New 2012 RT-S Owner - Which Wheels? Tune-up Suggestions?

[SixDemonBag]

Hello All,

After lurking for some time I'm now a member and proud first time Spyder owner! I recently purchased a used 2012 Spyder RT-S with the semi-auto trans and only 14,000 miles. The guy I bought it from hadn't changed the oil in it for over a year so before riding it home I changed the oil and both filters in his driveway. Afterwards I made the 150 mile ride back home with zero issues. Seemed to ride and shift nicely and I'm very pleased with the purchase.

I know it needs new tires and I also bought a new air filter that I still need to install. The curious thing is this RT comes with an a second set of wheels and even a second rear sprocket. The curious part is the wheels on the RT are 14" and the second set are 15" wheels so I'm not sure which size wheels I should mount the new tires on as the operators manual makes it sound like it could use either 14 or 15 inch wheels.

Any suggestions on which wheel size would be recommended? Any other tune-up/upgrade suggestions for a 10 year old RT? Thank you in advance for any other advice you can provide as I'm looking to get it back up to par with any outstanding maintenance procedures. Aftermarket recommendations are welcomed!

Thanks!

 

[JKMSPYDER]

Not sure if the 15” wheels will fit since they were introduced in 2013 with the new Brembo brakes. Also I would suggest changing the anti-freeze and brake fluid if that has not been done in the last two years.

 

[2dogs]

Do a vin check with a BRP dealer and see if there are any maintenance records available. Get an owner's manual for the 12 RT and it should contain all you need to know about ownership. Anything else you need to know to be a happy RT owner, just stop by here and ask. There's a boat load of folks here ready and willing to help.

 

[Peter Aawen]

The 15" rims should fit OK - the reason the rim size increased in 2013 was to allow the larger Brembo Brake calipers & discs to fit; and the earlier style fenders that came on the Spyders with 14" rims remained standard on the base spec Spyders from 2013 on anyway.... so all you should really need to consider is which tire & tire size to run. In that respect, I'd suggest going for a/mkt auto tires & run them at an appropriate (lower) pressure for the (lower) load imposed upon them - any one of the quality brands used by many & recommended here on the Forum should work in a 165/60R15 or similar size. There's lotsa info on tires & tire brand/tread pattern choices here if you look/search, and on which sizes are more readily available than the (I can only assume deliberately ) oddball & rare/difficult to find OE Spec sizes. :thumbup:

As for 'tune-up' suggestions, others have already posted some good info/suggestions, and getting that user manual & read up on the service & maintenance schedule to make sure that anything missed gets covered is a great idea!! One thing you might really want to consider carefully is whether you actually do the valve setting task - it's pretty expensive & rarely needed if you pay for it, and quite a task if you do it yourself, with few ever finding it needs any adjustments... but how hard are you going to ride this thing & how much do you feel the need to follow the clearly over-zealous schedule?? :dontknow:

Oh, and while you won't get any real performance gains by doing this, tossing the OE muffler & catalytic converter will lose a bunch of weight & a heap of needlessly generated heat.... . Lamonster Garage, the owner of this Forum too, has a few cat delete & muffler options; and there's also a Forum sponsor RLS Exhausts with quite a range to suit - so if you're after better sound, lower weight, and less heat generated, you know what to do & who to talk to! :thumbup:


Welcome to the Forum & the Miles of Smiles Spyder Ryding can bring! hyea:

 

[CopperSpyder]

Whatever wheel you like best; (14 or 15 inch) you can run either size. I had 14 inch wheels on my 2012 and changed them to 15 inch wheels because I liked the look better.

Get some tires, then run the bike the way it is until you get use to it say about 1000 to 2000 mile before you make changes. Maybe swaybar or shocks, look around the forum when you have free time. :congrats: on the new to you Spyder RT, enjoy the Ride!! :2thumbs:

 

[LouW]

I bought a 2012 last year with 19,000 miles. Late last summer I replaced the plugs and wires with an upgraded set from Baharon. It runs a lot smoother.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

The 15" rims should fit OK - the reason the rim size increased in 2013 was to allow the larger Brembo Brake calipers & discs to fit; and the earlier style fenders that came on the Spyders with 14" rims remained standard on the base spec Spyders from 2013 on anyway.... so all you should really need to consider is which tire & tire size to run. In that respect, I'd suggest going for a/mkt auto tires & run them at an appropriate (lower) pressure for the (lower) load imposed upon them - any one of the quality brands used by many & recommended here on the Forum should work in a 165/60R15 or similar size. There's lotsa info on tires & tire brand/tread pattern choices here if you look/search, and on which sizes are more readily available than the (I can only assume deliberately ) oddball & rare/difficult to find OE Spec sizes. :thumbup:

As for 'tune-up' suggestions, others have already posted some good info/suggestions, and getting that user manual & read up on the service & maintenance schedule to make sure that anything missed gets covered is a great idea!! One thing you might really want to consider carefully is whether you actually do the valve setting task - it's pretty expensive & rarely needed if you pay for it, and quite a task if you do it yourself, with few ever finding it needs any adjustments... but how hard are you going to ride this thing & how much do you feel the need to follow the clearly over-zealous schedule?? :dontknow:

Oh, and while you won't get any real performance gains by doing this, tossing the OE muffler & catalytic converter will lose a bunch of weight & a heap of needlessly generated heat.... . Lamonster Garage, the owner of this Forum too, has a few cat delete & muffler options; and there's also a Forum sponsor RLS Exhausts with quite a range to suit - so if you're after better sound, lower weight, and less heat generated, you know what to do & who to talk to! :thumbup:


Welcome to the Forum & the Miles of Smiles Spyder Ryding can bring! hyea:

:agree: .... I think it's easier to find 15" tires that will fit as opposed to the 14 " .... I fairly sure Vredestein is still making 14" tires that are the best now available ...... good luck .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[crtsteve55]

Welcome to the Spyder world!