Mine is in the dealer today for hose replacement. The other issue I had, the key fob battery running flat every 20 or 25 days it hasn't been sorted as I wished, but we will run another test before sending the claim to Ducati. (What I really hope is to get another key). The heated grips....oh well, I gave up and regret that I asked to have them fitted when getting the bike. Just had to spend some extra £££ in a pair of heated gloves and won't think more about it. They proved good in the past and just confirmed their need in the trip to the bike show in Birmingham last week.
Took mine in today, 40 miles in 3 degC, but with the Kreiss waistcoat, inner gloves and grips all set to Medium, no comfort issues at all for me. The Enduro gives great protection to your legs and I only had Halversson jeans on.
I don’t understand why the heated grips are weak? Surely it’s not rocket science? Everyone seems to agree they’re not really hot enough, so what hasn’t Ducati rectified the issue (if the pre DVT bikes were fine, the issue must be solvable). Do the greater informed out there think it’s an electrical power problem? Different grip material? What’s the feelings?
The grips are undersized from a KW perspective. They reach the temperature of about 60 degrees C with bike sat in garage - but on a ride - the cooling KW of the air is more than the heat KW grip.. I assume they downgraded the KW of the grips due to the older Multi burning out - instead of just making them better - with the same higher KW potential.
Both my last two bikes had much better grips, you’d need to turn them down most of the time. Plus I could wear summer gloves all year. A Tiger 1050 Sport and a BMW R1200RT. For those of us riding in all weathers, it’s important, and my bikes biggest failing so far. I’m going to have to consider full winter gloves, heated gloves or muffs.
I found it doesn't matter how hot the grips get, the backs of my fingers got cold anyway, until I got the heated inner gloves which do the back of your hands. They are a pain to put on under the winter gloves as they catch on all the Velcro fasteners etc, so heated gloves would be a better bet?
I had the hose replaced this morning at Snells with the usual friendly service. Whilst there I had another gripe about the crap heated grips. They just said as before that Ducati de-rated them because of the number of failures they'd had. My riposte was that they should have upgraded the quality as third party grips were more powerful and didn't keep failing. I then asked about the difficulty of accessing the grip connector with a view to fit a pair of Oxford grips or similar to work off the OE switch. They replied it requires at least the tank cover etc to be removed. Then they suggested that all those parts have to come off during the 18k mile desmo service, due early next year, so why not let them fit a pair then? Why not indeed? I can get through winter one more time as I don't ride much then, so that's what I've decided to do. At least I won't have to exercise my dodgy soldering and electrical skills and risk a failure and a lot of rectification work.
Does the fairings and tank cover have to come off to do this hose replacement as i have just bought a keyless petrol cap and was thinking about getting them to fit it whilst doing the recall, should be cheaper to me that way.
I'm not expecting them to do that. I'll have to pay for the grips and any extra fitting time but it won't be a lot more.
I didn't watch them fit the hose but I don't think it needs the tank cover off. Maybe one or two of the side panels, as it is the 'front' hose to the radiator which has a smaller hose T'd into it.
Painless day drinking tea whilst my hose was done today. Then a truly awful ride home in rush hour darkness in sleet, hail, rail and gales.
Mine went in for the recall hose replacement today. In Australia, there is also a recall on the panniers and the throttle position sensor
Why not getting a pair of heated gloves instead? The only fitting required is two connectors straight to the battery.
An alternative I thought about, especially as they would heat the back of my hand too, but on balance I prefer heated grips: a) because of convenience. I know it's a simple thing to do but there is enough hassle getting dressed up to ride as it is without having to plug in/unplug a connector. And b) because I won't always be wearing the right gloves when I would like some heat. I'm thinking here of times when riding from plains to mountains and the temperature drops, or when it rains and heated grips compensate for heat leeched away, or when it gets a bit nippy at night. There are many scenarios when switching on heated grips is more convenient that stopping and changing gloves. This is from the perspective of a pleasure rider. If I was a regular year-round rider or commuter I may well opt for heated gloves as well as heated grips.
Had mine done this morning. Perhaps not surprisingly, there weren't many bikes being taken in this morning (as in none that I saw). ...the heated grips did struggle
I phoned Riders of Bridgwater this afternoon to see if i could drop the bike of tonight and take their loaner , they agreed but when i got there they said if i wanted they would do it there and then, so its all done and dusted.
