After reading this forum I made several updates to my 2013 RTL. I bought the Baja Ron sway bar some time back and needed to find time to install. I installed it today and the installation was pretty straight forward. I did have to use superglue on the tiny spacers for the end links (only to the frame connection, not the sway bar connection) because it was too frustrating trying to line things up in such a tiny spot. I noticed I was missing one the plastic covers on the left side over the sway bar (that smaller triangle shaped cover)...previous owner must have lost it....I will need to find a replacement because it will keep some of the dirt and mayhem from shooting underneath into the wiring and engine. When I was finished I didn’t have any parts or hardware left over...I either put them all back properly or accidentally kicked them across the garage. I only lost one socket and one star driver (yes, it’s a torx but some people hate it when you call it a star driver and I want to raise someone’s blood pressure for fun). And, only tore the skin off one knuckle so it was a banner install. My tools always vanish into the ether...
The results: Wow - this only has 4700 miles on it and I cannot believe the difference it made in handling and steering. All the jerkiness is gone and it corners so much better. Smooth is the right word! Rolls straight down the road without having to constantly correct the steering. One wonders how one little bar of steel can make the riding so much nicer. Not sure if the previous owner rode the dickens out of it for 4400 miles or of the original sway bar is really just marginal at best. Well worth the money for the bar with the stability it brings.
In other news I took the recommendation of folks on here and changed oil to the Rotella. Again, marked improvement in quietness and the shifting is so much smoother now. It was a little clunky when shifting when I bought it and now it shifts extremely smooth.
Next on the list is tires. I bought car tires after countless recommendations from people on this forum. Getting them installed by a dealer is more challenging because I found one of the local Can-Am dealers refuse to install car tires. I did find another local dealer who will install them but I must sign a waiver. The appointment is not till Sep 3 but I can wait. I’m hoping that gives better traction than these Kenda’s (they are original). The Kenda’s have tons of tread left but not much grip....tired of spinning the wheel when I take off and it’s really dangerous when wet (fishtails pretty good). I could probably install them myself but refuse to deal with the rear...my back hurts already.
After that, not much else I need to do....at least that’s all I think I need to do.
Thanks for all the suggestions and support to my questions.
Jerry
2013 RTL
The results: Wow - this only has 4700 miles on it and I cannot believe the difference it made in handling and steering. All the jerkiness is gone and it corners so much better. Smooth is the right word! Rolls straight down the road without having to constantly correct the steering. One wonders how one little bar of steel can make the riding so much nicer. Not sure if the previous owner rode the dickens out of it for 4400 miles or of the original sway bar is really just marginal at best. Well worth the money for the bar with the stability it brings.
In other news I took the recommendation of folks on here and changed oil to the Rotella. Again, marked improvement in quietness and the shifting is so much smoother now. It was a little clunky when shifting when I bought it and now it shifts extremely smooth.
Next on the list is tires. I bought car tires after countless recommendations from people on this forum. Getting them installed by a dealer is more challenging because I found one of the local Can-Am dealers refuse to install car tires. I did find another local dealer who will install them but I must sign a waiver. The appointment is not till Sep 3 but I can wait. I’m hoping that gives better traction than these Kenda’s (they are original). The Kenda’s have tons of tread left but not much grip....tired of spinning the wheel when I take off and it’s really dangerous when wet (fishtails pretty good). I could probably install them myself but refuse to deal with the rear...my back hurts already.
After that, not much else I need to do....at least that’s all I think I need to do.
Thanks for all the suggestions and support to my questions.
Jerry
2013 RTL
