Why is the engine braking so Weak?! Should I not use Eco mode?

2dogs said:

All outside influences being equal, high RPMs and throttle activation are the main influences on MPGs. "Eco mode" simply slows down the sudden throttle response, nothing more. I'm long past my aggressive riding days so I run with Eco on 99% of the time. Why? Because I don't recover from injuries quite as fast as I used to and because I enjoy squeezing every ounce of mileage out of every $5.00 gallon of gas I pump into my machine. Using engine deceleration for slowing down is something you (I) use and is like a seat-of-the-pants skill acquired over years of riding. If you like riding aggressively that's fine, but expect to pay for it at the pump and the Tire Rack and Not at the ER. Don't get me wrong here, Stage II is fun to let loose every once in a while. You'll pass things so fast that you'll never remember what they were. LOL Just do it safely and enjoy the ride.

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I use eco mode all the time, I've tried it off when I bought my first F3 and with my new F3T but it scared me because it took off so quick, it was very jerky, reminded me of the Harley Davidson Fat Boy Lo l had. I like the Eco Mode because it it's a smooth start, last time l checked my mpg a couple weeks ago after l filled my new F3T up, it was 40mpg, l could ride close to 350 miles on a tank if l wanted to, but l don't let it get that low...

RogerC60 said:

Thanks for the insight. My wife and I sat on both the F3 and the RT, and decided the RT was a better fit (since we were purchasing the Spyder to do some two-up touring). So, I guess I've ended up with a touring machine that I'm trying to ride like a sport bike. I'm still happy with it, it's great on the open road. Now I just need to do something about the OEM sway bar and Kenda tires.

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You just can't have your cake and eat it too. The RT is an excellent touring machine. It's a Cadillac, not a Corvette. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. For what you are doing, I'd say you have the right machine.

You can definitely improve handling substantially on your RT. But it's never going to be an F3. Because, of course, it was never designed to be. Nor can you make an F3 ride like an RT with mods.

All of life is a trade-off. It's the same with any vehicle.

spyderladyf3 said:

I use eco mode all the time, I've tried it off when I bought my first F3 and with my new F3T but it scared me because it took off so quick, it was very jerky, reminded me of the Harley Davidson Fat Boy Lo l had,I like the Eco Mode because it it's a smooth start, last time l checked my mpg a couple weeks ago after l filled my new F3T up,it was 40mpg, l could ride close to 350 miles on a tank if l wanted to but l dont let it get that low...

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We had a customer come in for service on his Spyder. He wanted to get some lunch so we loaned him our Ryker Rally. When he came back I asked him what he thought. He said he hated it. 'Way Too Fast', he said.

Personally, I've not yet experienced a motorcycle that was 'Too Fast'. Though I must admit, there are many I have not ridden. But I am wondering about it being 'Jerky'. Now if you mean that if felt like the bike was accelerating out from under you and jerked your body. That's one thing. But if the acceleration was jerky, then it sounds like something was wrong with the bike. Even with a PedalBox, acceleration should be smooth.

@BajaRon, Jerky is probably the wrong word, it just took off too quick when not in eco mode, I'm sure I would get used to it if I tried it more, but I'm a one eyed old lady, I don't need that much speed, lol. l never had any mechanical problems with the F3 base model that l traded for my new one, so far my new baby is perfect, except for the saddle bag issue with them not staying shut and locking, and that was an easy fix because of the hip and thigh push at the top suggestion found on here for when shutting them, works every time now.

Hi @spyderladyf3, I agree with a lot of what you are saying. When I am in towns, I always use ECO mode, it is more controllable in traffic; and on a lot of our rural Scottish roads with bad surfaces, I am quite happy with ECO setting. There are times when on motorways and decent surfaces that I like the power in fast mode, they can certainly shift on some!! These are just my opinions.

@spyderladyf3, Great! Thanks for clearing that up. I didn't think you had a mechanical issue. And I'm glad you don't. A lot of different riding styles out there. No problem with that.