I have a 2016 Tri Glide that I installed 10" bars on, and I've bought 2 sets of lightly used HD heated grips #56100034 (sellers on this forum said the grips worked great), but after riding one or two trips with them on level 2 or 3, they quit working altogether. They won't heat up on any setting now.

I haven't ever used the HD extension harness # 69200722 and I wonder if that might be the issue of the grips quit working?

All my fuses are still good and everything on the trike still works as normal except the heated grips. Both times of diagnosing the grips, it seems as though the throttle heated grip is the one that goes bad. I'm wondering if I just got unlucky with trying to save money buying a used set of grips even though the sellers stated they worked fine?

Now my question is this, which set of heated grips have the most reliable reputation? I have the heated grips wiring running inside my handlebars.

HD heated grips # 56100034
HD Kahuna # 56100331
HD Empire # 56100437
HD Airflow # 56100342

Would the normal HD heated grips # 56100034 provide the best protection against the potential of any water getting in them if a person got them wet from rain?

Is the HD Kahuna a lot easier to install than the regular looking heated grips without taking my handlebars off?

I just want to be able to install a new set that has a warranty and hopefully they will continue to work without any issues.

Which grips would you folks run or have personal experience and good luck with?

Thanks for any info you can give me!

Doug

 

If it’s of any help, I’m in the same position as you, trying to determine which grips are best.

• From what I’ve read in the forums, the standard HD black rubber grips are the most reliable. My problem is that I don’t like their look.
• The Kahuna grips are uncomfortable due to the metal piece running in the middle.
• The airflows are uncomfortable because of their shape - they dip in instead of out, and the black turns to purple with time - the color of the metal changes.

I’m betting on the new Empire grips as they look good and they are the right shape, although, they are a bit on the large side - my hands are not that big.

All the grips should be waterproof as otherwise it does not make sense.

If your dealer tells you otherwise and that the warranty will not hold up, just turn around and leave that dealership and never come back there

the Kahuna, Empire, Airflow grips are all internally wired and will require for you to pull the wire through for the left grip - from what I heard, this is not easy or fun since the other wires get in the way - it seems to be easier to pull all wires through at the same time. I’m having the dealer do mine.

Good luck with it.

 

The 56100034 heated grips are what came stock on my '14 Ultra Limited.

Mine still work great and they get good reviews (4.6 out of 5 with 45 reviews) on the H-D website.

The only negative is the grips have gotten a bit slick over the years from use.

I have no experience with the other heated grips in your list.

 

My 2015 Ultra Limited "Low" was built without heated grips. So, as part of my deal to buy it, I had them add the HD brand heated grips before delivery. Almost 7 years later, they continue to be trouble free and work great. (FYI, the heat setting goes from 0 to 5 but I never set it for higher than 3 because they get a bit too hot for me, even while wearing single layer leather gloves....LOL)

In short I'm happy with the HD heated grips.

 

I have installed several of the Kahuna's on different year models, 2010 batwings to my 2016 RGU. That harness number you gave was only "required" on my bike (16 RGU). It gives you a place to get power for the grips from the accessory plug under the side plate. Of all the fairing bikes (2014 and later) for some reason the the RGU doesn't have the plug and play power connection under the gauge cluster (or the one in the fairing coming off the power adapter, cigarette lighter, on the bat-wings). On that bike I was supposed to (per the instructions) use that harness to tap into the power accessory plug under the side plate to get power for the grips, then plug 3 of the short extensions that came with the grips together, and run all that under the tank to get a power connector up and under the gauge cluster for heated grips. It is a cheesy way of doing things.

But I do not think you need to bother with that, and its not your problem, because you have the power connector for the heated grips coming off the back of the "cigarette lighter" under the fairing, right?

Here is what I check every time now before installing... after an issue I had. Check the connectors for any of the wiring you're using from the kits, before you start (visually and for continuity). I have had two now that when we got done the grips weren't working and it turned out to be one pin on one connector wasn't making a connection. On one of them the wire was crimped and everything, just still had the insulation on the wire lol If they stop working, go back and pull the power connector at the grip's first connector and be sure you're still getting power to them, and if not, track it back to the power source (where the grip's harness plugs into the bike's). Also, check the pins on the throttle side plug on the end of the grip to be sure you're getting power there thru the interconnect cable. That little connector there is the one I hate the most lol and requires me to slow down and breather... to get that damn plug in and feel good about it. But it sounds like you have already done all this... but I am real suspicious of those damn "harnesses" and connectors and will re-route wires to try and not use any of the "extensions" if I can. So far we haven't had a set go bad, once they were "fixed" on the initial install. and these bike get ridden in rain and washed frequently.

