Highway driving

[Schnauzer]

weeble's wooble and so does the Spyder

13 months and 22,000 miles on every type of road surface out there. Yes even off-road with the Spyder, sometimes you just have to get there, or as close as possible to make the walk shorter.
IMHO, everyone has experienced the dreaded sidetoside action from the wind. The cause is the Kenda tire BRP seems to praise. In Durango I was told by the tech that they want the sidewalls to roll. it is part of the safety feature. Again, IMHO, if you inflate your tires to the maunfacturers design, an back down from there. You will see a bit more stability as far as wanting to track straight in a slight breeze. Over compensating for the move,ment of the Spyder on the roaway is easily overcame by practicing in a safe enviroment, ryding with your throttlehand only. I'm not saying be a daredevil, but you will see that it isn't really hard to control if you limberup a bit...Enjoy the Ryde.

 

[flybuddy]

Okaaaaay... except this is supposed to be the place where new ryders can come to learn from more experienced ryders. (I know I still am!) Great that you have 25k of highway, but instead of discouraging questions, you should be letting this new ryder benefit from your wisdom. At some point, we all had 10 miles on our odometers.

I've had my RT for about a year and about 8000 miles and still have his same issues with highway. I rode 2 wheelers for about 15 years and didn't experience turbulence like this. (I also had more room on the highway lane to move over, away from the trucks... but) I bought Elkas (helped some), loosened grip, check tire pressure on every major trip, even had the Yaw control on the computer (according to dealer) adjusted. It's all "reduced" the turbulence somewhat, but when a semi blows past you at 85 miles per hour, my high profile Spyder and large frame body are catching some serious wind and being tossed about! Even cross winds on an empty stretch with no tree cover sometimes hits the bike hard. Lowering the windshield seems to help the most as well as powering through it as some suggested. ( I HAVE to do the speed limit due to some unfortunate vehicular velocity choices in the last 3 years.:banghead I tend to avoid 70 (re:85mph) stretches of highway and mostly use backroads (55mph). It's prettier and while it may take me a few minutes longer, I've enjoyed the ride the whole way versus times I am wondering what a guard rail tastes like.

I don't know that this guy was 'bit... ching' as much as he was asking for advice on how to maximize the enjoyment of his ryde and minimize the risks (rysks?:dontknow. Sounds like he got a bunch of great advice to me. Just my two cents. I am not trying to be contentious, I would just hate for this to start being an environment where people (especially NEW ryders) were afraid to ask questions.

:chat:

Well said, I've been on smaller 2 wheelers, 350cc through 600cc on highways riding comfortable at triple digit speeds. It would be contentious of me to think that everyone else (particularly a novice rider) would feel comfy doing the same. I've read LOTS of posts regarding the RT handling feeling squirrelly on interstates. They all can't be making that up. Most responses from the experienced riders are basically saying that it's the rider not the Spyder. However, when the day comes that you're thinking about Elkas and you do a search for Elka threads, it's constantly said how they "cured" the highway handling problems (that obviously don't exist).

 

[spyder3]

:agree: Let's let the folks who are still on the steepest part of the learning curve ask what they need; We were all there at one time or another. :thumbup:
...And I'm STILL a big dummy! :gaah:

Hard not to agree with this!! :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[flybuddy]

FYI--the quote below was from a newspaper article in the Montreal Gazette: (the 90 is KPH)

Aerodynamics also presented a challenge. The RS and RS-S feature a low windscreen and the associated wind blast at speed – not a problem on a sporting machine. The GT models, with a high fairing and higher (adjustable-height) windscreen, produce unacceptably high turbulence at highway speeds. Slowing down to 90 or finding truck-free roads are the only ways to reduce this nasty characteristic to an acceptable-to-me level. It’s time for the boys in Valcourt to come up with better aerodynamics, like BMW, Harley-Davidson, Honda and Kawasaki have done in the recent past.

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/cars/Spyder+brings+snowmobiling+summer+everyone/6797504/story.html#ixzz1zOe4gzQ3

What happens if you get scared half to death twice?
When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane.

​

 

[Dudley]

Well, I guess I must be different. With 67,000 combined miles on 2 Spyders, I have never had any wind or road issues, and at least 90% of all my riding is interstate...I do not like side roads and avoid them as much as I can. I find them a lot more dangerous than the interstates...hidden curves, animals, road access from private properties with bushes hiding sight access for both me and the driver wanting to access, trash on road...just to name a few.

I use my cruise 100% of the time on the interstate which gives me a lot more control with cross winds, semi-trucks, etc. I can pass a semi doing 70 mph with gusty winds of 20 mph or so (and we have winds in the mountains east of San Diego almost 24/7), using cruise and holding handle bars with either hand.

 

[NancysToy]

In this day and age of air-conditioned cars with the windows up, it doesn't surprise me that some folks would have to adjust to riding in the wind. Like anything, it is a learned response. It may not even suit everyone, but most get used to it quickly. The choice of helmet and riding gear can make a difference, and aftermarket or accessory windshields can help mitigate the effects of the wind somewhat. Gloves help, too. Take some time and see if it becomes more natural. Stick to the back roads at first, to keep the speed down. It's like driving a convertible...you get used to it pretty quickly.

 

[cubuff70]

Just roll on the throttle and speed up until you pass and the ride smooths out...

 

[BitSlayer]

:agree: with Scotty. I have had no problems with my RT and wind effects. I have passed semis in both directions, both on interstates and 2-lane roads. The buffeting is minimal and I have never had a concern with losing control. I have also ridden in some of Oklahoma's side winds and again, no concern with control. Please keep at it and it will come to you. Make sure you are not gripping the controls too hard and relax.