CB Radio / BT and Sway Bar

[Volvernon]

Just purchased a new '14 RT-S with the Sena BT dongle. Have UClear for the helmets. The CB radio I purchased is on back order until October, but I'm told that it was not designed originally for the Bluetooth system. I know that the Sena unit has an aux. jack, and I am curious if there is a work around using that or if I need to go to an alternative Bluetooth adapter.

Secondly, I see talk about installing a sway bar accessory to the Spyders to help reduce the turning lean. Is there a significant difference for the '14 by installing it? Is it something easily installed?

Would also like to learn more about the after-market lighting options. I seen the add on the spyderlovers.com site for the LED solutions, but want to check out what experience folks have had with that. I don't want to install something that looks like it was slapped together with double-stick tape.

Thanks for your help and advice!
Richard (aka Volvernon)

[wd8ajj]

Not sure on that but will be interfacing a J&M CB to a Bilt helmet with Bluetooth installed.

[ThreeWheels]

I owned a 2010 RT that required multiple suspension upgrades to reach it's full potential. BajaRon bar, BajaRon Links, 2011 Shocks.

In my opinion, bone stock out of the crate, the 2014 handles superior to my tricked out 2010.
I'm a big supporter of BajaRon and his products. I chose not to install the RonBar on the 2014 because I just can't see the suspension improving enough to make it worthwhile.
I did, however, have a set of RonLinks installed, simply for the added reliability.

As to the CB, I am going with a Midland hand handheld CB that will be connected to the bluetooth setup by way of an SR 10 module.

If the CB radio you are buying interfaces with the BRP Audio, then it should interface with your headsets by way of your bluetooth dongle.

As always, by free advice comes with a double your money back guarantee.

[SpyderAnn01]

Installing the sway bar on a 2014 requires raising the Spyder about 24" off the ground. Easy if you have the right equipment, not so if you don't. Ride on down to Las Vegas and have Squared Away install one for you and while you are here we can laser align your Spyder and add lights too.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

You can have BT, or BRP CB, but not both. They both connect to the radio with the same port. What we need is someone to come up with a BT dongle that handles two-way communication as well as stereo audio feed connected into the headset harness. Wired passenger/driver communication is part of the CB unit.

The only way to have BT and CB is to use a handheld CB and the SR10 dongle. That requires the use of a separate PTT button. There's no easy way at present to use the Spyder PTT with a handheld. I think someone on the forum was working on a way to physically modify the Spyder PTT to connect to a handheld.

[Volvernon]

Installing the sway bar on a 2014 requires raising the Spyder about 24" off the ground. Easy if you have the right equipment, not so if you don't. Ride on down to Las Vegas and have Squared Away install one for you and while you are here we can laser align your Spyder and add lights too.

Hi SpyderAnn01,
thank you for responding to my post. I would like to know if you can describe the difference between having the sway bar installed and not. Since transitioning from our old Goldwing, the wife has noticed the way that the Spyder tends to throw her during turns. I'm hoping to reduce that significantly, but before spending the dollars I want to be sure I'm getting bang for my buck.

Oh, one other thing... we cannot find any Spyder riding groups up here in the Salt Lake City area. Is there a group in LV? Any meets or rallies coming up nearby?

Thanks,
Volvernon (Richard)

[Volvernon]

I owned a 2010 RT that required multiple suspension upgrades to reach it's full potential. BajaRon bar, BajaRon Links, 2011 Shocks.

In my opinion, bone stock out of the crate, the 2014 handles superior to my tricked out 2010.
I'm a big supporter of BajaRon and his products. I chose not to install the RonBar on the 2014 because I just can't see the suspension improving enough to make it worthwhile.
I did, however, have a set of RonLinks installed, simply for the added reliability.

As to the CB, I am going with a Midland hand handheld CB that will be connected to the bluetooth setup by way of an SR 10 module.

If the CB radio you are buying interfaces with the BRP Audio, then it should interface with your headsets by way of your bluetooth dongle.

As always, by free advice comes with a double your money back guarantee.

That money-back guarantee must get you a lot of replies. :)

I'm curious what the RonLinks does for your suspension that the swaybar does not. Can you fill me in?

As for the CB radio, the dealer contacted BRP and they told him that the CB radio will not come through the factory (sena) USB dongle. Looks like the best and cheapest option is to go with a separate set of helmets setup with wired intercom which will work with the CB radio.

