2014 RT vs Wind

[SpyderAnn01]

The wind is winning. I'm really disappointed today I'm getting 20 mpg and I can't even run the speed limit. 25 mph head wind

[Bob Denman]

Sometimes when they tell you to, "Go fly a kite"; it is the best thing to do!

[Chupaca]

you have to twist the throttle.... Really whats going on. We were out ryding with strong winds and got buffeted a bit but the roadster ran true. Is noisey and hard to hear intercome but not bad. This is an RS with a msr windsheild adjustable tip. Yours is adjustable and you need to find the right position...

[SpyderAnn01]

Full throttle - thought I was in limp mode - even tried laying down on the tank. Nothing.

[sassoman]

Remember 6th gear is overdrive .Sometimes you may have to run in 5th gear which is direct drive. Should help the power issue.A steady headwind may be enough to force that.

[Jeriatric]

Full throttle - thought I was in limp mode - even tried laying down on the tank. Nothing.

Knowing you are not using eco mode says something must be very wrong. Hope you figure it out...

[Dudley]

Drop a gear until you can get the power range needed to counter the wind resistance. Your MPG will probably improve dramatically. Remember, the engine, though an inline 3 still likes RPMs.

[Bob Denman]

That might not work on the triple; Unlike the 998 twin, it makes it's power down low...Spinning it harder could be an exercise in futilitiy.

[BigLegMac]

HI ANN. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM HEADING TO SPYDERFEST. HAD IT IN SIX GEAR AND TURNED THE THROTTLE ALL THE WAY AND THE BIKE WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. I WAS TOLD LATER TO SHIFT TO FIFTH TO PASS. I ALSO HAD THE TRAILER FULLY LOADED AND GOT 120 MILES TO THE TANK AND WHEN I WAS ALMOST TO SPRINGFIELD I GOT 155 MILES TO THE TANK. BUT LIKE YOU THE WIND WAS STRONG BUT THE BIKE STAYED IN THE ROAD. NOW I KNOW THAT ITS JUST NOT MY BIKE WITH THE THROTTLE TURNED ALL THE WAY AND NO SPEED IN 6TH GEAR. I HAVE A 2014 SEMI AUTO RTS

[bullant12]

I have the same issue when I go thru East Arkansas in the plains. You are fighting that wind for miles until you get into the valley.

[Tango]

The wind is winning. I'm really disappointed today I'm getting 20 mpg and I can't even run the speed limit. 25 mph head wind

Head winds can be really annoying! That's putting it mildly. Tom

[clueless]

I dropped milage to and from Spyderfest with the 20 to 25 mph wins both ways! Between St Louis and Indianapolis is all flat open highway and no where to hide

In way in at 75 to 80 mph milage was 125 miles per tank

Dropping down to 65 I went up to 160 + miles per tank.

At 65 mph with little wind I didn't get low fuel light until 175 miles

But I am on a 2013 ST-S

[clueless]

On the 2014 rt demo it didn't get any power until around 5k rpms

In 6th gear you don't cruise at that high of rpms. So yeah you would need to drop to 5th to get into the power band

[SpyderAnn01]

Today wasn't any better, it was more of a crosswind than a headwind today but still at 25 mph sustained. I kept dropping to 5th gear then I would shift back to 6th going downhill. I know that these are pretty extreme conditions but they are something that happens out here quite often.

I had the new forward grill screens installed by Spyderpops and they did the job, no tumbleweeds stuck in front of the radiators.

My trailer lights blew out before I left and I had the harness on the Spyder replaced by the BRP techs but they did not have the ground harness for the trailer with them so the lights blew out again.

[SpyRyd]

I had the new forward grill screens installed by Spyderpops and they did the job, no tumbleweeds stuck in front of the radiators.

I also had SPYDERPOPS' new KOTT (keep out the trash) grilles installed at SF. They really work! Removed them (easy...two screws each) and cleaned the bugs, bug guts, etc off of them while cleaning my Spyder after 1100+ mile ryde home.

14 RT owners, you really need to consider getting the KOTT grilles from SPYDERPOPS!

[lookerjdc]

if your windshield is all the way up, lower it a little bit - riding with the windshield in the full up position creates a lot of wind resistance and will impact the mpg

head winds are a pain but not a brick wall...

[wis2013rtltd]

its powerband... The triples just are not the same, have to drop a gear or three.. I wonder if you should have it checked out? 25 mph is unacceptable no matter the wind.

[900Dave]

That might not work on the triple; Unlike the 998 twin, it makes it's power down low...Spinning it harder could be an exercise in futilitiy.

Bob,
I have the little brother to the 1330. I actually have 2 of them the 900 ACE inline triple. You can twist them harder than you think and I still get good fuel economy. The 1330 "I am only guessing here" would probably do better in a lower gear running higher rpm's than it would running WOT and lugging the engine.

[SpyderAnn01]

if your windshield is all the way up, lower it a little bit - riding with the windshield in the full up position creates a lot of wind resistance and will impact the mpg

head winds are a pain but not a brick wall...

I ride with the windshield about 1" from the lowest position.

[Dan_Ashley]

Does anyone have a copy of the triple's torque curve, gear ratios, and red line data?

[Spacetrucker]

Yes me to. Form springfeild,mo to San Antonia ,Tx was 12 tanks ,head wins of 35 to 55 top speed towing my rt622 ws 68mph. Less then 15 miles per gal, and lower. Still wind as hell here. Here for the next week or two.

[oldguyinTX]

Today wasn't any better, it was more of a crosswind than a headwind today but still at 25 mph sustained. I kept dropping to 5th gear then I would shift back to 6th going downhill. I know that these are pretty extreme conditions but they are something that happens out here quite often.

I had the new forward grill screens installed by Spyderpops and they did the job, no tumbleweeds stuck in front of the radiators.

My trailer lights blew out before I left and I had the harness on the Spyder replaced by the BRP techs but they did not have the ground harness for the trailer with them so the lights blew out again.

And now this after all you have been through. Ann, I have to say that I admire your loyalty. I have not ridden a '14, because I know that I am not buying one. Gonna stick with the '13 as it is running way better now (after many trips to the dealer for repairs - not the dealer's fault, they are great - and many calls back and forth to BRP) than it ever has. Hope you can get this straightened out so you can enjoy your new .

[garb55]

I live at 6500 ft. in the Sierra Nevada mountains
I travel 180 miles round trip to shop with my RT 622 trailer. going from 6500ft. to 7500ft. down to 4600ft. and back
I find I get much better mileage in 5th gear going up hill because in 6th you would be at WOT
Don

[ABQSpyder]

I feel your pain the two day ride to Spyderfest the wind was terrible. The two days back I think were worst! Probably the worst four days of riding in my 45 years of riding. Got about 87 miles on a tank in Texas. Sometimes it felt as if I was going backwards.

[Yazz]

Thoughts on strong winds...

Tail-winds I like, head-winds I put up with, cross-winds are a pain in the patootie.

All you can do is the best you can do and get through it.

Ann, hope y'all get home safely...