BAJA RON SWAY BAR WOW!!

[chuck gross]

I recently installed new Baja Ron sway bars on my wives 2011 RT and my 2013 STL
I can't believe how well our Spyder's corner now this has to be the single best upgrade us Spyder lovers can do for our rides
thank you Baja Ron:bowdown:

 

[NZSpyderRyder]

Sway bar

How easy was it on your ST-L ? It's a job I would like to do.
My dealer upgraded my shocks to Fox podium ones under BRP warranty, but they didn't upgrade the sway bar.
Did you keep the oem plastic links on ?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[quadfather]

everyone seems to rave about the handling with this upgrade, but i'm wondering if the ride gets harsh? I have had big sway bars on street driven cars before and they got real harsh. like when one tire went over a rise it rolled the whole car over, and each tire no longer were able to move independently. are the spyders the same way? or is the swaybar soft enough to not kill the ride .

 

[AgentK]

Swaybar

Ron's swaybar is great but I would strongly advise you to get the end links also. Just broke a factory one on my '12 going around a curve, on the Cherahola Skyway, after riding the Dragon. Not cool, thru us into the oncoming lane, luckily nothing was coming. Just heard it pop and the left front sagged. Only going about 25. Why would you use composite plastic for a part under so much stress! Hope they changed it on the newer ones. Oh yea have no problem with the ride either, great ride.

 

[Silvervette05]

How easy was it on your ST-L ? It's a job I would like to do.
My dealer upgraded my shocks to Fox podium ones under BRP warranty, but they didn't upgrade the sway bar.
Did you keep the oem plastic links on ?

Any help would be appreciated.

Go in to the tech side of the videos there is one that give step by step on how to do it , I, m about to order one
Fron b ron my self :thumbup:

 

[900Dave]

THIS IS THE BEST UPGRADE

everyone seems to rave about the handling with this upgrade, but i'm wondering if the ride gets harsh? I have had big sway bars on street driven cars before and they got real harsh. like when one tire went over a rise it rolled the whole car over, and each tire no longer were able to move independently. are the spyders the same way? or is the swaybar soft enough to not kill the ride .

This is the first upgrade anyone should do that wants to make there Spyder corner better & help with cross winds. No the sway bar will not affect the ride! When you are going down the road strait the sway bar is just along for the ride. I was going to do a shock upgrade but after installing the swaybar it seemed less important. I will probably switch to Elka's eventually but not this year. The Baja Ron sway bar is the way to go. :2thumbs:

 

[chuck gross]

RON BAR INSTALL

The install is a little overwhelming at first the hardest part is getting the front end high enough approximately 24 inches from the sway bar to the ground. I had some really heavy duty scaffold planks that I ran the spyder up on and then put jack stands under the planks for extra insurance and it was rock solid you have to remove the three plastic panels on the bottom of the spyder that are just to the rear of the sway bar these are held on with a few screws and a few quick plastic pins in order to get to the screws you do have to remove the left hand oil checking panel and the right hand panel as well after that it is really easy to unbolt the sway bar and helm links and yes it is totally worth getting the billet aluminum helm links from Baja ron also sold through Value accessories one of the Spyder lovers venders on the home page
the Ron bar comes with new bushings that you must use as the new sway bar is much thicker

 

[duke50]

Rons sway bar

Ron's swaybar is great but I would strongly advise you to get the end links also. Just broke a factory one on my '12 going around a curve, on the Cherahola Skyway, after riding the Dragon. Not cool, thru us into the oncoming lane, luckily nothing was coming. Just heard it pop and the left front sagged. Only going about 25. Why would you use composite plastic for a part under so much stress! Hope they changed it on the newer ones. Oh yea have no problem with the ride either, great ride.

Just ordered mine today with the metal links:yes::yes:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Just ordered mine today with the metal links:yes::yes:

You will think you've died and gone to heaven. Really.

 

[Chupaca]

Great..!!

glad you got it installed. It is an amazing change. Doing the hiem joints is a good idea. You will be putting a lot more pressure on them with the better handling. Ron has them and it's a quick job. Enjoy the new ryde...:thumbup:hyea:hyea:

 

[Doug]

fox shocks

How easy was it on your ST-L ? It's a job I would like to do.
My dealer upgraded my shocks to Fox podium ones under BRP warranty, but they didn't upgrade the sway bar.
Did you keep the oem plastic links on ?

Any help would be appreciated.[/QUOTE

Could you elaborate on why you had fox shocks installed under BRP warranty, as I must of missed that recall, thanks in advance.

 

[WashingtonApple]

How easy was it on your ST-L ? It's a job I would like to do.
My dealer upgraded my shocks to Fox podium ones under BRP warranty, but they didn't upgrade the sway bar.
Did you keep the oem plastic links on ?

