Lamonster
10-08-2009, 09:56 AM
As some of you know my loaner RT is back at the factory getting some updates. This has given me a chance to ride my RS again and do a comparison of the two rides. I have a little over 2500 miles on the RT now so I know it well enough to compare the two.
I now have over 41,000 miles on my RS and have spent the last two years getting it just the way I like it. I've ran many day trips over 1100 miles and countless day trips over 600 miles. My Spyder is setup for fun and for touring.
One of the first things I noticed when saddling the RS is the foot position. I've gotten use to where my feet are on the RT and I got to tell you I wish I could figure out a good way to put my RS controls in the same place now. I'm sure I'll get use to it again but right now I feel a little jammed up in the stock position.
The next thing I noticed right away was the heat. The RS has a lot of areas that create hot spots. Most of these are not bad unless you get stuck in traffic but they are there just the same. They really did a nice job at getting the heat away from the driver on the RT.
One thing I would like to see on the RT is an adjustable handlebar. I have 4" risers on my RS and have them forward compared to the RT. I did get use to where the bars were on the RT but I still like mine better. I'm sure the aftermarket will address this in time.
I have a CHAD windshield on my RS and it does a great job on the RS as far as wind protection. I got to say that the RT does a better job. You can tell that they must have spent some time in the wind tunnel on this because there are two little deflectors that are bolted to the top of the dash on the RT and I see no reason for them other than wind management. I think BRP nailed it on this one. Personally I would like to see a shorter shield but I know there will be those that will want a taller shield. I think they are going to offer 3 shield heights so that should pretty much cover it.
When I first drove the RT I was a little twitchy on the throttle because it is now fly by wire. There are no throttle cables and the only resistance you feel is from a spring in the end of the bars. At first I suggested that they increase the tension so it was more like the RS but now I think they need to leave it as is. When I jumped back on my RS it felt like the throttle was hung up on something. Not having to use so much effort to turn the throttle is a big plus to me. I find that my wrist doesn't wear out near as quick on a long ride as it does on the RS. This was another move in the right direction for BRP.
The handling on the RS is pretty good and feels very stable. Living here in East Tennessee I get a chance to ride some of the most demanding roads in the country. I ride Deals Gap 3 to 5 times a month not to mention a lot more challenging roads in my area. I know most every turn on the roads I ride all the time by heart. I know how fast I can go and I know when the VSS is going to try and slow me down. I've found that the 3" wider footprint of the RT and the more forgiving VSS on the RT has allowed me to push the Spyder even faster through the turns. This was verified by my buddy Ron who has ridden behind me on his Spyder for thousands of miles. The RT out performs my RS hands down in the twisties. I hope that future RS's will have the wider footprint and the tamed VSS.
Now for the down side. The RT just doesn't have the same all encompassing cool factor that the RS has. On the way back from DC there were two occasions where I pulled in for a gas stop and there were a group of HD riders that never gave the RT a second look. I could have pulled up in a mini van and got the same reaction. Now I know they have never seen one before seeing there were only 5 of them on the road so what was the deal? I found the same reaction at some of the local spots I hangout at. Not to say that every biker looked at the RT the same but I know if I was on my RS it would have been a different story. I guess I know how the Goldwing guys must feel now. Don't get me wrong, the RT still draws a crowd most everywhere it goes but it's a different crowd than what the RS draws. I'm not sure why that is but that is what I've experienced so far.
Like I said it took me two years to get my RS where I like it and I don't see it going anywhere soon. I don't know what the future holds for the Spyder but I think the RT is a step in the right direction in many ways. It filled a need that will draw in a group of folks that were left out before the RT. You can make your RS a long haul Touring machine for sure, I did. There are some areas that the RS will always fall short in and I think I've pointed those out from my experience.
What would Lamonster build if he was working with BRP on the next generation of Spyders? I think they nailed it on the front end of the RT Spyder but I would like to see more of stylish back end, maybe top loading bags that looked more like the Corbin's and maybe a removable top trunk and passenger seat for those solo rides. This would give it the cool factor along with the long haul capabilities. Hey I can dream right?
