First real ride on rt limited and need help with ride

[BeachSpyder]

I took the limited out on it's first real ride day yesterday, and was disappointed with it's handling at speed. Specifically, over 45 mph there was considerable side to side oscillation and significant yaw when on a capped or slanting road, even with a very mild grade towards the sides. I did notice a slight improvement when I changed the airshock setting to soft, but there was still more difficulty keeping the bike in a straight line than I expected. A couple of variables at play: I am a 250 pound rider and had a 130 pound passenger. There were crosswinds of about 5-10 mph with gusts to about 15 mph. The road was highway 158 on the outer banks, going down to Nags Head. I was in a group in staggered formation, third rider back.
The bike is new and I have not adjusted the front suspension. I believe that all tire pressures were good. I am coming from a decent riding background where the immediate past bike (still own it) is a 2008 Victory Vision. Most of the fellow riders were also on full dressers, and complained of only mild problems with the crosswinds, but commented that it looked like I was barely able to stay in my lane.
Is this a matter of needing to dial in some settings on the front suspension, or add an accessory, something like the bike equivalent of a "Davis True Track", a spring accessory that keeps your wheels aimed dead center to avoid rut steering? Or is this a fatal handling flaw of the bike that I was not aware of? I apologize for the length of this post, but the bike really beat me up yesterday, and I need to fix what is wrong pronto! Also, I am posting this on Spydertalk as well, so I apologize for the duplicate post.

 

[Dragonrider]

It will take you 300 miles to get used to riding your new Spyder. Coming off a recent two wheeler assures that.

Read and follow the "practice" exercises in the manual, the find a nice feisty road to practice more. Really. If you don't, your Spyder will end up being a good deal for someone who has done this.

The Spyder is nothing like your Victory. One of the main newbe issues, is that they hold the bars too tight, and don't let the bike do the work. Do the practices, relax, and your Spyder will be all you want it to be and more.

If not, please be sure to list in on our "for sale" list on the forum.

 

[Lamonster]

You didn't say if you had a 2010 or 2011 but this issue is all over this board if you do a search. If you have a 2010 you should upgrade to the 2011 front shocks seeing you're a big guy with a passenger. If you have a 2011 I would say you need to adjust your shocks up to 4 and maybe 5 if that doesn't work.
The other thing is your bike experience has nothing to do with riding a Spyder and can exaggerate the problem. This steers nothing like a bike and is very sensitive to your input. The best thing to do is to relax your grip and steer it like a 4-wheeler. Like I said a search will bring tons of info on this.

 

[BeachSpyder]

2011 Rt limited

2011. Built last week.

 

[kml354]

grip

Hold the grips like you would a small bird. Enought grip to keep it in your hands but not enought to crush it.

 

[Y Rider]

I had the same issue with my RT Limited when I went out for my first extended ride. I thought for sure something was wrong with the bike. So as an experiment I set the cruise control and completely let loose of the handlebars except just my finger tips to keep it from drifting. To my surprize the bike tracked straight as an arrow. This proved the "darting" was a result of my steering input.

Now at almost 500 miles steering is no longer an issue. Believe me what others have said about not keeping a tight grip and let the :spyder2: do the work. :2thumbs:

Just get some miles on it before passing final judgement.

 

[Jester]

Hold the grips like you would a small bird. Enought grip to keep it in your hands but not enought to crush it.

Best description I have heardhyea:, Absolutely on the money!

 

[NancysToy]

You have gotten some good advice here. It does take time to get used to the Spyder, and it takes a lvery ight touch. Before you ride again, set the front shock preload to the proper setting for the load carried, or one notch higher. It is essential to have the preload set right on an RT. Also make sure the tire pressures are equal, and adequate. Most of us run higher pressures in front than BRP recommends. I'd start at 18 psi, and adjust as you see fit. Settiing the rear ride height down does increase the effective castor, and helps slow the steering a tiny bit, as you have found. If 500 miles and following these tips does not settle down the handling, have your dealer check the alignment.

 

[BMF_RACING]

With only two and a half weeks of riding my new Spyder, I have had some similar things happen to me. I'm a big guy myself, 6'4" 350lbs. The "darty" feel and also had other 2wheel riders tell me I move around more in the lane. It was 90% me, just not being used to the Spyder. But now after 500 mls on the RT, no more issues (adj tire press/front suspect to 5 / keep 60psi in the rear bag). I let the Spyder do it's thing, relax and enjoy it.

Remember the gyro effect that keeps you upright on 2wheels really doesn't factor into a Spyder, and the 2 wheeler you've had prolly didn't have power steering. More like apples and oranges. Just food for thought.


:thumbup: good luck.

