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Gravel and Minimum Maintenance Roads in SE MN

C

Cannonshot

New member
Hi all!. I've been a dual sport and adventure motorcyclist for many years. As I got older, I thought I might like to add a Can-Am to my collection to do some touring on it. When I go places I often end up on gravel or even some two-tracks as I explore on my motorcycles. The obvious limitation for me on this bike was the ground clearance which I understood going in. That said, I wasn't sure how the Spyder RT would be on gravel or minimum maintenance roads. I decided to take it on a 450 mile tour in SW MN to give it a test ride before I got into a bigger trip out west.

I was very pleased with how the bike handled things. The suspension was fine, the steering and control were fine, although I did spin and slide the rear wheel at times when I needed a little more power to move the weight. As far as the clearance goes, I was able to work with it in the few spots where a two track had a center crown or there were some protruding rocks.

I did have a problem where I punctured a tire in a bad spot on the sidewall (more of a cut) which was probably due to some broken glass. I ended up getting a replacement tire as a temporary fix wasn't too practical.

So, overall I am pretty satisfied with what the bike can handle off pavement. I'm looking forward to taking it on some other trips while still understanding the ground clearance limitations.

If you'd like to see some pix of the surfaces I was on, I tried to capture of bunch of them in a photo-essay I prepared. It might give some others more information about the gravel and unpaved capabilities of the bike. Here is a link. https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/...outheastern-mn-adventure-trail-semat.1636461/
 
Thank you for sharing the pictures. You are a braver person than I am. I have replaced two belts damaged by rocks on gravel roads. $500 x 2.

The area is beautiful though. I drove through Harmony once to pay a visit to one of the schools I did business with.
 
Thanks for the pictures, interesting riding. Since you ride on gravel and other unpaved surfaces, I suggest that you get the Can-Am Spyder RT Missing Belt Guard 2014-Present with 1330 Engine from Lamonster. I would reach out to him to make sure it fits your ride.
 
If your going to travel off-pavement, I think a belt guard is a "must-have". I live on gravel and have run a couple of small rocks through mine; it felt like the swing-arm was coming off!

Also, Minnesota used to cover county roads with mine tailings; they are harder than the limestone much harder on tires.
 
Looks like it was a great trip. My experience with my 2020 Spyder RTL is it handles packed gravel and dirt roads very well. Just slow down and stay alert. Deeper dirt on road construction the bike will get through it for short distances but it is not an "off-road" bike. I wanted to buy the belt guard from Lamonster last year but was told that even though the add listed it as 2014 and up, it did not fit the newer 2020 and up RT models. Just the older models.
 
Lived on sugar sand roads half my life, and now the county has covered them all with crushed limestone. Never had a belt problem. I messed up a front tire straddling the deep ruts on a one lane dirt road. Small lighter knot bounced up and got hung between the fender and the tire. I did not know it was in there until smoke started coming out from under the fender. Stopped, rolled it backward until the stick came out. It was too late to save the tire, by that time. Had all the tread wore off of the edge of the tire. It was the OEM Kendas, and already had 15,000 plus miles, so about ready for a new set anyway. The tire did not go flat. I turned around at the next cross road, and headed home at about 40 MPH. Tire still held air. Changed both front tires.

I rode a 3 wheel Harley Sportster for over 20 years without a belt guard on it at all. Never had a problem with gravel roads or dirt roads. The belts and pulleys would last between 50,000 and 80,000 miles, before they needed replacement. Then it was usually the pulleys wore down to sharp edges that made the replacement needed. Worse thing on belts and pulleys are riding dirt roads after heavy rain, and the sand, grit, and mud getting in the pulleys to grind them down. I live in Florida where it rains about 100 days a year, on average, and have over a mile of dirt and limestone road to get in and out from my house to the highway.

So far, no problem with the Spyder at all, from the crushed stone on the roads or just dirt roads. The limerock road gets plenty of potholes in it aftr the rains, and the county does not always get around to grading it very often. It makes for some rough rides, but no damage or real bottoming out.
 
