Power & Performance for the RT

[westgl]

I am a little surprised after taking an RT-S out for a test ride.

I took the RT-S for a test ride with almost a full tank of gas.

My wife and I rode the RT around town a little and it was fine, it seemed torquey, but when I went into the mountains I was concerned.

The RT-S performance was not that good, I immediately thought oh great with two up this has a lot less performance than my Goldwing, and I don't even have the trailer hooked up & loaded and the RT loaded yet and it already feels doggy.

The Rotax v990 motorcycle Motor (not the one in either of the Spyder's) that BRP sells, makes 139-h.p. and has a 6 speed trans.

Just having the 6-speed trans would help, but 139 h.p. I wonder what the torque rating is.

I know that the RT's H.p. is 100-h.p. & 80 lbs/ft of torque

The 1125cc Rotax motor should have been made available as an upgrade it produces 146 h.p. and I'am sure much more torque for the heavier RT.

It was a little lacking.

The problem is sometimes, almost always, the MFR's try to over safety the machine to the point of reducing the machine to a lack luster less than it can be vehicle.

The RS that I test rode was Much better in every way performance wise than the RT.

The RT was more Snail like,

Another note, the power steering seemed over-boosted.

JMO

Westgl

 

[SpyderWolf]

I am just curious as to what rpms you were turning during your test ride? The Rotax motor is actually a high rev motor, and if you were riding it the same way you ride your Goldwing then your evaluation makes perfect sense. The RS is also geared more for sport, so there is a definite difference between the two models.

 

[glynnk]

Two different bikes (RS, RT) for two different kind of riders.....

Glynnk

 

[westgl]

Performance is OK, Not great

Hi SpyderWolf,

I was told by the dealer to rev the engine and to keep the rpm's above 4500-rpm otherwise your lugging it.

I was a throttle monkey taking it to near redline, while passing and trying to keep the revs's in the 5k + zone.

Another thing I noticed on the test ride, it seemed to use a lot of gas, it went through 3/4 of a tank during the test drive. I did not go very far.

Thanks

Westgl

 

[widowmaker2011]

I am a little surprised after taking an RT-S out for a test ride.

I took the RT-S for a test ride with almost a full tank of gas.

My wife and I rode the RT around town a little and it was fine, it seemed torquey, but when I went into the mountains I was concerned.

The RT-S performance was not that good, I immediately thought oh great with two up this has a lot less performance than my Goldwing, and I don't even have the trailer hooked up & loaded and the RT loaded yet and it already feels doggy.

The Rotax v990 motorcycle Motor (not the one in either of the Spyder's) that BRP sells, makes 139-h.p. and has a 6 speed trans.

Just having the 6-speed trans would help, but 139 h.p. I wonder what the torque rating is.

I know that the RT's H.p. is 100-h.p. & 80 lbs/ft of torque

The 1125cc Rotax motor should have been made available as an upgrade it produces 146 h.p. and I'am sure much more torque for the heavier RT.

It was a little lacking.

The problem is sometimes, almost always, the MFR's try to over safety the machine to the point of reducing the machine to a lack luster less than it can be vehicle.

The RS that I test rode was Much better in every way performance wise than the RT.

The RT was more Snail like,

Another note, the power steering seemed over-boosted.

JMO

Westgl

The torque numbers on the 1125r and the 990 are virtually identical at ~ 80 ft/lbs. The 1125r motor has 30 plus more HP , but the torque is going to be more noticeable so it isn't as big a difference as you may think. Additionally the 1125r motor is exclusively licensed to Harley (even though Buell is no longer a mass manufacturer , they are still building race bikes with the 1125r motor for race teams in 2010). That motor was specifically designed for them by Rotax and is designed to provide power characteristics far different than what a touring bike would use, not to mention it was designed with a torque curve matched to a sub 400 pound machine. Keep the revs up and the RT pulls and runs great. For comparison it has as much HP as my V4 1300cc Yamaha Royal Star Venture, although the Yamaha has slightly more torque. The Yamaha is no lightweight either. The power of the RT is right on par for the segment, for 1800cc 6 cylinder power you will need to wait a year or so....:sour:

 

[SpyderWolf]

Hi SpyderWolf,

I was told by the dealer to rev the engine and to keep the rpm's above 4500-rpm otherwise your lugging it.

I was a throttle monkey taking it to near redline, while passing and trying to keep the revs's in the 5k + zone.

Another thing I noticed on the test ride, it seemed to use a lot of gas, it went through 3/4 of a tank during the test drive. I did not go very far.

Thanks

Westgl

Glad to hear the dealer told you about keeping the rpms up. The Spyder is definitely not a vehicle you can expect to get 50 miles per gallon on.

 

[westgl]

Power & performance

It would have been nice to see that 1125cc motor redone for the RT

bored and/or stroked to 1200cc-1400cc recamed for torque and put the 6th gear in the trans. to drop the rpm's at 65mph to get a little better gas

It would have also been nice to see a aluminum frame to keep some of that weight down on the RT.

Oh well I guess I have to wait for a turbo option to become available.

Westgl

 

[SpyderWolf]

There is a group that posts on another site that is actually working on the turbo for this engine right now.

 

[widowmaker2011]

It would have been nice to see that 1125cc motor redone for the RT

bored and/or stroked to 1200cc-1400cc recamed for torque and put the 6th gear in the trans. to drop the rpm's at 65mph to get a little better gas

It would have also been nice to see a aluminum frame to keep some of that weight down on the RT.

Oh well I guess I have to wait for a turbo option to become available.

Westgl

With regards to 6 speed, That won't happen. The reason we have a 5 speed is reverse resides in the spot 6th gear would be. The cases are designed to fit 6 gears and until we get a electric reverse (aka Goldwing) then we are stuck with 5 speeds if BRP utilizes an off the shelf bike motor (which our 990 is ... a detuned v990 out of the Aprillia road racer.)
Expect a whole new motor for the RT in 18-24 months not based on the 990 or 1125.

 

[westgl]

power & performance

A friend of mine has a Yamaha V-MAX motor in good shape, which is a V4 cylinder 1200cc 145H.P. that should be enough to move it out.

Only problem is back to a 5 speed no reverse, well i guess that's when the wife comes in handy (as i look over my shoulder)

I guess I 'll have to sleep with my eye's open again, or she 'll just kill me while i sleep.

Westgl

 

[spyderman526]

will the 1125 motor fit in place of our 998 motor i looked at one tonight it has the sam exhaust flange n side covers or very close to the same n the belt comes out on the same side looks like a bolt in you would need custom tuning but then u add a turbo kit oh snap prob 200 hp the turbo make the 998 140 to 150 hp @6lbs boost put that kit on a 1125 motor and u got a rocketship

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm really not meaning to pee in your cereal this morning, but you've compared the power of the RT to that of a GoldWing... One has been on the market for only 3 years now, and the other is the most developed and perfected horizon-chaser on the planet... sold here since 1975!!
Give BRP a little time and they'll get things worked out... :thumbup:

 

[spyderrock]

need more power!!!

there is a turbo kit available for the Sypder, Aerocharger.com has a kit available direct bolt on will add up to 146hp and loads of torque. It is not a nice looking kit but if you like to go fast who cares know one will see it on the bike. It is also very expensive at around 5700.00 dollars :yikes:

 

[Bob Denman]

Talk to Doc about the "hairdryers"...