Ride-on question

[wyliec]

I originally put in 9 oz. (front tires) and 13 oz. (rear) in 2009. In Jul. of last year I added more ride-on so that there is now 13 oz (fronts) and 18 oz. (rear). After adding ride-on I noticed a vibration from @55-62 mph whether it was in gears 3, 4, or 5. I'm not so sure it was the added ride-on b/c a few months before I had the belt tension reduced at the dealer.

It's possible that I just didn't notice the vibration after the belt adjustment b/c it's not that bad. Has anyone else found that they may have added just a bit to much ride-on and developed a small vibration.

I contacted Capt. Jim and he said the best way to determine if it is the belt that is causing a vibration is to take it up to between 55-62 mph (my vibration area) and hold it steady at one speed; if it is the belt the vibration should clear up.

Capt. Jim I hope I quoted you correctly. The problem is right now the bike is parked for the winter and I won't be getting it out for at least 2 months. I'm asking about the ride-on b/c although I would like to purchase the belt tensioner now and install while the spyder is parked for the winter, I'm hoping someone can tell me what may happen with a few oz. too much of ride-on.

 

[bone crusher]

I originally put in 9 oz. (front tires) and 13 oz. (rear) in 2009. In Jul. of last year I added more ride-on so that there is now 13 oz (fronts) and 18 oz. (rear). After adding ride-on I noticed a vibration from @55-62 mph whether it was in gears 3, 4, or 5. I'm not so sure it was the added ride-on b/c a few months before I had the belt tension reduced at the dealer.

It's possible that I just didn't notice the vibration after the belt adjustment b/c it's not that bad. Has anyone else found that they may have added just a bit to much ride-on and developed a small vibration.

I contacted Capt. Jim and he said the best way to determine if it is the belt that is causing a vibration is to take it up to between 55-62 mph (my vibration area) and hold it steady at one speed; if it is the belt the vibration should clear up.

Capt. Jim I hope I quoted you correctly. The problem is right now the bike is parked for the winter and I won't be getting it out for at least 2 months. I'm asking about the ride-on b/c although I would like to purchase the belt tensioner now and install while the spyder is parked for the winter, I'm hoping someone can tell me what may happen with a few oz. too much of ride-on.

I had 12 and 16 put in mine...I thought I had some vibration but I also had the RT shocks put in at the same time...duh? I have a much stiffer ride due to the shocks (good), and the bike feels looser at high speeds (new DPS)...bad feel!

I would've advised less Ride-On as I think the more you put in, the more movement of the stuff you are going to have...sure, in a perfect world (and tire), it will coat evenly...however, who's to say our rims are perfect? I think there were some here who had some rim issues and the Ride-On just made it worse.

Anyway, 13/18 is on the upper end, but that's what Lamont and others have used...likely not too much...you should be fine...

If you are going to adjust anything, you should ride the bike for 10-15 minutes to recirculate the Ride-On...it will settle over the winter...

 

[capt.jim]

I had a vibration around that speed with my Kenda's that i could never get rid of, even with Ride-On, a set of michelins fixed that. You should have noticed the vibration from the lower belt tension setting right away, the belt will vibrate while accelerating under a load or if you roll on the throttle after cruising at a steady speed you will feel it until your speed evens out. If your cruising at a steady speed like 60 and it's your front tires out of balance you should feel it in the handlebars, and you will see it in the front fenders and the mirrors, at least i did. I would ride it for a while and let the tires get hot and let the ride-on get distributed back where it's supposed to be and try to isolate whether it's coming from the front or back. As all spyders don't react the same to changes made, it might not be your belt vibrating, you would have noticed it right away after leaving the dealer most likely.

 

[SpyderWolf]

:agree: There is a big difference between a vibration in the foot pegs area, and one in the handlebars. In my experience, the belt vibration can usually be felt very well in the foot pegs, but not the handlebars.

 

[bone crusher]

I had a vibration around that speed with my Kenda's that i could never get rid of, even with Ride-On, a set of michelins fixed that. You should have noticed the vibration from the lower belt tension setting right away, the belt will vibrate while accelerating under a load or if you roll on the throttle after cruising at a steady speed you will feel it until your speed evens out. If your cruising at a steady speed like 60 and it's your front tires out of balance you should feel it in the handlebars, and you will see it in the front fenders and the mirrors, at least i did. I would ride it for a while and let the tires get hot and let the ride-on get distributed back where it's supposed to be and try to isolate whether it's coming from the front or back. As all spyders don't react the same to changes made, it might not be your belt vibrating, you would have noticed it right away after leaving the dealer most likely.

The handlebars always vibrate on this bike...argh! Always have, always will...I think they changed something stability-wise with the new RSs so that it vibrates less. Never saw anything in the fenders...

My vibration occurs around 68mph...above and below I'm good..

 

[MMcc]

Vibration

Just had a new brake rotor installed last Tuesday. Prior to that when the belt was set to a lower tension I got a lot of foot peg vibrations. I purchased the belt tensioner from Capt Jim and installed it. Vibrations went away. After the new rotor was installed the vibrations are back.:gaah: Of course the dealer tech said that he had to release the tensioner setting when he did the work. Now I am trying to get everything back in adjustment, Vibrations in pegs and handlebars, do not notice anything in front fenders. Spoke to tech about ride-on and he felt that the vibrations were not from the wheels but from belt. 62-67 MPH is worst, smooths out after 70 but comes back when accelerating especially when passing semi's on freeway.

 

[bone crusher]

Just had a new brake rotor installed last Tuesday. Prior to that when the belt was set to a lower tension I got a lot of foot peg vibrations. I purchased the belt tensioner from Capt Jim and installed it. Vibrations went away. After the new rotor was installed the vibrations are back.:gaah: Of course the dealer tech said that he had to release the tensioner setting when he did the work. Now I am trying to get everything back in adjustment, Vibrations in pegs and handlebars, do not notice anything in front fenders. Spoke to tech about ride-on and he felt that the vibrations were not from the wheels but from belt. 62-67 MPH is worst, smooths out after 70 but comes back when accelerating especially when passing semi's on freeway.

Yup...that upper 60s range is where it hits me...I really don't mind...it's part of the bike...no biggie...

 

[capt.jim]

Just had a new brake rotor installed last Tuesday. Prior to that when the belt was set to a lower tension I got a lot of foot peg vibrations. I purchased the belt tensioner from Capt Jim and installed it. Vibrations went away. After the new rotor was installed the vibrations are back.:gaah: Of course the dealer tech said that he had to release the tensioner setting when he did the work. Now I am trying to get everything back in adjustment, Vibrations in pegs and handlebars, do not notice anything in front fenders. Spoke to tech about ride-on and he felt that the vibrations were not from the wheels but from belt. 62-67 MPH is worst, smooths out after 70 but comes back when accelerating especially when passing semi's on freeway.

It helps to have an inexpensive digital fish weighing scale or something similar you can pull down on to measure the tension, mine is at 10lbs. with the pulley just starting to contact the belt. I would turn the tensioner housing counter clockwise about 1/4 of an inch and try it again, mine still had some vibration at 8lbs. You can also mark the tensioner and bracket with something to see how far you're moving the tensioner or for future reference, of course if you're removing the rear wheel assembly, you may have to adjust it again.One of the reasons i chose this tensioner is that you can adjust it in small amounts, as needed, where most adjust at 10, 20 or 30 lbs, but not in small increments. I don't know why you have vibes in the handlebars. I lowered my belt tension many miles ago, before the service bulletin, when i installed a new tire and bearings, drove my crazy, took the ride-on out, rebalanced the tire, took out all the bearings and looked at everything twice, just belt vibration.