intermittant vibrations @ highway speeds

[MONK]

Went on my 1st real ride at highway speeds today (about 70 miles of 65-75mph). Intermittantly, I'd get a vibration that felt like a really rough road (not like potholes rough but like...just rough). I could feel the vibrations in the floorboards. I've driven this stretch of road literally thousands of miles in the past couple of years and I don't recall (nor did I see) and bad sections of road. Definitely vibrations. More concerned since the Spyder only has about 650 miles on her.

If it had been a steady vibration, I'd have said it was a very unbalanced tire.

What say ye, fine citizens?

 

[Peacekeeper6]

Went on my 1st real ride at highway speeds today (about 70 miles of 65-75mph). Intermittantly, I'd get a vibration that felt like a really rough road (not like potholes rough but like...just rough). I could feel the vibrations in the floorboards. I've driven this stretch of road literally thousands of miles in the past couple of years and I don't recall (nor did I see) and bad sections of road. Definitely vibrations. More concerned since the Spyder only has about 650 miles on her.

If it had been a steady vibration, I'd have said it was a very unbalanced tire.

What say ye, fine citizens?

There’s a reason why they make/sell belt tensioners.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Since you state it 's " intermittent " ….. I have noticed similar feelings on my Spyder on roads that I don't feel anything if other types of vehicles …. my thoughts are : a lighter weight vehicle is more susceptible to the type of " road surface texture " than heavier veh's ….. hopeing it 's not something mechanical ….. but that would be purely on guess based on what you have described. ….. I really can't see how the lack of a BELT tensioner could be the issue …. I don't have one and have no vibes …. but my belt is a bit looser than the spec …… good luck …. Mike hyea:

 

[RICZ]

If the belt tension is to BRP specs, it might need to be loosened a bit. Or it might be too loose - have you checked the tension?

 

[MONK]

Blue knight, I thought about that but I've ridden the same road on a 2 wheel bike and never felt that.

I have no idea about the belt tension. How would I check it? The dealer checked it last week and said it was good so bringing it back to him wouldn't help. I've ridden @ 60mph on other roads and didn't feel anything so if it's belt tension, could that only happen @ a certain speed and why not all the time @ that speed?

 

[2dogs]

Ask the tech to set the belt tension on the lower side of the scale. If the vibration is still present and it moves according to where it was before (speed wise) , then you'll know what the problem is.

 

[RICZ]

I had to relax my belt 40 pounds from what the "tech" had it at. You use a Kriket to accomplish that. They are available on eBay and Amazon. Get one that reads no higher than 200 pounds.
Forget how your two wheeler felt. A Spyder has a completely different road feel.

 

[Woodaddict]

I can live with intermittent vibes. I can get them from going over a bump in road triggers it for a while, then goes away. Didn't want to put belt tensioner on it, and goes bad and ruins belt. I did set my belt to 160 on kriket gage

 

[PinkRosePetal]

Went on my 1st real ride at highway speeds today (about 70 miles of 65-75mph). Intermittantly, I'd get a vibration that felt like a really rough road (not like potholes rough but like...just rough). I could feel the vibrations in the floorboards. I've driven this stretch of road literally thousands of miles in the past couple of years and I don't recall (nor did I see) and bad sections of road. Definitely vibrations. More concerned since the Spyder only has about 650 miles on her.

If it had been a steady vibration, I'd have said it was a very unbalanced tire.

What say ye, fine citizens?

Two possibilities, both drive belt vibration. You've got a vibrating version of the Spyder or you've got a stone chip jammed between the sprocket teeth. Have you passed over any new road surfacing, tar and chippings, recently? Why it produces an intermittent vibration I've no idea but it certainly does and it feels like a stone stuck in a tyre tread. However, much more likely it's a viby bike. Typically at 70-74mph. We run two 2017RT one vibrates, the other doesn't and never has. It's worse in a side wind on the vibrating bike. Slackening the belt considerably does help but you may still get some vibration but at a lower speed. There is a secondary benefit to having a belt set loose, if you are unlucky enough to get a stone chipping caught between the belt and the sprocket, the slacker belt has enough stretch to lift over it without damage. Don't ask how I know this...

 

[MONK]

Thanks, all. I don't have a garage, lift or large tools to loosen the axle bolt/nut (I think I read 36mm?). I think I'll call the dealership tomorrow and ask the wrench/tech how he checks the belt tension. If he says he uses one of those krikit gauges, I'll ask what he tightens the belts to and see if he can loosen it up a bit. Shouldn't take but a few minutes for someone well qualified w/the right tools, I'd think. If he says he uses the "thumb guage" method, I'll find another dealer.

PinkRosePetal---Never knew some of these were prone to bad vibes. It's not the end of the world as long as something isn't mechanically wrong, just annoying as all get out. Haven't been on any newly chipped roads so I'm just guessing I didn't get anything in the belt.

Woodaddict---We'll have to get together and ride sometime. I met a nice fellow SpyderLover member a couple weeks ago (JayBros) who lives down around Charlotte, I think.

 

[h0gr1der]

Mr Monk,
My Spyder had a harsh vibration from the showroom floor. It occurred at the start of a hill, or when changing throttle to a light load. Very load dependent. After much gnashing of teeth and reading, I bought a Krikit II and tools to set my tension to the lower specs. I stair stepped my way down to the absolute minimum spec referenced in the belt tension service memo, and it almost completely eliminated my vibrations. I did install a belt dampener, but removed it when a few of the rollers failed. The vibration got less frequent and lower intensity the lower I went on the tension. Don't expect the dealer to set the tension to the lowest spec, for the most part they are stuck on stupid about the specification listed at the front of the manual, and not the revised spec in the service bulletin or in the Technical Specs section of the manual. If you have any mechanical aptitude setting the tension and aligning the rear wheel is about a 30-45 minute job, requires minimal tools also.

 

[MONK]

Mr Monk,
My Spyder had a harsh vibration from the showroom floor. It occurred at the start of a hill, or when changing throttle to a light load. Very load dependent. After much gnashing of teeth and reading, I bought a Krikit II and tools to set my tension to the lower specs. I stair stepped my way down to the absolute minimum spec referenced in the belt tension service memo, and it almost completely eliminated my vibrations. I did install a belt dampener, but removed it when a few of the rollers failed. The vibration got less frequent and lower intensity the lower I went on the tension. Don't expect the dealer to set the tension to the lowest spec, for the most part they are stuck on stupid about the specification listed at the front of the manual, and not the revised spec in the service bulletin or in the Technical Specs section of the manual. If you have any mechanical aptitude setting the tension and aligning the rear wheel is about a 30-45 minute job, requires minimal tools also.

I don't.

I understand the basics of adjusting the belt tension. I had a belt drive on my Victory Vision but I had a lift and a garage when I had that. I have almost no tools anymore and no garage/carport. I guess I can look around to see if any of my coworkers has a garage and tools I could borrow for an hour.

Any idea what the tension range is for a 2018 RTL?

 

[Woodaddict]

Woodaddict---We'll have to get together and ride sometime. I met a nice fellow SpyderLover member a couple weeks ago (JayBros) who lives down around Charlotte, I think.

yes we will. currently very busy for another 2 months, building a house. sometime in June or after. I do have a daughter that lives in Wilkesboro. Have not yet met Jaybros. The closest Spyder I have met is Norwood, just 1 time

 

[Wahrsuul]

I have tools and a carport - or maybe my brother's shop. I don't have a tension gauge though. Probably ought to get one as I think I get the same vibrations you're talking about - comes and goes and feels like a rough/gravel road but not really steady. I need a new set of tires and was thinking I might try to check the belt at the same time.

How far is Wilkesboro from Columbia?

 

[Woodaddict]

how far is wilkesboro from columbia?

about 3 hrs, right up I77. I have the kriket gage, could come to my house, save 1.25 hrs, if we could work it out

 

[Woodaddict]

Monk, why don't you just skip dealership, come to my house, for kriket party? I have 36 mm socket, torque wrench. I have already had my rear wheel off for new tire.

forecast for Friday is rain, if we get too much, I don't have any work on new house as it would be a haul dirt in wheel barrow day. so Saturday might work out if you can come, might be a last minute decision.

hey Wahrsuul come on up!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I try to do most of my Spyder and bike easy maintenance. I call this easy

rain date could be sunday afternoon

 

[larryd]

I can live with intermittent vibes. I can get them from going over a bump in road triggers it for a while, then goes away. Didn't want to put belt tensioner on it, and goes bad and ruins belt. I did set my belt to 160 on kriket gage

Think about one of these belt tensioner's...(https://www.smoothspyder.com/) Forum sponsor and they LAST...

 

[Woodaddict]

nope don't need one. thanks. for me its a waste of money, only once in a while vibes. is any spyder perfect???? I can live with a 98% spyder

 

[h0gr1der]

Belt Tension

Here are a couple of pictures for the belt tension. One is the TST from 2015, the other is from the Technical Specifications at the rear of my service manual. You will see that the tensions can be set considerably lower than the dealerships say. You hve to convert Newtons to Pounds. The Krikits measure in pounds. Make sure you use a known good converter, I ran across one that gave false answers.

 

[Navydad]

I'm one of the rare birds who had to increase tension just a bit to get a smooth ride. My belt was 160 on the Kriket with the wheel on the ground and I got bad vibs from 55 to 65 MPH. I kept lowering the tension and test riding until I was down to 120 and still had vibes. Gave it a shot going the other direction and with the tension at 190 wheel on ground I have a great ride all the way up to 90 MPH. My point is that there doesn't seem to be any one spot that works for every bike. I would prefer to run lower tension, but it is what it is.