Another power steering question.

[Questions]

As many of you may know my wife Pam recently purchased a 2013 RT Limited.

My question is; with the engine running, but the bike sitting still, how easy should it be to turn the front wheels?

Her wheels don't turn that easily IMO when the bike is at a stand still with the engine running. I find myself wondering if some of her control issues on the bike are due to the PS not working as it should.

 

[GeoffCee]

You don't get the same level of steering assistance as you'd expect from the average car. I can whizz the steering wheel in my Honda Civic left and right easily with one hand. I'm reasonably strong in the shoulders and arms but I find I have to put real effort into both bars to turn the wheels of my RT when it's at a standstill.

BRP says that it's PS is 'adaptive'. I haven't figured out what they mean by that but it definitely assists more when there is any forward movement, maybe that's what they're getting at. I don't think I'd like the steering assistance to be made any stronger, my RT's steering is twitchy enough already, altho Ron's sway bar has made an improvement here. :f_spider:

 

[Bob Denman]

Rich,
How much power steering do you need? :shocked:
It might have been my Gramma who told me that you really shouldn't be twisting the wheel of any vehicle when it's stopped. Once you get the wheels spinning a bit; it takes the load off.
I don't know if it's true... but the fact that I heard this at 16, and still remember it amazes me!

 

[Bob Ledford]

Power steering assistance

I find that when completely stopped that it takes considerable pressure on the h/bars to move the steering. However with a slow roll or movement of the machine it drops significantly.........

Been that way all the time I have owned it so I can only assume that is normal.

 

[Pennyrick]

As many of you may know my wife Pam recently purchased a 2013 RT Limited.

My question is; with the engine running, but the bike sitting still, how easy should it be to turn the front wheels?

Her wheels don't turn that easily IMO when the bike is at a stand still with the engine running. I find myself wondering if some of her control issues on the bike are due to the PS not working as it should.

The DPS (Dynamic) system is a power assist deal and turning at a standstill doesn't get much assist. That is normal.

 

[MouthPiece]

Perhaps friction might be involved??? :yikes::yikes::yikes:

Chris

 

[Oldmanzues]

I seem to remember from somewhere, "Nanny" only allows the power steering to work, if you are moving. Slow, but moving.

Oldmanzues

 

[MouthPiece]

I forgot inertia as well.

Chris

 

[DocRags]

If she's noticing it's hard to turn when she's MOVING, then I'd have it checked out by your local service person. Friends of ours picked up a ST at Spyderfest. When they were in Maggie Valley and took their bike to the BRP service tent for a different issue, they found out the power steering wasn't functioning. A few other things were checked out and fixed, as well.

 

[MouthPiece]

As many of you may know my wife Pam recently purchased a 2013 RT Limited.

My question is; with the engine running, but the bike sitting still, how easy should it be to turn the front wheels?

Her wheels don't turn that easily IMO when the bike is at a stand still with the engine running. I find myself wondering if some of her control issues on the bike are due to the PS not working as it should.

:dontknow:

 

[NancysToy]

The dynamic power steering is no longer active at a standstill, as far as I know. You have to pass a threshold minimum speed. It also tapers off as speed rises, so at highway speeds it is not active. On paved surfaces the Spyder is normally relatively hard to steer at a standstill.

 

[Questions]

Thanks for all the input folks.