Is the handling on the '14's really that bad? Opinions needed.

[StanProff]

I don't own a 2014 RT but the only thing keeping me from it is money. I test rode a 2014 about 30 miles with my wife behind me and found no problems with the handling. In my opinion it handled considerably better than my 2010 out of the box. I added 2011 shocks and a bajaron sway bar to my 2010 and I would also add a ronbar to a 2014 if I buy one. The body roll was much less than a stock 2010 but a little more than my 2010 with the ronbar. There was no stability problem with the '14 and, in my opinion, it would just be a personal choice to add a ronbar or not. I like the flatter cornering it provides. I noticed a very slight difference in steering with the '14. It seemed that the '14 steering was a little quicker or maybe the power steering unit provided a little more assistance than my 2010. It could have been just me but, in any case, there was no issue with it. Just a matter of getting used to the difference. All in all, I felt absolutely no handling problems with the 2014 as compared to my 2010.

Like you, I have no problem with my 2010. As far as I'm concerned, it is a great ride but the 2014 is just a little bit better. My wife really liked the 2014. From a backseat perspective, she said it rode smoother and there was no vibration. She loves our 2010 but I think she would have bought the 2014 on the spot. By the way, my 2010 has over 38,000 miles on the original front tires and they still look good. And I haven't had any kind of alignment done. I guess Can-Am got mine right at the factory.

Cotton

Good info, thanks. Like yours, my '10 is a great ride and is set up perfect for me and is a good machine. I need to drive a '14 like you did.

 

[StanProff]

Here is my take. Mostly an academic perspective with a lot of feedback from owners as I've never owned an RT Spyder.

The 2010 RT was certainly the worst handling Spyder made to date. For all the reasons the OP gave. The 2011/12 RT got better based totally on improved shocks.

The 2013/14 Spyders received a complete frame and suspension geometry makeover by BRP. My feeling was that this was not just to improve handling and stability, which it did. But was also meant as preparation for a larger displacement engine, which is what actually happened to the 2014 RT and now appears to be coming in more models with the 2015's.

My answer would be that yes, BRP has learned from past experience and yes, the Spyder has been improving in the stability and handling aspects. The only area where I think BRP has gone backwards is in the non-adjustable shock absorbents. Earlier models had it, current models, for the most part, don't.

Still, there is a great deal of unrealized potential improvement in the 2013/14 Spyder models which the aftermarket products can provide.

thanks Ron, I respect you opinions and knowledge on Spyders. :thumbup:

 

[Purple Guy]

I have no complaints with my 2014 RT-LTD.
I have made it my own, so you can see by my signature.
I had a 2012 RT-LTD and though I was quite happy with it there's no comparison with my new baby! :yes:

 

[4 MARIE]

I have 2014 RTS, had not previously owned Spyder. Think this thing is pretty darn good...in the DRY. I can seeing getting a sway bar , lased align and maybe Elkas. But it is so good as it is, that those things are almost "farkles" and you don't have to rush out and buy anything. Being 6'6" and 360, I usually have some kind of issue with bike suspensions, but not here.

 

[StanProff]

:agree: There has been a lot of "good", said about their handling; why is your focus on the negative? :dontknow:

Bob, I am one of the biggest Spyder advocates you are likely to come across. I am good friends with my local dealer and visit them on a regular basis. When I walk in the door I usually end up talking to potential customers about My experience with the Spyder. I have helped to sell many units in the past 3 years. Not focusing on negative at all, I simply wanted honest assessments of the '14 in the handling department from experienced riders. I am Waiting around to see if there are any changes to the '15 RT's. If not a '14 could be in my future.

 

[PW2013STL]

I have a little over 11,000 on my 14 and have not changed one thing in the handling department except for a new rear car tire. That is my only complant with the 14 in that the stock rear tire only lasted 6,000 miles before the center became bald.
I think it handles and rides great - single, two up, and pulling the trailer. Could it handle better - yes like every bike that I have owned improvements can be made, but are not needed to enjoy it the way it is.

 

[ThreeWheels]

Handling problems??? :shocked:

My 2010 RT WITH a RonBar and a set of Elkas on it, was only marginally better in the handling department, than my bone-stock 2014 RT... :2thumbs:
And as far as the ride comfort; the '14 puts the '10 right on the trailer! nojoke

Yeah, what he says goes for me too. Anyone who may remember: I had a slew of handling issues stemming from alignment and body roll.
BajaRon's bar and links took care of the body roll. The third alignment I got at the shop made the handling much better. A laser alignment by rnet (Ron) made it perfect.

My new 2014 RTS SM6 (yes, I went for the manual) has virtually no body roll. It handles like my 2010 after all the suspension modifications. I may get a set of RonLinks just for the sake of reliability.

I feel it tracks ever so slightly to the right. It's so slight that it could just be the crown in the road. I plan on getting a laser alignment sometime before SpyderQuest.

As always, the advice that I offer in these electronic forums isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

 

[PMK]

Since there is no standard as far as handling the question as to whether some vehicle handles good or bad is purely subjective.

Yes! 100% agree. It is entirely as perceived by the rider. Each rider is different. The difference is in physical size, and ability.

No two "puzzles" are the same. There are trends of items that make a machine more dialed in to a certain feel the rider desires.

What works for one may or may not work well for others. Yes it is subjective.

Simply the place you ride can matter so much also. A Spyder and rider here in South Florida must seek out curves and climbs, where as those that live where the roads constantly curve could have two riders similar in size and ability, but each could prefer a different setup because of where they live.

PK

 

[Bob Denman]

Bob, I am one of the biggest Spyder advocates you are likely to come across. I am good friends with my local dealer and visit them on a regular basis. When I walk in the door I usually end up talking to potential customers about My experience with the Spyder. I have helped to sell many units in the past 3 years. Not focusing on negative at all, I simply wanted honest assessments of the '14 in the handling department from experienced riders. I am Waiting around to see if there are any changes to the '15 RT's. If not a '14 could be in my future.

I know... You've always been seeing the up-side to the story! :thumbup:
Have you tried out a 2014 yet? It would add some perspective to your experiences!
(But leave the checkbook at home!! :shocked

 

[StanProff]

I know... You've always been seeing the up-side to the story! :thumbup:
Have you tried out a 2014 yet? It would add some perspective to your experiences!
(But leave the checkbook at home!! :shocked

:agree: Good advise on the checkbook.

 

[StanProff]

I have a little over 11,000 on my 14 and have not changed one thing in the handling department except for a new rear car tire. That is my only complant with the 14 in that the stock rear tire only lasted 6,000 miles before the center became bald.
I think it handles and rides great - single, two up, and pulling the trailer. Could it handle better - yes like every bike that I have owned improvements can be made, but are not needed to enjoy it the way it is.

As I am waiting around for the '15's I'm hoping they will take care of the OEM tire problem. If not I will follow your lead.:thumbup:

 

[StanProff]

Since there is no standard as far as handling the question as to whether some vehicle handles good or bad is purely subjective.

Your right on the mark. From all of the comments on the '14's it seems there are only 2 things that may need to be changed and one of them is, as you said, purely subjective. The Ron bar (the purely subjective item) for those of us that like a little less body roll and the rear tire because 5 or 6 thousand miles for replacement is not acceptable. :gaah:

 

[BikerDoc]

I had a a 2010 and 2012 and now 2014.. my 2014 out performs the earlier models in every respect and I have ridden 20500 miles so far in 2014 so think that is a fair test... this bike is phenomenal.. don't know where you get your data to the contrary, but remember on all forums the nay sayers are always louder but don't necessarily represent the whole community

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: 20,500 miles already?

:bowdown:

 

[ThreeWheels]

Handling problems??? :shocked:

My 2010 RT WITH a RonBar and a set of Elkas on it, was only marginally better in the handling department, than my bone-stock 2014 RT... :2thumbs:
And as far as the ride comfort; the '14 puts the '10 right on the trailer! nojoke

I never put Elkas on my 2010 but I'm essentially in agreement with Bob.
My 2010 was a pig until I put on the RonBar, RonLinks and a set of 2011 shocks.
So far my bone stock 2014 handles very well without any third party improvements.
I am considering installing the RonLinks, but that's a choice based on increased reliability, not because of handling issues.
My 2010 out of the factory was so misaligned, I felt it was dangerous. BRP wound up buying me tires and 3 alignments.
My 2014 seems to be pretty good, although I'm going to get the laser alignment from rnet fairly soon anyway.

Now if only BRP would address that damn windshield arm.

 

[Deanna777]

Someone try and help me understand what has happened to the Spyder suspensions to regress from 2010 till now (or have they?). Frankly I am very satisfied with the way my 2010 Handles under any circumstance. I have absolutely no complaints with "body roll", tire vibrations, shaking, drifting, or any other handling problem that we seem to be getting posts on. From what I am reading, about the problems with 2014's handling, BRP has either totally screwed up or simple issues are being blown out of proportion. The 2010 RT's came out of the Box with shocks that were known to be weak, This was BRP's first foray into the touring class and it simply needed a little more stiffness to handle the extra couple of hundred pounds or so. Also "body roll" was also a concern as influenced by the added weight and by those who rode a little more aggressive in the curves, or when pulling a trailer. We wanted the Spyder to be a little more stable overall. Simple fixes (that I applied) Were, #1 the Bajaron sway bar, Anyone that was into car performance in the 60's know the difference a stiffer sway-bar can make on handling, Thanks Ron for a well thought out product. #2 upgrade, I installed fox shocks (got a really good deal on them). Same as the above statement, We always stuck Monroe or equivalent shocks on our cars or trucks to improve the handling. These accomplished all the things that a good shock is supposed to do. #3 I had Lamont do an alignment. Again just like a car, it was no longer tracking off center. (I do blame BRP on this one of course I could have hit a good bump or two the previous two years).
My question and concerns, are the '14's really overall bad handlers with bad suspensions ? Has BRP not learned anything from the previous years? Are the RT's worst now that 4 years ago? I really don't think so. It is fine if someone wants to upgrade what they have, that is what I have done but I didn't claim that the ride was factory defective or something to justify my upgrades.
A little background here: I hooked up the 622 trailer, loaded it down and my wife and I road through 14 states going across country and back. At that time the Spyder was totally stock. It rode and preformed fine for the purpose that I wanted. I did not expect it to handle like a race car on a road course. All I am saying is I think it is easy to expect much more than a particular model can give. That's why they make sport models and touring models.
With the 3 items listed that I have added or had done to my 2010 RT-S It is perfect. Front tires are on the high side of 25,000 miles with at least 5 or 6 more thousand in them. Maybe I am just lucky and have a perfectly built Spyder. Maybe it is like the thousands of more that came off the line. What ever it is, If the '14's are as bad as some say, BRP has a very big problem. I certainly hope not. I am wanting to trade up to a '15. (hey, I trade cars every 3 or 4 years too).
How about some of the owners of the new '14's speak up and give an opinion on how your ride is. I am really wanting to get more opinions. I would like to trade up, I want a touring model, I want it to be comfortable, I want it to have reasonable handling without spending money to get it that way, upgrades and farkles are great but they should not be mandatory to have a good handling and performing machine.
Thanks for your feedback.
Stan

Stan: I have a 14RTS-SE6 and it handles fine, no problems. I bought my 14RTS-SE6 last day of July this year. Also, I have not done any farkling to it yet, buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut I will. Deanna777hyea:

 

[Deanna777]

I know... You've always been seeing the up-side to the story! :thumbup:
Have you tried out a 2014 yet? It would add some perspective to your experiences!
(But leave the checkbook at home!! :shocked

Bob: I agree, leave the check book @ home. Deanna777hyea:

 

[Deanna777]

HI
The 14RTS-SE6 is a very awesome machine, it is like night/ day compared to my 2012 RTS-SE5( which was my first :ani29 it handles/steers 110% better than a 2012RTS-SE5. After a laser alignment was done on it. Deanna777hyea:

 

[Bob Denman]

Bob: I agree, leave the check book @ home. Deanna777hyea:

The scary thing is;:shocked: what're they do to the bikes, for the future?? :dontknow:

 

[mtdoragary]

My 2008 RS handled like a sports car - nearly perfectly. My 2014 RT Limited wallows in turns, but it's a dresser! In every other respect, it's a huge improvement over my RS. And this morning, I discovered that the dealer delivered it to me with 5psi in the front tires. Now that it has 20psi, I can't WAIT to try the twisties again.