Its official: BajaRon's swaybar is a MUST have for all RT owners!

[kinggeek]

Arrived, installed and tested!

All I can at is OH MY FREAKIN' GAWD! THIS THING IS AWESOME, A MUST HAVE FOR ANY RT OWNER!

I noticed a difference from the first right hand turn in my neighborhood at 25MPH and it only got better in the twisties!

I took an unfortunately short ride in some of the twisties I am most familiar with and the difference is amazing! Turns that uses to put a little fear in me where smooth as glass at higher speeds than ever before.

I do see one downside for Ron though, he is probably going to be selling fewer brake pads as a result of this amazing performance enhancing product.

Well done!

[MMcc]

Do you have the stock shocks or Elka's?

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for the review!
Can somebody kidnap my Missus, so that i've got some install time to myself???

[kinggeek]

I have Elka Stage 1+R all the way around.

I will say this though for RT owners with stock shocks. The BajaRon Swaybar should be the first suspension performance mod you do. It is significantly less expensive than Elka shocks on the front and provides exactly what most are looking for when they replace the shocks.

Depending on your riding style it may be all you need and the savings of approximately $500 over front Elka's to spend on OTHER mods!

[kinggeek]

Thanks for the review!
Can somebody kidnap my Missus, so that i've got some install time to myself???

It only take about an hour!

[Bob Denman]

one hour for a normal person with average mechanical skills...
Better plan on keeping her for about six hours: maybe just drop her at a Christopher & Banks or Zales...

I'm checking out the results for the RonBar carefully before even looking at the Elka website...
I did upgrade to 2011 M.Y. shocks for my 2010...

[kinggeek]

OK, I know I already recommended the BajaRon Swaybar as a must have for all RT owners but I just went for another ride today before work and I need to add a little to that recommendation.

I almost feel like I got a new Spyder for the insanely low price of $199 delivered!

I mean every time I make a turn it surprises me how much more stable and confident it feels. I find myself pushing on my outside foot and leaning into turns when I don't really need to any more. I'm not saying it was bad before with the Elka's or even the stocks it is just that much better, VERY NOTICEABLE IMPROVEMENT!

I now see a downside for me, more speeding tickets!

[Bob Denman]

Didn't somebody mention that this bar is gonna hurt his business because he's gonna sell a lot less brake parts??

[CyncySpyder]

Teddy's new bar should be at the house today or tomorrow and I can forsee a NICE LONG ROAD TRIP in our very near future Thanks for the great feedback

[DR Buck]

So, how about some explainations?

When installing the sway bar on an RT does anything factory install get removed/discarded?

How much disassembly is required? From the photos it looks like the Frunk is removed.

Will it fit with the Spyder Pops Critter Splitter installed?

[Spacetrucker]

looks like the bars will not fit the new 2013 bikes??? or will they. Cw dads kid

[BajaRon]

So, how about some explainations?

When installing the sway bar on an RT does anything factory install get removed/discarded?

How much disassembly is required? From the photos it looks like the Frunk is removed.

Will it fit with the Spyder Pops Critter Splitter installed?

OEM bar is removed and replaced with the Custom Performance Sway Bar. Here is a quick synopsis of the process.

You do not have to remove the Frunk on the RT. Removing the Frunk on the RS is much less work and some prefer this method. But it is not necessary to remove the Frunk on either the RS or RT model Spyders for this Custom Sway Bar install.

It is much easier to SHOW the install process with the Frunk removed, so that is why the pictures are presented this way.

On the RT you have to remove the 2 quick release side panels (where you check oil level on the left side and the same panel on the right). This exposes 2 Torx bolts at the rear of the fog light panels that need to be removed. These Fog Light panels are not removed, only the 2 rear bolts on each side.

Then you remove the 2 bolts holding the bottom of the Frunk to the frame. This gives you access to the Sway Bar components.

There are 6 bolts holding the sway bar. Once these are removed/loosend the OEM bar can be removed. The new Custom Sway Bar installs in reverse order. These Custom Bars come with more detailed install instructions.

There is no problem with the SpyderPops Bump Skid and the Custom Sway Bar. They live quite happily together. Harvey would never make a product that would not get along with mine! Nor me his!

looks like the bars will not fit the new 2013 bikes??? or will they. Cw dads kid

The 2013 Spyder sway bar is a different configuration and the current Custom sway bars will not fit them.

hi I have 2012 rt ron's states the swaybar is for rs not rt. did it fix alright and what did you have to do to make it work on the rt thanks for information. always like to find things to make the ride better.

The RS, GS, RS-S sway bars are NOT interchangable with the RT model Spyders. Please do not go there!

However, I carry a Custom Performance Sway Bar specifically designed for each of these respective Spyder models.

[kinggeek]

I can agree with the 'best money spent' comment. HUGE bang for the buck!

[bikeguy]

I changed my pre-load adjustment from position 4 to position 3 and took a short test ride this afternoon. As you would expect the ride is softer and better - but the handling suffers. Cornering is still much better than with the stock swaybar but there is more body roll and it's just not as sharp and controlled in the corners. I'll go back to position 4 tomorrow and may even try at position 5 but I think the best will be position 4.

Cotton

[Bob Denman]

Cotton,
Which year RT do you have, and which shocks?

[bikeguy]

Cotton,
Which year RT do you have, and which shocks?

2010 RT with 2011 RT shocks still set on position 4 after another test run today.

Cotton

[Bob Denman]

2010 RT with 2011 RT shocks still set on position 4

Great minds must think alike... I'm running the EXACT same setup!

[AbNormy]

I mistakenly ordered the bar for the RS last summer got it installed without removing Frunk, then Ron realized it wasn't an RS so he said take it back off. 2 hours first time about an hour the second.

