BikerDoc
New member
Ok, I have my 1000 miles so I will share my initial impressions on the 2014 RT Limited (my lady named FINE BRANDY) First let me say I am VERY HAPPY with the bike and it is all that I expected. It is flat out FUN!!!
Heat Issue
This is fixed big time . New radiator and fan design works perfect. No heat felt by either driver or passenger. The seat didn’t even feel hot after 300 mile ride in 85 degree
weather.
Suspension/Steering
The 2014 rides smoother than any previous RT , and yes I have ridden them all extensively. It may not be as nimble as the ST but it handles better than any RT I have ridden. The new Sachs shocks feel adequate to me when cornering aggressively so I will not be purchasing Elkas like I had on the 2012, but the bike is somewhat susceptible to strong crosswinds so i will add the BajaRon Anti Sway bar to stabilize it a bit.
Also from speeds zero to 85 mph, I was unable to generate the infamous “harmonic
vibration” that has been resident on most RT s until now.
Transmission
Smooth, smooth, smooth! You barely feel this unit shift. Shift points when I choose are in the 3500 to 4000 rpm range. On the highway I cruise between 3000 and 4000 rpm. When in ECO mode the bike replaces the gear digit designation on the screen with an up green arrow telling you when to shift to maximize economy. I do think that is cool and it works (see mileage below). Right now on my bike the green arrow is appearing about 1000 higher in rpm than published info says it should. When I am hotdogging I will leave the ECO mode off as its desire to control efficiency contradicts my desire for pure speed.
Engine
The sound is sweet although it sounds more like a sports car than a motorcycle to me. The power is definitely there. I have found myself accelerating in a town to what I thought would be 50 mph (mistakingly thinking I could drive this one by sound the way I did the twin), only to look down and see I was doing 72mph already. The power is especially noticeable on the highway when you downshift at 65 mph and nail it to pass.
To maximize acceleration from a stop you have to shift much faster than we are used to. If some folks fail to do that they may not notice the acceleration from a stop.
At highway speed the engine is so quiet I can hear wind noise but would not know the engine was on without the motion. Very Very quiet.
Seat
I rode the stock seat with a utopia driver backrest on my 2012 for 43243 miles and didn’t think it was bad. On this bike I have stock seat with BRP driver backrest, My wife and I both feel this stock seat is noticeably more comfortable i.e. less butt ache, plus the BRP back rest fits my back like a dream and the cut gives my wife more leg room than the Utopia. Although we love it as is, some might have a point of issue in that the BRP backrest is not adjustable.
Mileage
The analog fuel gauge dives from one quarter to empty falling like a rock just like on earlier models. While riding I filled up the gas tank at no more than 185 miles, about half way through the red light warning. Specific mileage results are as follows
1st tank some eco average speed 65 mph mileage 32.8 mpg
2nd tank non eco average speed 75mph mileage 31.0 mpg
3rd tank all eco mode average speed 60mph mileage 35.0 mpg
Keep in mind that these are break in miles and that on my earlier Spyders the mileage improved constantly the more I rode the bike. so I have expectations that will happen again
Special Thank you to Central Florida Powersports for getting the bike in and assembling it quickly and effectively, plus testing it carefully before turning it over
to me for a 1000 mile trouble free ryde starting Christmas Eve.
Small alerts
No RT has the electric frunk switch in 2014 although you may see documentation to the contrary. Additionally , the RT Limited is missing all the hard luggage except the frunk and missing the travel cover that was free in 2012. Not saying good or bad, just want to set your expectations right.
I hope some of you find this useful..
Heat Issue
This is fixed big time . New radiator and fan design works perfect. No heat felt by either driver or passenger. The seat didn’t even feel hot after 300 mile ride in 85 degree
weather.
Suspension/Steering
The 2014 rides smoother than any previous RT , and yes I have ridden them all extensively. It may not be as nimble as the ST but it handles better than any RT I have ridden. The new Sachs shocks feel adequate to me when cornering aggressively so I will not be purchasing Elkas like I had on the 2012, but the bike is somewhat susceptible to strong crosswinds so i will add the BajaRon Anti Sway bar to stabilize it a bit.
Also from speeds zero to 85 mph, I was unable to generate the infamous “harmonic
vibration” that has been resident on most RT s until now.
Transmission
Smooth, smooth, smooth! You barely feel this unit shift. Shift points when I choose are in the 3500 to 4000 rpm range. On the highway I cruise between 3000 and 4000 rpm. When in ECO mode the bike replaces the gear digit designation on the screen with an up green arrow telling you when to shift to maximize economy. I do think that is cool and it works (see mileage below). Right now on my bike the green arrow is appearing about 1000 higher in rpm than published info says it should. When I am hotdogging I will leave the ECO mode off as its desire to control efficiency contradicts my desire for pure speed.
Engine
The sound is sweet although it sounds more like a sports car than a motorcycle to me. The power is definitely there. I have found myself accelerating in a town to what I thought would be 50 mph (mistakingly thinking I could drive this one by sound the way I did the twin), only to look down and see I was doing 72mph already. The power is especially noticeable on the highway when you downshift at 65 mph and nail it to pass.
To maximize acceleration from a stop you have to shift much faster than we are used to. If some folks fail to do that they may not notice the acceleration from a stop.
At highway speed the engine is so quiet I can hear wind noise but would not know the engine was on without the motion. Very Very quiet.
Seat
I rode the stock seat with a utopia driver backrest on my 2012 for 43243 miles and didn’t think it was bad. On this bike I have stock seat with BRP driver backrest, My wife and I both feel this stock seat is noticeably more comfortable i.e. less butt ache, plus the BRP back rest fits my back like a dream and the cut gives my wife more leg room than the Utopia. Although we love it as is, some might have a point of issue in that the BRP backrest is not adjustable.
Mileage
The analog fuel gauge dives from one quarter to empty falling like a rock just like on earlier models. While riding I filled up the gas tank at no more than 185 miles, about half way through the red light warning. Specific mileage results are as follows
1st tank some eco average speed 65 mph mileage 32.8 mpg
2nd tank non eco average speed 75mph mileage 31.0 mpg
3rd tank all eco mode average speed 60mph mileage 35.0 mpg
Keep in mind that these are break in miles and that on my earlier Spyders the mileage improved constantly the more I rode the bike. so I have expectations that will happen again
Special Thank you to Central Florida Powersports for getting the bike in and assembling it quickly and effectively, plus testing it carefully before turning it over
to me for a 1000 mile trouble free ryde starting Christmas Eve.
Small alerts
No RT has the electric frunk switch in 2014 although you may see documentation to the contrary. Additionally , the RT Limited is missing all the hard luggage except the frunk and missing the travel cover that was free in 2012. Not saying good or bad, just want to set your expectations right.
I hope some of you find this useful..
opcorn:
