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Why change the sway bar?
I’m buying a 2018 rt. I see a lot of riders change the sway bar, how does that help with the handling?
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Very Active Member
It takes out some of the body roll, when to tuck into the corners!
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Very Active Member
You will get less body roll. The body of the Spyder will roll to the out side of the corner you are taking. With an upgraded sway bar it will reduce the roll a lot. It will feel much better in the corners, and be more stable.
Last edited by CopperSpyder; 06-02-2021 at 06:38 PM.
My Spyder
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Active Member
Do sway bars help handling?
Sway bars improve a car's handling around turns and corners by controlling the vehicle's weight transfer, including body roll. By working to keep the wheels on each side of the car as even as possible, they help keep the car more planted and maintain a strong contact patch between the tires and the ground.
Also better "feel" of the road and highway stability is improved. Considering safety is #1 and fun #2, a BajaRon sway bar should be on your short list of things to do to your beloved RT.
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Interesting that this thread just started. After having my 2010 RT for about 4 years and about 10k miles, I finally put a Baja Ron sway bar on. I had heard all the hype over the years and finally figured what the hell, give it a try. I wasn't looking forward to the job, I'm not getting any younger but I also don't like taking my vehicles in for service if I can do the job myself.
It took me about 4 hours to do the whole job. Videos make it look like it can be done in an hour or so, maybe for some people, but not me. Worst part was getting up and down under the bike stirred up a previous issue of Vertigo and by the time I was done, the room was really spinning. But that is another story.
I took the bike out this last weekend and took it into a couple of turns on the highway at speed as well as on and off ramps. It seemed like it was a bit more stable, but nothing that would make me feel like it was a new bike or that there was a significant improvement. I also upped the preload on the front shocks by one notch, but didnt want to do more so I could see if there were differences. I guess if the bike was turned quickly it might make more of a difference since that would cause more of a reactive motion, but thats not how I normally ride. Suffice it to say that if it does improve the handling, it's not an earth shattering difference. YMMV
2019 BMW C650GT, 2010 Spyder RT-S, 2009 BMW R1200RT,(sold) 2009 Honda Silverwing (Sold), 2009 Kawasaki 500 Vulcan (Sold)
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Very Active Member
The BajaRon sway bar also help of stability in traffic around semi's.
2018 RT Ltd - Asphalt Metallic - East Valley of Phoenix
2018 RT Ltd Chrome - Champagne Metallic - Lake Stevens, Wa
(Champagne/Hooker) Magic Mirrors, 360 LED head lights, BajaRon sway bar, H&R springs and shock adjusters, dash cam, foam grips, third brake light 4 LED strobe for 7 seconds and then on steady, rear LED turn signals/8 ohm 50W resistors, sequential turn signals on front fenders, Vredestein and PPA Orb wheels on front and General out back, and driver backrest.
Things that move between machines: Ikea sheep skins, Zumo XT GPS, and extra tools. Hooker is going to be my summer trike up North; and Hookie my winter trike down South.
(Asphalt/Hookie) Elka shocks on front - BajaRon sway bar, OEM driver's backrest, LED headlights, dual USB with voltmeter, dash cam, foam grips - Magic Mirrors - front tires Vredestein Quatrac SL on PPA ORB Chrome wheels.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Eviltwin
Interesting that this thread just started. After having my 2010 RT for about 4 years and about 10k miles, I finally put a Baja Ron sway bar on. I had heard all the hype over the years and finally figured what the hell, give it a try. I wasn't looking forward to the job, I'm not getting any younger but I also don't like taking my vehicles in for service if I can do the job myself.
It took me about 4 hours to do the whole job. Videos make it look like it can be done in an hour or so, maybe for some people, but not me. Worst part was getting up and down under the bike stirred up a previous issue of Vertigo and by the time I was done, the room was really spinning. But that is another story.