[ringalls51]

you are right got the swaybar. put it on and was not hard at all. my wife and I could not believe the difference a swaybar could make. it is a must on rt. my wife has a 2012 spyder rt a/c. she has had it for about 2 monthes we were taking 40 mph curves at 49 mph and couldn't tell it. just have to watch my speed on curves now. worth every penny for the cost of the bar. had front tires at 30 lbs and shockes at 5 after putting on swaybar now front tires at 25 lbs and shockes at 3. rides so much better.

Arrived, installed and tested!

All I can at is OH MY FREAKIN' GAWD! THIS THING IS AWESOME, A MUST HAVE FOR ANY RT OWNER!

I noticed a difference from the first right hand turn in my neighborhood at 25MPH and it only got better in the twisties!

I took an unfortunately short ride in some of the twisties I am most familiar with and the difference is amazing! Turns that uses to put a little fear in me where smooth as glass at higher speeds than ever before.

I do see one downside for Ron though, he is probably going to be selling fewer brake pads as a result of this amazing performance enhancing product.

Well done!

[SpyderAnn01]

you are right got the swaybar. put it on and was not hard at all. my wife and I could not believe the difference a swaybar could make. it is a must on rt. my wife has a 2012 spyder rt a/c. she has had it for about 2 monthes we were taking 40 mph curves at 49 mph and couldn't tell it. just have to watch my speed on curves now. worth every penny for the cost of the bar. had front tires at 30 lbs and shockes at 5 after putting on swaybar now front tires at 25 lbs and shockes at 3. rides so much better.

\\

Wow, you run really high pressure in your front tires How are the tires wearing?

[ckiblue]

\\

Wow, you run really high pressure in your front tires How are the tires wearing?

Only got 2000,on it since we just got it in oct, the spyder mechanic said the spyder tire wear down on the inside of the tires so thats why we're trying the highe pressure, have you heard anything differently? this is ringalls talking thru wife since I'm on at the moment. thanks for the info.always open to more info.

[Sarge707]

you are right got the swaybar. put it on and was not hard at all. my wife and I could not believe the difference a swaybar could make. it is a must on rt. my wife has a 2012 spyder rt a/c. she has had it for about 2 monthes we were taking 40 mph curves at 49 mph and couldn't tell it. just have to watch my speed on curves now. worth every penny for the cost of the bar. had front tires at 30 lbs and shockes at 5 after putting on swaybar now front tires at 25 lbs and shockes at 3. rides so much better.

25 Pounds is a LOT according to 100,s of posts on the Forum?? I think if you tried 20 Pounds with the stock shocks on 4 or even 5 and the Sway Bar you would see a BIG difference.

The manual says #4 Shocks =200 pound rider and cargo!
#5 Shocks=Rider, Passenger, and Cargo!

Just my opinion.

[ckiblue]

25 Pounds is a LOT according to 100,s of posts on the Forum?? I think if you tried 20 Pounds with the stock shocks on 4 or even 5 and the Sway Bar you would see a BIG difference.

The manual says #4 Shocks =200 pound rider and cargo!
#5 Shocks=Rider, Passenger, and Cargo!

Just my opinion.

thanks for info. i'll try it at 4 ,we've only got 2000 on it and the mechanic said tires wear on the inside of the spyder,
have you heard anything differently? this is ringalls with wife here signed in,so hopefully i wrote what he wanted to say.thanks again, in the process of learning about our spyder open to any and all info.

[NancysToy]

thanks for info. i'll try it at 4 ,we've only got 2000 on it and the mechanic said tires wear on the inside of the spyder,
have you heard anything differently? this is ringalls with wife here signed in,so hopefully i wrote what he wanted to say.thanks again, in the process of learning about our spyder open to any and all info.

Mechanic is full of baloney. That is the standard answer, but the truth is that a Spyder whose tires wear unevenly on the inside of both front tires is :

a. Overloaded without the front spring (shock) preload being set high enough,
b. Misaligned, with insufficient toe-in,
c. Running inadequate front tire pressure in combination with aggressive riding,

A correctly aligned Spyder with the front suspension in good shape will wear the tires evenly, and the fronts will last 20K or more. At 22K mine are only half worn. Check your front preload, and set it higher if needed. I recommend one notch above the recommendation in your manual for your weight, passenger, and cargo load. Be sure your front tire pressure is even, and high enough. The 15 psi in the manual is too low for most riders. A good place to start is 18 for an RT and 20 for an RS. If all else fails, find a good shop, that has experience with front end alignment, and have it done (after a thorough front suspension inspection). If your Spyder tends to follow every bump and bank in the road, and you are not holding the bars too tight and overcontrolling, the chances are it needs an alignment.

[ckiblue]

Mechanic is full of baloney. That is the standard answer, but the truth is that a Spyder whose tires wear unevenly on the inside of both front tires is :

a. Overloaded without the front spring (shock) preload being set high enough,
b. Misaligned, with insufficient toe-in,
c. Running inadequate front tire pressure in combination with aggressive riding,

A correctly aligned Spyder with the front suspension in good shape will wear the tires evenly, and the fronts will last 20K or more. At 22K mine are only half worn. Check your front preload, and set it higher if needed. I recommend one notch above the recommendation in your manual for your weight, passenger, and cargo load. Be sure your front tire pressure is even, and high enough. The 15 psi in the manual is too low for most riders. A good place to start is 18 for an RT and 20 for an RS. If all else fails, find a good shop, that has experience with front end alignment, and have it done (after a thorough front suspension inspection). If your Spyder tends to follow every bump and bank in the road, and you are not holding the bars too tight and overcontrolling, the chances are it needs an alignment.

Thanks for the info. will do...mechanic is certified by BRP "master" maybe he misunderstood our question when asked