18 wheelers

[Harley]

I am new to riding on the Interstate, but the few rides we have taken, when approaching an 18 wheeler I encounter a heck of lot of buffering. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong. It tends to scare the out of me and the little woman behind me gets very unhappy. As everybody knows we don't want an unhappy woman.. Thanks..

[Jeriatric]

I am new to riding on the Interstate, but the few rides we have taken, when approaching an 18 wheeler I encounter a heck of lot of buffering. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong. It tends to scare the out of me and the little woman behind me gets very unhappy. As everybody knows we don't want an unhappy woman.. Thanks..

It's normal. Try increasing the spring tension on your front shocks for added stability.

[Bob Denman]

If you're aware that it's going to happen; it'd easier to deal with it! Grip the tank with your knees to help steady yourself on the bike too!

[ARtraveler]

It seems to be the "normal" thing. I also note that 18 wheelers that are carrying shipping containers instead of a regular trailer seem to give off even more buffeting.

[johnnyg]

The best way to deal with 18 wheeler is, stay as far as you can to the left an put the hammer down. If you can't pass stay back off them at lest a 100 feet or further. Trust me I drive a 18 wheeler I look for bikes that are not paying attention an do my best to let them go around if possible.I have a 2010 RT when we went to Cowtown this year I had them put the ELKa [stage #1] shocks on an I don't worry about 18 wheelers any more, Put a good pair of shocks and adj your air in your tires if you are running what BRP recommends it's to low for me I'am 6'2'' 255 lb the stiffer the front end is the better you can feel the road which all falls back to the handling of your spyder. I run 30 in the front 30 in the rear, My wife has a 2011 RS an she runs 20 in the front an 30 in the rear. She 5' 4'' and NO I'am not that stupid

[shelbydave]

I watched one shred a tire on I-95. Itry to be in a different zip code when following them.

[billybovine]

I passed this 18 wheeler (well honestly I don't know how many wheels it has) and had no buffeting at all.

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[SpyderAnn01]

Do you ride with your windshield all the way up? I find that doing that causes more buffeting so I always ride with mine all the way down.

[CMA Cowboy]

Elkas fixed a lot of the buffeting for me. I do get around them as quickly as possible. Saw one hit a rubber gater and sent rubber flying all over. Bit unnerving on a bike.

[Eraser]

Elkas fixed a lot of the buffeting for me. I do get around them as quickly as possible. Saw one hit a rubber gater and sent rubber flying all over. Bit unnerving on a bike.

Elkas solved it for me as well.The Spyder is Rock solid,but I get pitched around a bit.To be expected.

[gypsy_100]

Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong.

Normal. Two-wheelers suffer the same problem. The best thing is to stay loose. The bike gets buffeted but is more stable than you think. The problem is that you also get buffeted and if you're tense (which is normal) and tighten up, then every time you get moved, you also pull on the bars, even if you don't intend to. So your movement pulls the bars and the bike changes direction. Then you work harder at staying straight and get more tense and tighter and the spiral gets worse. Stay loose, let yourself get blown around without moving the bars and you'll be OK. Annoying but OK. I agree the stiffer front shock setting helps and I recently added Elka's to my 2011 RT and they help a lot. But concentrate on staying loose and keep your arms relaxed. Not easy at first but try it and you'll get the hang of it.

[NancysToy]

Good advice here. Don't fight it. You'll get used to it in time.

[GloryRyders]

I agree with adding the elka's...............since we had them put on prior to Spyderfest this year, we don't have near the problems with 18 wheelers as in the past!

[flybuddy]

Do you ride with your windshield all the way up? I find that doing that causes more buffeting so I always ride with mine all the way down.

I agree but when I do this I get some helmet buffeting (I've got the sport windscreen)...The only time I crank it all the way up is when I'm going over 70 to stop the helmet shake. The sport windscreen does help with turbulence. One word of caution though, if you like looking over the windscreen and add Elkas, it raises the front up and you're only about an inch lower than where you started.

[Kinderhook]

I am new to riding on the Interstate, but the few rides we have taken, when approaching an 18 wheeler I encounter a heck of lot of buffering. Is this normal, or am I doing something wrong. It tends to scare the out of me and the little woman behind me gets very unhappy. As everybody knows we don't want an unhappy woman.. Thanks..

