Questions for RS/RSS owners.

[MLavore]

I am looking into an RSS and had few questions for those that have had them.

1. What RPM/Speed are you shifting at? I did take an RSS for a test ride and was told that in normal traffic shifting around 4000 rpm is good, my concern is that puts me in 5th gear before 50mph which seems way off for a high RPM bike.

2. This is for a more limited scope, those with the hindle exhaust. Do you experience a long popping on downshift and what is the best way to resolve it without making warranty-voiding changes?

3. Have you had any major reliability issues?

Many thanks!

[NoJive]

I'm sure many people will chime in, but I usually shift around 5,500rpm, and I do not go into 5th unless I'm going over 65mph or so. The Hindle does cause a lot of backfiring/stuttering. If you search on here, you will find a lot of info on it. My Hindle issues were mostly cured by an ECM update. Still get popping sometimes, but it is a lot better and smoother.

[Spyder777]

I run stock on a 2012 RSS and I do NOT shift till at least 6,000-7,000 RPM. I do NOT use 5th gear till I am over 75 mph. At 50 mph I am in 3rd gear even if I will be driving 50 mph for the next 20 miles. Don't shift to 4th unless you are going over 60 mph.

[FaranH]

I'm sure many people will chime in, but I usually shift around 5,500rpm, and I do not go into 5th unless I'm going over 65mph or so.

+1 :agree:

[Tierhog]

I'm sure many people will chime in, but I usually shift around 5,500rpm, and I do not go into 5th unless I'm going over 65mph or so. The Hindle does cause a lot of backfiring/stuttering. If you search on here, you will find a lot of info on it. My Hindle issues were mostly cured by an ECM update. Still get popping sometimes, but it is a lot better and smoother.

Agreed. I have an HMF with JB Pro. That appears to be the shifting sweet spot.

[napper39]

i shift at 4500 to 5000,seems good to me,and i put the 02 sensor mod on and she runs like nas car and no back firing.you got to love it:chat:

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I just just purchased an RSS SE and drove it home from the BBQ to Vermont....I didn't waste time and logged 700 miles in my first 10 1/2 hrs....Yea,I was moving right along...stayed up in the rev band a lot....What surprised me was my Gas mileage....in that 700 miles I averaged 32 MPG....I also have an 08 GS Manual SM-5 that is almost an RT by design now and I avg. 38-39.....But I drive that very sedately by comparison.....So drive it like you stole ......that's what it was made for :yikes: :doorag: :shemademe_smilie: :agree: :cus: :yes::yes::yes::yes:......Mike

[flamingobabe]

2009 RS...with 50,000 miles...shift at about 5500-6500 rpm...have home made dual exhaust and it does backfire when slowing down...realiability of Spyder...just returned from 10,000+++ mile trip...no problems...love my Spyder

[daveinva]

Depends on my riding :doorag:.

Lazy riding: shift over 4,500, closer to 5,500.

Spirited riding: shift higher-- north of 6,500, sometimes close to red line if I like to hear the girl ring out :2thumbs:.

Note: did the same stuff while riding stock, but have discovered since I've put on the JB Pro/Kewlmetal intake/aftermarket exhaust my upshifting runs a lot higher, i.e. lazy is definitely closer to 5,500, and spirited is closer to redline. Bone stock the Spyder would be comfy in 5th gear 60+ mph, but now, I've got to be closer to 70 mph to not lug 4500 rpm in 5th gear.

[dliszews]

I run stock on a 2012 RSS and I do NOT shift till at least 6,000-7,000 RPM. I do NOT use 5th gear till I am over 75 mph. At 50 mph I am in 3rd gear even if I will be driving 50 mph for the next 20 miles. Don't shift to 4th unless you are going over 60 mph.


Same shifting pattern but with K&N filter and Hindle. The Rotax is a rev monster,,,do not ride
it like an American V-twin.

[boomerkc]

Have an '08 GS/RS SE5 with 8K miles. If I'm going up I'll shift from 5,500 to 7,000. To me the big thing is if you're rolling along at a constant speed, like 45 MPH on a city street, is to put it in a gear that will maintain 4,500 RPM so the clutch stays engaged. Mine is almost a perfect 45 MPH at 4,600 RPM in 3rd gear. I find that works well. Determined this based on much input from SL's. It does seem to be over-reving but remember this is a Rotax engine that needs/likes to run high RPM's.

[ARtraveler]

Looks like the subject is covered well. :2thumbs::2thumbs:

[Sarge707]

The Main things to keep in mind are-
1- Shifting at 4,000 or above facilitates successful shifts.
2- Don,t drop below 3,400 in any gear in level riding -If you do downshift -unless your coming to a stop .
3- Increase RPM,s and/ or downshift to a lower gear If climbing a Hill/Grade so as Not to lug the engine.

