Shifting the SE5

[Can-Am Poogs]

Yesterday I was in for some service at my dealer. Just regular check up and some campaigns. Nothing serious. My 2012 RTS SM5 has run perfect from day 1. Great Dealer. He tossed me the keys to a brand new 2013 STS Limited with an SE5 and 20 km (12miles) on the odometer. Ashamed of course, I had to lower myself to having him remind me how to shift to reverse and how to find neutral. I had driven a RTS SE5 for a week last year and chose to buy an SM5. Not about the money, personal preference. I love the SM5 for a multitude of reason.

Being an avid reader of this web page, great website, great people, and useful information. Everything I remember reading about how to shift the SE5 came back to me. Just role the throttle and push the up shift button at over 4000 RPM, no need to roll off the throttle.

How do you not have a sore neck doing that. OMG that is a sudden jolt. And the down shift it does on its own ain't to smooth either. Just saying.:shocked: A person can make way smoother shifts with the SM5. However....

What I did discover is that you can make a very smooth shift with the SE5 by treating it like an SM5 and rolling off the throttle very quickly, paddling up, and coming back on the throttle very quickly again. It's almost seamless. I have no advice for the downshift, other than if you down shift when you have higher rpm on a braking bike, say 3000, it goes in smoother than when you let the bike downshift for you.

Just putting it out there if it helps some new riders out. I am sure the more experienced riders didn't take long to figure this out.

Safe riding.

Side note, after riding that STS Limited, I would never move from the RTS or RTS Limited. Up from an RSS or an RS for sure. Did my back take a pounding without the adjustable air ride. And the wind. It was a windy day and I did something on an Spyder I never thought I would have to. I got into a tuck behind the small little windshield. Which then got me thinking after my ride in the country last night on my RTS, without the nice big windshield of the RT, the bugs go on the driver, and we cant have that happening. I will give the STS credit for being lighter, tighter in curves and cornering, slimmer footprint, zippy acceleration, and sleek design. My wife loved this bike, saying it was the right sporty design and style for her. "Buy me one" Here we go:thumbup:

 

[jerpinoy]

JMHO I love my SE5 very smooth like silky smooth.

 

[ARCTIC]

JMHO I love my SE5 very smooth like silky smooth.

Me too!!! No rough shifting here. The electric shift makes the spyder fun IMHO.

 

[Jeriatric]

First, am not taking a shot at you or your post. OK :thumbup:

Won't try to analyze how you were shifting but my SE5 produces none of the characteristics you indicated. Up and down are butter smooth. When up shifting at or above 5000 and down shifting around 4000 or 4+.

 

[Illinois Boy]

---

No surprise you think the SE5 shifts hard and that you have to roll off throttle when shifting at 4000. I wouldn't expect it to at those shift points.

 

[BikerDoc]

I am definitely in the high rpm shift crowd and my SE5 shifts so seamlessly that I barely feel it. My wife on the back says it defies my best efforts ever on my SM5 for smoothness.. I don't mind a bit of a jolt but the wife rydes a lot more with me now that I have the sm5 and that is worth a lot to me.

 

[ARtraveler]

First, am not taking a shot at you or your post. OK :thumbup:

Won't try to analyze how you were shifting but my SE5 produces none of the characteristics you indicated. Up and down are butter smooth. When up shifting at or above 5000 and down shifting around 4000 or 4+.

Same opinion here. 5000-5500 will give you a butter smooth upshift and 4000 or so will give you a butter smooth downshift. No throttle dampening done on the upshifts.

 

[can-am sam]

I agree up shifting at 5000 rpms or higher makes for a very smooth and quick gear change.

 

[SpyderWolf]

As others have stated I normally don't upshift my GS SE5 until I hit the 6,000 RPM range and you don't even feel it shift.