I took the bike out this last weekend and took it into a couple of turns on the highway at speed as well as on and off ramps. It seemed like it was a bit more stable, but nothing that would make me feel like it was a new bike or that there was a significant improvement. I also upped the preload on the front shocks by one notch, but didnt want to do more so I could see if there were differences. I guess if the bike was turned quickly it might make more of a difference since that would cause more of a reactive motion, but thats not how I normally ride. Suffice it to say that if it does improve the handling, it's not an earth shattering difference. YMMV
Kind of my experience as well. First upgrade to my 2015 RT was car tires all the way around. That was the biggest improvement to handling that I have made. Second addition was the BajaRon Shock adjusters. They made a noticeable difference. Not as much as the tires, but enough to be worth the money. Last year I did the sway bar. I did get some improvement when pushing hard through the twisties, but it wasn't an epiphany by a long shot. Better? Yes, but the tires and the adjusters made more difference than the bar for me and the way I ride which is aggressive at times.
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Originally Posted by Snoking1127
The BajaRon sway bar also help of stability in traffic around semi's.
That's where I felt the largest improvement. At highway speeds, the blast of air from trucks (semi wash) was much more manageable and the swaybar gave me a greater and safer feeling of controllability.
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Very Active Member
Ride it maybe 1K miles at least to get the feel of the bike, then put a sway bar on. That way, you will know what the bar does for your bike. That was what Bajaron told me. I took his advice to do one mod at a time (car tires, sway bar) and I am wiser for it.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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I agree with those who suggested waiting until you know your machine and feel comfortable with pushing it. I came from 50+ years on 2 wheels. I rode mine for a year before adding the bar. It made a significant difference that I could feel. I also added car tires later to the front for an improvement also. I don't think I ride as hard as some do, but I have left a few 2 wheelers behind. The car tires made it feel more planted and didn't feel like the sidewalls were going to collapse. The sway bar reduced the body roll a lot.
Happy TRAils/NSD
Paul
2012 RT L
AMA 25 years Life Member
TRA
PGR
Rhino Riders Plate #83
Venturers #78
TOI
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Very Active Member
When my F3L still had the original Kendas, a friend, riding behind me, said the tires look as though they are trying to roll off their rims in hard turns. That's when I trashed the fronts and replaced with car tires. Got a huge improvement. That was before I added a sway bar.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
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Very Active Member
Nanny should kick in later if your into cornering fast.
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Thank you gentleman! I do plan to wait until I’m comfortable with the machine before making changes. Thanks again for your advice
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Navydad
Kind of my experience as well. First upgrade to my 2015 RT was car tires all the way around. That was the biggest improvement to handling that I have made. Second addition was the BajaRon Shock adjusters. They made a noticeable difference. Not as much as the tires, but enough to be worth the money. Last year I did the sway bar. I did get some improvement when pushing hard through the twisties, but it wasn't an epiphany by a long shot. Better? Yes, but the tires and the adjusters made more difference than the bar for me and the way I ride which is aggressive at times.
I can't wait, I am doing it in reverse order from that I have noticed a big difference in each step.
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Very Active Member
I did front Federal tires, waited a while and then the sway bar, another wait and the shock adjusters, and final wait the rear General tire. Each step was an improvement. And of course here in the East Valley of Phoenix we have the roads to Canyon and Saguaro(Via Usery Pass) Lakes to test on!!!!
2018 RT Ltd - Asphalt Metallic - East Valley of Phoenix
2018 RT Ltd Chrome - Champagne Metallic - Lake Stevens, Wa
(Champagne/Hooker) Magic Mirrors, 360 LED head lights, BajaRon sway bar, H&R springs and shock adjusters, dash cam, foam grips, third brake light 4 LED strobe for 7 seconds and then on steady, rear LED turn signals/8 ohm 50W resistors, sequential turn signals on front fenders, Vredestein and PPA Orb wheels on front and General out back, and driver backrest.
Things that move between machines: Ikea sheep skins, Zumo XT GPS, and extra tools. Hooker is going to be my summer trike up North; and Hookie my winter trike down South.
(Asphalt/Hookie) Elka shocks on front - BajaRon sway bar, OEM driver's backrest, LED headlights, dual USB with voltmeter, dash cam, foam grips - Magic Mirrors - front tires Vredestein Quatrac SL on PPA ORB Chrome wheels.
