Squirrelly Handling on 2013 RT Limited

[scooterguy]

I have had my 2013 Spyder RT Ltd. for 2 days now and am beginning to wonder if there is something amiss in the steering geometry adjustment- namely toe in. First off I am not a new rider to much of any cycle. Only new to Spyders. Over 50 years on the saddles of 2 wheelers, trikes, side car machines, ATVs etc. My RT seems to be hunting around the road for a place to go. In gusty winds it has an annoying wobble, on straight road it zigs here and zags there, not much mind you but enough to bug me. On a curve it is worse. And no, I am not over driving it or over correcting it. For sure I would not let go of the handle bars. Nice riding machine other than the annoying directional control. I will do a complete steering inspection and toe in check. Any ideas or similar experiences?

[happyspyder2039]

I have had my 2013 Spyder RT Ltd. for 2 days now and am beginning to wonder if there is something amiss in the steering geometry adjustment- namely toe in. First off I am not a new rider to much of any cycle. Only new to Spyders. Over 50 years on the saddles of 2 wheelers, trikes, side car machines, ATVs etc. My RT seems to be hunting around the road for a place to go. In gusty winds it has an annoying wobble, on straight road it zigs here and zags there, not much mind you but enough to bug me. On a curve it is worse. And no, I am not over driving it or over correcting it. For sure I would not let go of the handle bars. Nice riding machine other than the annoying directional control. I will do a complete steering inspection and toe in check. Any ideas or similar experiences?

Check your Air Pressure in tires. you will be amazed what a PSI or 2 will do to the handling & tracking

[finless]

You will need to relearn to ride a spyder. Trust me. In fact motorcycler riders have a harder time relearning.

Maybe read this little story of my first test drive:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...st-impressions


Bob

[rayeade]

Have your dealer check the VIN to see if the ball joints need to be replaced. A death grip can also cause problems. I only have had mine for about 5 weeks ago.


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[mcaccamise]

Once u have checked the vin# and ball joints check the alignment 2013 specks also the Ron sway bar would make a huge difference in the handling many spyders owners now have them the handling is like night and day good luck.
Mike

[BajaRon]

You will need to relearn to ride a spyder. Trust me. In fact motorcycler riders have a harder time relearning.

Maybe read this little story of my first test drive:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...st-impressions


Bob

This was my experience exactly after many years and many miles on 2 wheels. The Spyder is fundamentally different (which I understood) but my brain was not making the proper adjustments.

The problem is, it may also be your Spyder giving you fits and not your brain! That is because there are some new 2013's that have the very issues you describe because of improper setup or bad components. Sorting it out over the Internet is difficult. The solution is finding an honest, knowledgeable dealer that will make sure your ride is dialed in. Then, if you still have the same issues, it's probably you.

If it is you, you will get the hang of it. It took me about 300 miles to start to understand what I was doing wrong and correct it. I can tell you now my issues were 100% my fault. (Which is what Lamont has been telling me for years!)

[COOLMACHINE]

Of course, I"m not sure what the problem is but the first thing you may want to try, (something that you can do yourself ) is to lessen your hold on those handlebars. This ride should track straight down the road. Minimal steering required. Again, that is what quickly comes to mind. Best of luck and hopefully the problem can be diagnosed quickly.

[scooterguy]

Of course, I"m not sure what the problem is but the first thing you may want to try, (something that you can do yourself ) is to lessen your hold on those handlebars. This ride should track straight down the road. Minimal steering required. Again, that is what quickly comes to mind. Best of luck and hopefully the problem can be diagnosed quickly.

Thank you. There you have it. Relax the grip on the bars to the point of no pressure (kind of have my fingers close to the grips) and the machine will promptly wander right or left and usually more right due to the crown of our 2 land roads.

[SpyderAnn01]

Thank you. There you have it. Relax the grip on the bars to the point of no pressure (kind of have my fingers close to the grips) and the machine will promptly wander right or left and usually more right due to the crown of our 2 land roads.

You are not alone and you are not oversteering. I have the same problem and I have nearly 70,000 miles on Spyders. The shocks are being replaced on mine on the 11th of July and I will let everyone know what that does to the wobble.