I now have over 41,000 miles on my RS and have spent the last two years getting it just the way I like it. I've ran many day trips over 1100 miles and countless day trips over 600 miles. My Spyder is setup for fun and for touring.
One of the first things I noticed when saddling the RS is the foot position. I've gotten use to where my feet are on the RT and I got to tell you I wish I could figure out a good way to put my RS controls in the same place now. I'm sure I'll get use to it again but right now I feel a little jammed up in the stock position.
The next thing I noticed right away was the heat. The RS has a lot of areas that create hot spots. Most of these are not bad unless you get stuck in traffic but they are there just the same. They really did a nice job at getting the heat away from the driver on the RT.
One thing I would like to see on the RT is an adjustable handlebar. I have 4" risers on my RS and have them forward compared to the RT. I did get use to where the bars were on the RT but I still like mine better. I'm sure the aftermarket will address this in time.
I have a CHAD windshield on my RS and it does a great job on the RS as far as wind protection. I got to say that the RT does a better job. You can tell that they must have spent some time in the wind tunnel on this because there are two little deflectors that are bolted to the top of the dash on the RT and I see no reason for them other than wind management. I think BRP nailed it on this one. Personally I would like to see a shorter shield but I know there will be those that will want a taller shield. I think they are going to offer 3 shield heights so that should pretty much cover it.
When I first drove the RT I was a little twitchy on the throttle because it is now fly by wire. There are no throttle cables and the only resistance you feel is from a spring in the end of the bars. At first I suggested that they increase the tension so it was more like the RS but now I think they need to leave it as is. When I jumped back on my RS it felt like the throttle was hung up on something. Not having to use so much effort to turn the throttle is a big plus to me. I find that my wrist doesn't wear out near as quick on a long ride as it does on the RS. This was another move in the right direction for BRP.
The handling on the RS is pretty good and feels very stable. Living here in East Tennessee I get a chance to ride some of the most demanding roads in the country. I ride Deals Gap 3 to 5 times a month not to mention a lot more challenging roads in my area. I know most every turn on the roads I ride all the time by heart. I know how fast I can go and I know when the VSS is going to try and slow me down. I've found that the 3" wider footprint of the RT and the more forgiving VSS on the RT has allowed me to push the Spyder even faster through the turns. This was verified by my buddy Ron who has ridden behind me on his Spyder for thousands of miles. The RT out performs my RS hands down in the twisties. I hope that future RS's will have the wider footprint and the tamed VSS.
Now for the down side. The RT just doesn't have the same all encompassing cool factor that the RS has. On the way back from DC there were two occasions where I pulled in for a gas stop and there were a group of HD riders that never gave the RT a second look. I could have pulled up in a mini van and got the same reaction. Now I know they have never seen one before seeing there were only 5 of them on the road so what was the deal? I found the same reaction at some of the local spots I hangout at. Not to say that every biker looked at the RT the same but I know if I was on my RS it would have been a different story. I guess I know how the Goldwing guys must feel now. Don't get me wrong, the RT still draws a crowd most everywhere it goes but it's a different crowd than what the RS draws. I'm not sure why that is but that is what I've experienced so far.
Like I said it took me two years to get my RS where I like it and I don't see it going anywhere soon. I don't know what the future holds for the Spyder but I think the RT is a step in the right direction in many ways. It filled a need that will draw in a group of folks that were left out before the RT. You can make your RS a long haul Touring machine for sure, I did. There are some areas that the RS will always fall short in and I think I've pointed those out from my experience.
What would Lamonster build if he was working with BRP on the next generation of Spyders? I think they nailed it on the front end of the RT Spyder but I would like to see more of stylish back end, maybe top loading bags that looked more like the Corbin's and maybe a removable top trunk and passenger seat for those solo rides. This would give it the cool factor along with the long haul capabilities. Hey I can dream right?