riding 2 up with a freedom trailer question

[bcer960]

We purchased a new freedom trailer and are out on the second trip with it. On both trips, my wife is complaining that there is a strong smell of exhaust, and she is getting headaches. I, as the rider, don't smell the exhaust. I have looked under the bike and there are no signs of anything broken on the exhaust, and it's still nice and quiet.

We put two other things on the bike at the same time as the trailer, one I am sure is not a contributor, that is the TricLED Batwing. It goes across the hitch as a rock guard. I cannot see how that would effect the exhaust.

The other was 7jurock windshield. 27" high with a flip, 2" wider each side. This is undoubtedly effecting the airflow, and "could" be creating a back draft to bring the exhaust up to my wife. However, we have done tests with the windshield up, down and in the middle, and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

Thanks
Ray

[Brentc]

Hi Ray, have same issue with my 2014 rts and 622 trailer. I have added a couple things this spring to try and eliminate issue. I added adjustable side deflectors and also a mud flap to hopefully change the vacuum effect in the rear of the bike so it doesn’t pull the fumes up to the passenger. We’re heading out on our first trip of the season in a week and half so I can let you know after we return if it appears to have helped.

[bcer960]

Hi Ray, have same issue with my 2014 rts and 622 trailer. I have added a couple things this spring to try and eliminate issue. I added adjustable side deflectors and also a mud flap to hopefully change the vacuum effect in the rear of the bike so it doesn’t pull the fumes up to the passenger. We’re heading out on our first trip of the season in a week and half so I can let you know after we return if it appears to have helped.

Looking forward to hearing what happens.

[Brentc]

Looking forward to hearing what happens.

Well, we just did a 400 mile round trip to Benezette Pennsylvania, which was amazing if you want to see bull elk walk outside your front door! Anyway, our setup now with the adjustable side deflectors, e tended mud flap and vented windshield has resulted in no fumes for my wife! So, I’m not 100% sure which of the 3 things fixed the issue, or maybe combination of things, but my hunch is that the extended mudflap really made a difference and I would say that’s an inexpensive simple first step to try.

[bcer960]

Well, we just did a 400 mile round trip to Benezette Pennsylvania, which was amazing if you want to see bull elk walk outside your front door! Anyway, our setup now with the adjustable side deflectors, e tended mud flap and vented windshield has resulted in no fumes for my wife! So, I’m not 100% sure which of the 3 things fixed the issue, or maybe combination of things, but my hunch is that the extended mudflap really made a difference and I would say that’s an inexpensive simple first step to try.

We have the extended mud flap, which, when we took off made a huge negative effect. So, yes I can say that it helps. Unfortunately, every time I have the time to do more experiments, it is raining here. But, so far I have not found a solution.

[canamjhb]

Your progress so far has just convinced me of the value of the adjustable air wings below the mirrors. I routinely take mine off for warm weather and put them on for cooler. For warm weather, the adjustable wings can be opened up to direct airflow into the cockpit area. Cool or wet weather they can be closed for protection. Expensive for a couple hunks of plastic but perhaps the function makes it worthwhile.

[PMK]

We purchased a new freedom trailer and are out on the second trip with it. On both trips, my wife is complaining that there is a strong smell of exhaust, and she is getting headaches. I, as the rider, don't smell the exhaust. I have looked under the bike and there are no signs of anything broken on the exhaust, and it's still nice and quiet.

We put two other things on the bike at the same time as the trailer, one I am sure is not a contributor, that is the TricLED Batwing. It goes across the hitch as a rock guard. I cannot see how that would effect the exhaust.

The other was 7jurock windshield. 27" high with a flip, 2" wider each side. This is undoubtedly effecting the airflow, and "could" be creating a back draft to bring the exhaust up to my wife. However, we have done tests with the windshield up, down and in the middle, and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

Thanks
Ray

Have you installed a cat bypass exhaust pipe? Is the exhaust system stock?

Some passengers mention smelling exhaust fumes after installing the bypass pipe.

We have a 14 RTS, and 622 trailer, plus have the bypass pipe. With the oem windscreen or the now installed F4, we have yet to smell exhaust fumes.

I did fabricate a secondary mugflap to prevent waterspray from getting on the back of the passenger. Possibly that alters the airflow path around the rear of the Spyder.