However, it now seems like you have a different kind of problem and will soon become another member of the 2 Spyder family. :thumbup:

 

[spydercatjohn]

Yesterday I was in for some service at my dealer. Just regular check up and some campaigns. Nothing serious. My 2012 RTS SM5 has run perfect from day 1. Great Dealer. He tossed me the keys to a brand new 2013 STS Limited with an SE5 and 20 km (12miles) on the odometer. Ashamed of course, I had to lower myself to having him remind me how to shift to reverse and how to find neutral. I had driven a RTS SE5 for a week last year and chose to buy an SM5. Not about the money, personal preference. I love the SM5 for a multitude of reason.

Being an avid reader of this web page, great website, great people, and useful information. Everything I remember reading about how to shift the SE5 came back to me. Just role the throttle and push the up shift button at over 4000 RPM, no need to roll off the throttle.

How do you not have a sore neck doing that. OMG that is a sudden jolt. And the down shift it does on its own ain't to smooth either. Just saying.:shocked: A person can make way smoother shifts with the SM5. However....

What I did discover is that you can make a very smooth shift with the SE5 by treating it like an SM5 and rolling off the throttle very quickly, paddling up, and coming back on the throttle very quickly again. It's almost seamless. I have no advice for the downshift, other than if you down shift when you have higher rpm on a braking bike, say 3000, it goes in smoother than when you let the bike downshift for you.

Just putting it out there if it helps some new riders out. I am sure the more experienced riders didn't take long to figure this out.

Safe riding.

Side note, after riding that STS Limited, I would never move from the RTS or RTS Limited. Up from an RSS or an RS for sure. Did my back take a pounding without the adjustable air ride. And the wind. It was a windy day and I did something on an Spyder I never thought I would have to. I got into a tuck behind the small little windshield. Which then got me thinking after my ride in the country last night on my RTS, without the nice big windshield of the RT, the bugs go on the driver, and we cant have that happening. I will give the STS credit for being lighter, tighter in curves and cornering, slimmer footprint, zippy acceleration, and sleek design. My wife loved this bike, saying it was the right sporty design and style for her. "Buy me one" Here we go:thumbup:

View attachment 68620View attachment 68619

Reviews in several motorcycle magazines commented that there is a solid clunk when shifting. I shift around 4500 rpms, sometimes smoothly, sometimes with a slight jolt. I think you are correct that rolling off the throttle a little would help. As others suggested I will try shifting at higher rpms. Overall I am pleased wigh the SE5.

 

[Netminder]

Once you hit the honey spot, the SE5 shifts smooth up and down! :thumbup:No issues at all!

 

[jthornton]

The SE5 will shift hard until you get a few miles on it. I was even concerned at first and made sure I never shifted in a curve as it was jolting to say the least... mine is silky smooth now.

JT

 

[Derek Paisley]

Hi Poogs! I ride a 2012 Se5 as well and I've found my shifting on my SE5 far surpasses the seamlessness of shifting than I achieve on a conventional motorcycle. Keep on the throttle, and let her rip! Take your time, ride and while maintaining throttle position, shift at RMP's from 5,000 - 7,500. Within that range, depending on how aggressive you ride, you will find that sweet spot! :thumbup:

 

[Can-Am Poogs]

Same opinion here. 5000-5500 will give you a butter smooth upshift and 4000 or so will give you a butter smooth downshift. No throttle dampening done on the upshifts.

I am definitely in the high rpm shift crowd and my SE5 shifts so seamlessly that I barely feel it. My wife on the back says it defies my best efforts ever on my SM5 for smoothness.. I don't mind a bit of a jolt but the wife rydes a lot more with me now that I have the sm5 and that is worth a lot to me.

---

No surprise you think the SE5 shifts hard and that you have to roll off throttle when shifting at 4000. I wouldn't expect it to at those shift points.

First, am not taking a shot at you or your post. OK :thumbup:

Won't try to analyze how you were shifting but my SE5 produces none of the characteristics you indicated. Up and down are butter smooth. When up shifting at or above 5000 and down shifting around 4000 or 4+.

