Looking for some wheel alignment data & feed back?

[Triniman]

Hi all, I am looking for some wheel alignment feed back. Has any one been able to get a printout of their alignment? I know camber and caster are not adjustable on the spyder and ryker, but has anyone been able to look at it? How long does it take to do a laser alignment and what does it cost.

The second part of my feed back. How important do you think it would be if you got a printout of the before adjustment readings and the after adjustment readings? For those of you that are on this forum that do alignments, how important is it for you to be able to look at camber and caster readings while doing an alignment?

I am just trying to get some feed back.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Hi all, I am looking for some wheel alignment feed back. Has any one been able to get a printout of their alignment? I know camber and caster are not adjustable on the spyder and ryker, but has anyone been able to look at it? How long does it take to do a laser alignment and what does it cost.

The second part of my feed back. How important do you think it would be if you got a printout of the before adjustment readings and the after adjustment readings? For those of you that are on this forum that do alignments, how important is it for you to be able to look at camber and caster readings while doing an alignment?

I am just trying to get some feed back.

You are correct about the camber and caster ( non-adjustable ) .... all the people who do " lazer alignment " will / can tell you what they were and what they need to be .... on your Spyder ..... they don't GUESS about this they know what to set it for .... My RT took about 1/2 hr. .... COST - it varies from vendor to vendor ..... the Independants are way less the a Dealer would charge .... there is a LIST of who does them as Independants ..... Also I doubt Most dealers do LAZER alignments - it's not what BRP does ..... good luck ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Bartender]

I got my 2019 RTL aligned at LaMonster garage in Nixa, Mo. No readout available but they told me what it was and what changes they made. I don't care what anyone says, brand new from the factory or used, the Spyder will be an entirely different machine after a proper Lazer alignment. Money well spent. Before I was ready to admit I made a mistake buying the RT and after it was an amazing change and I plan to stay on Spyder's until I quit riding. Great machine, great adventure.

 

[Triniman]

I got my 2019 RTL aligned at LaMonster garage in Nixa, Mo. No readout available but they told me what it was and what changes they made. I don't care what anyone says, brand new from the factory or used, the Spyder will be an entirely different machine after a proper Lazer alignment. Money well spent. Before I was ready to admit I made a mistake buying the RT and after it was an amazing change and I plan to stay on Spyder's until I quit riding. Great machine, great adventure.

Let me make this very clear from up front, this topic is not to put down the Laser Alignment or the people that do them. I am just trying to get some feed back.

 

[Mikey]

I believe it is something that all dealers should do before they hand them over to us when we buy them, because the factory has way to much to do, to do it right before they crate it up!!!:yikes: All kidding aside, it's well worth the money to know it's right! Should you get a print out of the results, I don't think it's needed, your butt will tell you if it's right or turn around and tell them to try again!! Good luck!!

 

[justhere45102]

I had my 20 f3l down after bajaron sway bar and some elky 2 shocks. And it made a big difference was told it was 2 inches off.

 

[Lew L]

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My :spyder2: was delivered with the handle bars not centered even though the front wheels were aligned. Joe and Anne at Squared Away got it perfect and has been so for over 6 years. Had them check it about 4 years ago. I didn't need to...........

Lew L

 

[Triniman]

I had my 20 f3l down after bajaron sway bar and some elky 2 shocks. And it made a big difference was told it was 2 inches off.

The thing is, except for the sway bar, any changes you make to the suspension, you should get the vehicle aligned. Mikey, you are right, the dealer should be doing an alignment when they assemble the vehicle out of the crate. They should have a print out in the vehicle package so the buyer will have a record that it was done, and being told to find someone to align it because it is not right from the factory just is not right.
When I bought my 2021 F3L five months ago, my friends could not believe that I traded my Yamaha Raider for a Spyder. One of my friends who lives in Florida and is on his third Spyder told me, the first thing I need to do is find someone to align it. I was not pleased.

 

[Woodaddict]

BEEN on this forum for 4 yrs, you will find out the factory just gets them "close". nobody can give you a print out........the equipment is not linked to a computer. it would only be word of mouth or written down. its not like the car / truck alignment machines

 

[CopperSpyder]

Hi all, I am looking for some wheel alignment feed back. Has any one been able to get a printout of their alignment? I know camber and caster are not adjustable on the spyder and ryker, but has anyone been able to look at it? How long does it take to do a laser alignment and what does it cost.

The second part of my feed back. How important do you think it would be if you got a printout of the before adjustment readings and the after adjustment readings? For those of you that are on this forum that do alignments, how important is it for you to be able to look at camber and caster readings while doing an alignment?

I am just trying to get some feed back.

For some basic info on the laser system used by most dealers look at this. "click: http://www.spydercomfort.com/index.html

 

[PMK]

BEEN on this forum for 4 yrs, you will find out the factory just gets them "close". nobody can give you a print out........the equipment is not linked to a computer. it would only be word of mouth or written down. its not like the car / truck alignment machines

This is exactly true. The alignment equipment utilized by automotive or truck shops has a leveled rack that allows projecting forward to sensors that evaluate and provide the tech with info on what to adjust, and how much.

Spyders are much simpler. The ROLO laser equipment is portable. In simple terms, the light beams are projected onto metal scales or rulers. These rulers are not digital, and this is why a true print out is not available.

In regards to a Spyder requiring alignment by the dealer prior to delivery, I disagree. Number one reason is that newness needs to be settled. Sure, you could accomplish an alignment at delivery, but put 500 miles on the machine and once the suspension settles, your alignment will change.