Thanks,
Volvernon (Richard)

[ladyred]

INSTALLING XM RADIO ON MY 13 RT NEED TO KNOW WHERE POD MOUNTS AND WHERE THE WIRE HARNESS PLUG IS:banghead:

[fastfraser]

INSTALLING XM RADIO ON MY 13 RT NEED TO KNOW WHERE POD MOUNTS AND WHERE THE WIRE HARNESS PLUG IS:banghead:

XM plugs into entertainment harness and the XM unit mounts under the the upper right side panel. The antenna mounts under the trunk lid although many have mounted on top of the trunk .

[fastfraser]

That money-back guarantee must get you a lot of replies. :)

I'm curious what the RonLinks does for your suspension that the swaybar does not. Can you fill me in?

As for the CB radio, the dealer contacted BRP and they told him that the CB radio will not come through the factory (sena) USB dongle. Looks like the best and cheapest option is to go with a separate set of helmets setup with wired intercom which will work with the CB radio.

Thanks,
Volvernon (Richard)

The Ron links replace the plastic BRP links with superior metal links that ar far less likely to break !

[Ben Burped]

I installed a BRP BTD with the delusion that I could listen to my am/fm, talk to my wife, & actually hear my $500.00 Escort tell me about speed and red light cameras. I took off the frunk and all the Tupperware on the right side to install my BRP BTD and installed everything as directed. So good so far. I installed the required software on my computer to do what the instructions said were required updates to both the BTD and the BT headset & spent several painful hours doing updates to a brand new product that should be up to date when shipped. I installed the BT headset in my helmet and thought I was ready to try everything out. Fired up the Spyder with great anticipation only to find that I could only hear music out of one side. I discovered that the BTD harness had a bad connector that would only let me hear both left and right channels if I if I held the coiled connection cable into the BTP harness. My dealer courteously gave me a new BTD harness and I again removed the frunk and all the Tupperware on the right side and installed everything as directed again. Fired up the Spyder again and heard both left and right channels. So with only installing the BRP BTD twice I was now ready to plug in my Escort and ride. Wrong! I plugged the coiled cord into the Escort and turned on the Escort. It does a Can-Am like self checkout that should be audible and I heard nothing in my headset. I unplugged the coiled cord and turned the Escort on again. This time it no longer had any audible output. My dealer courteously gave me a new BTD that I had to do the updates on and installed the second BTD . The second BTD produces a strange echo when used with the speakers and after paying Escort to repair my radar detector I don't have the courage to plug it into the BTD again. I finally took off the frunk and all the Tupperware on the right for the third time and disconnected my extremely disappointing BTD and reconnected the CB for am/fm and to talk to my wife. I turn up the volume on the Escort and hope for the best. If you want to flush several days of your life down the toilet, this is an excellent way to do it. Good luck with that.

[ThreeWheels]

That money-back guarantee must get you a lot of replies. :)

I'm curious what the RonLinks does for your suspension that the swaybar does not. Can you fill me in?

As for the CB radio, the dealer contacted BRP and they told him that the CB radio will not come through the factory (sena) USB dongle. Looks like the best and cheapest option is to go with a separate set of helmets setup with wired intercom which will work with the CB radio.

Thanks,
Volvernon (Richard)


The only thing the RonLinks do is add peace of mind. They don't enhance performance. The OEM links are plastic. There have been a number of instances of broken links posted on this site. The metal RonLinks are more reliable.

[MikeT]

You can have BT, or BRP CB, but not both. They both connect to the radio with the same port. What we need is someone to come up with a BT dongle that handles two-way communication as well as stereo audio feed connected into the headset harness. Wired passenger/driver communication is part of the CB unit.
The only way to have BT and CB is to use a handheld CB and the SR10 dongle. That requires the use of a separate PTT button. There's no easy way at present to use the Spyder PTT with a handheld. I think someone on the forum was working on a way to physically modify the Spyder PTT to connect to a handheld.

This complete lack of integration of the audio/comm system on a $25-$30,000.00 trike is one of the reasons I'm staying with my GL1800 trike. If only MH would bluetooth the system so we could get rid of the chords. My 1997 H-D Ultra Classic had a better audio/comm system.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

This complete lack of integration of the audio/comm system on a $25-$30,000.00 trike is one of the reasons I'm staying with my GL1800 trike. If only MH would bluetooth the system so we could get rid of the chords. My 1997 H-D Ultra Classic had a better audio/comm system.
I can't figure out where you're coming from. The audio and CB on a Spyder are integrated tightly. It's just that you can't BT the OEM system and use the BRP CB through it, but as my experience and your comment indicate, neither can you do it on a GL1800. Now, as to the control interface there are several aspects that are more convenient to use on a GL1800 than on the Spyder, but on the Spyder all the controls are in one set of buttons. It's a trade off.