As others have stated I normally don't upshift my GS SE5 until I hit the 6,000 RPM range and you don't even feel it shift.

However, it now seems like you have a different kind of problem and will soon become another member of the 2 Spyder family. :thumbup:

Like I said you guys will have a lot more experience with your SE5. My time has been limited with it, but I have a lifetime of experience on a manual clutch motorcycle. Just saying what worked for me to have a smooth shift with out the clunk or jolt. I can shift a 13 speed tractor trailer smoother than I could shift the SE5. I didn't want to rev it to high. Not my bike, dealer treats me great so not going to abuse his stuff, bike still in the break in period, don't want to ruin it for the person that is going to own it, especially if it is coming to live with me. The perfect bike for my wife who is highly competitive, and will likely show me how its done properly.

 

[Jeriatric]

Thirteen and ten speeds were always seamless. It's the 4x4 and 5&3's that brings out the driver in all of us.

Your wife is gonna love it :congrats: :thumbup:

 

[CruiseRT]

The SE5 even helps you with CRS.:joke:

 

[EnjoyingTheRyde]

My wife shifts her SE with a little roll back and that works for her but I think she is shifting at a lower rpm than I do. I spin mine up a little higher and don't roll back and that works for me... Everybody has a little different approach...

 

[HuckFin]

Thirteen and ten speeds were always seamless. It's the 4x4 and 5&3's that brings out the driver in all of us.

Your wife is gonna love it :congrats: :thumbup:[/QU



Yeah....Ain't that the truth.

 

[Jeriatric]

"Yeah....Ain't that the truth."


:thumbup: :doorag:

 

[Topshotta]

Yesterday I was in for some service at my dealer. Just regular check up and some campaigns. Nothing serious. My 2012 RTS SM5 has run perfect from day 1. Great Dealer. He tossed me the keys to a brand new 2013 STS Limited with an SE5 and 20 km (12miles) on the odometer. Ashamed of course, I had to lower myself to having him remind me how to shift to reverse and how to find neutral. I had driven a RTS SE5 for a week last year and chose to buy an SM5. Not about the money, personal preference. I love the SM5 for a multitude of reason.

Being an avid reader of this web page, great website, great people, and useful information. Everything I remember reading about how to shift the SE5 came back to me. Just role the throttle and push the up shift button at over 4000 RPM, no need to roll off the throttle.

How do you not have a sore neck doing that. OMG that is a sudden jolt. And the down shift it does on its own ain't to smooth either. Just saying.:shocked: A person can make way smoother shifts with the SM5. However....

What I did discover is that you can make a very smooth shift with the SE5 by treating it like an SM5 and rolling off the throttle very quickly, paddling up, and coming back on the throttle very quickly again. It's almost seamless. I have no advice for the downshift, other than if you down shift when you have higher rpm on a braking bike, say 3000, it goes in smoother than when you let the bike downshift for you.

Just putting it out there if it helps some new riders out. I am sure the more experienced riders didn't take long to figure this out.

Safe riding.

Side note, after riding that STS Limited, I would never move from the RTS or RTS Limited. Up from an RSS or an RS for sure. Did my back take a pounding without the adjustable air ride. And the wind. It was a windy day and I did something on an Spyder I never thought I would have to. I got into a tuck behind the small little windshield. Which then got me thinking after my ride in the country last night on my RTS, without the nice big windshield of the RT, the bugs go on the driver, and we cant have that happening. I will give the STS credit for being lighter, tighter in curves and cornering, slimmer footprint, zippy acceleration, and sleek design. My wife loved this bike, saying it was the right sporty design and style for her. "Buy me one" Here we go:thumbup:

View attachment 68620View attachment 68619

I have about 360miles on my RSS and shifting is always smooth, on a few occasion I can hear it when I shift from 1st to 2nd. .... Other than that it shifts like an automatic car. When down shifting I experience no jolts.