Any help would be appreciated.

I installed Ron's bar on my 2013 ST and love it. The install is not super easy but doable. Getting the front end of the bike high enough was the hardest part and could be dangerous if not done safely. I rode mine up a set of car ramps and then used a floor jack (with a 2X4 on top of it to prevent scratching and gouging) to raise it the rest of the way. As I lifted it with the jack I stacked 4X4's on top the ramps below the tires as a safety measure in case the jack slipped. Jack stands would be better but my jack stands are very short and wouldn't work.
To me the helm links are a very important upgrade. The stock links are a real hazard even with the stock sway bar, and much more so with an aftermarket one.

 

[sledmaster]

The sway bar rocks

When the ST series was introduced for 2013, it was positioned as the "sport touring" model in-between the "sport" RS models and the "touring" RT models. That said, the calibration of the ST (IMO) was biased far more towards the RT than it was the RS - it was set up more for ride comfort and touring than it was handling and responsiveness.

So when I got rid of a 2008 GS and upgraded to a 2013 ST-S, the seating position and ride comfort sure was nice but oh boy how do we get back some of that handling? First thing was to install the BajaRon sway bar. It greatly reduced the lane wandering and body roll, bringing the overall calibration back towards the GS/RS sport models. Very nice improvement, great bang for the buck.

But now when I ride a GS/RS and then ride the ST-S, you can still tell how the shocks could also be better. One has to believe this is why the changes were made to the 2014 ST models, to reflect what many of us have been saying about the 2013 ST calibration. This is really less a matter of right or wrong than it is one of personal preference. Many of us want an ST to have more "sport" and less "touring" in the calibration, yet maintain the riding position differences between the RS and ST models.

I just ordered a set of the Fox shocks for my 2013 ST-S, not because I love Fox (they are really not that good of a shock on sleds) but they are better than the gas cell cheapies on the 2013s and I can get them for way less than a set of Elkas, which admittedly would be superior. From all of the previous posts I can find, those who have installed the BajaRon sway bar and then the Fox shocks have been happy with their investment. Some actually first installed the slightly larger than stock sway bar that came with the Fox shocks (sold as a kit), and then upgraded to the BajaRon bar.

All said and done, I believe most 2013 ST riders would find the BajaRon sway bar to be a great improvement and an excellent investment. If after this they still want more, then take it to the next level.

 

[BajaRon]

everyone seems to rave about the handling with this upgrade, but i'm wondering if the ride gets harsh? I have had big sway bars on street driven cars before and they got real harsh. like when one tire went over a rise it rolled the whole car over, and each tire no longer were able to move independently. are the spyders the same way? or is the swaybar soft enough to not kill the ride .

Sounds like your car was lowered. Once you take suspension travel out of the equation and put a very stiff sway bar on you will get this kind of harsh results.

But on the Spyder we are not reducing suspension travel and the bar I sell is not an all out, Formula I racing design. It simply takes the dive, roll and wander out, giving you a great deal of directional stability in turns, cross winds or buffeting like when passing trucks.

Everyone here has it nailed down pretty good so I don't need to elaborate. Once you've ridden the bar, it all becomes crystal clear. Descriptions really don't convey the full experience.

I am, more and more, highly recommending my Aircraft Grade, Billet Aluminum Heim Joint Links as the plastic links are not holding up well over time.

 

[strmgra]

Sounds like your car was lowered. Once you take suspension travel out of the equation and put a very stiff sway bar on you will get this kind of harsh results.

But on the Spyder we are not reducing suspension travel and the bar I sell is not an all out, Formula I racing design. It simply takes the dive, roll and wander out, giving you a great deal of directional stability in turns, cross winds or buffeting like when passing trucks.

Everyone here has it nailed down pretty good so I don't need to elaborate. Once you've ridden the bar, it all becomes crystal clear. Descriptions really don't convey the full experience.

I am, more and more, highly recommending my Aircraft Grade, Billet Aluminum Heim Joint Links as the plastic links are not holding up well over time.

****
I recently installed Ron's Sway bar and after riding the "Dragon", I must say I am truly impressed. It is exactly what it is purported to be and more. That said, I did not add the Heim Joint Links. Now I wonder if I screwed-up. If I go back and add them now, I assume I will have to pay my dealer another full install charge. Do you really recommend I do so?

 

[900Dave]

Heim links are an easy install

****
I recently installed Ron's Sway bar and after riding the "Dragon", I must say I am truly impressed. It is exactly what it is purported to be and more. That said, I did not add the Heim Joint Links. Now I wonder if I screwed-up. If I go back and add them now, I assume I will have to pay my dealer another full install charge. Do you really recommend I do so?

You need very little mechanical skills or tools to install the links. This install should only take a few minutes per side.

