80 MPH Sustained

[BryanSD]

This summer I'll be heading across South Dakota on a 6 hour trip. The speed limit on I-90 in South Dakota is 80 MPH. Assuming a typical summer day with temperatures ranging from 80F to 90F and keeping my speed at 80 MPH except for pit-stops...the Spyder (engine wise) should be just fine, right? Most of my riding experience last summer had me peak out at 70 MPH and just for a couple hours a trip. I'd appreciate any input from experienced Spyder riders. I still feel like a rookie having owned my 2017 RT Limited for just a year now.

 

[Rob Rodriguez]

On my trip out west last summer I maintained speeds of 85-100 mph for a couple hours at a time (anytime the interstate was on my route) with no issues. This was on a 2012 RS 998.

 

[UtahPete]

This summer I'll be heading across South Dakota on a 6 hour trip. The speed limit on I-90 in South Dakota is 80 MPH. Assuming a typical summer day with temperatures ranging from 80F to 90F and keeping my speed at 80 MPH except for pit-stops...the Spyder (engine wise) should be just fine, right? Most of my riding experience last summer had me peak out at 70 MPH and just for a couple hours a trip. I'd appreciate any input from experienced Spyder riders. I still feel like a rookie having owned my 2017 RT Limited for just a year now.

Gas mileage will take a kick in the pants, but other than that, no problem.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Gas mileage will take a kick in the pants, but other than that, no problem.

:agree: ….. and Yes the Gas mileage will suffer …. est. 33-35 …… Mike hyea:

 

[ARtraveler]

You can ride that RT all day at those speeds. But the gas mileage will suffer.

 

[Chupaca]

Not a problem. I have done it a few times but on my RS sm5 so will not venture to say what your milage will be mine averaged 33mpg's :thumbup:

 

[BryanSD]

Thanks for the replies. My personal comfort level is 70 MPH but my wife is an 80+ MPH gal pushing the limits whether she's driving or a passenger. Needless to say, I'll be doing 80 MPH this summer.

 

[UtahPete]

Thanks for the replies. My personal comfort level is 70 MPH but my wife is an 80+ MPH gal pushing the limits whether she's driving or a passenger. Needless to say, I'll be doing 80 MPH this summer.

Listen to your wife.

 

[CMA Cowboy]

Set the cruise and don't fall asleep.

 

[AAbruzzese]

Set the cruise and don't fall asleep.

Funny you mention that, my wife and I are newbies to motorcycle/CanAm riding and she mentioned a few times how relaxing it is and she feels herself falling asleep. That has me a little worried

 

[DGoebel]

Is she riding or driving? My wife has fallen asleep on the back of our RTL several times. Never an issue as I'm big, outweigh her 2X, and she's back behind me and between armrests just as snug as a bug in a rug. She usually wakes up when I downshift.

Back to the OP's concern. I rode my '13 from Faribault, MN to Wall and back for an IBA SS1K and my mileage at 80+ was at the low end of my normal Mileage when averaged both ways.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

The issue won’t be with your Spyder but more likely with you and your passenger. Keeping cool and hydrated is the thing you need to be concerned about, your Spyder will not have a problem.

 

[Musashi]

Most I've done at that speed is about 4 hours in TX, 1 up. I ride a 2012 RTSE5 with the 998 engine. I have not noticed any drop in gas mileage due to higher speed, only stop-n-go traffic. I suspect this would be more of an issue with more weight (ex 2 up) and mountain riding (due to elevation changes). Take an oil refill and check it more often. You will likely burn a bit more.

 

[kamper]

If you don't want to pound the interstate you can drop down to hwy 44 or come up to hwy14 and get a more scenic route and relax at 70. Just a thought

 

[Easy Rider]

Try it......BEFORE the trip, especially if you still have the OEM tires.

I finally got mine aligned and it moved the instability from 45 to 70, roughly.
Now I'm looking at a new set of tires.

I'm also going to test drive a Goldwing trike tomorrow.
I'm REALLY getting tired of fighting the engineering defects in this Spyder.

 

[campermac]

I did a 3200 mile 7 day trip down thru the Smokey Mountains and was never below 75 the entire time. The 1330 is geared to take it with the 6 speed, I would never do it with the 998 because it would cook the hell out of you.

 

[ricford]

Just to say it again, the Veskimo has been a saviour to me. The heat gets me down really badly. It's a heart thing. Block ice over cubes lasts way longer... But hard to find block ice any more... And, yes, there are many much cheaper way to stay cool.

 

[jerrydonna]

I ride alone daily and spend about 60 miles going 60 speed limit and at times 65 when traffic is moving faster, when my wife and I travel by motorhome we trailer our spyder all over the country from Va to Ca, Florida to Maine, Az to Montana.
And we will be leaving for another 7000 mile Motorhome trip in late May, buy the spyder will be are main ride for three months, we have 2012 RT and we have at times tested a couple tanks of gas with a set cruise of 80 thru South Dakota getting to Sturgis.
But its funny that people talk about mpg lost at high speeds. But I found that the time travel was no faster after 250 miles at trying to maintain 80 over 70, mostly due to traffic, and yes a extra full stops on longer trips.
I guess when I think about "traveling" by motorhome now I'm going on the slow side with the speed limit, or at times below. So when we are two up on spyder the posted speed limit is calm and stress free.
Don't think i don't remember those "Lane Splitting day while riding with my father on his 1970 Moto Guzzi California thru the L.A. California traffic at the time. In those days he would split the lane at highway speeds, he would just tap my knee letting me know to pull them in sit still.
But today at 58, my older brother rides a BMW 1600 GTL, while my younger brother rides his Goldwing, three nephews have bikes, Im just glad my parents didn't get killed on HWY 1 , Cabrillo Hwy.

Just hate to hear about any riders lost due to speed, thats the one thing WE CAN CONTROL.... our speed

Happy Easter Everyone

 

[Easy Rider]

But I found that the time travel was no faster after 250 miles at trying to maintain 80 over 70, mostly due to traffic,

The biggest factor in causing traffic JAMS.....when there is no obstruction like an accident.....is SPEEDING.
It results in the accordion effect.
When the speeders catch up to traffic that they can't go around, then EVERYBODY behind them must apply the brakes too.

 

[trikermutha]

I kept in just below 80mph when I was in South Dakota. The dam cross winds in that area can be nasty at times. JMO


You dont need to do 80 but the Spyder can handle it.