Is the Radio Reception on 2024 Spyder RT Limited's any good?

[AJ 1]

I am looking at purchasing my first Spyder. I am looking at the "RT Limited's". I am new to the forum, but did find some complaints on the 2024 models since Can Am went to the "hidden antenna". How is the reception on this model when farther away from the radio station/or a weaker radio station?
I'm trying to find out if it's better to buy a 2020-2023 Limited or would the 2024 Limited work good for me. (I do like the bigger screen on the 2024's, but I could do without it, if the radio reception is poor). I listen to the radio all the time and want to make sure it works well before I buy one.
Also, is there a mode built-in to the radio for XM-radio? I did look at a 2023 Limited and the owner said that the radio doesn't have XM-radio. Is that correct? (He was old and maybe never knew how to get to it in the radio). Thanks.

 

[CopperSpyder]

Every year of Spyder has had some complaints about the radio reception including the 2024. Some have no issues with the reception, each one seems different according to their owner and location it seems. There are some fixes posted here for some Spyders that were found to have a bad connection at the antenna and some antennas were found to not be connected at all. None of the Spyders have XM but you can blu tooth from the XM app on your phone. XM app works good according to what I have seen others say. Good Luck shopping. lots of good info here if you search older post.

 

[NoTyme]

I Bluetooth my XM from my phone to my 23 RT-L. I went into my phone's settings, cranked up the audio volume, and can now hear my radio fine at 80 miles an hour.

 

[troop]

FM radio reception on my 2022 RT S2S is basically acceptable at best. I generally stream iHeart radio on my phone and Bluetooth it to my speakers. Crisp and clear for me. I certainly wouldn't avoid a 2024 RTL over FM reception.

 

[AJ 1]

Thanks for the replies. I've been riding Goldwing's for the last 30+ years and have had XM radios on them for the last 15 years or so.
I'm not familiar with the XM app. Do you still need an XM subscription? Thanks.

 

[racoon]

I'm not familiar with the XM app. Do you still need an XM subscription? Thanks.

Yes.

 

[Woodaddict]

I have Sirrus XM in the car and on my smart phone. These 2 streaming services used to be separate or you could add them together. But now they are together. If riding with your phone, it would use phone data. They might still have the small streaming unit. You can find info @ sirrusxm.com

 

[djh3]

I have a 19 F3 Limited. FM is ah OK'ish in my area. But I am using a Sirius XM Onyx (small portable head). On my Victory I had a cable that went in line of the FM antenna line. Worked great, on this bike not so much. SO I am just using the aux plug for now. I also use a Sena SMH 10

 

[Peter Aawen]

FM radio reception on my 2022 RT S2S is basically acceptable at best. I generally stream iHeart radio on my phone and Bluetooth it to my speakers. Crisp and clear for me. I certainly wouldn't avoid a 2024 RTL over FM reception.

True dat!

But then again, I certainly wouldn't be buying ANY Year/Model Spyder solely based on its radio reception; or even if good reception &/or sound is a 'must have' in my selection criteria I reckon that BRP simply added & maintains the radio feature on any Spyder as an afterthought; and realistically, there's not any Spyder yr/model out there that has great factory reception &/or sound! I'd even go so far as to say that only some Spyders are even 'OK' in both of those areas - as evidenced by the many threads & posts here about this over the years (noting that we've now got almost 2 decades of dodgy/poor radio complaints! ) so I'd suggest that most Spyders fall somewhat short of 'basically acceptable' in one or both of those areas; altho admittedly, it's not impossible to improve on the 'as she left the factory' offering!

For many, it's simply that whoever had that job on the production line either completely forgot to connect the antenna entirely, or they realised they'd missed the rest of the day's production run so that now they had a tonne of their yellow locktite goop left, and rather than being sprung &/or told off for not doing their job properly, they used a whole day's production run of that goop on the last couple of Spyders, adding grossly more than an excessive load of insulating/reception killing stuff to the few Spyders that did get thru on that day with their radio antenna connected!

So if I was you AJ, and good radio reception was a critical/essential part of your 'next bike/trike selection criteria', then a Spyder IS NOT likely to meet your needs wants in 'as it left the factory' condition! But luckily, it's not usually all that hard to fix the 'dodgy antenna connection' issues - it IS a 'shouldn't ever be necessary pain of a thing' to hafta do, but it can be done; and if you really want good or better quality sound &/or reception, there are a/mkt options that can help, ranging from form, fit, & function replacement antennas &/or speakers, right thru to full on a/mkt bolt-on radio &/or replacement sound systems! Good Luck!

 

[troop]

Thanks for the replies. I've been riding Goldwing's for the last 30+ years and have had XM radios on them for the last 15 years or so.
I'm not familiar with the XM app. Do you still need an XM subscription? Thanks.

I generally sign up for XM streaming during the summer, when you can get 3-4 months for $15. I generally take it June-Sept. Cancelling on line is easy, as no more need to listen to a high pressure rep.

 

[Two2Three]

Mine was terrible until I realized they never actually screwed the antenna in during assembly. It was just held in by the boot and luck. Once that was screwed in, the reception was fine.

 

[CopperSpyder]

XM app. If you have an XM subscription in your car or truck already you can download the XM app for free. Once you have the app you can Bluetooth XM to your Spyder from your phone at no additional cost as long as you have a subscription in the car or truck ect.

 

[ned64]

My '17 RTL had good reception and sound, and my '22 RTL good reception an sound. I have no problem with them.

 

[AJ 1]

Thanks for the info CopperSpyder, I figured out how to do that now.

 

[AmigoJack]

FM radio reception on my 2022 RT S2S is basically acceptable at best. I generally stream iHeart radio on my phone and Bluetooth it to my speakers. Crisp and clear for me. I certainly wouldn't avoid a 2024 RTL over FM reception.

The radio reception on my '22 sucks. If I want music though, I Bluetooth my phone to my Cardo communicator. The sound quality is far superior to any speakers.

 

[troop]

The radio reception on my '22 sucks. If I want music though, I Bluetooth my phone to my Cardo communicator. The sound quality is far superior to any speakers.

Yup .. I have Cardo's on two helmets, but on occasion find myself wearing a half helmet.

 

[AmigoJack]

Yup .. I have Cardo's on two helmets, but on occasion find myself wearing a half helmet.

We are on our 2nd LS2 helmets, I like the movable chin bar, open face when it is hot, and it is a full face when it is cold or raining.
Of course with our cardo communicators work with each helmet.
Worst thing with the communicator is when your cell phone rings, it almost deafens you ringing on the cardo!

 

[troop]

We are on our 2nd LS2 helmets, I like the movable chin bar, open face when it is hot, and it is a full face when it is cold or raining.
Of course with our cardo communicators work with each helmet.
Worst thing with the communicator is when your cell phone rings, it almost deafens you ringing on the cardo!

Yup... My LS2 Advant uses the Cardo. And yup, the ring volume is crazy loud!

 

[BajaRon]

As mentioned. Be sure the antenna on your Spyder is attached. We've seen a number of customer's bikes where the antenna lead was left undone. And dealerships don't understand why customers are losing confidence in them.

An aftermarket antenna can boost reception.

That being said, the radios on Spyders have never been very good. Most find a work-a-round. It boggles the mind that a great machine like the Spyder can't find a radio that works well. It's not like radios are a new thing! Guglielmo Marconi made the first public demonstration of radio in St. Louis in 1893! Come on, BRP! Time to catch up!

 

[Ages]

I have the 2024 Spyder RT S2S, the radio reception works well for me.