By the way your experiences and descriptions are exactly what I am experiencing with my 2013. I have BajaRon's swaybar and it makes the bike handle much better in the curves but has not helped the wandering/wobbling issues. Unlike on the 2010 where the BajaRon bar made a night and day difference in the handling.

[agasperino]

I am having the same experience with my 2013 rt limited and don't let anyone talk you into the its you diagnosis. I just switched spiders with my friend who is driving a 2012 rt he drove about three miles pulled over and said to me there is something not right which was really a superfluous statement because I just got off his 2012 and it drove like a dream,straight no wondering or darting,the way I expected the 13 to be. Can am must step up to the plate here not the dealers . There is something not right with some of their 13 and they must find out what's wrong before someone gets hurt.

[NancysToy]

Wandering, following road surface variations, and darting around are usually signs of insufficient toe-in. An alignment, following the 2013 procedures and specs (toward the tight side) and using the tools developed for that job, can improve things in most cases. There can be other factors. Faulty or tight steering components, such as the batch of bad ball joints, could enter into it. Tire pressures matter...16-18 up front seems to be best with the 2013s. Finally, despite thinking you are not overcontrolling...you probably are. We all did so at first...maybe for 1,000 miles or more. On a bike you normally react to a gust of wind, and automatically compensate. It is hard to let the wind move your upper body around and not move your arms at all. The slightest steering input moves a Spyder around. Bumps are similar, any motion transmitted to the handlebars results in a reaction. The Spyder has no gyroscopic stability like a 2-wheeler, so it tends to move around more than you are used to. Steering sensor calibration can enter into things, too...which is a real possibility if there is a tendency to continuously pull to one side.

My advice...have the front end carefully aligned and inspected by a competent shop, check your tire pressures, have your steering sensor calibation checked on BUDS, make a conscious effort to loosen your grip and not react to road and wind variations. Have an experienced Spyder rider try your Spyder, ride another Spyder yourself if you can (2012 or earlier or a dealer demo). That should tell you whether yours is significantly different. I hope you find the answer to your difficulties soon.

[scooterguy]

Wandering, following road surface variations, and darting around are usually signs of insufficient toe-in. An alignment, following the 2013 procedures and specs (toward the tight side) and using the tools developed for that job, can improve things in most cases. There can be other factors. Faulty or tight steering components, such as the batch of bad ball joints, could enter into it. Tire pressures matter...16-18 up front seems to be best with the 2013s. Finally, despite thinking you are not overcontrolling...you probably are. We all did so at first...maybe for 1,000 miles or more. On a bike you normally react to a gust of wind, and automatically compensate. It is hard to let the wind move your upper body around and not move your arms at all. The slightest steering input moves a Spyder around. Bumps are similar, any motion transmitted to the handlebars results in a reaction. The Spyder has no gyroscopic stability like a 2-wheeler, so it tends to move around more than you are used to. Steering sensor calibration can enter into things, too...which is a real possibility if there is a tendency to continuously pull to one side.

My advice...have the front end carefully aligned and inspected by a competent shop, check your tire pressures, have your steering sensor calibation checked on BUDS, make a conscious effort to loosen your grip and not react to road and wind variations. Have an experienced Spyder rider try your Spyder, ride another Spyder yourself if you can (2012 or earlier or a dealer demo). That should tell you whether yours is significantly different. I hope you find the answer to your difficulties soon.

You have brought up a good point about riding another Spyder. I rode a 2013 ST Limited during a BRP factory demo event. The ride was over several miles of varying traffic and road conditions. My wife was passenger. After the initial bout of overcontrolling on the first couple of curves I had no difficulties what so ever. It was a sweet ride. My RT Limited is way different.

[gorcutt]

My 2013 RT LTD was darting all over the place, they found that the steering colum was bad, the upper steering knuckle had a 1/4 inch of play, it was changed and was a lot better. I brought the air in the front tires up to 20 lb that helped also. It still doesent go down the road as will as the 2010 RTS that I traded in did, but it is much better now then when I got it. Hope this helps.

[Firefly]

Good advice given by all..... and I would certainly have the front end checked out... but I'd also add the beefier swaybar from Baja Ron.........that will help keep you on track.


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[DR Buck]

I have no experience on the 2013 models, but my 2012 did the same thing before I tightened the shocks all the way to the max. Then it was OK. Since then I have added the new sway bar and Elka shocks. Now it's a dream ride.