 

[Eckhard]

From what I can tell all of the alignment systems used for Spyder alignment are basically the same as the system described in the following article.

http://www.lindsayroland.com/spyder/spyder-DIY-alignment.html

It is difficult to come up with printout based on such a primitive technology. Give me a laser tracker or a big Faro Arm and we I could come up with a printout. This equipment costs between 50 -100 K dollars and is linked to a PC.

 

[Adventurer]

One of my friends who lives in Florida and is on his third Spyder told me, the first thing I need to do is find someone to align it. I was not pleased.

My 2021 Spyder RTL is my first ever experience with a Spyder. All I read was how much better it would handle if I had it laser aligned. The Spyder is definitely different handling than a two wheeler but I thought my Spyder handled pretty well, even with only one hand on the bars at speeds of 75 and 80 mph. I even tried the one finger approach on the grips and it stilled seemed to handle pretty good, but I had no frame of reference so I continued to entertain laser alignment. Well somewhere, maybe on this forum and possibly Joe with Squared Away someone mentioned the 2020 and newer models didn’t need the alignment as much as the earlier models due to a change in length and geometry. So I’ve decided not to worry about alignment any more as long as mine handles like it does up to this point I’m quite happy.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I'd like to correct a misspelling that I see used on this forum. Laser is spelled with an 's', not 'z', even though it's easy to think it should be spelled lazer because that is the way it is pronounced. Laser is actually an acronym for "Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation". That sure is a mouthful, so let's just keep using laser!

 

[Pooch]

My 2021 Spyder RTL is my first ever experience with a Spyder. All I read was how much better it would handle if I had it laser aligned. The Spyder is definitely different handling than a two wheeler but I thought my Spyder handled pretty well, even with only one hand on the bars at speeds of 75 and 80 mph. I even tried the one finger approach on the grips and it stilled seemed to handle pretty good, but I had no frame of reference so I continued to entertain laser alignment. Well somewhere, maybe on this forum and possibly Joe with Squared Away someone mentioned the 2020 and newer models didn’t need the alignment as much as the earlier models due to a change in length and geometry. So I’ve decided not to worry about alignment any more as long as mine handles like it does up to this point I’m quite happy.

My 2021 RTL tracks and handles just fine as is. I did lower the front tire pressure from 20 to 18 and that has been the icing on the cake for me. Unless something changes I don’t plan on tweeking it otherwise. I am very happy with it so far. My motto: Don’t fix it if it aint broke.

 

[Triniman]

This is exactly true. The alignment equipment utilized by automotive or truck shops has a leveled rack that allows projecting forward to sensors that evaluate and provide the tech with info on what to adjust, and how much.

Spyders are much simpler. The ROLO laser equipment is portable. In simple terms, the light beams are projected onto metal scales or rulers. These rulers are not digital, and this is why a true print out is not available.

In regards to a Spyder requiring alignment by the dealer prior to delivery, I disagree. Number one reason is that newness needs to be settled. Sure, you could accomplish an alignment at delivery, but put 500 miles on the machine and once the suspension settles, your alignment will change.

Guys, thank you for the feed back. Don't freak out. How would you like to see a printout of a CanAm Spyder showing all the angles (Camber, Caster and Toe).

 

[BajaRon]

I had my 20 f3l down after bajaron sway bar and some elky 2 shocks. And it made a big difference was told it was 2 inches off.

It is important to put these numbers in perspective. I believe that the ROLO system projects the alignment laser beams out 8 feet. This is done specifically to greatly exaggerate the misalignment readings. Thus allowing them to make and extremely accurate adjustment. So, you were out 2" at 8 feet. But a much smaller amount at the wheels.

My 2021 RTL tracks and handles just fine as is. I did lower the front tire pressure from 20 to 18 and that has been the icing on the cake for me. Unless something changes I don’t plan on tweeking it otherwise. I am very happy with it so far. My motto: Don’t fix it if it aint broke.

Sometimes it's a simple matter of not knowing what you are missing. I find this to be very true with both the laser alignment and the sway bar upgrade, among other things.

 

[PMK]

Guys, thank you for the feed back. Don't freak out. How would you like to see a printout of a CanAm Spyder showing all the angles (Camber, Caster and Toe).

Since you did quote me, and asked. Are you capable and do you have the means to adapt a ROLO Laser setup to print various parameters. Even those not read / measured by the ROLO equipment.

I do have a ROLO Laser alignment equipment, BUDS, BUDS2, and more so I am able to measure all angles. I have made worksheets to utilize, however, since aligning Spyders is not my focus, the equipment pretty much sits not being used.Still though, what are you considering in regards to accomplishing printouts of alignments.

 

[jcthorne]

Hi all, I am looking for some wheel alignment feed back. Has any one been able to get a printout of their alignment? I know camber and caster are not adjustable on the spyder and ryker, but has anyone been able to look at it? How long does it take to do a laser alignment and what does it cost.

The second part of my feed back. How important do you think it would be if you got a printout of the before adjustment readings and the after adjustment readings? For those of you that are on this forum that do alignments, how important is it for you to be able to look at camber and caster readings while doing an alignment?

I am just trying to get some feed back.

We give every customer that gets an alignment a printout showing before and after measurements as well as a few of the measurements that went in to getting there.

 

[PMK]

We give every customer that gets an alignment a printout showing before and after measurements as well as a few of the measurements that went in to getting there.

Like mine, I suspect it is a completed worksheet, not a generated print out like the automotive equipment will do.