Hi,

Got my new 2009 last week. I find that the seat is not realy hot when i put the heated se4at on.

Is it really hot for you guys, and mine is defective. I think I feel a little bit of heat but not that much.

Maybe the switch is busted

I have an 08 an mine doesn't feel hot......but in cold weather it is warm an keeps my buns nice an toastie

HisST

My wing is pretty basic. I dont have any thing heated. I think grips would be the most rewarding. Actually all I see in most of this is another way to run a battery down.

Hi Lenrage, welcome, i too am new here and i got my new wing 2 months ago and i could be wrong but it depends on the actual outside tempreture. I know now that we are heading into winter here and i have noticed that my seat works a lot better when i put it on. The grips though a really good on cold days.

The outside temperature affects / controls the heaters. At 65* I believe they will not come on at all. If you can find an area to ride in with the temps aroud 40 * you will know if it is working or not. The colder it gets, the warmer they feel.

Chopin114,

That would make real sense......but they do not mention it in the gl1800 manual...at least not in Canada

I have had the comfort system since 06. I find the heated grips are a good thing.
I find the heated seat a waste in extreem cold as the heat doesn't make it through my choice of winter riding gear!

Lenrage the seat IS ambient temperature regulated, it has to be 15*c or lower for it to activate. The grips have no such regulation. I've ridden my '09 at -5* and the seat works great, handgrips haven't been above the 3rd setting yet. If it's much colder than that in Alberta, I've got a snowmobile to ride.

On my 06 the heater module failed. Fortuneatly it was covered under warranty$$$.
But I didn't notice it was out until the temperature dropped below 50.

Congratulations on your bike!! Best of luck!! I recently purchased a 2010.....When I took the seat off to examine the wiring for my inoperative CB, I discovered that neither the CB, seat or heated grips had been wired properly!! So before you go any farther take the seat off and make sure everything is wired correctly!! Have Fun!!

Hi Lenrage,

I did this mod to my 2010 Wing. It did make a difference and was pretty easy to do.

http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196872

Rob

Full marks to you RKP000. I have a stomach problem when it comes to cutting/splicing wires: NO GUTS.

Thanks alot rob..........I will try that for sure, but before doing that, is it true that the seat will not warm up if the outside temperature is warm.......mayne that is why i couldnt feel the seat warming up since i bought it. It s been pretty hot in montreal

Hi Lenrage,

YES, if the ambient temp is around 60 - 65, the seat will not heat up no matter what setting you choose. I had questions about this when I first got my 2010 Wing.
Here is my post on this:
http://www.goldwingowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3556&highlight=heated+seat

I did the mod and used a 10K ohm resistor. If you don't like the change, you can always take the resistor out and solder the OEM wires back together.

Rob

Just picked up a bulletin from Honda this morning regarding the seat/handgrip function and troubleshooting. I have it saved as a pdf but the file is too large to post. If anyone wants the info, PM me and I'll e-mail it to you. It says pretty much what has been discussed already but with a few more detailed bits of info. Remember that the seat won't turn on above 65*f (I thought it was 60* sorry) and they are also pressure activated so the heater won't activate without someone compressing the seat/backrest cushions. If anybody is having issues with their heating systems, it is usually the connectors on the heater control unit, an open grip circuit or one of the other connectors.

Thanks for the information. Going over the mountain passes in Colorado the temps got down to 45°F and my seat felt great. My wife's seat on the other hand wasn't working. I found it funny, she didn't. She was sitting on it ambient temp was 45° and the back seat wasn't heating. I told the dealer and he said everyone complains about the heated seat but drop it off and they will check it out. That will have to wait till it gets cold. I should pull the seat and check the wires first I guess.

Elk Hunter

Im happy for every one who is happy with their ride. in that these are wings most of us are happy a lot. dawg you got it.... if a rider is dressed, they won't feel the electric seat. I rode over Donner Pass in December, it was 23 degrees and 18 inches of snow. Dressed as I was, you might have set my seat on fire and I wouldn't have known it.

Reading all this I'm even more confirmed, the fewer electric doo-dads, the better.