[canamjhb]

Is your windscreen vented? Venting helps reduce vacuum pressure behind the windscreen. If not vented you are likely pulling exhaust up into the vacuum created by your larger screen. To help, try removing the little wind deflectors below your mirrors. That will allow a bit more air to flow around you and your passenger. If that does it for you, then I would invest in the adjustable deflectors. As a safety measure, make sure you pull over for lots of breaks when your passenger is feeling ANY exhaust effects. Don't let her try to "tough it out". You need to resolve this. Good luck.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

The air whips around the Spyder. Without the trailer even, my flags fly backward and in rainy weather I get as much or more dirt on the backside of the windshield as the front. Do a search on exhaust. It was discussed a lot a couple of years ago and there were several suggestions about how to alleviate it. The tall and wide windshield adds to the problem I'm sure. I have the tall and wide F4 shield.

[bcer960]

Is your windscreen vented? Venting helps reduce vacuum pressure behind the windscreen. If not vented you are likely pulling exhaust up into the vacuum created by your larger screen. To help, try removing the little wind deflectors below your mirrors. That will allow a bit more air to flow around you and your passenger. If that does it for you, then I would invest in the adjustable deflectors. As a safety measure, make sure you pull over for lots of breaks when your passenger is feeling ANY exhaust effects. Don't let her try to "tough it out". You need to resolve this. Good luck.

No the wind screen is not vented, short of the two holes in the front, same as the OEM wind screen. I will pull off the lower deflectors tomorrow before we head out.
I'll let you know how this works. I do stop for her a lot. Luckily for her, after 32 years, I still want to keep her around......

[bcer960]

Have you installed a cat bypass exhaust pipe? Is the wxhaust system stock?

Some passengers mention smelling exhaust fumes after installing the bypass pipe.

We have a 14 RTS, and 622 trailer, plus have the bypass pipe. With the oem windscreen or the now installed F4, we have yet to smell exhaust fumes.

I did fabricate a secondary mugflap to prevent waterspray from getting on the back of the passenger. Possibly that alters the airflow path around the rear of the Spyder.

We have a stock exhaust, no changes to that at all

I also added a lower mud flap last year, it did not create the exhaust problem

[PMK]

Have you installed a cat bypass exhaust pipe? Is the exhaust system stock?

Some passengers mention smelling exhaust fumes after installing the bypass pipe.

We have a 14 RTS, and 622 trailer, plus have the bypass pipe. With the oem windscreen or the now installed F4, we have yet to smell exhaust fumes.

I did fabricate a secondary mudflap to prevent water spray from getting on the back of the passenger. Possibly that alters the airflow path around the rear of the Spyder.

Need to add, we also have the adjustable wind deflectors installed, typically run in the middle setting.

Also our RTS does not have those huge oem mirrors installed.

With that said, disregard comparing our setup to anyone elses as ours is quite a bit different aerodynamically.

[CBXBob]

2016 RT-S 2 up with a Black Widow trailer and experienced the same thing. the cure ( for us ) was removal of the after market fender Mud Flap we installed and trimming the Can Am mud flap on the Can Am trailer hitch, which I will be removing completely. Makes the rear messy , but eliminates the fumes. Don't really know why but on a chilly AM, first start for a few minutes, you can see how the exhaust spills up and around the front of the trailer.

[bcer960]

Back home, and the Wife is still breathing, although barely.

We tried several things since writing. part of this trip was to the Lake Pateroes Pac NW spyder rally. We talked with a few others who are riding 2 up with the freedom trailers, and none have the exhaust issue. We compared the setups on the bikes, and the only 3 differences were they didn't have the larger wind screens, the TricLED batwing or the added mud flap.

So, we took off the added mud flap and bat wing off, and while the batwing made no noticeable difference, removing the mud flap made it far, far worse. So, part way home today we put them back on. The last thing to do is to put on the OEM windscreen and see if that does anything. If not, I will try making some pipes to turn the exhaust (outwards??)

The only we have found that makes a positive difference was removing the air wings under the mirrors.

Just keeping everyone up to date. Unfortunately we work, so the next test will be next weekend.

Ray

[canamjhb]

Thanks for the update. I, too, pull a trailer and am very interested in your findings. Keep us posted.

[lewisalice]

We purchased a new freedom trailer and are out on the second trip with it. On both trips, my wife is complaining that there is a strong smell of exhaust, and she is getting headaches. I, as the rider, don't smell the exhaust. I have looked under the bike and there are no signs of anything broken on the exhaust, and it's still nice and quiet.

