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newbie with RPM question

jerryc

New member
Hey, just picked up the wife's new RS last week and I got to ride it home. Sure is fun, makes me look at my Harley and go hmmm. Anyway when riding it home going about 70 mph the RPMs were above 5000. Is this normal or should I have it checked out. It's also getting half the gas mileage of my Harley. Is there something I'm missing. Thanks in advance.
 
Hey, just picked up the wife's new RS last week and I got to ride it home. Sure is fun, makes me look at my Harley and go hmmm. Anyway when riding it home going about 70 mph the RPMs were above 5000. Is this normal or should I have it checked out. It's also getting half the gas mileage of my Harley. Is there something I'm missing. Thanks in advance.

Perfectly normal-- the Rotax is a high-revving engine, and the RS gearing is higher than the RT. You get most of your power above 4500 RPM, well on up towards redline.

Gas mileage is roughly 30 mpg, sometimes more, sometimes less. Alas, you're not going to get 2-wheeler MPG with 3-wheels touching the road. Your mileage will also improve over time as the engine is broken in.
 
NEWBIE

welcome aboard, now the fun begins...:roflblack::yes::yes:...Mike....yes , this engine likes to rev...so it won't mind going along at 6000 all day long......but you might haha .....the typical G/S R/S averages 33 to 35 mpg....depending on how you ride it....I am very conservative and avg. 37 MPG with a touring windshield but I'm veeeeery different from most....I rarely go above 5000 rpm's....Have fun.......Mike.....:thumbup:
 
Welcome to the Spyder-Hood - OMG! A Harley guy ryde'n a Spyder? Say it aint so???

Just kid'n ya, Welcome to the BEST:firstplace: forum on the WWW for Everything Spyder related. You have alot of homework & fun ahead of you. 1st, its a Spyder, NOT A TRADITIONAL MOTORCYCLE :lecturef_smilie: 2nd, its a Rotax Engine, designed for HIGH RPMs, everything you experienced is normal. Shift points are usualltly between 4200 & 5000 for better economy, around 5000+ to really get into the Spyders PowerBand & put a Sh*t eat'n grin on yur mug that will hurt SO GOOD :yes::yes::yes:
:clap::congrats::welcome:
 
Welcome to Spyderlovers...

...we rode about 200 miles today and my RPM was never above 5000; but we were riding backroads, doing between 55 and 60. We don't like riding the expressways much. Find keeping under 5000 helps with the gas mileage too. Have fun and hope we can "convert" you.
 
Still on my Harley

It's the wife's spyder. She only let me ride it once. She asked me to see if there is a more comfortable seat. I already put a riser on the handle bars and that helped a lot, but she said the seat isn't very comfortable.
 
Hey, just picked up the wife's new RS last week and I got to ride it home. Sure is fun, makes me look at my Harley and go hmmm. Anyway when riding it home going about 70 mph the RPMs were above 5000. Is this normal or should I have it checked out. It's also getting half the gas mileage of my Harley. Is there something I'm missing. Thanks in advance
.

5000 at 70, Normal, Haif the gas mileage of a Harley, Is your Harley an 883.?
My Tri,[103] Gets any where from 31 to 37, Just about what my Spyder got.
 
Try an Air Hawk cushion...

...they are a LOT cheaper than a new seat. I got mine today, rode 200+ miles and didn't have a sore bottom at all. They also offer a 60 day triakl period, so if she doesn't like it, she can send it back for a full refund. Mine cost less than $200 and shipping was free. Ordered it yesterday about 2:00 p.m.; it arrived this morning about 10:00 a.m.
 
It's the wife's spyder. She only let me ride it once. She asked me to see if there is a more comfortable seat. I already put a riser on the handle bars and that helped a lot, but she said the seat isn't very comfortable.


I was actually wondering myself about the handle bar riser. Trying to decide if I want to get a riser myself.
 
The Rotax is designed to spin, as others have said. The harder you ride it the better it likes it. It takes some getting used to, especially coming off a Harley.

Riding it the way it is designed is better than lugging it to get a few more miles per gallon. The engine will last longer and run better too!

Congratulations on your new toy!
 
hey lifesaver

welcome aboard, and yes a riser is a very good idea, unless you like the sportbike riding position. there are many different styles and sizes and price ranges. read lots before you decide. there are also universal types and even snowmobile riser that will work. it pays big to do your research. have fun with it:thumbup:
 
Seat question & other advice

I knew I wanted Teddy's Spyder for long distance comfort so thats why we went to the top (RT-S) from the beginning. Many are stunned by the price difference & opt for the cheaper RS model (NO OFFENSE MEANT TO ANYONE:shocked:) to start with, and then try to get the comfort where they like it, but often spend thousands on mod after mod to either be Happy :clap:or they trade up. All depends on what you like, and what you want your Spyder to do:dontknow:

So, on that note, BRP does offer a Comfort Seat for the RS model. I can't tell ya anything about it from personal experience, but I've read a few threads about owners switching & being very happy with their decision.

Close to the top, right hand side of this screen, you will find a search box with a little magnifying glass next to it, that will be a very good source for you to get accustomed with here on this site. I know it has provided many answers to my questions over the past few years here.

Good luck & in case no-one else told you, you do realize that your purchase price for the Spyder was just the down-payment on all the Mods that your gonna be making to truly make your Spyder your (her) own, right?

Oh wait, I forgot, your from the Harely side of the tracks, so you already know ALL ABOUT THAT, right? :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

Sorry, I'm really not an azz, just loaded on pain meds right now from back surgery & I read a Harley trashing Spyder thread ealier in the day, and well, this has been the result :lecturef_smilie::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: I need Help :shocked:nojoke
 
Welcome to our world. As has been said, and as you have learned, this is a higher rpm engine than what you are used to. Seventy-five (indicated) on the freeway is 5200 rpm in fifth gear with stock tires on an RT, and about the same on an RS.
 
RPM's

The Spyder does not have the much needed 6th gear due to having a reverse so it revs way more than needed at highway speeds, I put a 30 tooth front sprocket on which made a great difference, the bike is much more relaxed and pleasant to ride. Very few people here seem to realize the benefit of saving millions of revolutions on the engine over its lifetime, since the 30 tooth sprockets are no longer made, I am hoping mine will last many miles. Just tolerate the over-reving, thats about all you can do...good luck


Hey, just picked up the wife's new RS last week and I got to ride it home. Sure is fun, makes me look at my Harley and go hmmm. Anyway when riding it home going about 70 mph the RPMs were above 5000. Is this normal or should I have it checked out. It's also getting half the gas mileage of my Harley. Is there something I'm missing. Thanks in advance.
 
:welcome: Above posts have all given good advice. Recommend you put a 1000 miles or so before farkleing up the :spyder2:. You will then see what you like and what you don't.

Get back to us for suggestions when you decide how you want to personalize it.
 
I just figured out my MPG yesterday, I'm getting 24.2 MPG so if your getting less than the 30+ MPG some of these guys are posting, your not alone. :sour:

That is running 93 octane with an HMF pipe and a performance air filter. :dontknow:
 
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