Amazed at difference with a swaybar........

[peterparker]

Just got home from a visit to Thornoli's in Houston, Texas. James Thorne is the man!!! He did a bit of maintenance on my 2014 RT LTD and also installed a cat delete and a Baja Ron swaybar. I really like both modifications and wish that I had done the swaybar a long time ago. HUGE difference in the steering input and tracking.

I highly recommend James' shop to anyone needing work done on their Spyder. Just look up Thornoli's and you can check out his website.

Bill

[SpyderBears]

I agree!!!!

We had a BajaRon sway bar installed last Fall by Netzley Tire in NY. They did a great job and are good people.

What a difference! Both of us noticed a difference in the cornering stability immediately.

Best $$ we've spent so far!

[Bob Denman]

I've got to get up to Netzley's this Month for a rear tire.
I might as well finally give in, and get the RonBar also!

[UtahPete]

Can someone explain to me objectively the advantages / disadvantages of a stiffer sway bar? Thanks.

[Bob Denman]

So when you bend the bike into a turn: it doesn't feel as if the handlebar ends are gonna scrape on the pavement...

It's exactly the same with cars!

[UtahPete]

So when you bend the bike into a turn: it doesn't feel as if the handlebar ends are gonna scrape on the pavement...

It's exactly the same with cars!

Yeah, I get that, although I think for normal (i.e. non-aggressive) riding the OEM sway bars are adequate aren't they? Also, don't stiffer sway bars translate to a less compliant ride? I don't know - never done that mod on any of my cars much less the Spyder.

It just seems like a mod for the sake of a mod. Maybe I have too much faith in the engineers at Can-Am?

[Bob Denman]

You are always balancing "comfort" versus "handling"... I honestly think that BRP went more to the comfort side of the equation... and we surprised all of them with our sporty aspirations!
The original 2010 RTs were SUPER soft: it did feel as if the bar ends were gonna scrape!

[Trailboss]

Just got home from a visit to Thornoli's in Houston, Texas. James Thorne is the man!!! He did a bit of maintenance on my 2014 RT LTD and also installed a cat delete and a Baja Ron swaybar. I really like both modifications and wish that I had done the swaybar a long time ago. HUGE difference in the steering input and tracking.

I highly recommend James' shop to anyone needing work done on their Spyder. Just look up Thornoli's and you can check out his website.

Bill

I live south of Houston, will check that website.

[jcthorne]

The stiffer sway bar does not mean a more firm ride. It does not effect spring rates. Only cornering stability and ride confidence. The bike just feels much more sable under you.

Thanks for the cudo's. We try.

[UtahPete]

The stiffer sway bar does not mean a more firm ride. It does not effect spring rates. Only cornering stability and ride confidence. The bike just feels much more stable under you.

Thanks for the cudo's. We try.

Appreciate the feedback and insight.

[Slowpoke387]

Alignment needed after installation or no...
Also can you describe the improvement more? Not quite sure about the bars scraping the pavement lol. Just wondering if it improves the feeling of the front tires feeling like theyre about to fold over on rider inputs sometimes. Front feels super sensitive to sudden inputs that arise to avoid things sometimes.

[odogg1963]

I had my swaybar upgraded at Spyderfest and could tell a big difference almost instantly especially when we ride two up.The front end doesn't push into the corner and the steering is more responsive and the bike doesn't dive when braking and cornering also.

[SpyderAnn01]

Jim and Louise are really nice but my favorite is Shotgun the shop dog.

[UtahPete]

Jim and Louise are really nice but my favorite is Shotgun the shop dog.

Must be an inside joke?

[jcthorne]

Jim and Louise are really nice but my favorite is Shotgun the shop dog.

20160529_100703.jpg

The rock star always gets top billing...

[BajaRon]

Can someone explain to me objectively the advantages / disadvantages of a stiffer sway bar? Thanks.

I get this question all the time. And frankly, it is a difficult one to answer effectively. If you have ever ridden a go-cart on a track at an amusement park, the affect is similar. Because when you're riding a go-cart it feels like you are in total control and the machine will simply do whatever you ask of it. Now obviously, most of us don't really want a harsh riding, on the ground go-cart. But the beauty of the bar kit is that it gives you much better stability, control and handling without affecting the great ride that we all enjoy on our Spyders.

Because the sway bar increases traction at each tire, not only is handling more controlled and precise, overall stability is also increased. The the bar makes a big difference to any way you ride. As you load the Spyder, add a 2nd rider and then add a trailer. The sway bar works harder for you with each increment of added weight, which the sway bar sees as stress.

