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Did an upgrade Sway Bar improve your handling? Which one? And what about Shocks?

herring

New member
Good evening. After driving the new Spyder over the past several weeks, I’m looking for a way to improve the performance and handling. I’ve seen several posts about the Baja Ron Sway bars. For those who've installed a sway bar, did it improve the handling? Which sway bar did you install?

For those that installed after market shocks, which shocks did you install? Were they worth the investment?

For additional information for those who have more experience:

I do not experience the typical twitching that comes from too much user input. On major highways, there are very few issues. What I experience happens on back rural roads. The bike will at times tilt suddenly to the right, at least that is the sensation from the driver perspective. I’m getting better in the turns, but I'm unable to go at the speed that I expect. Part of this is lack of experience on a trike, especially one that is designed as a touring vehicle vs sport, but I feel that improvements can be made. I have many years experience riding on two wheels, but limited on 3. I ride with a passenger

My ride is a 2025 Spyder RT Limited with 813 miles

Thank you
 
I'm sure others will chime in, maybe even add more; but here's some earlier threads as starters for you -

Here's a big one that applies to ALL 'new to Spyder' riders, be they brand new or upgrading from 2 wheels - and don't ignore the stuff posted for the V-Twin models, but do make sure to pay particular attention to the info on the 1330's:

Do's & Do not's:


Sway bar:


Shocks:



Mind you, it generally takes AT LEAST about 1000 miles for new Spyder riders to even start to get used to the peculiarities of Spyder riding and develop the smooothness in their control and operation that makes these things behave like a rocket sled on rails - and it often takes a fair bit longer for those who've got substantial experience on 2 wheels, because they've got years of muscle memory and ingrained responses/feelings to re-train & acclimatise!! 😖

After all, if you want to get the best out of these Spyder things and really start to explore their limits in the twisties, where they have significant advantages over everything else you've ever driven/ridden, and eventually begin to go faster thru the corners than you ever did before, you'll need to learn how to maximise the advantages their greater contact patch, the Brembo brakes, and their inherent stability gives your while braking; you'll need to push some 2-wheel skills onto the back burner a bit and learn that you can't just lean to initiate or even complete a turn on a Spyder (but you WILL need to lean, and if you wanta go fast and smooooth, to 'kiss your inside wrist'!); you've gotta learn to manage the centrifugal forces you're feeling to your advantage in a way no 2 wheel rider ever did; and above & beyond all of that, you've got to know and innately understand that you've TWO wheels up front, so whenever just one of those wheels reacts to a bump or drops into a lower bit on the road surface, you'll feel it - and it'll have a faaarr greater impact on your ride than anything like that which you ever felt on a 2-wheeled machine! :oops:

So do the reading; spend some time searching for other threads and read them; take it all on board and work out what parts you can best use; but above all, give yourself saddle time, and maybe try to let every little niggle you find/feel prompt you to think about whatever it was that you did that produced that result, and ask yourself what can you do better?? I still do that whenever the Nanny steps in, and there's almost always something I can improve on! 😋

Welcome to SpyderLovers, Spyders, and the Miles of Smiles these machines can bring! (y)
 
Good evening. After driving the new Spyder over the past several weeks, I’m looking for a way to improve the performance and handling. I’ve seen several posts about the Baja Ron Sway bars. For those who've installed a sway bar, did it improve the handling ? Which sway bar did you install?

For those that installed after market shocks, which shocks did you install? Were they worth the investment?

For additional information for those who have more experience:

I do not experience the typical twitching that comes from too much user input. On major highways, there are very few issues. What I experience happens on back rural roads. The bike will at times tilt suddenly to the right, at least that is the sensation from the driver perspective. I’m getting better in the turns, but I'm unable to go at the speed that I expect. Part of this is lack of experience on a trike, especially one that is designed as a touring vehicle vs sport, but I feel that improvements can be made. I have many years experience riding on two wheels, but limited on 3. I ride with a passenger

My ride is a 2025 Spyder RT Limited with 813 miles

Thank you
I’ve had my '23 RTL not quite a year and have about 3100 miles on it. I travel mostly on the backroads. I put BajaRon's Ultimate Swaybar on first, and it made a big difference in how the bike handled. I just got done installing BajaRon's JRI Adjustable Front Shocks this past weekend. I’ve put about 50 miles on the Spyder since then, and the bike leans much less and really handles like it’s on rails now. It’s going to take me some time to gain more confidence with them on and to get them dialed in, but I’m really happy with how well this "touring" machine performs.

I think the lean that you are describing is the change in the road surface. It is disconcerting for new riders. The mods I’ve done have helped that, but I know that if the road is uneven you will feel it more on a 3 wheeler than a 2 wheeler IMO. The more you ride, the more you will enjoy your RT.
 
Specific to your inquiry, from my experience of going from long-term 2 wheels to a Spyder:
1. BajaRon anti-sway bar and aftermarket shocks were a "must" for me, and transformed the ride/handling. Ron will guide you to the correct bar, and there are several aftermarket shocks available for Spyders.
2. I agree with "wbmahon52" about getting more seat time... it will make you better able to assess the mods you make.
3. The Spyder offers a lot more riding pleasure than I imagined. I hope you also find that to be true.
 
Good evening. After driving the new Spyder over the past several weeks, I’m looking for a way to improve the performance and handling. I’ve seen several posts about the Baja Ron Sway bars. For those who've installed a sway bar, did it improve the handling? Which sway bar did you install?

For those that installed after market shocks, which shocks did you install? Were they worth the investment?

For additional information for those who have more experience:

I do not experience the typical twitching that comes from too much user input. On major highways, there are very few issues. What I experience happens on back rural roads. The bike will at times tilt suddenly to the right, at least that is the sensation from the driver perspective. I’m getting better in the turns, but I'm unable to go at the speed that I expect. Part of this is lack of experience on a trike, especially one that is designed as a touring vehicle vs sport, but I feel that improvements can be made. I have many years experience riding on two wheels, but limited on 3. I ride with a passenger

My ride is a 2025 Spyder RT Limited with 813 miles

Thank you
I can tell you from past experience that the sway bar and shocks will play a big role in what you are dealing with; while your tires and tire pressures, wheel alignment, they all will come into play also. You need more seat time to make the transition from two-wheels to three, then start to make changes. Baja Ron's sway bar would be the first mod I would make; ride on that for a while, then do the shocks, Ron's got some good ones out there right now, and he's in the USA, just a phone call away if you have any issues! Then ride that for a while - you will see a BIG difference, trust me! And by then you may need some tires, because the front ones will be worn out, so put the icing on the cake and put a nice set of car tires on. Good Luck, enjoy the ride, be safe!!
 
Front tires that are not Kenda's helps a lot. Vredestein Quatrac seems to be the best, however some have had issues putting them on 2020+ models. I have Quatrac on both of my 2018's and would not put anything else on them.
 
I'm sure others will chime in, maybe even add more; but here's some earlier threads as starters for you -

Here's a big one that applies to ALL 'new to Spyder' riders, be they brand new or upgrading from 2 wheels - and don't ignore the stuff posted for the V-Twin models, but do make sure to pay particular attention to the info on the 1330's:

Do's & Do not's:


Sway bar:


Shocks:



Mind you, it generally takes AT LEAST about 1000 miles for new Spyder riders to even start to get used to the peculiarities of Spyder riding and develop the smooothness in their control and operation that makes these things behave like a rocket sled on rails - and it often takes a fair bit longer for those who've got substantial experience on 2 wheels, because they've got years of muscle memory and ingrained responses/feelings to re-train & acclimatise!! 😖

After all, if you want to get the best out of these Spyder things and really start to explore their limits in the twisties, where they have significant advantages over everything else you've ever driven/ridden, and eventually begin to go faster thru the corners than you ever did before, you'll need to learn how to maximise the advantages their greater contact patch, the Brembo brakes, and their inherent stability gives your while braking; you'll need to push some 2-wheel skills onto the back burner a bit and learn that you can't just lean to initiate or even complete a turn on a Spyder (but you WILL need to lean, and if you wanta go fast and smooooth, to 'kiss your inside wrist'!); you've gotta learn to manage the centrifugal forces you're feeling to your advantage in a way no 2 wheel rider ever did; and above & beyond all of that, you've got to know and innately understand that you've TWO wheels up front, so whenever just one of those wheels reacts to a bump or drops into a lower bit on the road surface, you'll feel it - and it'll have a faaarr greater impact on your ride than anything like that which you ever felt on a 2-wheeled machine! :oops:

So do the reading; spend some time searching for other threads and read them; take it all on board and work out what parts you can best use; but above all, give yourself saddle time, and maybe try to let every little niggle you find/feel prompt you to think about whatever it was that you did that produced that result, and ask yourself what can you do better?? I still do that whenever the Nanny steps in, and there's almost always something I can improve on! 😋

Welcome to SpyderLovers, Spyders, and the Miles of Smiles these machines can bring! (y)
Thank you! I read the Do’s and do not’s before purchasing. I read the post again after your response. I still have a lot to learn.
 
I’ve had my '23 RTL not quite a year and have about 3100 miles on it. I travel mostly on the backroads. I put BajaRon's Ultimate Swaybar on first, and it made a big difference in how the bike handled. I just got done installing BajaRon's JRI Adjustable Front Shocks this past weekend. I’ve put about 50 miles on the Spyder since then, and the bike leans much less and really handles like it’s on rails now. It’s going to take me some time to gain more confidence with them on and to get them dialed in, but I’m really happy with how well this "touring" machine performs.

I think the lean that you are describing is the change in the road surface. It is disconcerting for new riders. The mods I’ve done have helped that, but I know that if the road is uneven you will feel it more on a 3 wheeler than a 2 wheeler IMO. The more you ride, the more you will enjoy your RT.
Thank you. I find myself slowly increasing speed in the turns but still have that uneasy feeling when the surface suddenly changes. Looking forward to many more miles so that I can improve my skills.
 
Specific to your inquiry, from my experience of going from long-term 2 wheels to a Spyder:
1. BajaRon anti-sway bar and aftermarket shocks were a "must" for me, and transformed the ride/handling. Ron will guide you to the correct bar, and there are several aftermarket shocks available for Spyders.
2. I agree with "wbmahon52" about getting more seat time... it will make you better able to assess the mods you make.
3. The Spyder offers a lot more riding pleasure than I imagined. I hope you also find that to be true.
Thank you. I’m finding the more that I ride the Spyder, the more I look forward to the next ride.
 
I can tell you from past experience that the sway bar and shocks will play a big role in what you are dealing with; while your tires and tire pressures, wheel alignment, they all will come into play also. You need more seat time to make the transition from two-wheels to three, then start to make changes. Baja Ron's sway bar would be the first mod I would make; ride on that for a while, then do the shocks, Ron's got some good ones out there right now, and he's in the USA, just a phone call away if you have any issues! Then ride that for a while - you will see a BIG difference, trust me! And by then you may need some tires, because the front ones will be worn out, so put the icing on the cake and put a nice set of car tires on. Good Luck, enjoy the ride, be safe!!
Thank you. I have already selected a Baja Ron sway bar and getting ready to make the purchase. Glad to know that he supports his product. I don’t think that getting more seat time will. Be an issue 😀
 
Front tires that are not Kenda's helps a lot. Vredestein Quatrac seems to be the best, however some have had issues putting them on 2020+ models. I have Quatrac on both of my 2018's and would not put anything else on them.
Thank you. I may be a few miles away from a new set of tires but will keep your comments in mind when the time comes
 
Thank you. I find myself slowly increasing speed in the turns but still have that uneasy feeling when the surface suddenly changes. Looking forward to many more miles so that I can improve my skills.
As you gain confidence and get more comfortable you will find that the RT handles much better than you initially thought. Also, lean into the turn. Pushing a bit with your outside foot and pushing the handle bar will help you lean into the curves and the bike will come around nicely.
 
When I first began riding a Spyder I rode with some people who took a few curves at 60mph. I was trying to keep up and was fighting the steering and making things worse, unable to do 60mph in the curves. Now, I ride the same exact roads at 60, no problem. I'm not promoting speed, just saying that it took a lot of seat time and gently pushing my comfort zone to help me trust the Spyder's abilities.
 
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