Improvements to my '14 RT

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05-17-2015, 10:49 AM
tip

3 Attachment(s)

Improvements to my '14 RT

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/a...d=107634&stc=1 http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/a...d=107633&stc=1
Set of shock spacers I made from 3" tailpipe and rubber spacers
Flaps added to stop water spray while riding in rain
Both work very well and took time but not much money!
05-17-2015, 11:22 AM
arvol

14 Rt

I like the front splash guards, very nice.
05-17-2015, 12:20 PM
Chupaca

Nicely done..!!

looks like this will help when ryding in the wet...:thumbup: the fronts look like they have been tested...
05-17-2015, 02:12 PM
tip

splash guards

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chupaca

looks like this will help when ryding in the wet...:thumbup: the fronts look like they have been tested...

Thank you and yes they have been tested - twice!!
05-17-2015, 04:35 PM
Bob Denman

:clap: :congrats: on your creative ingenuity... :thumbup:
05-17-2015, 04:45 PM
BLUEKNIGHT911

YOUR MODS

You know I'm all for DIY, 99 % of everything on 2014 RT is DIY.......But on your shocks ????.....When you lose spring length ( by any means ), you are losing compliance ......ie you have less spring .............granted it will be stiffer but IMHO it will also deliver a Harsher ride.......But innovation comes at a cost.....I say try it.............I changed the angle of my shocks 16 degree's, kept the same ride height and achieved approx. 18 % firmer ride. This works for me. It was complicated, time consuming, frustrating but I'm also Happy with the results...........Nice going and :congrats:....Mike :thumbup:......................PS I did make copies of the BRACKET TEMPLATES !!!!!!
05-17-2015, 05:02 PM
tip

'14 Mods

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEKNIGHT911

You know I'm all for DIY, 99 % of everything on 2014 RT is DIY.......But on your shocks ????.....When you lose spring length ( by any means ), you are losing compliance ......ie you have less spring .............granted it will be stiffer but IMHO it will also deliver a Harsher ride.......But innovation comes at a cost.....I say try it.............I changed the angle of my shocks 16 degree's, kept the same ride height and achieved approx. 18 % firmer ride. This works for me. It was complicated, time consuming, frustrating but I'm also Happy with the results...........Nice going and :congrats:....Mike :thumbup:......................PS I did make copies of the BRACKET TEMPLATES !!!!!!

Thanks for the comments.
Please don't tell Bajaron .His are much nicer looking and I probably would have bought his but I had mine before his were on the market. Also on shocks with adjustments - don't you shorten the spring for a stiffer ride?
Tip
05-18-2015, 09:44 AM
BLUEKNIGHT911

STIFFER RIDE

Quote:

Originally Posted by tip

Thanks for the comments.
Please don't tell Bajaron .His are much nicer looking and I probably would have bought his but I had mine before his were on the market. Also on shocks with adjustments - don't you shorten the spring for a stiffer ride?
Tip

Yes , if you shorten the spring you will definitely get a STIFFER ride..........I did not want that, I wanted a FIRMER ride so I changed the ANGLE. This may seem like semantics but it isn't........Back in 2013 BRP wanted a FIRMER ride for the Spyder so they also changed the ANGLE of the front shocks, but their change needed to meet SALES criteria ( ie make lots of customers a little more happy ).....I wanted a more performance oriented ride so I went further........Ask yourself this question , why has EVERY manufacturer of MX, off-road, dirt bikes etc. been INCREASING the amount of SPRING travel when they could have just MADE THE SPRINGS STIFFER ????.....the latter would have been far less expensive , but in mine and their opinion the ride compliance would have suffered greatly......I'm not putting what you did down, I love DIY'ers....I'm a DIY'er and this is why I'm taking the time to write this explanation......And there is this !!!.....IMO , BRP was not at all happy with what Pitbull did a few years back with His front shock angle adjusters........BECAUSE on the 2014 frames they added a small metal TAB which PREVENTS a simple BOLT-ON - NO CUTTING -NO TRIMMING -FIX that Pitbull created......This TAB has absolutely NO OTHER FUNCTION.........I cut this TAB off and was able to create my brackets......When I am flying thru the " twisties " and encounter rough surface conditions ( which are normal in Vermont ).....my front end does not get upset ie it remains planted, I think this is the difference between STIFFER...and FIRMER......Keep on DIYing this is where progress is born :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:............Mike
05-30-2015, 08:44 PM
mtdoragary

Quote:

Originally Posted by BLUEKNIGHT911

Yes , if you shorten the spring you will definitely get a STIFFER ride..........I did not want that, I wanted a FIRMER ride so I changed the ANGLE. This may seem like semantics but it isn't........Back in 2013 BRP wanted a FIRMER ride for the Spyder so they also changed the ANGLE of the front shocks, but their change needed to meet SALES criteria ( ie make lots of customers a little more happy ).....I wanted a more performance oriented ride so I went further........Ask yourself this question , why has EVERY manufacturer of MX, off-road, dirt bikes etc. been INCREASING the amount of SPRING travel when they could have just MADE THE SPRINGS STIFFER ????.....the latter would have been far less expensive , but in mine and their opinion the ride compliance would have suffered greatly......I'm not putting what you did down, I love DIY'ers....I'm a DIY'er and this is why I'm taking the time to write this explanation......And there is this !!!.....IMO , BRP was not at all happy with what Pitbull did a few years back with His front shock angle adjusters........BECAUSE on the 2014 frames they added a small metal TAB which PREVENTS a simple BOLT-ON - NO CUTTING -NO TRIMMING -FIX that Pitbull created......This TAB has absolutely NO OTHER FUNCTION.........I cut this TAB off and was able to create my brackets......When I am flying thru the " twisties " and encounter rough surface conditions ( which are normal in Vermont ).....my front end does not get upset ie it remains planted, I think this is the difference between STIFFER...and FIRMER......Keep on DIYing this is where progress is born :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:............Mike

Mike's relocators did the job for MY RTL!
05-30-2015, 09:03 PM
ARtraveler

:2thumbs::2thumbs:
05-30-2015, 11:17 PM
Shiznit98204

Any photos that show how you made the splash gaurds on the front? I live in the Pacific Northwest and I sure could use them out here with all the rain.