2013 RT Handling Problems

[cbell1]

Update...

Since my last post I've had the opportunity to test ride two 2013 Spyders. One an RTS owned by a friend and the other a Limited identical to my Spyder. Both drove markedly better than mine. I have an appointment for an another alignment this Friday and will follow-up with a progress report after I give it thorough check-out.

 

[soepy]

Air pressure

My dealer installed the upgraded ball joints before delivery. I rode for 300 miles and decided that my inability to keep the bike centered in my lane was not me. Took it back to the dealer and got an alignment using(I was told) the new equipment and procedures. While it seems some better I've put another 800 plus miles on it and still have a terribly handling machine. 4 hour ride this morning -part city and part interstate- had me feeling totally exhausted. Just wondering if anyone else has had problems getting their machine to ride properly. I'll be getting back with the dealer first thing they open Tuesday morning. Thanks for listening.

My 2011 RTS was the same way. Was driving me nuts. Finally got them to align bike, it was better, but not great. After some research I decided to put more air in front tires. Went from 16lbs to 20. Problem solved. It now rides straight. I don't know why they tell you to put such low pressure in tires. Tire dealer says they are rated much higher. Must have something to do with rims. Only a guess. Good luck.

 

[soepy]

Soepy

My dealer installed the upgraded ball joints before delivery. I rode for 300 miles and decided that my inability to keep the bike centered in my lane was not me. Took it back to the dealer and got an alignment using(I was told) the new equipment and procedures. While it seems some better I've put another 800 plus miles on it and still have a terribly handling machine. 4 hour ride this morning -part city and part interstate- had me feeling totally exhausted. Just wondering if anyone else has had problems getting their machine to ride properly. I'll be getting back with the dealer first thing they open Tuesday morning. Thanks for listening.

My dealer also told me that the align takes about 3 hours. It is very similar to a snow mobile alignment. Many dealers will not be able to handle this. I went thru 2 sets of tires the 1st 8000 miles. So bad I wore them out on inside. I took to dealer in Florida at about 3000 miles, he said needed my tires rotated. Said it was because I wasn't riding it properly. The guy was a bike dealer but said he had never heard of having to align a bike.Guess he was just stupid. Needless to say I stay away from him. Hope you have some luck. But don't trust one dealer. Try Another. Sometimes they get lazy. Because it is very difficult to work on these machine, they like to take short cuts.

 

[cbell1]

UPDATE May 17

Finally I have a bike I may learn to enjoy. 2 solo rides totaling 140 miles have confirmed it's a totally different bike. I had two different dealers align my bike and no joy. Called BRP and opened a case file and then took my bike back to my original dealer and that did the trick. Another alignment, new tires(nearly worn out in less than 1700 miles) and tie rods(don't know what was wrong with them) seems to have fixed my problem. Thank you to all who provided information/guidance to help me through this. Hope my lady finds it a better ride also.

 

[bullant12]

Finally I have a bike I may learn to enjoy. 2 solo rides totaling 140 miles have confirmed it's a totally different bike. I had two different dealers align my bike and no joy. Called BRP and opened a case file and then took my bike back to my original dealer and that did the trick. Another alignment, new tires(nearly worn out in less than 1700 miles) and tie rods(don't know what was wrong with them) seems to have fixed my problem. Thank you to all who provided information/guidance to help me through this. Hope my lady finds it a better ride also.

Glad to hear it worked out for you and that BRP got you straighten out!:yes:

 

[flaggerphil]

Finally I have a bike I may learn to enjoy. 2 solo rides totaling 140 miles have confirmed it's a totally different bike. I had two different dealers align my bike and no joy. Called BRP and opened a case file and then took my bike back to my original dealer and that did the trick. Another alignment, new tires(nearly worn out in less than 1700 miles) and tie rods(don't know what was wrong with them) seems to have fixed my problem. Thank you to all who provided information/guidance to help me through this. Hope my lady finds it a better ride also.

Just out of curiosity, who was your original dealer?

 

[NancysToy]

Finally I have a bike I may learn to enjoy. 2 solo rides totaling 140 miles have confirmed it's a totally different bike. I had two different dealers align my bike and no joy. Called BRP and opened a case file and then took my bike back to my original dealer and that did the trick. Another alignment, new tires(nearly worn out in less than 1700 miles) and tie rods(don't know what was wrong with them) seems to have fixed my problem. Thank you to all who provided information/guidance to help me through this. Hope my lady finds it a better ride also.

:thumbup: Very happy to hear it!

 

[Bob Denman]

DITTO! :2thumbs: hyea::yes:hyea:

 

[NancysToy]

If there's depressions in the traffic lane caused by heavy trucks wouldn't that tend to make the machine track in the center of the lane instead of wondering from one side of the lane to the other?

It usually does the opposite.

 

[Tuffguy1509]

Wow same thing I am going thro

:yikes:

My dealer installed the upgraded ball joints before delivery. I rode for 300 miles and decided that my inability to keep the bike centered in my lane was not me. Took it back to the dealer and got an alignment using(I was told) the new equipment and procedures. While it seems some better I've put another 800 plus miles on it and still have a terribly handling machine. 4 hour ride this morning -part city and part interstate- had me feeling totally exhausted. Just wondering if anyone else has had problems getting their machine to ride properly. I'll be getting back with the dealer first thing they open Tuesday morning. Thanks for listening.

 

[TexGEOas]

Handling problems... holding straight line.

....I rode for 300 miles and decided that my inability to keep the bike centered in my lane was not me.

You're right... it's not you. Most asphalt roads develop a slightly higher crest in the center of the lane caused by heavy vehicles pushing down depressions in the normal wheel positions. Your rear tire is simply rolling off the crest to right or to the left depending. It's a pain with any three wheeler. Just understand what is causing it... read the road a little closer... and try to keep the rear wheel off dead center. It will help but not eliminate the problem. Like anything, you will get used to the slight pitching left to right and will stop fighting it. After a while you may not even notice.

Texgeoas
Argyle, TX
2012 RT Ltd SE

 

[Daisyjoe]

Finally I have a bike I may learn to enjoy. 2 solo rides totaling 140 miles have confirmed it's a totally different bike. I had two different dealers align my bike and no joy. Called BRP and opened a case file and then took my bike back to my original dealer and that did the trick. Another alignment, new tires(nearly worn out in less than 1700 miles) and tie rods(don't know what was wrong with them) seems to have fixed my problem. Thank you to all who provided information/guidance to help me through this. Hope my lady finds it a better ride also.

I recently purchased a 2013 RTS and had the same problem. The dealer ended up putting two new tires and I have a totally different bike. It wore me out to ride for any length of time. I also had the issue of vibration. Maybe BRP purchased a BAD batch of tires. (That's BATCH with an "A")