Interstate Driving

[sjcpanther]

Just got my new Spyder 2 weeks ago. Been driving it on back roads while learning all about it, and how to drive it. Been getting pretty comfortable with it, so yesterday I decided to take it out on the interstate for the first time to see how it handles at higher speeds.

It was not a windy day. Very calm for the most part. Getting up to 70 MPH, the Spyder would sway from side to side in the lane. Like the wind was knocking it around. I felt like I had to really muscle it to keep it in the lane.

My question is -- Is this normal? Do I just need to get used to this blowing around, or is there some adjustment that can be done to the Spyder to help control this?

 

[StanProff]

What year is the spyder. ?

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: What year? This is an issue since the 2013 models have been getting their ball-joints replaced to correct this very issue. :shocked: If your bike is from a prior year; here's some suggestions.... Interstates and other large roads are often populated by behemoths (BIG trucks) that can put up a lot of disturbance in the air around them. :yikes: Try bringing your knees in against the "tank's" side panels to steady yourself on the bike. (Here's why) As you get buffeted about; you may be inputting unwanted steering efforts to the front end of the bike. By holding yourself in place; that should be reduced or eliminated. As usual; try a nice and light grip on the bars as well... Good luck, and I hope that this helps! :thumbup:

 

[sjcpanther]

It's a 2012 RT.

There was very little traffic on the interstate. Nothing to blow me around.

Im taking the Spyder in to the shop on Tuesday for its 600 mile service. I'll ask the service department if they recommend anything.

 

[Dizneyman]

I just had to learn to not use the death grip... I almost hardly grip the bars, and stop trying to steer the bike. You will be amazed how well it tracks. It takes time, do not be dicouraged and after about 1000 miles you will feel like you have been riding for ever. We all had that feeling when we started.

 

[SpyderWolf]

The Spyder is a totally different ryde than what you have likely experienced before. The fact that you say you are muscling it to keep it in the lane could actually be contributing to the situation. The Spyder should track down the highway all by itself with almost no input from you at all. You should only need a very light grip on the handlebars, unlike you would do on a 2 wheeler. If you are gripping the bars too tightly, you could actually be providing enough feedback to make it sway like that. Try loosening your grip, you can almost let go of the handlebars, and see if that makes it better.

Depending on the year of your Spyder, and if you bought it used, it could be subject to a DPS (Dynamic Power Steering) recall for a new unit, but I would think all of those would have been completed by now.

Edit: Just saw you have a 2012, so the DPS should not be an issue as far as I know.

 

[currin20fan]

Death Grip

I just had to learn to not use the death grip... I almost hardly grip the bars, and stop trying to steer the bike. You will be amazed how well it tracks. It takes time, do not be dicouraged and after about 1000 miles you will feel like you have been riding for ever. We all had that feeling when we started.

After allot of frustration with the swaying, I contacted a couple of folks on this site to ease my frustrations and both told me about the "death grip". I would literally go down the road hearing "Lamont" say to loosen the grip. Now it seems natural to me. Plus Elka's from Len helped a ton. The RT tracks really well going pps: 80+.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Define normal

What you described as swaying from side to side is almost normal for a rider with two weeks of Spyder driving. Don't take that as a personal slam. OK? We all have undergone this problem. I guess you could call it "Newbie Driving Syndrome."

Try this the next time you go out. Get up to speed and when the machine gets to doing it again. Look at your hands they are probably gripping the hand grips tightly. Relax or try too. I found that I had to open my fingers up. Once you can make yourself relax it should go away or subside.

Hope this helps you solve the problem. Another thing is to tighten your shocks up by putting some preloading on them. I have a 2011 RT-L and that fixed my NDS!

 

[Mad Mike]

Bob, I like your post because it describes me perfectly after I bought My 2011 RT.."Newbie Driving Syndrome." I'm proud to admit that I was there and thanks to this forum, I learn every day. Also, bad roads don't help either. I feel that sometimes where the big trucks rut out the right and left side of a lane, the hump left in the center can cause some issue. You have to pick a side of the lane to eliminate that phenomenon, or at least that's what I do and It Helps!!! I will also bet that everyone will agree on Big Wind being an issue, but Hey, It also blows my pick-up around..Good Luck and enjoy your ride!

 

[bullant12]

:agree: with all of the above. Especially your shocks preload settings. Tire pressure can be a factor, even being below the recommended PSI by a couple of pounds.

 

[sjcpanther]

Thanks for the advice. I'm sure you are right about the death grip. I didn't feel like I was gripping it to tight, but I could have been doing it and not knowing it.

It is a brand new 2012, purchased from a dealer. All recalls are up-to-date.