 

[spydrluvr]

i am completely a newbie at the spyder....and limited experience on two wheels...i have 600 plus miles on my RS...now i'm not saying that can-am has built in artificial intelligence into the spyder....but wowie!

my first ryde was a little tough as i was nervous and i understood what all the talk was about "rolling" and "drifting"

follow the advice given here....loosen your grip, relax, the spyder wants to do most of the work....let it!! i am so very happy with my ryde, i'm sure you will be too! hyea: hyea:

 

[StriperKing]

I can only speak for myself but I came from a background of performance bikes and racing 4-wheelers. I bought a SpyderRT-S without even testing one. After my first couple of rides in my mind i was ready to sell it but would not admit this out loud. First I took the advise of the good people on this forum and loosened my grip and that helped but the feel in a corner was terible. Second I put 19psi in front tires and 28psi in rear but my shocks were already on the stiffest setting. I did this as soon as I got it. This was even better. Third I found my air shock was leaking air almost as fast as I put it in so I fixed that and started running 60psi in that and was better. Fourth I ordered the Elka front shocks with the 300 lb. springs and set my preload at 8 5/8". I will say this made more of a difference than all the above put together and like you I always ride two up. Now I would never go back to a bike and love my Spyder. I miss the thrill of extreme HP but did several things to help that also but that is another post. Hope this helps. You will have to put the time in riding to really get the feel of it and can not get around that but every time you ride it the more you get used to it and the more you will love it.

 

[baldman902]

I ride a 2011 RTS-SE5 I weigh over 350 and have the shocks set at 5 and pressure in the tires 20 frt. and 30 rear. Don't hold the bars to tight then sit back and enjoy the ride.

 

[Mr. White]

I am sure glad I read these posts! I thought I was the only one who had tears in their eyes after 150 miles...now with 700, things are much better. Front tires pressure is now 18, up from 16 and don't know what the rear is as it is hard for me to get down and check due to bad knee. After triking my Gold Wing in 2005 and riding ten miles, I thought I will just run into the bridge and end it all....after 500 miles I loved it. (Now have 60K on it) The Wing and Spyder are very different rides.

Yesterday I rode 150 miles in 25-30 mph winds, I was moved around somewhat, but no more than my Wing would have done, so it was not a big deal. I think strong winds wear me out more on my Wing trike than BR1. I loosened my grip after reading the hints here earlier and it worked.

BR1 wanders some too, but I can adjust to it. I may increase my front air pressure to 20 just to see what it does, and work on the rear tire too. I am 6' 4" @215.

 

[Marker]

I come from a snowmobile background and never been on a bike until I went for my riding course. I ride the RT-s with a relaxed grip like I drive snowmobiles , am 5' 8" and 180lbs and have no problems with control issues. I lean a little into the corner too, I relax my body too

 

[BentGamer]

This worked for me when I first got my :spyder2: Basically just "place" your hands on the bars and look ahead in the turns. Relax and give yourself some time on the :spyder2:

 

[BeachSpyder]

Thanks for all the input

I will definitely put your advice to use. I may need some help with the front adjustment, however. I pulled with both hands and could not budge the shock from the middle position. So I guess this is a dealership modification? Or am I missing something?

 

[CyncySpyder]

Be careful

I will definitely put your advice to use. I may need some help with the front adjustment, however. I pulled with both hands and could not budge the shock from the middle position. So I guess this is a dealership modification? Or am I missing something?

If you check, I believe the proper way to adjust your factory shock settings is in your user manual. But I believe you HAVE to jack the front end up to relieve the stress on the shocks. If you don't, you could destroy your adjustment tabs. Some have also WD40'd them as well. I know on TEDDYS 2010 RT-S, once the front end was jacked up, I had no problem adjusting the front shocks.

Light grip is the best tip anyone can give you. Light grip, practice & seat time:2thumbs: E N J O Y !!!

 

[ARtraveler]

All good advice above. Overcontrolling gets the Spyder all over the road. Learning curve for me--about 500 miles on Spyder. 45+ years on two wheelers was my previous experience.

 

[Questions]

Steering

Even though you want to keep a soft and relaxing grip on the bars I have also noticed that the first two or three rides in the spring that my hand, arm and shoulder muscles become acustomed and toned which also helps, and for new spyder owners getting use to the different muscle movements should really help.

I also just had my 2011 shocks installed on my 2010 RTS and the Kuryakyn shell grips that Lamonster did a write up about installed and between the Dps recall fix, the new shocks and larger bar grips I could not ask for a better ride. :2thumbs: :2thumbs:

Another thing I have learned is not to but to much thought or over think about taking curves because this can also make you tense up.

Newman 1

 

[NancysToy]

I will definitely put your advice to use. I may need some help with the front adjustment, however. I pulled with both hands and could not budge the shock from the middle position. So I guess this is a dealership modification? Or am I missing something?

Works best to jack the Spyder up, and lube the adjuster with WD-40.