Bear in mind that principle involved here is "radiant heat." Even when the seat is working properly and warming your tush, it shouldn't feel warm to the touch. (Except maybe immediately after you get off of it.)

As long as my passengers buns are warm I'm smilin'.....

The seat works via conductive heat transfer, not radiant transfer.

The wires that run through the seat heat up due to resistance of the wire and the current running through them and then heat the surrounding foam material in the seat. The wires in the seat heat up just like a 120VAC heating blanket (but do not get as hot).

If the seat is working correctly, ambient temp is 60 to 65 F (stock) or lower, you can start the bike, turn the seat on, and it should begin to heat up. You should be able to feel it with your hand. It does take a few minutes. You can use a non-contact IR thermometer to get temp readings on the seat surface.

I checked mine after I did the mod on my bike to raise the ambient point at which the seat will "turn on". After a few minutes with the engine RPM slightly raised (to raise current going to the seat), I was reading over 103 degrees F on the top surface of the seat (and climbing). If I run my seat at max now, it gets too hot to be comfortable.

Link to mod to raise ambient temp. Easy to do and my seat works great now.
http://gl1800riders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=196872

Rob

Welcome to the Comfort Package group of confused people!
There is a theory that the heat is governed by the ambient temp. Who knows!
I have an 06.
I find my grips and seat work fine in cool temps. Usually have to turn both down to #2 or #3.
In extreme cold, the seat is useless as I feel no heat through my winter riding gear. The grip heat can be felt but, then your palms are not what is exposed to the cold anyway!
Over all, as waste of good money as is the Nav system!

I always felt the heated seat was a waste until I got a bike with it. I only wear chaps during the winter (yes it gets cold in north Alabama) so The heated seat works very good for me. The grips are the best addition though. If it is 80 degrees out side, you turn on the seat heater how are you going to know if it is working if the heater only heats to 80 degrees.

just a thought.

dd

The seat heater is definitely governed by a thermister. You can see this in the schematics. Putting a 10K or higher resistor in the circuit raises the temp the seat will "kick in". Outside temp has to be below 60 to 65 F for the seat heater to work on a stock non-modified GL1800. The heater should provide more than 80 degrees of heat measured at the top surface of the seat.
As to feeling this when wearing winter clothes, it makes sense that with a lot of clothes covering your tushy, you may not feel the seat heater.
For me, in jeans, I can feel it since I did the mod and I like it a lot!
Rob

Love the heated seat and grips on my 09. On those days when temp struggles to get out of the 30's they feel great. Have grip puppies on my grips and they allow the heat through without any problem.

I have read over the years how worthless the heaters are on the 1800s. So when my wife and I purchased our Basic Model 10, I was not expecting much. It seems we are pleasantly surprised though. The coldest that we have ridden in, is only about 50 degrees, but it works great. I was considering a basic model 08, as they were going for a nice price, but am glad now that I got the 2010 with the heaters. Cold hands were always the toughest part of riding in chilly weather.....

I have read over the years how worthless the heaters are on the 1800s. So when my wife and I purchased our Basic Model 10, I was not expecting much. It seems we are pleasantly surprised though. The coldest that we have ridden in, is only about 50 degrees, but it works great. I was considering a basic model 08, as they were going for a nice price, but am glad now that I got the 2010 with the heaters. Cold hands were always the toughest part of riding in chilly weather.....

Yes, they do work in cool weather. The passenger has the + of a heater in the back rest!
But, IMHO not a benefit in cold weather, I'm talking below freezing. For the money charged back in 06 for the Comfort Package, I could have bought some nice heated clothing/gloves!

tfd,

You are right Sir. For the money difference that I paid between a '08, and the '10, I could have bought those myself. I hate when people inject that thing called "common sense." LOL

I think you guys in the US have too many choices LOL. Here in Canada, we have two: one with the airbag and one without. All have the Navi, heaters, premium sound and ABS. Of course, we don't get the XM option, or the SD card in the Navi. We're second rate citizens in Hondaland hehe.

I have had exceptional luck with Hartco seats. In my opinion they are the best custom-built saddle on the market. There is a must read article penned by the former editor of Wing World magazine on their web site. www.hartcoseats.com