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Sway bar - is this upgrade worth it?
Can someone who has a bajaron sway bar kit on there spyder, tell me if this upgrade is worth it, being new to the spyder, iam looking at the best inprovements for it, thanks
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its the first upgrade we put on our new spyders
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Very Active Member
Look at it this way, if Ron's sway bar wasn't worth it he wouldn't be selling as many as he is. FWIW, when I bought my Spyder I had the dealership install one as part of the OTD deal in which they also laser aligned the machine. Soon after taking possession I went looking for semis traveling the interstates around greater Charlotte where the speeds are routinely 70 or more. I found two semis barreling along with an open lane between them and intentionally pulled into the open lane and increased my speed so I would swiftly get through their blind spots. As I passed through by the nose of each truck I could feel lots of wind buffeting of my upper torso, perfectly normal, but the Spyder was completely unaffected, tracked straight through with no swaying. Send Ron an email and ask any questions you want and you will receive complete, thoughtful, no BS answers.
Artillery lends dignity to what would
otherwise be a vulgar brawl.
******************************
Cognac 2014 RT-S
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When I wanted an sway bar upgrade at Lamonster they sold me on the Elka front shock upgrade vs the sway bar, at least to try that first. I was ready to add both. I have a '21 RT. They indicated I would get more benefit overall from the Elkas and in fact the added sway bar may detract a bit from the Elka benefit. Like JayBros I have run the interstate, trucks and wind, and found the RT very stable. On my half mile of gravel and some bumps I noticed right away a smoother ride but also at 70-80, in wind and hard cornering everything seems very controlled and stable. From what some say the 20 and 21 models may benefit less than earlier models from the sway bar. It would be nice to try each one at a time and then both.
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thanks for the info, ordering one today
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Very Active Member
If you search the forum for sway bar you'll find hours of reading threads re: worth the upgrade.
I don't recall any nay-sayers for this upgrade. Sway bar, auto tires, and shocks dramatically change the Spyder into a very capable and stable machine.
'20 Spyder RT: Bajaron swaybar. Vredestein tires, Pedal Commander, Elka front shocks, GPS/USB/12V handlebar mount, Heli-Bars, Radar Detector, KOTT grills & vents, Shad top case, chin & DRL LEDs.
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I have the Baja Ron sway bar. It's really an anti-sway bar. Made a huge difference on my 2018 RT. A much more stable feel to the bike.
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On my 2012 RT, I installed a sway bar, didn't really notice any improvement. Installed Elkas and was a happy camper, made all the difference. On my 2019 RT I've done nothing, it rides great.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by StillKickin
On my 2012 RT, I installed a sway bar, didn't really notice any improvement. Installed Elkas and was a happy camper, made all the difference. On my 2019 RT I've done nothing, it rides great.
done both and loved them both as much!! Now come the tires!!!! As soon as I wear out my old ones!
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Mikey
done both and loved them both as much!! Now come the tires!!!! As soon as I wear out my old ones!
I did not wait to wear out the Kendas, Federals on the front and General on the rear.
1. Front tires
2. Sway Bar
3. Shock adjusters
4. Rear tire
With a few weeks between each.
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 Snoking1127
I did not wait to wear out the Kendas, Federals on the front and General on the rear.
Ditto here....almost. Ron's sway bar and front Federals. Those made a good ride even better. The rear will be a winter project or an impulse buy.
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
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Active Member
I just replaced my stock sway bar links with Baja Ron's for my 2021 RT. What a difference just replacing the links makes.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Quickdraw
I just replaced my stock sway bar links with Baja Ron's for my 2021 RT. What a difference just replacing the links makes.
Imagine, if you will, how much more of an improvement the bar will make. If you ride aggressively, you will absolutely love the results. If you don't ride hard, then save your money.
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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We did the tires first (Vredestein Q5), then the BajaRon sway bar.
The tires were a HUGE improvement. The sway bar was a bit more subtle, but after a day of riding at Maggie Valley, my wife said she was not as tired. That made it worth it.
We don't corner as hard as most of the posters here appear to, but there is still some difference noted.
HER ride:
2017 RT-S SE6 Pearl White
My rides:
2000 Honda GL1500SE
1980 Suzuki GS850G
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I'm just doing research and reading here before I make a purchase.
I'm curious how much does this all cost ? Sway bar+Elka+tires.
Do you have to change front and rear suspension to Elka ? TIA.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by pyuchem
I'm just doing research and reading here before I make a purchase.
I'm curious how much does this all cost ? Sway bar+Elka+tires.
Do you have to change front and rear suspension to Elka ? TIA.
Ron suggested to me to do one thing at a time; first car tires - WOW, then the sway bar - WOWIE WOW WOW! I'm stopping there, at least for now. I'm very pleased with the results. Thanks Ron.
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
Originally Posted by pyuchem
I'm just doing research and reading here before I make a purchase.
I'm curious how much does this all cost ? Sway bar+Elka+tires.
Do you have to change front and rear suspension to Elka ? TIA.
I did in this order.
The sway bar ~300 delivered
Elka front shocks ~ 775 delivered
Car tires (3) ~300 delivered
Elka rear shock ~675 delivered
'20 Spyder RT: Bajaron swaybar. Vredestein tires, Pedal Commander, Elka front shocks, GPS/USB/12V handlebar mount, Heli-Bars, Radar Detector, KOTT grills & vents, Shad top case, chin & DRL LEDs.
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I am the 3rd owner of my 2015 rts. How can I tell if my sway bar has been upgraded to a Baja Ron's already ?
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Transam87020
I am the 3rd owner of my 2015 rts. How can I tell if my sway bar has been upgraded to a Baja Ron's already ?
If the links from the bar to the A-arm are black plastic, then they are OEM. If metal - usually a color - that's a Bajaron. Especially if the links have that name, or another supplier's name on them.
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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Active Member
I don't ride aggressively. That's a big reason why I didn't go the distance to replace the stock bar. It's typically my wife on her Ryker and I follow behind her. Otherwise, I would have changed the bar as well. My ride is more for pleasure and not so much pushing it to extremes. This is what happens when you get old.
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From what I read here it can be worth it but improvement may also depend on year of RT as some reports on '20-21 models show minimum improvement with sway bar. I was going to add one to my '21 RT and Lamonster garage convinced me I would get more improvement from the Elka shocks. I was ready to add the sway bar but the difference with the Elkas is significant and I am medium to high aggressive. They said sway bar might detract from the Elka advantage. So far I don't see a need for upgrading sway bar. I understand the difference in bar and shocks but Elkas not only soak up rough roads but keep the Spyder flat in corners.
I wouldn't discourage the sway bar but just saying Lamonster had another opinion at least for my model year. Definitely consider upgrading shocks in any case.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by Quickdraw
My ride is more for pleasure and not so much pushing it to extremes. This is what happens when you get old.
Thanks for the heads up of what happens when I get old. But when will that be? I'm 84 and love to challenge the corners in our mountains here.
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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Active Member
You're 84 but probably feel young. I'm not that old but feel 120 with my back issues and pinched psychotic nerve.
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Very Active Member
Originally Posted by skip
Can someone who has a bajaron sway bar kit on there spyder, tell me if this upgrade is worth it, being new to the spyder, iam looking at the best inprovements for it, thanks
. Yes
Kaos----- Gone but not forgotten.
2014 RTS in Circuit Yellow, farkle-ing addiction down to once every few months. ECU FLASH IS GREAT.
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