Motorcycle Repair: Heated grips, harley low rider, replacement component

Question
Chris,

My friend Jimmy and I have Harley-Davidson brand heated grips on 3 of our motorcycles.  His grips died.  They are about 14 months old.  There is a reastat dial on the left grip the runs from off to 6.

It appears to the dealer that the reastat control needs to be replaced.  The origianl price for the total kit = about $228.  They want about $200 for the replacement part.  One dealer will give Jimmy a 20% discount because he thinks the H.D. replacement program for an expensive accessory that did not last long stinks.

We love the grips when they are working.  The grips I installed on my two bikes still work great.

Options = 1) Buy entire new accessory kit.  2) Buy replacement component.  3) Modify by dropping the reastat switch and add a simple on/off toggle switch.

Questions: 1) Do you have any better ideas?  2) If we use our 3 listed ideas, how would you prioritize our ideas?  3) Any comments on the entire topic.

What should we do?

Thanks,

Joe
Note: Bike = 2001 - Harley Low Rider.

Answer
Hi Joe.
 Get the rheostat or the replacement kit.  If you hook up the power without the rheostat, then the grips will go to full heat and could possibly burn up or start a fire on the grips.  That rheostat controls the amount of heat produced.  Remove it from the system and it would be like starting the bike and having the engine idle at max rpms.  It would kill the engine.  Same principle, except that it only applies to the grips.

Good luck.
FALCON