Hard to steer

[kentuckyguy]

Went on a little ride this weekend an noticed that sometime the bike is really hard to steer... It is a 2009 rs with 3000 miles on it.. When I bought it, I asked the dealer if it has had the new DPS put on it an the new software.. They said yes.. It doesnt do it all the time.. No messages or codes pop up.. Wonder what could be going on??

 

[Bob Denman]

We need just a little more info to armchair-diagnose this...
Does this occur at a particular time or under certain circumstances?
How does it manifest itself? Does steering effort increase in just one direction, or to both sides?
How quickly does this fade away?

 

[boborgera]

Went on a little ride this weekend an noticed that sometime the bike is really hard to steer... It is a 2009 rs with 3000 miles on it.. When I bought it, I asked the dealer if it has had the new DPS put on it an the new software.. They said yes.. It doesnt do it all the time.. No messages or codes pop up.. Wonder what could be going on??

I would check again to see if the DPS was changed, They [service dept.] can run the VIN numbers to be sure.
But BOB is right need more info.opcorn:opcorn:

 

[ThreeWheels]

Went on a little ride this weekend an noticed that sometime the bike is really hard to steer... It is a 2009 rs with 3000 miles on it.. When I bought it, I asked the dealer if it has had the new DPS put on it an the new software.. They said yes.. It doesnt do it all the time.. No messages or codes pop up.. Wonder what could be going on??

I have a 2010 RT-S and I KNOW the DPS has been changed.
I find it hard to steer sometimes also. Not always.
Here's what I've figured out.
If I take sharp corners (like making a right turn in town) above about 17 MPH, it's almost as if there is no power steering.
Take the exact same turn at 14 MPH and everything is hunky-dory.

My dealer can't find anything wrong. I'm beginning to think it's just a "feature" of the bike.

 

[angel]

I had that issue and found my tire pressure was low and certain road conditions would make it seem harder to turn. more air and turns fine

That not saying that's you issue after the DPS change out both our now seen harder at low speed and easy at higher speed

 

[ARtraveler]

The easiest fix would be to check the air pressure--that appears to be a critical component when it comes to handling.

If the air is good--I would keep track of when, where, why etc.

There are a lot of mechanical wizards on the site--who may be able to help with more information. (I am not one of them).

 

[happyspyder2039]

Steering issues

Hi,
I know what your talking about as far as the steering and had run into the same thing. It first started about 4 months after the dps was changed. I kept visiting the dealer with no changes. They checked codes and reloaded software then 1 day just about every code you could find showed up. Dealer was finally able replace the angle sensors. That cured it for a short time. Then started again while I was out ryding so go idea to swapp relays around up front in the trunk. as it turns out one was going bad. After new relay everything is better. (#2 main relay ) hope this helps

 

[kentuckyguy]

We need just a little more info to armchair-diagnose this...
Does this occur at a particular time or under certain circumstances?
How does it manifest itself? Does steering effort increase in just one direction, or to both sides?
How quickly does this fade away?

Most of the time it is long sweeping curves but not every time.. Left/right turns doesnt matter.. Turning at a stop sign it seems to be working just fine.. Itis unpredictable as to when it will an wont happen.. I have went into turns expecting it not to work an it does an I over steer a bit an then other times it wont work an I will drift to the center line or the edge of the road.. Also higher speed doesnt matter anything over 20mph.. I will check the tire pressures tomorrow an report back.. Thanks

 

[boborgera]

Most of the time it is long sweeping curves but not every time.. Left/right turns doesnt matter.. Turning at a stop sign it seems to be working just fine.. Itis unpredictable as to when it will an wont happen.. I have went into turns expecting it not to work an it does an I over steer a bit an then other times it wont work an I will drift to the center line or the edge of the road.. Also higher speed doesnt matter anything over 20mph.. I will check the tire pressures tomorrow an report back.. Thanks

:dontknow:
Long sweeping turns, sounds like what my 08 was doing,
Especially going around jug handles [Jersey thing] My DPS was replaced last July and i haven't had that problem since.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Do you have another dealer close enough to take it to for a second check on whether the DPS was really replaced or not? Tire pressure does play a big factor, but with that it should be a consistent behavior, and not as random as you are stating.