Much like the "wandering" that some new riders report, buffeting is more a matter of what the rider feels than what is happening to the Spyder. Just relax and steer normally and you'll find the machine handles the wind with no problem. You don't need high priced shocks or settings so high as to make the ride too stiff for comfort. As you will quickly find, this forum is full of folks who can't wait to "improve" their ride with all kinds of after market devices. I am not saying these add ons are of no value, but do feel most are not needed for safe operation. Get used to your machine with at least 600-1,000 miles riding time and then make a decision on shocks; you just might save yourself some serious money.

[Harley]

Much like the "wandering" that some new riders report, buffeting is more a matter of what the rider feels than what is happening to the Spyder. Just relax and steer normally and you'll find the machine handles the wind with no problem. You don't need high priced shocks or settings so high as to make the ride too stiff for comfort. As you will quickly find, this forum is full of folks who can't wait to "improve" their ride with all kinds of after market devices. I am not saying these add ons are of no value, but do feel most are not needed for safe operation. Get used to your machine with at least 600-1,000 miles riding time and then make a decision on shocks; you just might save yourself some serious money.

I really appreciate all the replys, and I am going to try to stay "loose and relaxed" when I am behind an 18 wheeler. You can bet that I am going to be squeezing the Spyder with my knees, though. Thanks again and God Bless..

[Bob Denman]

The reason that I suggested locking on with your knees, is that the buffeting can get you to rocking around int he saddle and it's easy to add a little bit of unwanted steering input under those conditions...

[currin20fan]

Installed Stage 1 Elka's and relaxed the grip on my 2011 RT limited. I am now "one" with the . Works great! I highly recommend it!

[Dudley]

Speed up to pass as quickly as possible. Trying to pass at 2 or 3 miles faster than the 18 wheeler, you are asking for disaster...getting sucked into the rig being one possibility. Handle the Spyder as you would a car...not much difference.

[donec]

The reason that I suggested locking on with your knees, is that the buffeting can get you to rocking around int he saddle and it's easy to add a little bit of unwanted steering input under those conditions...

I found with the stock pegs on my GS SE5 that it was pretty hard for me to squeeze my knees to hold onto my Spyder but after installing the Seal Floorboards and 4"x1" HeliBars Risers I don't really need to squeeze my knees at all.

[Desert Spyder]

After awhile you will recognize which trucks produce more turbulence than others. You will also estimate their speed because the faster they drive the more turb they create. In the summer, the air is also hotter! The standard square lined trucks and boxes will create the most. Some trucking lines now put aerodynamic lines in the front on top of the roof, and in the back of the trailer for fuel economy (wish we could do that). These produce the least turb. Soon you will associate who has what, even subconciously. I prefer staying in the fast lane when I ryde alone, depending on traffic of course. Living in the hot desert there is a lot of junk lying in the slow lanes from truck tires. The two lanes on the right will tend to have a broken surface, even the cement ones, caused by the heavy vehicles. Spyder ryders do not like this. When traffic increases I will move to the most middle lane looking for escape routes. And look out for the fast boys coming behind you. Many do not drive defensively!

[mick ruhdorf]

last serious encounter with an 18 wheeler i dont remember much buffeting but i do rember thinking OH CRAP just as i relised he wasnt stopping at the stop sign and then it was just very painfull until the ambulance got there. theres not much give in a kenworth when u slam into the side of it i seriously dont recomend it at all





mick
keep the shiny side up

[docdoru]

The standard square lined trucks and boxes will create the most.

Actually these are the worst:

[flaggerphil]

When I'm passing an 18 wheeler I make it as quick as possible. And I stay as far away from it as the number of lanes will allow. There's going to be buffeting from them no matter what you do...get past it as quick as possible or stay as far away from it as possible.

[flybuddy]

When I'm passing an 18 wheeler I make it as quick as possible. And I stay as far away from it as the number of lanes will allow. There's going to be buffeting from them no matter what you do...get past it as quick as possible or stay as far away from it as possible.

It's good advice if you can..On places like I-75 which is just loaded with semis you are constantly in their company.