So you are saying that if I loosen my grip and let the Spyder drive itself, there should be no swaying whatsoever? And if there is, I should ask my dealer about it?

 

[kentuckyguy]

Mine is a 2011 an it done the same thing.. All over the road.. It was so bad that it was unsafe on interstate.. A couple of buddies on here to me to get the Elka shocks an I wouldnt have that problem.. I kept thinking to myself how could shockes make that much difference.. Well I finally broke down an bought a set.. Boy was i ever amazed.. She runs straight down the road now an no fighting.. Take it from someone that fought thier bike for a year.. Invest in them you wont be sorry..............

 

[sjcpanther]

What you described as swaying from side to side is almost normal for a rider with two weeks of Spyder driving. Don't take that as a personal slam. OK? We all have undergone this problem. I guess you could call it "Newbie Driving Syndrome."

Try this the next time you go out. Get up to speed and when the machine gets to doing it again. Look at your hands they are probably gripping the hand grips tightly. Relax or try too. I found that I had to open my fingers up. Once you can make yourself relax it should go away or subside.

Hope this helps you solve the problem. Another thing is to tighten your shocks up by putting some preloading on them. I have a 2011 RT-L and that fixed my NDS!

No offense taken at all. I am definitely a Newbie at this Spyder thing. That's why I am on this site, to try to learn as much as I can from experienced ryders.

The Spyder is a ton of fun. I'm just trying to make my experience even greater!

 

[sjcpanther]

My factory shocks are set to the standard "3" setting. I can try to adjust this to try to improve things.

I do like the sounds of those Elka shocks, though.

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks for the advice. I'm sure you are right about the death grip. I didn't feel like I was gripping it to tight, but I could have been doing it and not knowing it.

It is a brand new 2012, purchased from a dealer. All recalls are up-to-date.

So you are saying that if I loosen my grip and let the Spyder drive itself, there should be no swaying whatsoever? And if there is, I should ask my dealer about it?

In strong or gusty winds, the Spyder may still move around a bit. Don't worry about it...just stay between the lines. One of the hardest things to get used to with the Spyder is learning not to manhandle it or make constant steering corrections. There is no gyroscopic directional stability, as on two wheels, and the Spyder steering is super sensitive. In addition, be aware that the wind blowing on you will make you move your arms unknowingly, and the Spyder will respond to that. Loosening your grip and letting your upper body move without moving your arms will help. It takes some learning after two wheels.

If your Spyder darts on bumps at lower speeds, and follows every little pavement flaw, and is extremely susceptible to cross winds and gusts on the highway, it may need the front spring preload increased, or it may need an alignment. This is especially true if the rider is heavy or carries a passenger frequently. The 2012s were generally quite good as far as alignment goes, and they had an increased toe-in spec, but the spring preload needs to be adjusted for the load carried...and BRP's recommmendations fall about a notch short for most owners. Some more air in the front tires may help, too. 18-20 psi (cold) seems to work the best for most owners.

 

[jthornton]

It's a 2012 RT.

There was very little traffic on the interstate. Nothing to blow me around.

Im taking the Spyder in to the shop on Tuesday for its 600 mile service. I'll ask the service department if they recommend anything.

When I first drove a spyder (my friends 2010 RT) I though something was loose in the steering as it just felt that way. I'm a long time motorcycle guy so that was part of the problem. Now that I have my own 2012 RT-S I knew part of the problem was me and part was the soft sway bar. I replaced the sway bar with a BajaRon sway bar kit ($200) put 17 psig in the front tires and put the shock preload on 4. The bike is on rails now... also if the pressure is different in the front tires the spyder will pull to one side or the other.

John

 

[vrodrjs]

First time I test ride one I came back and talk to the salesman. I told him it felt like I was all over the place. He said give yourself about 400 miles at speed and you will get used to it and that will go away. It didn't take that long but it did take a few rides. The other thing for me is the roads in Illinois. They tend to get ruts in them from all the heavy trucks. The spyder seems to be get drug around from one to the other if I don't pay attention.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

The right lanes of Interstates sometimes have "ruts" that may be pulling you around.

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Try setting your factory shocks at 4 and make sure to check your tire pressure (somewhere between 15.5 and 17) make sure both tires are at the same pressure, then just relax as said above and enjoy the ride.:yes::yes::yes:

Cruzr Joe

 

[sawtooth]

Most of us have had the same experience. IMHO Ron's anti-sway bar will take care of most of your concerns.....try it and you won't believe the difference it makes. I also agree with the previous post to preload shocks to at least 4, turn on cruise control, sit back RELAX, and watch out for those who can't watch out for themselves and you will enjoy the ride.