Limp Mode - What to expect

[redfox]

So --- lots of talk about going into "Limp Mode". Just exactly what happens if Nanny decides to do this. How fast will bike go. What happens if it does this while you are crusin about 65. Sixty miles to a dealer here would hate to "limp" at 15 mph for 4 hours to get there. A pitiful site limping along the side of the road at crawl speed in my imagination.

 

[Dragonrider]

First, you'll see a warning flash on your dash, then the bike will sputter & cut out, until you reach 30 to 35 mph, where it will continue to run fairly smoothly, but will NOT let you go faster. (I drove 12 miles back to the dealer in LM)

If you're lucky, stopping the bike and resetting it (off/on), will get you back on your way. If not, it's off to the dealer & BUDS

 

[Y Rider]

My bike went into Limp Mode once and the engine was just limited to 4500 RPMs. I could do any speed that didn't require more than 4500 RPMs.

 

[redfox]

First, you'll see a warning flash on your dash, then the bike will sputter & cut out, until you reach 30 to 35 mph, where it will continue to run fairly smoothly, but will NOT let you go faster. (I drove 12 miles back to the dealer in LM)

If you're lucky, stopping the bike and resetting it (off/on), will get you back on your way. If not, it's off to the dealer & BUDS

Thanks that's what I wanted to know :2thumbs:

Hope I never see it

 

[napper39]

keep your foot off the brake any miner touching the brake will put you in limp mode,use the brake to stop then dont let your foot tuch it.keep checking the battery cables they vibrate loose some times they must stay tight,or limp mode,check the fuse box every once in a while they also vibrate loose some times or limp mode.i check mine about once a month or 1000 miles and found some loose .uuther than that ride like the wind and have fun,.:congrats::welcome::2thumbs::chat:

 

[acinpcola]

Thanks for posting. This is good need to know info for a new :spyder2: rider like me. I tried to look up the info on the mpg stats for the 2011 RT S, however, can't seem to find any.

Ride Safe :doorag:

 

[Dragonrider]

Napper - hope they don't have "limp mode" on the Rotax powering your other trike!!

 

[Mr. White]

Thanks for posting. This is good need to know info for a new :spyder2: rider like me. I tried to look up the info on the mpg stats for the 2011 RT S, however, can't seem to find any.

Ride Safe :doorag:

I was coming into a small town and my limp mode came on. I looked in the book and it said remove and replace key or tow to dealer. I removed the key and put it back in and have ridden another 700 miles without any problem. SL folks said I was riding the brake...I am now much more aware where my right foot is....

Gas mileage seems to run 28-30 for most. Some more, some less. Your riding style makes a difference too.

:spyder2:

 

[NancysToy]

.....I tried to look up the info on the mpg stats for the 2011 RT S, however, can't seem to find any......

Figure on 24-34 mpg. I know it's a wide range, but it is better than the BRP guesstimate of 18-40. I am averaging 28-29 with Michigan's crappy alchoholic gas and a new Spyder. I got about 32 the couple of times I got real good gas on the Spyderfest trip, despite 75 mph highway speeds. I always tell people who ask "30, if you hold your mouth right."

 

[docdoru]

What happens if it does this while you are crusin about 65. Sixty miles to a dealer here would hate to "limp" at 15 mph for 4 hours to get there. A pitiful site limping along the side of the road at crawl speed in my imagination.

Max 45 mph and max 4500 rpm in any gear. :doorag:

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

Limp mode is not a happy/pleasant feeling, specially starting out on a road trip. Happened to me once after the dps update, was about 40 miles from home.4 lane super highway and could only muster 40mph, guess better than stranded or tow vehicle. tried the key thingy as well to no avail. They claim it was a bad ground from my stereo and they would send me a bill. 1500 km plus , no issues and still no bill. If you get it kinda freaky but should not let you down. 2008 yellow, manual, and LOVING IT .

 

[NancysToy]

I have a bud who is here but must be slow to post .
Has the mew PE White one and at 200 it went into linp mode after throwing a dps light.

on the way to Mo it kept throwing the same light anf into limp mode sometime and others not. it would reset itself most of the time.

Seems to do this at in town speeds only and many times it is will making a 90 deg turn. No less then 6 deeler have worked on it and still it is doing it.
He picked it up yesterday from Gandbury beat the crap out of it on the way home to see it if would do it and noting until he pulled into the drive and dps light came on
he is getting furstated to me it seems like a lose connection they did find many thing not tightened and 4 bolts missing or never installed so wondering if something just is lose anyone have any ideas
Thanks Hess

Time to replace the steering sensor(s). BRP will likely authorize this quickly, if the dealer contacts their tech center.

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks Scotty

I sent him you answer

That is my best guess...sight unseen. Have him contact the tech center in Wausau for their advice. I suspect they will want to try this next, but they may have other cards up their sleeves.

 

[bjt]

My bike went into Limp Mode once and the engine was just limited to 4500 RPMs. I could do any speed that didn't require more than 4500 RPMs.

