2014 RTS Ride Characteristics

[ThreeWheels]

SpyderPops KOTT screens, as shown in my signature. It's an aftermarket part, nicely designed to solve the intake tunnel problem. The aftermarket in action.

SpyderPops is a site sponsor, a link is on the forum home page.

I think they look good, too.

View attachment 99627

Don't you find that the KOTT screens collect leaves as well ? I'm not fond of scooping up road trash, but it's more of an annoyance than a problem.

As to the OP:
I had a 2010 before I purchased the 2014. I have about 2500 miles on the 2014.
The handling of the 2014 right out of the crate is vastly superior to the 2010, even with all the suspension upgrades I made to it.

Regarding the wider body....I don't think the overall width of the machine has increased, but the width of the body has increased to accommodate the three cylinder engine.
I like it. The wider body covers more of the external A arms in the front. I think that's a cleaner look. Especially when viewing from the rear. (Does this motorcycle make my butt look big?)
I haven't noticed any difference in the glove box.
The block off plate on the right side is a little cheesy. BRP could have designed a clean panel with no hole, just like the left side, instead of trying to fill the hole with that blocking plate. An annoyance, and a minor one at that.

I seem to be getting about 37 MPG two up. I don't see a very big difference between one, or two up. Maybe because the engine is so much bigger ? I'm getting about 190 miles on a tank. Not the 40 mpg some seem to get but far better than the 29 mpg I was getting from my 2010.

I have the manual 6 speed transmission. I do not like ECO mode. In fact, I feel that staring at the dash looking for the green arrow is a distraction and a possible safety issue. I do, however, shift at about 2,000 RPM and use 6th as much as possible. I feel BRP could have achieved the same effect with the 5 speed transmission, by simply spacing the gears differently. 6 gears is a lot of shifting (read that as clutch wearing), and I often find that I can easily skip a gear, such as shifting from 1st directly into third, or from 4th directly into 6th. In fact, the engine RPM has so much range, I find I can keep it in third gear for a lot of local riding, almost like it's an automatic.

Hope this helps.

 

[ARtraveler]

RE: KOTT screens. They will collect stuff also, but much easier to clean out since they are at the front of the air scoops. I can get down on the ground to clean out the original back screens, but need assistance getting back up. Like in "I've fallen, and I can't get up."

:roflblack::roflblack:

 

[cuznjohn]

only tried the ECO mode once and never again

 

[lightnin leeRoy]

I switched from a 2012 RT S to a 2014 RT Limited, the only thought that would possibly be negative would be that I thought the Limited had a more comfy seat, however, I enjoy everything about the the 2014 RT L. I did purchase a Airhawk R seat cushion for myself and my wife. I makes the road more comfortable. The mileage is better, I typically ride in ECO mode in town. When I get out on the open road it is off. I only have 4,000 miles on mine, averaging about 39 mph. I personally think the screen up front looks better, I don't have one, but may purchase on next year. The handling is great. I recently went on a ride with a co-worker that has a Harley that thought his machine was impressive when he got on it until left him standing still, and I had it in ECO mode. I felt really great.
Lightnin' LeeRoy

 

[cognaccruiser]

My 2 cents worth

With a laser alignment and BajaRon swaybar I'm very comfortable with the handling.

For me the OEM seat isn't bad for short runs but after long days and miles I wasn't happy with it so have ordered an Ultimate Seat which in fact was shipped today.

The Leaf Catching characteristics of my 2014 don't bother me much. On a longer trip I clear some of the stuff out by hand and then when I wash it I get the rest. No big deal. My Midnight Venture had a rad that collected huge amounts of bugs too. It was what it was.

As another poster mentioned, no bike/trike is perfect and my experience too is that they all seem to have quirks in their design. My VStar required some fuss to change the oil that required loosening off the left rider floorboard or you could buy a relocation kit to make it easier.

My Midnight Venture had a really hard to get at fuel filter. The rear shock had a habit of loosing its seal and leaking oil and had to be replaced. I went through 3 of them, all under warranty. Ventures have square cut gears and some whined a little in the higher gears. To listen to the bitching that went on by some people you would have thought it was a national disaster. It had other quirks too, like a cassette played that was and continued to be a joke for the duration of its production but I LOVED that bike.

My Goldwing was no exception. There were things that were annoying to some people that I never noticed or thought twice about.

The Spyder is no different. It has some design characteristics that leave some unhappy but the 2014 is a pretty darn good ryde.

Like many others, I was underwhelmed by ECO mode and didn't use it until I took a longer trip that had some really long stretches in Nevada and south west Oregon where gas wasn't available for close to 165 to 200 miles. I decided to use the ECO mode and got great gas mileage running about 60 mph 2 up. It now has its place for me and I will use it when running in those situations. I don't use the arrow prompts anyway because I usually shift in the 2500 - 3000 range anyway.

The Spyder is unique and I couldn't be happier with its characteristics. Take the good with the bad and just ride it.

Gary

 

[Dragonrider]

This time of year, all we can do is talk about our memories of the last ryding season.... My 2010 had works shocks, Seals, no CAT, a Yosh, and a Corbin "L" seat. It was great for long trips, and twisty roads. It liked to be revved, and screamed its joy. It felt like it enjoyed to be pushed.

My 2010 is tame by sound, and feel of the road - like shifting from a BMW 5 series to a Volvo. Then there's the issue that roads that my 10 sailed over, grind the skid plate on my 14. Since I have yet to add the sway bar, I'm hoping it alleviates the scraping. I'm not suggesting the 14 isn't as quick as the 10, it just doesn't feel as quick (or sound as mean). It is more comfortable (and my SO agrees), and the ease of daily maintenance and much longer distances between fill ups are a blessing on the road. I haven't had the first service done yet, but will have the bike laser aligned in the Spring, when the service is done.

Wouldn't trade back for the world - - -