My positive experience w/ my 2013 RT

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I just finished on Friday, 8/8, over 1700 miles to and from SITR. My RT purred like a kitten the whole time. Much of the travel was in 90° + temps. I had no significant heat problems at all. The only heat mod I've made is blocking off the upper air hole so my foot doesn't burn up when it's on the highway peg. My right foot hardly ever felt hot while on the regular peg as well. I don't recall ever seeing the engine temp gauge go above 4 bars, even when the ambient temp gauge showed 111° east of Redding, CA. I always filled up to the very top, and a few times even spilled gas I topped it off so high. Had very little gas fume problems and don't recall ever hearing the gas boiling when I opened the cap. I had some gas fumes in the garage after I got back, and that was with a nearly empty tank. I noticed gas fumes when I left the bike idling while checking out local scenery along the road. That was full tank, half tank, and close to empty tank. I agree with others that gas fumes are not caused by overfilling.

The Rotax engine runs quietest with a little load it seems. 4th gear at 61 mph on a slight uphill grade the engine was really quiet, quieter than when going down hill! Oregon has very few roads posted above 55 so I spent hours on hours in 4th gear.

Nanny works! :thumbup: I have the BajaRon sway bar. On curves that are posted at about 35 or higher, nanny kicked in at about 22 mph above the posted speed. On CA SR 3 going north off SR 36 there were a lot of tight curves, some posted as low as 15. I had nanny kicking in on many of those, and even managed to squeal a front tire twice! I would never have ridden my Goldwing around those corners that fast!

So, contrary to all the bad press here about the 2013s, my ride was pretty near perfect.

 

[AbNormy]

How many miles on it so far? Glad you're happy

 

[MouthPiece]

Other than the lower right hole which at times is like a blow torch, I have had the same experience with my 2013 RT-S. I have over 19,000 miles on mine. I'm guessing yours is a "13" RT when you said foot pegs. Your foot placement is a bit higher than where the foot is on the RT-S with floorboards. On the RT-S your foot is directly behind (or in front to some) the lower right hole.

As for all the other comments though, you're spot on. I'm absolutely thrilled with the way my "13" runs and handles, but my cup is always half full.

Chris

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad to hear that you're diggin' it! :2thumbs:

 

[Myron Ah]

I too have had no issues in hot weather with my ride. We went 200+ miles Saturday in 85+ temps. At one point we were in North Conway, N.H. in stop go traffic for 30-45 minutes. 4+ bars and fan ran often but no fumes or other issues. The Spyder had 400 miles on it and we have now put around 2000 miles on it. I run it in the 4000-5000 rpm range and 91 octane and get steady 31mpg. My Spyder highway pegs are good and I haven't blocked anything. I'm looking for some boards to add to the stock pegs which may mean fabricating but so what. Drivers back rest too. Happy trails.hyea:

 

[DJFaninTN]

Glad to hear another 13RT fellow camper happy with their machine!

 

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

i have a '13 rt-s & the heat is there but since it is covered it is not too bad , it is the gear i wear that is hot: jacket, gloves, pants
full face helmet & boots. Even still i love the bike & have no serious complaints that would make me squish it like a bug.

 

[Chupaca]

Great news..!!

good to hear from you all with the 13's that had no problems. I know there are many more out there. Left SITR and cut across on 63 to Red Bluff and know about the heat. I went all the way down the Grapevine (just north of LA) before it cooled down. Glad you made your journey safely and with no problems...:thumbup:

 

[outlawsix]

What kind of gas mileage did you get in the mountains?

 

[jerpinoy]

:congrats: I hope others will have the same good experience on their 2013's.

 

[ARtraveler]

Glad to see the positive posts about the 2013's. Will this thread receive as many posts as the 150 plus and 8000 plus looks as the fire thread? 8/11/14 AM.

 

[MouthPiece]

Glad to see the positive posts about the 2013's. Will this thread receive as many posts as the 150 plus and 8000 plus looks as the fire thread? 8/11/14 AM.

No, and mostly because people are more apt to post when they have a problem than otherwise.

​Chris

 

[Magdave]

Actually I love the way the Spyder runs. It is the best ride I have had and a few added mods have made it even better. I just do not like gas on the floor of my garage or smelling it at a stop light. I think about what would happen if someone flicked a cigarette butt under it.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

How many miles on it so far? Glad you're happy

Approaching 5700. It had 615 on it when I got it last winter.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

What kind of gas mileage did you get in the mountains?

Haven't had time to really figure it out. I do know that on at least three occasions I had gone right at 140 miles with one bar left and put in about 5.2 gallons. I'm using 91+ octane now. I went the first 3000 miles after getting the bike using 87 octane. After I get the next 3000 done with 91 I'll review all the data and see what, if any, difference it's made. Most of this trip was at 60 mph as all the two lanes in Oregon, and a lot of CA, have only 55 speed limits. That was probably a factor because I don't that good here around home where I drive 70 a lot, or in town.