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I know the original post was a 2018 but we've heard the 20-21s were better in terms of the sway bar or how much an upgraded bar would improve it. Here's my '21 RT experience. I was at Lamonster garage with the idea of upgrading the sway bar. I have already changed to Q5 tires. Both techs told me I would get more benefit from installing the Elka front shocks. I was ready to purchase both once the Elkas were explained to me. The Elkas of course are expensive. They felt the Elkas would give me all the benefits I was looking for and that an upgraded sway bar might even restrict a bit the benefit of the Elka shocks. So far even on my half mile of bumpy gravel road I noticed a smoother ride. On the interstate and secondary roads and curves the bike seems tight and well controlled. I've a 2,000 mile trip coming up so time will tell. I have no way of knowing if an upgraded bar would improve anything but I'm very happy with the RT as it rides now and pushing it hard in corners. As to less buffeting on highways and trucks which was a goal of mine it may be better but more ride time, wind and traffic will tell.
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Agree with those who say to ride it for 1000 miles or so before making any changes. I rode mine for nearly 1000 miles before deciding to upgrade. My 2013 RTL was a little scary on the freeway around tractor-trailers and the wind buffeting. I decided to try the BR sway bar to see if it improved. What I discovered was it made all the difference in the world for me - can’t speak for others. I noticed how much easier it was to handle in the wind. Bumps in the road didn’t throw me one way or another, like they used to. It was one of the best improvements for me.
Having said all that...I did make other changes that also helped: Put on car tires, upgraded all my lighting to LED, sequential turn signals/reflector replacement, magic mirrors, updated my shocks, bump skid, and who knows what else....
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I agree with everyone above, but would like to add:
(The way it was explained to me) Yes the bar does reduce body roll, but why is that so important? The pivot points in the steering linkage do not line up with the pivot points in the front suspension. Therefore, when the body rolls, the steering is affected. With the larger bar, the body rolls less and there is less effect on the steering.
Like others, we made one change at a time. Tires were first. Q5s all around. HUGE difference. I then questioned the ‘need’ for a new sway bar, but got one anyway. The day after the install (at Maggie Valley last year), my wife said she did not notice much of a difference in corners, but at the end of the day, she was not nearly as fatigued. That alone makes it worth it.
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HER ride:
2017 RT-S SE6 Pearl White
My rides:
2000 Honda GL1500SE
1980 Suzuki GS850G
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Active Member
I can only speak for meself, but I drove 1000 kms with the original spyder, then I put on a sway bar, I immediately noticed the difference in handling, then I upgraded the front tyres after 2000 km's , and the rear shock, we drive alot 2 up, and the original shock, was just too soft, Placed a Fox RC, adjustable one, changed the preload on the o.e.m. front foxshocks, not quite happy with those, but I am pondering on new springs from MTTV. Still have the o.e.m. kenda (almost 10.000KM's) on the spyder, but this is going to be refitted with a Hankook RS4 225/45R15 soon
All in all it's personal, if you are a cruiser, the spyder is more than capable, If you really want to drive the spyder, you need upgrades.
I drive spirited, not quite like martin the vlogger does, but close... ghegheghe, and when cruising with the missus, she will knock the helmet when I go too fast (and this happens...)
the funniest thing about this particular signature is that by the time you realise it doesn't say anything it's to late to stop reading it........
Spyder F3s 2019 All Black ( Named it: Brutus)
Carbon Items added, just for looks
Upgraded Shocks Trac-Tive, Rear hi/lo and rebound adjustable, with Hydraulic Pre-Load adjuster
fronts hi/lo and rebound adjustable, custom made by the Trac-Tive Guru's
Swaybar (Ron's)
Tyres Front Michelin Cross Climate+ 175/60-15
Rear, for 2022 still a Kenda, next Yokohama Advan Fleva 205/55R15
Exhaust Bone stock, with a RLS Cat- Delete
Custom ECU-Mapping, rewritten/adapted to my Ridingstyle
Pedalbox, Awesome Upgrade...
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Member
I bought a used 2013 STS last year. It did handle strangely in corners. Put the Baja Ron sway bar on and it made a world of difference. Handles much better in corners. Well worth the expense for me. Luckily I had an area service guy from the dealer who did private work on the side on his days off. An hour at his house and it was done. He made it look easy but had done them before and had the right lift to get it high enough to change out the bar.
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Active Member
I just had a Baja Ron sway bar put on today. Its not going to make a fair rider a great rider. What it does is smooth out the front suspension. Your ride is smoother especially in the corners. Highly recommended
2020 Can-Am Spyder RT
2018 Honda Goldwing DCT
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