We put two other things on the bike at the same time as the trailer, one I am sure is not a contributor, that is the TricLED Batwing. It goes across the hitch as a rock guard. I cannot see how that would effect the exhaust.

The other was 7jurock windshield. 27" high with a flip, 2" wider each side. This is undoubtedly effecting the airflow, and "could" be creating a back draft to bring the exhaust up to my wife. However, we have done tests with the windshield up, down and in the middle, and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

Thanks
Ray

I got a 2014 rt same trailer no issues.

[TexAmRider]

We purchased a new freedom trailer and are out on the second trip with it. On both trips, my wife is complaining that there is a strong smell of exhaust, and she is getting headaches. I, as the rider, don't smell the exhaust. I have looked under the bike and there are no signs of anything broken on the exhaust, and it's still nice and quiet.

We put two other things on the bike at the same time as the trailer, one I am sure is not a contributor, that is the TricLED Batwing. It goes across the hitch as a rock guard. I cannot see how that would effect the exhaust.

The other was 7jurock windshield. 27" high with a flip, 2" wider each side. This is undoubtedly effecting the airflow, and "could" be creating a back draft to bring the exhaust up to my wife. However, we have done tests with the windshield up, down and in the middle, and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

Thanks
Ray

We just made our first trip this weekend after trailering the bike to Spyderfest, where we had a cat delete done. I also have the Freedom trailer. In the past I have not noticed any exhaust smell, but this last trip I did while pulling the trailer. My wife also complained about the smell and had a headache as well. I did a bit of looking after we returned home to find I have exhaust leakage at the joint where the stock muffler connects to the cat delete pipe. I suspect there may be some leakage where the cat delete pipe connects to the exhaust manifold. I also have the extra mud flaps installed. I am going to use some muffler wrap at the joint and re-clamp to see if I can stop the leakage, and take it out for a spin to see if that will alleviate the problem. Please let me know if you find a solution..

[Motorcycledave]

Having pulled a trailer with several motorcycles of different types and sizes
I can tell you this is very common, the trailer changes the aerodynamics of the
motorcycle and or the Spyder and creates a different shape air bubble around the passenger.
The only thing I ever found that helped was to change where the exhaust came out,
I found on my Harley and my GoldWings that changing the end on the exhaust pipe from
strait out the back to curved and out the the side was a major help.
any good muffler shop can make up the pipe mine was a slip on that I could remove.
Ride Safe
Dave

[bcer960]

Having pulled a trailer with several motorcycles of different types and sizes
I can tell you this is very common, the trailer changes the aerodynamics of the
motorcycle and or the Spyder and creates a different shape air bubble around the passenger.
The only thing I ever found that helped was to change where the exhaust came out,
I found on my Harley and my GoldWings that changing the end on the exhaust pipe from
strait out the back to curved and out the the side was a major help.
any good muffler shop can make up the pipe mine was a slip on that I could remove.
Ride Safe
Dave

Thanks Dave, yes this is the same conclusion I have some too. I will get 2 pipes made up the will direct the exhaust to the side, when we get back home.

Last night we stayed with some family. This morning I was able to take the trailer off and we went for a 15km ride through town and then 15km back on the highway. There is no issues without the trailer on, so it isn't the 7jurock windshield (although the combination of trailer and windshield may still be the problem).

When we got back from and before heading out today I took off the air wings under the mirrors. My wife says on a scale of 1 - 10, with 10 being perfect, it's a 8. So, good enough we can continue the trip, but not good enough forever.

I also noticed that there is a pocket or depression in the front of the trailer. I am wondering why it's there, as this seems like it would trap the air and cause back pressure. Does anyone know if I was to put plastic over it would it make the trailer less stable?
IMG_4048.jpg

Ray

[garyleblanc1]

hello, we are having the same issue. do you have a picture you can share of the extension? Thanks

[bcer960]

hello, we are having the same issue. do you have a picture you can share of the extension? Thanks

we thought we had fixed the problem. Put the stock windshield back on, took the trailer out a couple times for day trips and had no issues. Then last sept we took our usual 18 day ride which includes the Norcal rally in California, and as soon as we left, we exhaust problem was back.
The theory now is that when we did the day rides, the trailer was empty, and once full ( or nearly) the bike is working just that much harder, so the exhaust output is more.
Unfortunatly, after the sept trip, our riding season is over up her in the great white north, and the bike has been put to bed for a couple months already, and will be away until some time in april .

