DPS Problems. Anyone else?

[ozzie]

Mine is a 09 gs/rs manual 10k miles, 3 years old without a single problem until now.

I was out riding with some sports bike this weekend, rode about 150 miles total and the spyder ran great until I reached 85+ mph. The steering would start shaking back and forth, DPS would scroll across screen, check engine light would come on and I would have to restart to clear the errors. Then it would run fine again until I reached 85+mph and the same thing would happen… did this 4 different times. Finally the last time I did not let off right away and it went in limp mode where I had to pull over and let the spyder sit for a few minutes to clear the errors. I’ve never had a problem with the steering, I did get the updates and the replacement DPS that was offered about a year ago and was wondering if anyone else has had this problem? Or if there are newer updates that correct this. It almost seems if the front tires were unbalanced but I would think you would feel it at a slower speeds also. It’s in the shop now, service manger said it would take 3-4 weeks for repairs. Any suggestions on what it could be? I did replace the front tires not to long ago with car tires and didn't balance them. could this be it?

[ARtraveler]

The unbalanced car tires would be high on my list of where to check first. 3-4 Weeks to get it serviced????????? That seems like a lot of to me.

[Cruzr Joe]

Three or Four Weeks?????????????????


Time for a maintenance shop change.

[Arr MiHardies]

Three or Four Weeks?????????????????


Time for a maintenance shop change.

Agree. That time frame is unacceptable.

[boborgera]

Agree. That time frame is unacceptable.

But not uncommon.

[coz]

then most definately get your fronts balanced. the wheel shake probably freaked out the computer

[Mr. White]

But not uncommon.

Just got BR1 out of the shop after six plus weeks awaiting parts and repair....

[jScotD]

6 + weeks? that's terrible..
good thing you had the Honda

[GeoffCee]

Mine is a 09 gs/rs manual 10k miles, 3 years old without a single problem until now. I was out riding with some sports bike this weekend, rode about 150 miles total and the spyder ran great until I reached 85+ mph. The steering would start shaking back and forth, DPS would scroll across screen, check engine light would come on and I would have to restart to clear the errors.

If this was the 1st time you'd done 85 since fitting your unbalanced tires... Well, you can't tell how much a tire is out of balance by looking at it, but generally the faster you go when there is a balance problem the worse it's likey to show, so I'd say you need to have them balanced and by the dealer who has your Spyder in his workshop, cos it occurs to me that "repairs" may not be necessary once he's done that. Maybe. Here's hoping.

[Schnauzer]

Brp uses the Kenda tire for the simple reason the sidewalls are soft and spongy, they allow the front wheels to absorb some of the negative energy created. An underinflated tire will allow out of balanced tires not to show alot of evidence there is a problem, another reason for running them @ 15-18 psi. { Softer ride to }The right question was asked in recent comments, "Have you ran 85+ since the new tires were installed..Balance your tires.

[docdoru]

... I did get the updates and the replacement DPS that was offered about a year ago and was wondering if anyone else has had this problem?

2008 RS SM5 with 150K miles: 5 DPS's change during the "DPS fiasco", since than no problems.

[ozzie]

The right question was asked in recent comments, "Have you ran 85+ since the new tires were installed..Balance your tires.

Hmmm, It was the first time at 85+ mph on the new tires. - That must it!! . But wouldn't you feel some type of shaking at 50-70 mph too? There is none, smooth as can be. I’m going to let the dealer diagnose it and connect to bubs before giving my opinion and asking them to balance the tires. I heard there were some service bulletins with software upgrades available, anyone know for sure?

[GeoffCee]

Hmmm, It was the first time at 85+ mph on the new tires. - That must it!! . But wouldn't you feel some type of shaking at 50-70 mph too? There is none, smooth as can be. I’m going to let the dealer diagnose it and connect to bubs before giving my opinion and asking them to balance the tires. I heard there were some service bulletins with software upgrades available, anyone know for sure?

You seem to be looking for a whole lot of shaking going on where the unbalanced front tires you fitted are NOT to blame. Easy enough to establish -- ask the dealer to swap your tires for a balanced pair and then take your Spyder out and wind it up to 85+. The problem will be revealed to you in an instant, or maybe it won't. It's your call.

[NancysToy]

Hmmm, It was the first time at 85+ mph on the new tires. - That must it!! . But wouldn't you feel some type of shaking at 50-70 mph too? There is none, smooth as can be. I’m going to let the dealer diagnose it and connect to bubs before giving my opinion and asking them to balance the tires. I heard there were some service bulletins with software upgrades available, anyone know for sure?

