Self Leveling Ride/Suspension?

[Tomline]

I have a 2012 Spyder RT SM5. Does it have an on board compressor to add air to the rear suspension? Owners Manual not available right now! My GF and I are not very light(weight) and on a recent ride I seemed to have "bottomed out" a couple of times & it sounded like metal to metal contact. Approximate Pressure for two up riding? Thanks

 

[oldguyinTX]

I have a 2012 Spyder RT SM5. Does it have an on board compressor to add air to the rear suspension? Owners Manual not available right now! My GF and I are not very light(weight) and on a recent ride I seemed to have "bottomed out" a couple of times & it sounded like metal to metal contact. Approximate Pressure for two up riding? Thanks

Not all 2012 RT's had the air shock, either auto or manual. If you have a rocker switch under the handlebars that has images of a shock on it - other switches are parking brake, frunk, heated grips, fog lights - then the answer is yes to question one. If there is no switch, the answer is no. If no, if there is a schrader valve under the seat beneath where the passenger sits - just like what is on a tire to add air - then you have a manual air shock. Assuming your RT is manual w/o a compressor, for two up, you probably need to add air to say 70psi max to answer question two. When you do, you will see the rear of the Spyder rise like a phoenix out of the desert. You will have to bleed off/add air depending on a particular riding situation. With the auto version, the compressor only adjusts when the Spyder is running and in gear.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Only the RT-S and RT-Limited models had the ACS in 2012.
(The base, and the Audio & Convenience models didn't...)
The bike has to be in gear (and I think moving....) for the ACS to make adjustments to the suspension settings.
If your bike isn't equipped with it: add air via the underseat Schrader valve. If I remember correctly; don't exceed 90 psi... (We usually settled in at around 65 psi with ours.)

 

[Doc - Riverside]

Fix the shock first

I have a 2012 Spyder RT SM5. Does it have an on board compressor to add air to the rear suspension? Owners Manual not available right now! My GF and I are not very light(weight) and on a recent ride I seemed to have "bottomed out" a couple of times & it sounded like metal to metal contact. Approximate Pressure for two up riding? Thanks

Since you mentioned you are hearing metal to metal contact it sounds like you need a beefier rear shock. All to often people use the air bag system to hide the fact that the rear shock is failing or can't handle the load of two riders. First fix the shock so it works correctly for you. Then you can use the air bag to level out the ride.

 

[Bam Bam and Pebbles]

:agree: Only the RT-S and RT-Limited models had the ACS in 2012.
(The base, and the Audio & Convenience models didn't...)
The bike has to be in gear (and I think moving....) for the ACS to make adjustments to the suspension settings.
If your bike isn't equipped with it: add air via the underseat Schrader valve. If I remember correctly; don't exceed 90 psi... (We usually settled in at around 65 psi with ours.)

Also check to make sure the Schrader valve is tight. My old 2012 kept losing air until I tightened up the valve innards.

 

[Bob Denman]

:clap: Nice catch! :agree: :2thumbs:

 

[oldguyinTX]

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: Posts 4, 5, & 6.