One of the most common feedback responses I get from customers goes something like this. 'I didn't think I needed to upgrade my sway bar. I had always been very happy with the way my Spyder rode and handled. But I finally decided to get a bar kit because everyone spoke so highly of the results. Now I wish I had done it a long time ago. I just didn't realize what I had been missing with the stock bar.'

I have been told that some dealerships are telling customers the ride will be more harsh or that you will need a new front end alignment if you install the sway bar kit. That is very unfortunate because neither of these are true. The sway bar has no effect what-so-ever on alignment (other than in turns where the sway bar helps MAINTAIN proper alignment by keeping the suspension components under control). Nor does the heavier sway bar have any affect when traveling straight ahead, (unless you are being buffeted by heavy cross winds or when passing a big semi-truck at freeway speeds. The sway bar will help stabilize your Spyder in these situations even while traveling straight ahead).

One added advantage to the sway bar upgrade is that if you ever need to make an emergency avoidance maneuver, the sway bar will give you much more control and help to recover from the maneuver much more quickly.

But the only way to really know what the sway bar does is to ride a Spyder with my bar kit installed. Most people can tell the difference in a few hundred feet. The effect will be very obvious.

Hope this helps!

[jcthorne]

Alignment needed after installation or no...

If your bike is correctly aligned before installing the sway bar, it will still be aligned properly afterward. I also will not correct a bad alignment.

[Tazzel]

Upgraded swaybar is not needed but it does greatly improve riding through the curves without constant adjustments. Upgraded shocks will also help with this but the swaybar is the cheaper upgrade.

[BajaRon]

If your bike is correctly aligned before installing the sway bar, it will still be aligned properly afterward. I also will not correct a bad alignment.

Exactly!

[UtahPete]

But the beauty of the bar kit is that it gives you much better stability, control and handling without affecting the great ride that we all enjoy on our Spyders.

Because the sway bar increases traction at each tire, not only is handling more controlled and precise, overall stability is also increased. The the bar makes a big difference to any way you ride. As you load the Spyder, add a 2nd rider and then add a trailer. The sway bar works harder for you with each increment of added weight, which the sway bar sees as stress.

One added advantage to the sway bar upgrade is that if you ever need to make an emergency avoidance maneuver, the sway bar will give you much more control and help to recover from the maneuver much more quickly.

Hope this helps!

It does help, thanks. It also begs the question of why, if there's only upside potential and no down-side, why would Can-Am not install the stronger sway bars in the first place? Has anyone asked Can-Am that I wonder? Did it come up as a topic of conversation at the Homecoming or Spyderfest?

Also wondering how mods such as these affect the warranty / BEST extended? Probably not at all but thought I'd ask. I imagine there are some mods Can-Am would rather we not do to our rydes but this is probably not one of them.

[BajaRon]

It does help, thanks. It also begs the question of why, if there's only upside potential and no down-side, why would Can-Am not install the stronger sway bars in the first place? Has anyone asked Can-Am that I wonder? Did it come up as a topic of conversation at the Homecoming or Spyderfest?

Also wondering how mods such as these affect the warranty / BEST extended? Probably not at all but thought I'd ask. I imagine there are some mods Can-Am would rather we not do to our rydes but this is probably not one of them.

A very good question. And there are some theories as to why. But the bar does not affect warranty. There are some dealerships that put the bar kit on demo Spyders because they say they sell better with the bar installed.

[Jheck]

Alignment needed after installation or no...
Also can you describe the improvement more? Not quite sure about the bars scraping the pavement lol. Just wondering if it improves the feeling of the front tires feeling like theyre about to fold over on rider inputs sometimes. Front feels super sensitive to sudden inputs that arise to avoid things sometimes.

Had my Swaybar done by Netzley Tire last summer. Had the lazer alinement done at the same time. Amazing difference! My RT tracks like its on rails now.

[SteveLaoyster]

When I had my motorcycles I used to like to serpentine with the bikes. Gives you a good feel for how the bike corners & handles. I tried doing this when I first got my RTS & I didn't feel comfortable doing it. After I put the RonBar on I tried serpentine again & it handles a lot better.

[Bob Denman]

I think that Ron did a bang-up job of describing the process!

Let me see if I can "boil it down" just a little bit...
STOCK:
You initiate the process by turning the bars...
The bike starts to lean over, until it "takes a set"...
(this is where all of the delays in the process happen)
Once it has settled over: the turn starts.
WITH RON'S ANTI-SWAYBAR:
Everything happens the same way; but the bike leans a whole lot less, and settles in to start the turn much quicker!

[Slowpoke387]

Ok I'm sold, I give in, you all got me wanting one. Order will be placed soon. (like tomorrow)