[Firefly]

I have no experience on the 2013 models, but my 2012 did the same thing before I tightened the shocks all the way to the max. Then it was OK. Since then I have added the new sway bar and Elka shocks. Now it's a dream ride.

2013 shocks not adjustable.

[BajaRon]

2013 shocks not adjustable.

Ah!!!! And there in may lie an issue me thinks....

[ARtraveler]

Scotty is right on with the advice.

Prior to 2013, the issues of oversteering, overcontrol, low tire pressure, shock adjustments, etc. were usually the answers for about 90% of the problems mentioned.

When I came over from two wheels to in 2008, I had to unlearn 40 years of two-wheeling. I was not really comfortable until I had put about 1000 miles on.

The 2013's opened up a whole new scenario. Many experienced owners encountered the issues you are talking about. Turns out, they had ball joint issues on many. They went through a period of re-alignment issues also. It is now recommended that a competent dealer get your machine set up properly so that the handling issues are corrected. IMO: the may not have been prepped properly before sending you out on the road. SOME dealers like to bolt em together, check off the list, and send em down the road. This can result is a that does not handle well.

[BajaRon]

One thing is for sure. Once you get your Spyder dialed in, you'll find it one of the greatest rides you've ever owned. Hang in there, it will be worth it.

On another note: Have you noticed that Bob has not posted to this thread!? Should we consider posting an APB?

[scooterguy]

Check your Air Pressure in tires. you will be amazed what a PSI or 2 will do to the handling & tracking

I checked the tire pressure and found 23-24 psi in the front tires. Never checked pressure as machine was direct from dealer. I reduced the pressure to 16 psi in accordance with the book limits. We did a 80 mile trip today and handling was much improved! I do feel there is a real need for a better anti sway or roll bar. I am not happy with the roll right or left on cornering. Now which sway bar to buy?

[Firefly]

I checked the tire pressure and found 23-24 psi in the front tires. Never checked pressure as machine was direct from dealer. I reduced the pressure to 16 psi in accordance with the book limits. We did a 80 mile trip today and handling was much improved! I do feel there is a real need for a better anti sway or roll bar. I am not happy with the roll right or left on cornering. Now which sway bar to buy?

Baja Ron's. just do it.

[LadyDi'sSpyder]

I have had my 2013 Spyder RT Ltd. for 2 days now and am beginning to wonder if there is something amiss in the steering geometry adjustment- namely toe in. First off I am not a new rider to much of any cycle. Only new to Spyders. Over 50 years on the saddles of 2 wheelers, trikes, side car machines, ATVs etc. My RT seems to be hunting around the road for a place to go. In gusty winds it has an annoying wobble, on straight road it zigs here and zags there, not much mind you but enough to bug me. On a curve it is worse. And no, I am not over driving it or over correcting it. For sure I would not let go of the handle bars. Nice riding machine other than the annoying directional control. I will do a complete steering inspection and toe in check. Any ideas or similar experiences?

Yes, my 2013 limited is approaching 600 miles and can't wait to get back to the dealer. Traded in my 2010 RTS and it was much more stable than this one. Not sure if it's ball joints, alignment, or what. It is as squirrely as yours and I never rode 2 wheels, so no relearning curve here.

[MouthPiece]

Yes, my 2013 limited is approaching 600 miles and can't wait to get back to the dealer. Traded in my 2010 RTS and it was much more stable than this one. Not sure if it's ball joints, alignment, or what. It is as squirrely as yours and I never rode 2 wheels, so no relearning curve here.

​Need the Rolo alignment.

[Barlock]

I checked the tire pressure and found 23-24 psi in the front tires. Never checked pressure as machine was direct from dealer. I reduced the pressure to 16 psi in accordance with the book limits. We did a 80 mile trip today and handling was much improved! I do feel there is a real need for a better anti sway or roll bar. I am not happy with the roll right or left on cornering. Now which sway bar to buy?

Here is a link to Baja Ron sway bar:

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...rs-amp-Helmets

It seemed to help a lot of 2013 rt's

[FLAspydergirl]

​Need the Rolo alignment.

I agree.. http://www.spydercomfort.com/alignment.htm

check it out