Cannonshot said:
"Hi all!. I've been a dual sport and adventure motorcyclist for many years."......
Click to expand...
I'm sure you know what you're in for by using a machine for which it's not intended. That being said I damaged my belt the first time I came across unavoidable road construction. I bought Mr. Gasget's aluminum lower belt guard and have not damaged a belt since. It's predrilled and comes with 3 self-tapping screws. Easy upgrade and a simple installation.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Cannonshot said:
Hi all!. I've been a dual sport and adventure motorcyclist for many years. As I got older, I thought I might like to add a Can-Am to my collection to do some touring on it. When I go places I often end up on gravel or even some two-tracks as I explore on my motorcycles. The obvious limitation for me on this bike was the ground clearance which I understood going in. That said, I wasn't sure how the Spyder RT would be on gravel or minimum maintenance roads. I decided to take it on a 450 mile tour in SW MN to give it a test ride before I got into a bigger trip out west.

I was very pleased with how the bike handled things. The suspension was fine, the steering and control were fine, although I did spin and slide the rear wheel at times when I needed a little more power to move the weight. As far as the clearance goes, I was able to work with it in the few spots where a two track had a center crown or there were some protruding rocks.

I did have a problem where I punctured a tire in a bad spot on the sidewall (more of a cut) which was probably due to some broken glass. I ended up getting a replacement tire as a temporary fix wasn't too practical.

So, overall I am pretty satisfied with what the bike can handle off pavement. I'm looking forward to taking it on some other trips while still understanding the ground clearance limitations.

If you'd like to see some pix of the surfaces I was on, I tried to capture of bunch of them in a photo-essay I prepared. It might give some others more information about the gravel and unpaved capabilities of the bike. Here is a link. https://www.advrider.com/f/threads/...outheastern-mn-adventure-trail-semat.1636461/
Click to expand...

After I got my 14 RT, I designed brackets that changed the angle of the front shocks. It made them more efficient (?). .... I wanted to keep the OEM ground clearance, so the shock mounting holes keep the stock height .... However the bracket could also either increase or decrease the G.C. .....I have pics in one of my albums ....they are the white ones .... If I had access to a Ryker I could make similar brackets .... Mike :thumbup:
 
Thanks for that, Canonshot…….just out of interest, how did you repair a cut to the sidewall to allow you to continue?

Pete
 
2dogs said:
I'm sure you know what you're in for by using a machine for which it's not intended. That being said I damaged my belt the first time I came across unavoidable road construction. I bought Mr. Gasget's aluminum lower belt guard and have not damaged a belt since. It's predrilled and comes with 3 self-tapping screws. Easy upgrade and a simple installation.
Click to expand...

Thank you. Do you have a link to a source for this product?

Edit: Is this it? https://customspyderworks.com/product/inspector-gadget-drive-belt-stone-guard-f3-rt/
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Peteoz said:
Thanks for that, Canonshot…….just out of interest, how did you repair a cut to the sidewall to allow you to continue?

Pete
Click to expand...
Only one end of the cut penetrated deep enough for air to leak out. I keep a compressor on board and tire repair materials so I was able to make 20 miles to a tire source. In this case I could not make a repair that would not leak air.
 
I used to ride my Yamaha Raider on gravel roads it was belt drive never had a problem, and now today I rode 8 miles on gravel no problem,
so for me I ain't worrying about the gravel. If the Spyder is that delicate then it has no business being on the road.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Cannonshot said:
Thank you. Do you have a link to a source for this product?

Edit: Is this it? https://customspyderworks.com/product/inspector-gadget-drive-belt-stone-guard-f3-rt/
Click to expand...

That's it, but dam the price went out of sight. I paid $30 for mine and it was anodized black. I tried the plastic guard that was a double sided glue tape mounted piece of garbage. With the OEM welds on the swingarm there was "no way" it was going to fit or stay on for any length of time. Others here have mentioned that their plastic guards flew off and went by by. But even $70 is a good investment to prevent a belt and possibly a sprocket replacement.
 
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