To Me Other than that it depends how I feel?
Sometimes I hit 60 in 2nd gear:yikes: and I often cruise on secondary flat roads at 45-50 MPH in 4th gear and over 4,000 RPM,s..nojoke

[MLavore]

I appreciate the responses, so a few for clarification.

1. The clutch engages at 4500 rpm so I should always be above that when riding?

2. Does this sound about right? 2nd at 25, 3rd at 40, 4th at 60 and 5th at 70+?

3. Can I check for ecu updates or do only dealers have access?

Thanks again.

[Kratos]

I appreciate the responses, so a few for clarification.

1. The clutch engages at 4500 rpm so I should always be above that when riding?

2. Does this sound about right? 2nd at 25, 3rd at 40, 4th at 60 and 5th at 70+?

3. Can I check for ecu updates or do only dealers have access?

Thanks again.

I thought the clutch engages at 3500, but the shift points are close. I'm 2nd at 28, 3rd at 38, 4th at 50, and 5th at 63.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I appreciate the responses, so a few for clarification.

1. The clutch engages at 4500 rpm so I should always be above that when riding?

2. Does this sound about right? 2nd at 25, 3rd at 40, 4th at 60 and 5th at 70+?

3. Can I check for ecu updates or do only dealers have access?

Thanks again.
Actually the clutches should be fully engaged at 3000 RPM, so you don't want to ride below that on an SE-5....It does not seem to matter so much with the manual trans........Mike

[MLavore]

I thought the clutch engages at 3500, but the shift points are close. I'm 2nd at 28, 3rd at 38, 4th at 50, and 5th at 63.


Id be curious to see if anyone has tried to match speeds with RPM. Apparently 45 in 3rd is a sweet spot at 4600 rpm. More specifically, if I shift from first to second at 28mph, what RPM is that and that for the full gearing.

[hrbeta]

Same shifting pattern but with K&N filter and Hindle. The Rotax is a rev monster,,,do not ride
it like an American V-twin.

Right on!!!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Sarge707]

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?40288-Auto-Clutch-Damage

This thread is by a member BRP Tech that shows the problems with low RPM cruising! Good Info above!

[spydaman60]

I thought the clutch engages at 3500, but the shift points are close. I'm 2nd at 28, 3rd at 38, 4th at 50, and 5th at 63.

i'm running a hindle, and i'm with kratos on this one. the only dif with me is i don't get to 5th gear unless i'm about 67 or 68 mph. (fwiw)

[NancysToy]

Wow, what a bunch of different ideas about where the SE centrifugal clutch engages. The specs say it begins to engage at 2,000 +/- 200 rpm, and is fully engaged at 3,200 +/- 200 rpm. :D

[NoJive]

I appreciate the responses, so a few for clarification.

1. The clutch engages at 4500 rpm so I should always be above that when riding?

2. Does this sound about right? 2nd at 25, 3rd at 40, 4th at 60 and 5th at 70+?

3. Can I check for ecu updates or do only dealers have access?

Thanks again.


Far as the ECM updates, you have to check with your dealer. Once they put the VIN# in the system, it will let them know if there are any updates/recalls. Some people have said there is a specific ECM update for bikes with the Hindle, but I don't know if that is true. Mine just came up ECM update, and the dealer didn't know anything else about it.

[Sarge707]

Wow, what a bunch of different ideas about where the SE centrifugal clutch engages. The specs say it begins to engage at 2,000 +/- 200 rpm, and if fully engaged at 3,200 +/- 200 rpm. :D

You Know Scotty, I used to enter My State Park 1/2 mile entrance at (20 MPH) in 2nd at about 2,800 and then I heard about the clutch stuff so NOW I speed it up to 3,400 or better in 2nd to be safe and I,m breaking the speed limit!! I don,t think 20MPH in 1st gear for 1/2 mile is a lot of Fun??

[NancysToy]

You Know Scotty, I used to enter My State Park 1/2 mile entrance at (20 MPH) in 2nd at about 2,800 and then I heard about the clutch stuff so NOW I speed it up to 3,400 or better in 2nd to be safe and I,m breaking the speed limit!! I don,t think 20MPH in 1st gear for 1/2 mile is a lot of Fun??
I am always in first gear below about 25 mph. ????? To each his/her own.

[Kratos]

Id be curious to see if anyone has tried to match speeds with RPM. Apparently 45 in 3rd is a sweet spot at 4600 rpm. More specifically, if I shift from first to second at 28mph, what RPM is that and that for the full gearing.

3rd gear and 45mph goes together like peanut butter and jelly. It sounds and purrs so good.

The only combo that I think sounds better and probably the smoothest ride of all, is the beloved 4th gear and 55mph combo. This spot is the sweetest of them all. She purrs like a stroked kitty....:bowdown: