Ottawa, Canada is especially good for winter projects,
the SV650S left grip was pretty tatty anyway, so for 2016 it's grip
heaters after an eBay search.
About $9 US, these heaters are controlled by a 5-position switch attached to the
left grip.
Not
sure exactly what's in the black box, but it's probably some kind of
resistor-controlled pulse-width-modulation power switch.
Measured heater current with a 12V battery and digital meter in the
basement.
Amps
Watts
Off
0
No duh
1
1.12
13.5
2
1.37
16.4
3
1.49
17.9
Hi
1.97
23.6
Installation:
The
left grip is 128mm long, including the heat control switch, while the
stock grip is about 120mm. Moved the clutch perch and switch inboard
about 8mm. This required filing the perch a bit to clear the clip-on at
the front, and filing down the little plastic nub in the switch which
fits into a hole in the bar. A layer of masking tape allows the switch
to grip the bar and not turn when you twiddle the choke. Wetting the bar
and the grip interior with
high-flash-point-solvent (Varsol) allowed the grip to slide right on. Once the solvent
dried, the grip doesn't move, no glue necessary.
The right grip incorporates its own throttle tube, which handles the
two throttle cables happily, no adjustment needed. Masking tape again
for the switch, which is a European version with a light switch, but no
plastic nub.
Wiring:
The
left heater wiring was zip-tied to existing wiring that rotates with
the handlebar. Glued the little black box to the ignition switch front.
The
wiring on the right grip moves with the throttle. A metal standoff was
supplied that was supposed to bolt to something and positively locate
the throttle heater wiring to allow some slack. Couldn't find anything
to bolt it to, so the slack loop is zip-tied to bike wiring.
Banana
plugs replaced the connector on the carb heater wires to provide a
switched power source, with heater power leads routed under the tank,
through the frame, then up towards the heater wiring loom.
Results:
The first thing I noticed is that the throttle return to closed
position
was sluggish. It was not due to friction of the new throttle tube, but
rather a need for cable lubrication and following the manual (too
closely) about tightening the return cable. So I applied 3-in-1
oil for the cables and powdered
graphite for the throttle tube - still sluggish. Then I loosened
the return cable a
bit, now it snaps closed nicely.
Aside from the power measurements, test riding and evaluation will have
to wait for Spring.