+1. Limp mode is an RPM limit, not necessisarily a speed limit. It just so happens that the speed of an RS Spyder in fifth gear at 4500 RPMs is about 40 or 45MPH. You can ride the Spyder in limp mode but you probably have to shift sooner than you normally would or you'll hit the limp mode RPM limit at every shift. I rode my Spyder about 25 miles to my dealer while in limp mode. All the back roads I took to the dealer happened to have a speed limit of 45MPH so all was mostly good. However, most of the drivers in my area drive 5 - 15 MPH over the posted speed on those same roads so I was getting passed regularly.

As to the feeling of limp mode, somehow that engine throttles back (not in a smooth way) and sputters down to 4500 RPMs. Its kind of disconcerting at first and would be very nerve racking if it happened while you are going 70 MPH on the expressway.

 

[horse171]

dreaded limp mode

1st "ride" on my 2010 rt.... have 4,600 city km on bike,but, was going on a 4-500 km ride. after about 80 km one of the other riders pulled over, so i stopped with him. When i started my bike it would only rev to 3500 rpm....top speed on flat area 60 km.any hills had to shift down into 1st to keep "crawling". Restarted 4-5 times .... no change ...big flashing "check engine" on screen. Phoned roadside assisance...waited 1 1/2 hrs. When he got there i started my bike and everything worked fine...drove back home with him following (no room in truck anyway for me and my passenger cause he had another bike and rider already in truck).Once i got back to town i stopped at gas station and when i went to restart....limp mode again only this time i had to drive 8 km with it shutting down at every light. Sunday now...dealer not open till tuesday.
Not a happy camper....have 4 day trip planned starting the 9th (hotels already booked).........sure hope they'l have it fixed @#^%#$

 

[spydee owner]

So --- lots of talk about going into "Limp Mode". Just exactly what happens if Nanny decides to do this. How fast will bike go. What happens if it does this while you are crusin about 65. Sixty miles to a dealer here would hate to "limp" at 15 mph for 4 hours to get there. A pitiful site limping along the side of the road at crawl speed in my imagination.

I know a person with a canam atv and it apparently has a limpmode as well. Is this a common thing with all BRP products? He also had a case where limp mode came on. He shutoff and restarted and the limpmode warning cleared.

 

[MouthPiece]

Hopefully I'll be accurate in my post. Limp mode and "nanny" are actually two separate things. Nanny or VSS is a feature that assists the rider when they have made too sharp of a turn or turn made too fast and one of the wheels wants to come off the ground. An example is when a person goes around a curve too fast and one of their front wheels comes off the ground. The "nanny" or VSS will kick in and have the engine cut back so as to reduce speed and allow the wheel to come down.

Limp mode is actually a feature designed to protect your spyder. It allows the individual to get back to their destination without harming the spyder. I guess there would be a caveat to what I just said, that being if your spyder went into limp mode and there was some kind of engine failure.

So now that I've tried to explain and have failed at being accurate, someone please chime in and correct.

Chris

 

[Bob Denman]

Hopefully I'll be accurate in my post. Limp mode and "nanny" are actually two separate things. Nanny or VSS is a feature that assists the rider when they have made too sharp of a turn or turn made too fast and one of the wheels wants to come off the ground. An example is when a person goes around a curve too fast and one of their front wheels comes off the ground. The "nanny" or VSS will kick in and have the engine cut back so as to reduce speed and allow the wheel to come down.

Limp mode is actually a feature designed to protect your spyder. It allows the individual to get back to their destination without harming the spyder. I guess there would be a caveat to what I just said, that being if your spyder went into limp mode and there was some kind of engine failure.

So now that I've tried to explain and have failed at being accurate, someone please chime in and correct.

Chris

You nailed it Chris! :thumbup: I actually had Nanny grab me by the errr..handlebars today! I squared off a corner at an intersection and felt the lean angles get a bit "interesting" :yikes: About that time I felt as if a plug wire was pulled and the inside wheel settled back down to the pavement. I was back on my merry way as if nothing had happened... Other than hoping that the LEO at the corner wasn't too interested in my shenanigans! pps:

 

[bloke]

one of the main reasons we see for limp mode is people riding the rear brake! if limp mode happens to you try this, pull over and stop, turn the bike off and REMOVE the key from the ignition, walk away from the bike for 30s seconds and take deep breaths, return to the bike and try again,

the deep breathing has nothing to do with the bike but it helps keeping you sane why you wonder what you were doing to set it off!

the nanny stuff is there to stop you hurting yourself, look at it this way if your bike keeps lapping your wrist for doing stuff then nanny probly saved your arse more than once lol

 

[Bob Denman]

There seems to be some different ways that the dreaded Limp Mode rears its ugly head... :shocked:
When my throttle bodies were giving me trouble; the bike would rattle, snort, spit and buck. Shut it off and try re-starting it and sometimes you'd get lucky and be on your way.
When the throttle position sensor stopped "sensoring" properly; it'd pull the plug on thw power and you 'd be coasting in about a heartbeat! :yikes:
There was no 4500 rpm anything...