RT Front Suspension

[Mowerman]

Couple of questions.

What makes or lets the spyder lean in turns?

Is it the swaybar?

Is it the shocks?

Or is it a combination of both.

Reason I am asking is. I had the swaybar and bushing replaced on my Rt. Bushing on the swaybar went bad and they just replaced the whole thing.The problem now is it seems to lean more in the curves then it did before. Feels a little unstable at times.

Any feed back would help.

 

[chris56]

maybe you still use the 2010 frontshocks - have a
look how they are adjusted now .. should be changed to the new 2011 version

 

[fastfraser]

The shocks will give you a very slight compression in the turns. Sounds like you are plowing when you go into a turn and you need to adjust your shocks and or your tire pressure . I ride two up most of the time and have my shocks ( Elka"s )fairly firm and run 18-19 PSI in the front tires. What are your front shocks set at now ?

 

[Schnauzer]

Kinda sounds as if your service tech, thinks he knows what is best and went to factory settings from you have alreay been using.. double check your equipment everytime you get it back..

 

[LLSailor]

Not an answer, but another question. Does the front suspension setting have much effect on the handling in curves? The guy at Reno's said they just leave it at factory setting unless 'it bottoms out'. I'm not a little guy and was wondering a)What is the factory setting; b)Does setting IAW weight vs manual a big deal?:dontknow:

 

[Tru-Blue]

The spyder is delivered and set up with the shocks set in the the 3rd notch. Most find this to soft and lose in the turns not to mention in the wind and passing larger vehicles on the highway. I had mine set to the #5 notch upon delivery and rode it for a year then I purchased and installed the Elka stage 1 shocks. Len at Cowtown pre set them according to my weight and riding style. All I can say is "WOW" what a difference the Elka's make! Btw I have a 2011 RT model.
With the Elka's in the turns and running down the hwy and passing the big rigs is so stable feeling and not as mushy feeling. I also have my front tires set at 18-20psi. Riding 2-up is another key point with the Elka's.

Hope this helps....

 

[LLSailor]

The spyder is delivered and set up with the shocks set in the the 3rd notch. Most find this to soft and lose in the turns not to mention in the wind and passing larger vehicles on the highway. I had mine set to the #5 notch upon delivery and rode it for a year then I purchased and installed the Elka stage 1 shocks. Len at Cowtown pre set them according to my weight and riding style. All I can say is "WOW" what a difference the Elka's make! Btw I have a 2011 RT model.
With the Elka's in the turns and running down the hwy and passing the big rigs is so stable feeling and not as mushy feeling. I also have my front tires set at 18-20psi. Riding 2-up is another key point with the Elka's.

Hope this helps....

Thanks for the reply, we do have the wind here in KS.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

Thanks for the reply, we do have the wind here in KS.

Wind in Kansas? Who'da thunk it?

 

[LLSailor]

Wind in Kansas? Who'da thunk it?

Yup, that's why it smells so much like Oklahoma.

 

[Jeriatric]

Yup, that's why it smells so much like Oklahoma.

And the waving wheat sure smells sweet when the wind comes right behind the rain…. :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

I feel a song coming on...

 

[LLSailor]

OK, don't want to beat a dead horse, (today anyway) but will setting the front suspension at 5 (based on weight of myself and better half) make my Spyder (I call him Burp) any easier to wrestle with in this Kansas wind? Will some of the after market shocks?

 

[Bob Denman]

Bumping up the preload will help keep "Burp" from leaning as much in the turns. Sidewinds... Believe it or not; that might be you that's causing some of the fuss. Please let me explain.
You're sitting up on top of the bike just like a big old sail. Along comes one of those wind gusts and it blows you around a bit in the saddle... Since you're now hanging on to the bars for dear life, you inadvertently add some unwanted steering input... :shocked:
Try locking your knees in against the "tank". You wo't get buffeted around as much and "Burp" will remain happy and on course a bit better...
Please let me know if this helps... Good Luck! :thumbup:

 

[sinkhole]

Riding one-up... try 22 psi in the front tires, and a setting of 4 on the stock shocks. Handles and corners much better.

 

[flybuddy]

Riding one-up... try 22 psi in the front tires, and a setting of 4 on the stock shocks. Handles and corners much better.

Ditto on the pressure..I agree that 4 was good but 5 was even better.

 

[Bob Denman]

I settled on 18 only because it felt as if with 20 psi and higher, I was feeling every little crack and dust spec on the road... :shocked:

 

[LLSailor]

Bumping up the preload will help keep "Burp" from leaning as much in the turns. Sidewinds... Believe it or not; that might be you that's causing some of the fuss. Please let me explain.
You're sitting up on top of the bike just like a big old sail. Along comes one of those wind gusts and it blows you around a bit in the saddle... Since you're now hanging on to the bars for dear life, you inadvertently add some unwanted steering input... :shocked:
Try locking your knees in against the "tank". You wo't get buffeted around as much and "Burp" will remain happy and on course a bit better...
Please let me know if this helps... Good Luck! :thumbup:

I'll give that a shot next time I'm out. Tonight it's only going in the garage, too much like a convection oven out there today.

Thanks for the input from the rest as well.

 

[Mowerman]

Well put the tire pressure up to 20. feels much better. Have elka shocks on the way:yes:. That should make a even bigger difference.

Thanks for all the input.

 

[KCPete]

I'm over in KC, and ride Hwy 36 from St. Joe to Marysville, and I29 from KC to Rock Port on an irregular basis. With a 2011 RT, I had the OEM shocks set on 5, and it was better, but the day and night difference came when I put the Elkas on. I tweak them depending on whether it's a one-up or two-up day, and whether or not I'm one-up and feeling adventurous!
The Elkas are probably the one best mod you can do handling-wise, in my opinion. Drop me a PM and let's get together if you'd like to see/feel the difference.

 

[CycleChamp]

Adjusting Shocks Question

I would like to "play around" with various settings after reading all this Posting of adjusting front shocks, but the "Book" says that should only be done with the front end "off the ground". My question is HOW do you lift the front end off the ground? I have looked under my 2011 RT and I don't see any area that looks like it would be safe or possible to place a jack. Can someone explain (w/photos if possible) what kind of jack to use and where to placed it under the bike?