RX-1 / Apex Handlebar Swap

[rcp1018]

I got the 07 Apex handlebars with the "J" hooks. I want to put them on my 05 RX-1. A dealer told me not to do it because the hand warmers are different and I'll burn the CDI.
I put an ohm meter ( set @ 200 ) on the stock hand warmers and got a reading of 1.9. I put the meter on the Apex warmers and it read 6.9. Thats a big difference. Is there anything that can be changed on the RX-1 that will make this work?

 

[grader]

i installed the 07 bars on my 05 rx this season. i bought a relay and a 12 volt heavy duty rheostat and wired the new bars in series with power from the battery. works great. you will need about a 5 ohm resistor wired in to the stock handlebar wires so that the circut is completed and doesent lite a code on the dash. i had an inline fuse holder with about a foot of wire on each side that worked for me. turn the handwarmer power to minimum and leave it there. it takes a bit of adjusting on the rheostat to get the heat right, as they get a bit hotter as the rpm goes up, but now i never touch it.

 

[OneBadWarrior]

I run 07 apex bars on my warrior and all i did was use 07 grips and warmers. No problems as of yet. dealer did the wiring and said he had to wire them differently. Not actually sure how he did it, but they work awesome.

 

[newrx1guy]

Are the 2006 apex bars wired the same.I put a set on my 2003 rx1 and they work great.Is this cdi issue for real??

 

[Rockmeister]

The Apex bars won't burn out your CDI. Provided they are wired properly.
They are a lighter load (less current), which also means they won't be as warm.

They will need to be wired in parallel with each other, so your total resistance will be approximately 3.5 ohms. (Resistance will be half when they are wired in parallel.)

(I am assuming you were only measuring one of the handwarmers.)

If you wire them in series with each other, the total resistance will be approx double what they are individually, and the wattage (heat) will be half.

Less resistance = more power (heat)

 

[Rockmeister]

Get me more detailed info and I will calculate what you need to make it ok with the CDI(computer).

There is also a guy on here that has modded his with 2006 bars and the updated pigtail (new pigtail put the warmers in parallel), and they get HOT!
It has worked so far for him, although I would suggest a series resistor to lower the risk of damage to the computer.

 

[maxdlx]

I ran the 06 bars on my 05 for about 800 miles. Wired in parralel they get HOT. I rode in 12 degree weather on 2 bars with mechanics gloves and hand guards. My sled never missed a beat. They work awesome. Maxdlx

 

[Rockmeister]

FYI rcp1018 & I talked on the phone.

His existing bars were 1.9 ohms each and were wired in series for a total of 3.8 ohms.

His Apex bars had 6.9 ohms each and he is wiring them in parallel for a total resistance of ~3.5 ohms.

That is within 10%, easily enough for the computer to handle.
(He will actually get about a 10% increase in wattage, but with the longer heaters (more surface area) the heated feel should be about the same.

The 2005 RX-1 bars I have measured 2.0 ohms each, wired in series they total 4.0 ohms.
(about the same as rcp1018's)
The updated apex bars with the heated J hooks that I have measured 6.9 ohms each also.
I will also be wiring these in parallel.

I am planning on trying a few experiments to add additional heat to the grips with the existing wiring/controls etc also.
Just rather ride right now! lol

Will let you know how it turns out!