 

[Bob Denman]

As Bob stated:

The dealer can punch in your Spyder's V.I.N. and it'll say for sure if the DPS was already replaced or not...
I think that there was an early software update and then they started pulling and replacing them...

 

[kentuckyguy]

As Bob stated:

The dealer can punch in your Spyder's V.I.N. and it'll say for sure if the DPS was already replaced or not...
I think that there was an early software update and then they started pulling and replacing them...

When I bought the bike I asked if the DPS had been replaced an the new software uploaded to the bike an they said yes.. The only dealer close to me is at Paducah Ky an that is where I bought it.. I am going now to check the itre pressure.... I will update an that shortly.....

Update.. 16.5 in the left tire an 17 in the right... I called the dealer an he ran the VIN number an said that it had been replaced.. He told me to bring it in an they would check it over an probably replace the DPS an reload the software....

 

[Firefly]

When I bought the bike I asked if the DPS had been replaced an the new software uploaded to the bike an they said yes.. The only dealer close to me is at Paducah Ky an that is where I bought it.. I am going now to check the itre pressure.... I will update an that shortly.....

Update.. 16.5 in the left tire an 17 in the right... I called the dealer an he ran the VIN number an said that it had been replaced.. He told me to bring it in an they would check it over an probably replace the DPS an reload the software....

WHEN the DPS was replaced. Many had them replaced before the '2nd Gen' DPS units were available--- which was just about 1 year ago. So if the DPS was replaced over a year ago-- then it's NOT the 2nd gen version.

You could also have a loose fuse or relay in the front-- re-seat them all to make sure.

This is NOT normal activity for the Spyder-- something is wrong and needs to be fixed. Even with the 2nd Gen DPS -- you could have a steering sensor out of whack.

Get her into the shop....

 

[kentuckyguy]

Hmmm been out on the bike all day an the DPS never messed up until I turned into my driveway.. I just dont understand how 1 min it is working fine an the next it isnt working...

 

[Bob Denman]

Okay... get thee to a dealer! :lecturef_smilie: Something ain't right if it's doing that! :shocked:

 

[groundeffect]

WHEN the DPS was replaced. Many had them replaced before the '2nd Gen' DPS units were available--- which was just about 1 year ago. So if the DPS was replaced over a year ago-- then it's NOT the 2nd gen version.

You could also have a loose fuse or relay in the front-- re-seat them all to make sure.

This is NOT normal activity for the Spyder-- something is wrong and needs to be fixed. Even with the 2nd Gen DPS -- you could have a steering sensor out of whack.

Get her into the shop....

:agreeouble check your front tire psi and check relays and fuses up front and under the seat. If it still happens and you've not found the cause, yes, get it to the shop. Ryde Safe.

 

[Raptor]

I used to run one tire 1/2 pound more than the other for cornering performance reasons. Since then I have had the DPS replaced, fresh tires and a front end alignment and now I don't have to do that any longer.

I agree with the other guys- I think you should have her checked out. Steering is not something you want to play around with. And with it acting the way it is it is affecting both your riding technique and your confidence in the machine. This is a scenario that can only end badly.

Do let us know what they find. Good luck and ride safe! :thumbup:

 

[kentuckyguy]

Well I took someone's advise an check the fuses an relays.. Fuses was ok so I swapped out the relay.. Steerin worked perfect yesterday afternnon.. We roe about 125 miles an no problems at all.. I swapped it with one of the other in the box.. Must have been a loose connection cause no other problems occured.. Thanks for all the help.. Hope this cures my problem..

 

[SpyderWolf]

Well I took someone's advise an check the fuses an relays.. Fuses was ok so I swapped out the relay.. Steerin worked perfect yesterday afternnon.. We roe about 125 miles an no problems at all.. I swapped it with one of the other in the box.. Must have been a loose connection cause no other problems occured.. Thanks for all the help.. Hope this cures my problem..

Thanks for the update. Hopefully that is the cure your Spyder was looking for. Best of luck with it.

 

[kentuckyguy]

Well the relay wasnt the problem so I took it into the shop.. Got it back yesterday.. They told me that there was an angle sensor that was out 5 degree??? I guess it was cause I have ran 2 tanks of gas threw it with no problems.. So anyone have the hard steering problem have you dealer to check the angle sensor..