RPM Revelations

[boborgera]

Sounds like Can Am stuck a Crotch Rocket motor in the Spyder, if this engine won't run well unless it's at 50% of redline then it was certainly not a very good choice to power this type of machine.

Sometimes you have to use what you got., The 990 class of engine's is what they had, So it's what they used.

[docdoru]

Perhaps the GS/RS 990 needs to be spun a bit more than the RT's 991...
They DID move the powerband down the rev scale almost 1000 rpm...

[chris56]

2.buds report.jpg

thats a normal driven RT SE .. running perfect since 13.000 mls

[Oldmanzues]

A HD Friend ( PGR ) has a Spyder RT. They bought it for the stabily of three wheels for her. She rode it to stand Flag Lines, but not for moving Missions.
They came over before a Mission ( Flaf line, then escort) and wanted to ask a question. I said, sure. He said, you do not seem to have problems with keeping up and yours runs fine. Hers is horrible. My bike was behind you last Mission. I asked if I could ride with her, we had some time. It took less then five minutes to find out why. Ever try to ride in 5 th at 35 MPH. She rode with me in the escort, then her husband, her and I got in a disscuion about power bands, red lines and things. Their Spyder runs a whole better.
There is one stange thing to this. When she comes with him or along, she is on her Spyder ( loves it), but he comes alone, his HD has a problem, so he is riding the Spyder. This never happened before they got the Spyder operation right.
I know all the HD jokes, but even so,I think they are good rides for that style. If you know a HD rider, ask them about the "AMF" years. they were not so good.
Oldmanzues

[daveinva]

HERE I GO AGAINST THE GRAIN AGAIN, I RARELY GO ABOVE 5000 RPM'S AND MY 08 G/S RUNS FINE....MAYBE IT'S AN ANNAMOLY (NEED A DICTIONARY ?)...MIKE

Here *I* go again .

You probably *can* run a Spyder all the time ~4500-5000 RPM.

The polite question is, why the would you want to?

The Spyder doesn't just run best above those RPM. Those RPMs are where it runs. Anything less, and you are literally not using the engine the way it is intended to be used-- you're not getting your money's worth.

I don't know which is the best analogy to apply, so pick one:
1. You own a Dolby 5.1 home theater surround sound system but never plug in the rear speakers.
2. You use your Blu-Ray player only for regular DVDs.
3. You bought a Jeep Wrangler in Manhattan.
4. You DVR the Super Bowl so you can skip through to the commercials.
5. You insist on being "just friends" with the Victoria's Secret angels.

[docdoru]

2.buds report.jpg

thats a normal driven RT SE .. running perfect since 13.000 mls

Please define "normal"...

[Bob Denman]

Please define "normal"...

"Normal" is in the eye of the beholder...
I'm going to have to ask for one of those printouts on mine...

[chris56]

Please define "normal"...

for me its normal to have one of the nicest passenger on my back (since 28 years..)if I drive together with one of my old biker-friends - I always have a look that they do not have to wait for me .. thats one of the Questions (proud-to-be-a-spyderlover) OK .. it was easier with my GS .. but with some help of some guys here - it works with the RT (hope really to meet you one time here in the alps here you see RT-SE Rpms on the road - behind a BMW R1200 - 100 Kmh = around 60 mls/hour (power is serios business..)

[docdoru]

...hope really to meet you one time here in the alps

It's coming, much sooner than you think...
Thank for sharing the video, very nice

[chris56]

It's coming, much sooner than you think...
Thank for sharing the video, very nice

in some days .. Ok in two month i start like every year my training here around my hometown .. 1400 m uphill - looks so easy .. but gives you an idea whats happening here in the ROTAX-Land

[docdoru]

in some days .. Ok in two month i start like every year my training here around my hometown .. 1400 m uphill - looks so easy .. but gives you an idea whats happening here in the ROTAX-Land

great ryde
About the Rotax-Land...do you mind the stickers on my Spyder?

[spydee owner]

Put the 2011 RT in the garage after a ride into the mountains on Sunday and when I started her up this morning the check engine light came on and it went into limp mode. I shut it down and restarted a few times and on the fourth try it ran without the check engine light but seemed to idle rough.

I headed to the dealership and the computer on the BUDDS revealed that it had failed to come out of idle mode a few times.

The tech cleaned out the throttle body and took it for a test drive. He told me it felt rough until he put it into the 6-7,000 rpm range for a while and then everything smoothed out.

He put it back on BUDDS and showed me the history of the engine speeds since last August when I bought it. In 9500 miles the engine has spent 56% of its time under 4,000 RPM, and not very much time in the 5-6,000 range.

His advice was to keep it in third and fourth gear longer, and to stay out of fifth until it gets around 5,000 rpm. I had been going into fifth once it got in the 3,500-4,000 range but apparently that is a no-no.

The riding habits from my Gold Wing days need to be discarded and there is a need to go back to the style that I rode my Yamaha twin with.

I hadn't realized I had fallen into this bad habit.

I think the dealer is giving you a smoke scrreen.
Nancys Toy is on the right approach to this. Driving in 5th at 3500to 4000 rpm should not cause issues.

[Bob Denman]

in some days .. Ok in two month i start like every year my training here around my hometown .. 1400 m uphill - looks so easy .. but gives you an idea whats happening here in the ROTAX-Land

Can we come play in YOUR back yard???

(Am I also a member of the Spyder crash test club now?? )

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

DEAR DAVEINVA:..I'VE HAD MY SPYDER UP TO 115 MPH, BUT I HAD A REASON TO DO SO....I COULD ALSO DRIVE MY SPYDER AROUND IN SECOND GEAR AT 8500 RPM BUT I CAN'T THINK OF A REASON TO DO SO .......SO I DON'T................I THOUGHT THE THREAD WAS ABOUT WHERE YOU THOUGHT YOU SHOULD RUN YOU'R SPYDER TO KEEP IT RUNNING SMOOTH....AND THAT WAS MY ANSWER !!!.............MIKE.....

[Pennyrick]

I think the dealer is giving you a smoke scrreen.
Nancys Toy is on the right approach to this. Driving in 5th at 3500to 4000 rpm should not cause issues.

I don't think Nancy's Toy's response was to my original post but to some other comments about plug fouling and wiring.

I think I will do as the tech (who trained at the Can Am factory) advises. To me it makes sense that this engine is happier running over 4,000 rpm for sustained periods as Lamonster pointed out.