Never had to take factory bars off to install the grips. On the Kahuna's always ran the wires thru the bars. As far as pulling the wires thru the bars for the grips, I'll use a long piece of wire to pull them with. I have an old spool of electric fence wire that I bought decades ago... it had like a half mile on it, seriously... so I have a seemingly endless supply of it. I'll take a 3' piece and slide it into the bars and try to "feel", at the bend down in the bars, where the other wires have bunched at. They're usually along the top of that turn. So I'll try to get my wire to go under them (by bending a downward curve in the last few inches of my fish wire) and slide it on thru to the center hole. Then tape my grip's connectors to the other end of my fish wire for several inches (so I'm not pulling on the connectors themselves), with the connectors staggered so it as small a lump as possible. You can soap it up a bit if you want, then just patiently work it thru there, with the bend usually being the part that requires the patience... because what you're pulling is stiff, but once it get thru the bend its really easy.

IMO, the rubber one work the "best", I think because they are rubber... and the heat transfer and retention works best on them. I like the Kahuna's, so its style over substance maybe lol I do think they are slower to warm back up when you take your hands off the grips while riding in cool/cold air, but I believe thats because of the integrated metal design...

just my 2 cents... plus another nickel.

 

After reading what feel like countless threads on this topic, I decided to get the Kahuna grips because at the end of the day, they look cooler. They seem to be larger in diameter then the Arlen Ness grips I'm currently using, and I've never had heated grips, so I figure something is better than nothing.

 

Not sure if you've had the Kahuna's or not? I don't find them uncomfortable at all as the center metal section is recessed/lower than the rubber portions. With the shape of the hand (at least mine), the center of the palm doesn't really come in contact much of the grip. As a result, most of my hand is on the outer rubber sections with one of my middle fingers wrapped around the metal part. I find them quite comfortable. Also like the fact that they're a bit on the bigger diameter size.

I've said it many times here on the Forum...love my Kahuna heated grips! Added them on my previous 2012 UC and they worked fantastic for years. Loved the look, function & comfort so much that after I traded that bike for my current 2020 RGL, I ditched the stock rubber heated grips and replaced them with another set of Kahuna's. Both sets have more than exceeded my expectations. Heat is phenomenal...never have to crank them past 3 (usually on 2). And that's up here in the north running them at freezing temps.

BTW...like the looks of the new Empire grips. Would have maybe considered them but of course, they weren't an option at the time. Regardless, would have most likely stuck with the Kahuna's.

 

The factory heated grips on my 13' Ultra failed this spring. I have been looking for a replacement but most of HD's grips have been on back-order all year!! I think that this is what they call "an omen"!!

 

They do look cool!! You will not regret your decision and wonder why you waited so long to add heated grips. In the department of "you didn't know you needed them, till you had them"...kinda like the heated steering wheel in my F150.

 

Thanks for the info!

According to the HD website, heated grips 56100034 require the harness 69200722;

Fitment: Fits 16-later DynaŽ FXDLS and 08-later Touring and Trike models. Does not fit CVO™ models (except FXSE). 16-17 SoftailŽ models require separate purchase of Electrical Connection Kit P/N 72673-11. 14-16 Touring and Trike models require separate purchase of Electrical Connection Kit P/N 69200722. 17-later Touring and Trike models require Electrical Connection Kit P/N 69201599. 08-09 models require separate purchase of Jumper Harness P/N 70415-08A Connector P/N 72902-01BK and Terminal Pin P/N 72990-01 (Qty 2). See instruction sheet for details. Not for use with internally wired handlebars. 18-later Softail requires 69201750

I'm just wondering if HD realized that the factory harness power plugin under the fairing is lacking the dedicated voltage needed to keep the heated grips working properly, and then required the use of the electrical connection kit 69200722?

I don't have any aftermarket accessories on my trike that require any extra power from the electrical system, so I don't think that would be the issue.

I will pull my fairing off and start checking the electrical connectors again and will test each grip separately while disconnected from the trike's electrical harness to see if I get them both heated up on a 12v accessory power source.