Lots of times tires will not show imbalance at lower speeds. Bubble balanced wheels can readily show a shake at highway speeds, but not around town or on rural roads. Wheels balanced on a slower speed spin balancer can show imbalance when used at very high speeds. Law enforcement, racing, and other high speed vehicles usually use a high-speed spin balancer to avoid that problem, spinning the wheels somewhat faster than they expect them to be driven. If a tire is bad, or had to have a lot of weight to balance it, the balance can change with speed.

A tire which has tread that is separating will often show a "hop" at higher speeds, that is not evident at lower rates of rotation. This is hard to differentiate from an imbalance issue. Basically the tire shape goes out of round as the speeds increase and the tire rotates.

At the higher speeds the wheel trueness also comes into play. Small differences in the tread shape or the wheel runout can become problematic at high rotation speeds. My dad used to use a wheel truing machine to adjust cop car tires. It rotated them at the equivalent of 120 mph, and shaved off the tread until they were perfectly round. It made a difference in high speed chases.

I'm inclined to believe that your problem is more likely suspension related if the wheels are true, radially and laterally, and the tires are balanced. Slightly worn shock bushings, tie-rod ends, or ball joints can cause a shake at high speeds...in addition to wearing tires prematurely. No play is acceptable in these components. Check carefully, and if anything is bad replace it, align the front end, and recalibrate the steering sensors.

Please note that none of these issues will shown in BUDS. The only thing that could possibly show up there would be a steering issue that was the root of the shaking...and that is unlikely. This is a job for a mechanic more than a technician...and this stuff isn't in the book.

[Bob Denman]

If a tire is bad, or had to have a lot of weight to balance it, the balance can change with speed.
A tire which has tread that is separating will often show a "hop" at higher speeds, that is not evident at lower rates of rotation. This is hard to differentiate from an imbalance issue. Basically the tire shape goes out of round as the speeds increase and the tire rotates.
I'm inclined to believe that your problem is more likely suspension related if the wheels are true, radially and laterally, and the tires are balanced. Slightly worn shock bushings, tie-rod ends, or ball joints can cause a shake at high speeds...in addition to wearing tires prematurely. No play is acceptable in these components. Check carefully, and if anything is bad replace it, align the front end, and recalibrate the steering sensors.

.

Just doin' my best imitation of BajaRon and cutting what Scotty has said down to the chunky bits that have meat on them...

But...

[ozzie]

I'm inclined to believe that your problem is more likely suspension related if the wheels are true, radially and laterally, and the tires are balanced. Slightly worn shock bushings, tie-rod ends, or ball joints can cause a shake at high speeds...in addition to wearing tires prematurely. No play is acceptable in these components. Check carefully, and if anything is bad replace it, align the front end, and recalibrate the steering sensors.

Please note that none of these issues will shown in BUDS. The only thing that could possibly show up there would be a steering issue that was the root of the shaking...and that is unlikely. This is a job for a mechanic more than a technician...and this stuff isn't in the book.

Just got a call from the dealer, bike is ready. According to them the problem was to much air in the front tires throws the sensors off. Don’t laugh… I had 29psi vs. the recommended 17psi. Which I knew was for the factory tires but I thought the car tires needed more. ( guess you don’t go by what’s on the tire ) Does anyone have car tires? What’s your psi? I’ll report back after going 85+ mph.

i will also check for worn shock bushings, tie-rod ends, or ball joints, thanks for the advise.

[coz]

they did not balance the tires at all ?

[ozzie]

they did not balance the tires at all ?

no, they don't have the equipment and neither do the 3 other dealers I called. Guess I’ll have to take it to a tire shop if this doesn’t work.

[Campverdefela]

no, they don't have the equipment and neither do the 3 other dealers I called. Guess I’ll have to take it to a tire shop if this doesn’t work.

[ozzie]

Mine is a 09 gs/rs manual 10k miles, 3 years old without a single problem until now.

I was out riding with some sports bike this weekend, rode about 150 miles total and the spyder ran great until I reached 85+ mph. The steering would start shaking back and forth, DPS would scroll across screen, check engine light would come on and I would have to restart to clear the errors. Then it would run fine again until I reached 85+mph and the same thing would happen…

Problem solved - To much air pressure in the front tires... test drove today at 100mph no shaking, no errors, $50 later lesson learned! even with car tires only use 17-20 psi.

[NancysToy]

Problem solved - To much air pressure in the front tires... test drove today at 100mph no shaking, no errors, $50 later lesson learned! even with car tires only use 17-20 psi.