 

[Tazzel]

When the ST series was introduced for 2013, it was positioned as the "sport touring" model in-between the "sport" RS models and the "touring" RT models. That said, the calibration of the ST (IMO) was biased far more towards the RT than it was the RS - it was set up more for ride comfort and touring than it was handling and responsiveness.

So when I got rid of a 2008 GS and upgraded to a 2013 ST-S, the seating position and ride comfort sure was nice but oh boy how do we get back some of that handling? First thing was to install the BajaRon sway bar. It greatly reduced the lane wandering and body roll, bringing the overall calibration back towards the GS/RS sport models. Very nice improvement, great bang for the buck.

But now when I ride a GS/RS and then ride the ST-S, you can still tell how the shocks could also be better. One has to believe this is why the changes were made to the 2014 ST models, to reflect what many of us have been saying about the 2013 ST calibration. This is really less a matter of right or wrong than it is one of personal preference. Many of us want an ST to have more "sport" and less "touring" in the calibration, yet maintain the riding position differences between the RS and ST models.

I just ordered a set of the Fox shocks for my 2013 ST-S, not because I love Fox (they are really not that good of a shock on sleds) but they are better than the gas cell cheapies on the 2013s and I can get them for way less than a set of Elkas, which admittedly would be superior. From all of the previous posts I can find, those who have installed the BajaRon sway bar and then the Fox shocks have been happy with their investment. Some actually first installed the slightly larger than stock sway bar that came with the Fox shocks (sold as a kit), and then upgraded to the BajaRon bar.

All said and done, I believe most 2013 ST riders would find the BajaRon sway bar to be a great improvement and an excellent investment. If after this they still want more, then take it to the next level.

I just find it funny that when I posted that my friends 2013 STS was a little scary to ride in the twisties because it seemed a little unstable compared to my RS. Everyone was saying that their stock ST was very stable and that I was basically nuts. No one spoke up that they might have felt the same and to make a some upgrades. Could have saved a lot of time in researching.

 

[BajaRon]

****
I recently installed Ron's Sway bar and after riding the "Dragon", I must say I am truly impressed. It is exactly what it is purported to be and more. That said, I did not add the Heim Joint Links. Now I wonder if I screwed-up. If I go back and add them now, I assume I will have to pay my dealer another full install charge. Do you really recommend I do so?

Like 900Dave says. It's a piece of cake changing out the links. 2 13mm wrenches, lift the front of your Spyder just enough to get under it, 4 bolts, 4 nuts and you'll be done in a few minutes.

There have been very few OEM link failures but it appears that over time they get fatigued (with or without my sway bar installed) and have potential to fail.

I just find it funny that when I posted that my friends 2013 STS was a little scary to ride in the twisties because it seemed a little unstable compared to my RS. Everyone was saying that their stock ST was very stable and that I was basically nuts. No one spoke up that they might have felt the same and to make a some upgrades. Could have saved a lot of time in researching.

I rode an ST and I was quite disappointed in the handling. I tried to be gentile but there is no way to sugar coat it. I told the owner that there is no way his ST could even come close to keeping up with my 2008 GS in the turns. I have my bar and 2010 RT shocks but still not as good as a bar and Elka setup.

He said 'No Way' so I said, let's go right now. So we did. It wasn't even a contest. He said 'Well, I was catching you in the straightaways!' Which was true. But I was slowing up in the straight stretches so he could be right on my tail into the next turn. Otherwise, how could we even tell if he was keeping up.

I am surprised that the ST (SPORT Tour) version isn't more, well, Sporty! At least put the Fox shock on it from the factory. With the added weight of bags it needs more control in the suspension than the RS or RSS.

I am also quite surprised that so many are satisfied with the way the ST handles. I'm not disparaging anyone. If you're happy with your ride then who am I to say. Still, my bar and a set of upgraded shocks and the ST is a twisty burner. Which to me would be putting the 'S' in ST.

 

[rick_w]

We have a lot of people questioning the install and difficulty.
We have links to the installation instructions on the Swaybar Page. Most people are not having any problem installing after reading the instructions and watching the video's. We have sent a lot of them directly to dealers for install also.
They do make a difference in handling, we have one installed on our own RT.
Rick

 

[NZSpyderRyder]

Fox podium replacement under warranty

"Could you elaborate on why you had fox shocks installed under BRP warranty, as I must of missed that recall, thanks in advance."

When I road tested the ST-L prior to purchase the dealer advised me that the Fox Podium shocks were on order for it, he said something along the lines that he had recently attended a dealer meeting and BRP had agreed to change the shocks under warranty.
Now the bit I don't know is whether this was just for the Spyders in New Zealand due to our road conditions or a global thing.
When I asked the question about any problems with the ST-L on an NZ forum I was advised to ask about the Fox shocks being fitted.