Once out of storage, my first plan is to cut off the 2 pipes that are the final exhaust, and rotate them so they are pointing outwards. I will load the trailer up and take for a spin to see if this improves the issue. If it doesn't, I will fabricate up two that are longer, and gets the exhaust further out into the airstream.

Sorry I couldn't help more. but winter is here, and I don't have a garage.

If you find a solution, please post it here.

Ray

[TexAmRider]

We purchased a new freedom trailer and are out on the second trip with it. On both trips, my wife is complaining that there is a strong smell of exhaust, and she is getting headaches. I, as the rider, don't smell the exhaust. I have looked under the bike and there are no signs of anything broken on the exhaust, and it's still nice and quiet.

We put two other things on the bike at the same time as the trailer, one I am sure is not a contributor, that is the TricLED Batwing. It goes across the hitch as a rock guard. I cannot see how that would effect the exhaust.

The other was 7jurock windshield. 27" high with a flip, 2" wider each side. This is undoubtedly effecting the airflow, and "could" be creating a back draft to bring the exhaust up to my wife. However, we have done tests with the windshield up, down and in the middle, and it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Just wondering if anyone else has had this issue.

Thanks
Ray

As I mentioned previously while also riding with our freedom trailer this past weekend and after a cat delete at spyder fest we also smelled exhaust fumes. I had not noticed the fumes while riding with the trailer before. I did examine the bike for exhaust leaks and found it leaking at the bypass pipe and muffler joint. I've attached a pic of the repair I made with some muffler wrap tape and it did stop the exhaust leak. There was no leakage at the pipe where it connects to the exhaust manifold. Thought I would take the bike out with the trailer this evening for a while to see if we can still smell exhaust fumes. I'll let you know the outcome.

EXH Patch.JPG

[Peter Aawen]

After having little success by changing the angle or length of the OE Exhaust tips, & failing miserably by fitting a/mkt exhausts, I fitted the 'Rivco luggage rack' version of Vertika trykes rear deck spoiler (I think it's the Rivco RT Extendable Luggage Rack) that resolved the tendency for the pillion passenger to get gassed by the exhaust AND stopped the way ryding in the rain or on wet roads sucked water/mist up so it ran ffown the back of her neck.... AND the back of the RT no longer gets anywhere near as dirty, dusty, &/or mud covered where it used to in the past due to the turbulence created by the trunk & saddle bags!!

So I reckon that fiddling around with re-aiming or extending the exhaust tips really won't do a heap to resolve the problem, but fitting a rear deck spoiler or the Rivco Extendable Luggage rack & changing the air flow around the rear will, by significantly reducing the turbulence behind the Spyder & almost stopping it from sucking up the exhaust - it's gotta be far a better solution than extending & re-aiming the exhaust tips!! It might even help keep your trailer cleaner/virtually dust free up front, & it could possibly also be beneficial to your fuel economy while towing, but you'd probably need to keep careful records to see those changes!

[bcer960]

After having little success by changing the angle or length of the OE Exhaust tips, & failing miserably by fitting a/mkt exhausts, I fitted the 'Rivco luggage rack' version of Vertika trykes rear deck spoiler (I think it's the Rivco RT Extendable Luggage Rack) that resolved the tendency for the pillion passenger to get gassed by the exhaust AND stopped the way ryding in the rain or on wet roads sucked water/mist up so it ran ffown the back of her neck.... AND the back of the RT no longer gets anywhere near as dirty, dusty, &/or mud covered where it used to in the past due to the turbulence created by the trunk & saddle bags!!

So I reckon that fiddling around with re-aiming or extending the exhaust tips really won't do a heap to resolve the problem, but fitting a rear deck spoiler or the Rivco Extendable Luggage rack & changing the air flow around the rear will, by significantly reducing the turbulence behind the Spyder & almost stopping it from sucking up the exhaust - it's gotta be far a better solution than extending & re-aiming the exhaust tips!! It might even help keep your trailer cleaner/virtually dust free up front, & it could possibly also be beneficial to your fuel economy while towing, but you'd probably need to keep careful records to see those changes!

Thanks for all the info. I guess it will save me some work. I have been reluctant to purchase a luggage rack for the back, as i really don't like the looks of them. BUT if it fixes the problem, then i guess it's how I will have to go.

Thanks again
Ray

[PMK]

If it helps.
At the center of the oem mudflap on the Spyder itself, ours is 10 1/4" below the little center point V shape. Almost as low as the hitch mudflap.

Notice also, the exhaust tips are cut basically flush with the mufflers bolted on cap.