach, by just making one of my own extension to cover that distance.

The accessory circuit, btw is also monitored by the BCM, if the total draw of the accessory circuit is more than 20A it will trip a code. From the electrical diagnostic manual "DTC B2114 will set if the accessory circuit draws more than 20 Amps."

Its kinda already been said but, for fairing bikes (2014 & later), if you look in any of the instructions for heated grips, the additional harness happens only on RGU (2017 RGU I think, require basically the same kind of thing for the same reason, but a different harness number)... So for some reason, the RGU, doesn't already have the connector there like the Road Glide Specials, Street Glide Specials, the Ultra Limited and the rest of the fairing bikes. The RGU is the only one that doesn't have it lol I have a RGU, I have searched for it, cause I couldn't figure out how in the hell that only one model, the model I have, doesn't have it... and it aint there though lol

MrFreeze57 has good advice, get a meter on it first, to isolate what's broke (grips/wires/connections)... to keep from fixing stuff that aint broke. I know this crap can be frustrating chasing it down though.

 

For the life of me, I can’t figure out why they won’t do a Defiance heated grip???? I’ll probably either go with the all black streamliner, the Empire or the Rizoma.

 

Trying to save you some time and money...

There is only one P&A accessory circuit and it's good for 20 Amps - it's controlled (turned on by) the BCM.
You'll find the power connector for heated grips in your fairing. It's connector is [189]. This connector is on the same circuit as the 69200722 kit connection [325] under the right side cover.
The only reason some models require the 69200722 kit is because there is no [189] connection found on some specific year Road Kings and RGUs, but it is there for your Tri-glide.
Look for [189] on the lower left side of fairing. Hope this helps.

Note: I have 69200722 installed on my bike for a heated seat.

 

Ip,

Thanks for the diagrams!!!

How can I tell if I have the 189 connector? Is it numbered as such?

I'll probably still buy the 69200722 harness for a heated seat in the future like you've done.

 

It's probably the same connector you already have your heated grips plugging into. If not, just open the fairing and you should find it near the location shown. Will be two wires. One Violet/Blue and the other Black.