Does it ride better or less swaying if we stiff/move up the suspension one notch?

[autoexacto]

Hi Y People...quick question, does a Spyder (2014 RT Limited) handles better (does not sways to sides as much) if you stiff the supension?...I think noticed yesterday that after I changed the suspension one notch higher to hard (from mid to one) did not sway as much. Was it my imagination or when it stiffs up drives better?...thanks all for your comments/feedback! PS: bf anyone asks, YEP I got the sway bar already from Ron pending arrival and installation... :-)

[ARtraveler]

I have always had my adjustable set up on the 2nd highest position with the RT's. Never added a sway bar or other than OEM shocks.

For me, the handles just fine.

[BikerDoc]

I think you will find that when you stiffen the suspension that it will handle tighter (especially on corners) but not necessarily offer as smooth of ride. I added the sway bar without stiffening the suspension and it handles great and rides like a dream. I really only feel the need for the sway bar in strong cross winds not in cornering

[autoexacto]

I think you will find that when you stiffen the suspension that it will handle tighter (especially on corners) but not necessarily offer as smooth of ride. I added the sway bar without stiffening the suspension and it handles great and rides like a dream. I really only feel the need for the sway bar in strong cross winds not in cornering

Thanks for your comments, must be that I am not used to on riding a Spyder since I have been riding regular bikes. I do feel that moves side to side or ¨sways¨ as I interpret it. The roads that I have been mostly are two way around small hills with nice turns (some sharp some, not. When I turned, passed a car or the road was not leveled it would sway or feel that would go to the lower level side. Now, am I missing something? Already have 1100 miles in less than a month or so and I do not ride it everyday, would think that got used to it. But to ME, changing the electronic suspension one more bar from mid point made the difference, am I crazy or what?...jejeje

[Chupaca]

The stiffer the tighter. It will handle better. Once you install the swaybar you can go back if you want the comfort. But to answer your question..it is not your imagination. It helps the handling but makes it a stiffer (bumpier) ryde...

[Bob Denman]

When you encounter a situation that causes the "swaying", bring your knees in against the tank. It'll hold you steady in the seat, and you'll feel a lot more comfortable.

[mtdoragary]

No adjustment has helped mine, but I'm moving the shock mounts inboard an inch to see if that helps.

Thanks for your comments, must be that I am not used to on riding a Spyder since I have been riding regular bikes. I do feel that moves side to side or ¨sways¨ as I interpret it. The roads that I have been mostly are two way around small hills with nice turns (some sharp some, not. When I turned, passed a car or the road was not leveled it would sway or feel that would go to the lower level side. Now, am I missing something? Already have 1100 miles in less than a month or so and I do not ride it everyday, would think that got used to it. But to ME, changing the electronic suspension one more bar from mid point made the difference, am I crazy or what?...jejeje

[robmorg]

I have always had my adjustable set up on the 2nd highest position with the RT's. Never added a sway bar or other than OEM shocks.

For me, the handles just fine.

The beefier BajaRon sway bar made a very noticeable difference for me, but the OEM sway bar and shocks are probably fine for you. It is we big guys that [unfortunately] need the extra stiffness. I would probably benefit from upgrading the front shocks as well, but I've spent enough money on my Spyder for a while.

[ulflyer]

I stiffened my fronts and it made a LOT of difference on uneven pavement. Heres a cheap way to do it and You won't have to
pay $800 for Elkas.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/s...370#post866370

[Bob Denman]

...Just be careful about "Coil-Bind"...
Please make sure that you still have full suspension travel available...

[BajaRon]

Think of it this way. If you removed the shocks and installed a solid bar in their place, how much lean, sway, dive would you get?

ZERO!

But your dentures would fall out and your head would hurt from your eyeballs bouncing around. Think, riding on a lawnmower or tractor over bumpy ground.

Ergo, the hydraulic shock was invented.

So, if the shock spring is set very soft, your ride is very comfy, but you sacrifice handling in the form of a great deal of lean, sway and dive. Though you can reduce lean, etc., with the spring setting adjustment, that is not primarily what the spring adjustment is for. Spring adjustment is provided to maintain ride height when you load the Spyder, not to fix lean issues.

You can stiffen up your shock springs to counter this unwanted lean, (effectively getting closer to the steel bar scenario), but you'll sacrifice some ride comfort. The purpose of a shock is to reach that happy medium of reasonably good ride and reasonably good handling.

But shocks can provide only so much of either. Any improvement in one aspect is always at the expense of the other.

So, how can we achieve more of what we want (better handling) and still have a great ride? Better shocks (i.e. Elka) can provide this to a certain degree. But one component is rarely the complete answer, especially when it comes to suspension.

The Sway Bar was invented, (or, more accurately, the Anti-Sway bar), to assist the shocks in resisting sway, lean and dive without increasing harshness of ride. Because the sway bar has no affect on the suspension (shocks/springs included) when running straight, you can maintain your cushy spring setting without the negative aspects encountered in turns, crosswinds, etc. Because when you turn, the sway bar jumps in and takes care of the unwanted sway, lean and dive.

So, you can have your cake and eat it too!

[autoexacto]

Excellent info guys, I just can't wait to get my Bajaron... Possibly will get the Elkas too depending on the piggy bank...

[BajaRon]

Excellent info guys, I just can't wait to get my Bajaron... Possibly will get the Elkas too depending on the piggy bank...

That has got to be the slowest Express package I've ever shipped! I guess they must be having a lot of fun with it. That bar has more miles on it than most Spyders!

[autoexacto]

That has got to be the slowest Express package I've ever shipped! I guess they must be having a lot of fun with it. That bar has more miles on it than most Spyders!

JAJAJA/LOL you made me laugh, actually it has more miles than my RT (1600 kms now = 1000 miles). At least is here and REALLY looking forward to installing it....thanks Ron, great service!!!