• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

Gave up my RT today

The thing that is hard on the wheel bearings is the pressure on the belt. With a chain drive you won't need that kind of pressure.

Thats not really 100% true. While the belt pressure is constant the HP is simply "yanking your chain" (pulling real hard on the top of the chain)

You can create a whole bunch of force trying to rip the sprocket off in a forward direction.
Having said that, you should be fine as the loads will be temporary (only under acceleration)

Sounds like a great idea but be careful!

The Jack shaft will use HP in the conversion (not that that should really be an issue!)

I have already given the Sypder thing a good deal of thought.
If I have steering issues then I will simply "eliminate the threat"
With the engine change you will eliminate the Canbus the ECM the Nanny and likely the DPS all in one shot.
I like it!
Keep your mesurements for all the brackets you build.
I see a kit coming!(some assembly required)
 
Lamont:

Earlier you said you wanted to try your new Elka shocks on the RT. Did this ever happen, and how did it turn out? I hope the shocks are not on their way to California.

I am curious as to why you refer to your GS model as a RS model??? Is this what BRP wants? Are they trying to change the image of the GS?
 
I am curious as to why you refer to your GS model as a RS model??? Is this what BRP wants? Are they trying to change the image of the GS?
The first model designation for the original Spyder was, indeed, the GS. For 2010 they changed the designation to RS, for Roadster Sport, to coincide with the new RT, or Roadster Touring. I don't think it is so much a change of image, as to try to coordinate the overall product line, and to bring some meaning to the names. For all practical purposes, the terms GS and RS are interchangeable.
 
Lamont:

Earlier you said you wanted to try your new Elka shocks on the RT. Did this ever happen, and how did it turn out? I hope the shocks are not on their way to California.

I am curious as to why you refer to your GS model as a RS model??? Is this what BRP wants? Are they trying to change the image of the GS?

Soon as I get an RT that I know I'm going to keep I'll be putting the Elkas on.

They did change the name of the GS, I'm just using the current name for the same Spyder.
 
The first model designation for the original Spyder was, indeed, the GS. For 2010 they changed the designation to RS, for Roadster Sport, to coincide with the new RT, or Roadster Touring. I don't think it is so much a change of image, as to try to coordinate the overall product line, and to bring some meaning to the names. For all practical purposes, the terms GS and RS are interchangeable.

I am fully aware of the facts underlying the model designations. My curiosity has to do with motivation, and particularly BRP's possible motivation to blur the distinction between model years.

The 2008 and 2009 Spyders will always be GS models. They will never be RS models. The GS designation has a time stamp on it. If I tell you that I had a great ride on my RS today, you would be entitled to think I have a 2010 model Spyder. This would not be correct. I have a 2009 Spyder. It would be better for BRP to draw a clear line between years, implying that the 2010 RS is somehow better than the old GS.

Obviously, this is not an important issue. I don't know how I got off on this tangent. If you want to call your GS a RS go right ahead. I will take RS to mean anything that isn't a RT.
 
I am fully aware of the facts underlying the model designations. My curiosity has to do with motivation, and particularly BRP's possible motivation to blur the distinction between model years.

The 2008 and 2009 Spyders will always be GS models. They will never be RS models. The GS designation has a time stamp on it. If I tell you that I had a great ride on my RS today, you would be entitled to think I have a 2010 model Spyder. This would not be correct. I have a 2009 Spyder. It would be better for BRP to draw a clear line between years, implying that the 2010 RS is somehow better than the old GS.

Obviously, this is not an important issue. I don't know how I got off on this tangent. If you want to call your GS a RS go right ahead. I will take RS to mean anything that isn't a RT.
I was not party to what BRP did, and I certainly can't speak to their motivation, nor can anyone outside BRP. I merely ventured a guess. It certainly did not warrant having you jump down my throat. Call it what you please, ride what you please, but try to be tolerant of what other people wish to do or say.

To me it is a GS, since that's what we bought it as, but it does seem more meaningful to think of it as Roadster Sport, since GS has no apparent meaning. Of course to me RT means the BMW in my garage, so the second Spyder is the RT-S. Maybe they should have used numbers to keep from confusing old guys like me. :D

Your thoughts do bring up an interesting philosophical question. Following the same reasoning, is an owner of a modern Mustang or Camaro entitled to think they have a true, sixties auto...or vice versa? These advertising ploys are commonplace...and pretty much meaningless.
 
I was not party to what BRP did, and I certainly can't speak to their motivation, nor can anyone outside BRP. I merely ventured a guess. It certainly did not warrant having you jump down my throat. Call it what you please, ride what you please, but try to be tolerant of what other people wish to do or say.

To me it is a GS, since that's what we bought it as, but it does seem more meaningful to think of it as Roadster Sport, since GS has no apparent meaning. Of course to me RT means the BMW in my garage, so the second Spyder is the RT-S. Maybe they should have used numbers to keep from confusing old guys like me. :D

Your thoughts do bring up an interesting philosophical question. Following the same reasoning, is an owner of a modern Mustang or Camaro entitled to think they have a true, sixties auto...or vice versa? These advertising ploys are commonplace...and pretty much meaningless.

Scotty: I apologize for giving offense when none was intended. I agree with you. It does not matter what someone calls their motorcycle. I just call mine a "Spyder".
 
Scotty: I apologize for giving offense when none was intended. I agree with you. It does not matter what someone calls their motorcycle. I just call mine a "Spyder".
Hey, everything is cool! An interesting thought occured to me along this line. I realized that GS, RS, or RT do not appear anywhere on the Spyder except in the advertising. No emblems, nothing on the VIN plate, nothing. Does this seem odd to anyone but me, especially with the new model designations, like RS-S and RT-S? Ponder that for a while. :dontknow: Good, probing questions and commentary.
 
Last edited:
Hey, everything is cool! An interesting thought occured to me along this line. I realized that GS, RS, or RT do not appear anywhere on the Spyder except in the advertising. No emblems, nothing on the VIN plate, nothing. Does this seem odd to anyone but me, especially with the new model designations, like RS-S and RT-S? Ponder that for a while. :dontknow: Good, probing questions and commentary.


I believe om the new RS-S there is a decal under Spyder, that says RS-S. I know my dealer had one a few weeks ago and I think I remember seeing it. Will probably be there Tue. and will see if they still have it.
 
Scotty: I apologize for giving offense when none was intended. I agree with you. It does not matter what someone calls their motorcycle. I just call mine a "Spyder".

I think they're interchangeable. Scotty is I believe correct when he mentioned how BRP wanted the lines to sound similar...one for sport and one for touring...as far as saying you ride a GS vs. a RS, nobody is really gonna know the difference...I say I ride a SM5...as it is, there is little to no differences between years 2008-2010...the white and blue are good-looking though. They're all the same though...

BRP is still figuring out what to do with these things in terms of marketing, names, etc...they iron out the details as they go...they figure out what to do with the bikes as they hear our feedback.

GS/RS/SM5/SE5 are the same in regards to the bike type...the RT is clearly not, neither by appearance nor function...it's a good looking bike...saw one at the IMS in DC this weekend...
 
Back
Top