Ryker "Down Shifting" while engine braking

[Foust]

Mine does this same thing. It feels just like if you would drop a gear in a manual and just let the clutch out. In my case it has only done it to me on a flat road, not up or down hill. My wife and I each have one, and she has not said hers has done it. She would not hesitate to do so.

Mine also engine brakes enough that I don't have to use the brakes much at all. So much so that I'm afraid someone might rear end me cause I'm not lighting up the brake lights, so I'm on the brake anyway just to let the guy behind me know I'm slowing down.

 

[Ddorand]

@foust - same exact here. flat ground and my ryker will slow down fast without brakes and come to a complete stop if i have the room. normally i brake to stop around 4mph

Dave

 

[Greven]

Just a reflection from my side. When my Ryker was brand new last autumn, I noticed this behaviour several times when engine braking to a stop at around 10-20 MPH at flat ground.
I've driven around 2000 miles this summer, and only noticed it once in the beginning of the summer. So I have a slight hope that it is just a breaking in period required.
Hopefully BRP/dealers will come back with some more info. I follow this thread with great interest

 

[Rob Rodriguez]

About 8500 miles on my Ryker and it still does this and has since day one. I'm not sure why but my opinion is........Its a secondary clutch tuning issue and my first thought is the clutch backshifting which I believe would primarily be controlled by the helix (ramp cut) and secondary by the spring. It would seem to me that the when this happens the secondary clutch is not backshifting fast enough to match the primary clutch change in RPM. This leaves the secondary clutch partially open (based on RPM) and allows the belt to "jump". When the RPM between the primary and secondary clutch match up better the belt tightens up but then the secondary RPM doesn't match the primary RPM (it keeps falling on slowing down) and the it allows the belt to "jump" again. This keeps happening until the primary clutch reaches disengagement RPM of the ROM of the 2 clutches matches up better.

I've noticed if I keep my RPM about 3500-4000 while slowing down the problem goes away. However, to do this I have to apply the brakes while twisting the throttle to keep the RPM up. Just before I need to stop I completely let off the throttle and apply the brakes harder to stop. Essentially though I have to ride the brake while applying power for this to work and I don't like that.

 

[Greven]

Rob, that's Interesting. Thanks for the explanation, I must admit I have poor knowledge of the actual details of how the CVT works and can be tuned
I might experience less of the "down shifting" now compared to when I just got the bike, simply because my driving behaviour has changed slighly over time as I've gotten used to the bike.

 

[Ddorand]

https://youtu.be/P6SMzv-u9C4

 

[aregg]

I assume no one has any further news about resolution of this annoying problem.

 

[BajaRon]

I assume no one has any further news about resolution of this annoying problem.

A bit odd that this has not yet been resolved. Or, maybe it has and just not reported. But it has to be something in the variable clutch assembly that is hanging up and forcing these abrupt gearing changes. I would guess that they may need to replace one or both of the clutches.

 

[aregg]

Has anyone else had this issue and was lucky enough to have had it corrected? I am getting extremely upset over the whole damn issue.

One dealer I talked to said it is normal and nature of the beast, which is the common bull**** excuse given.

To another I sent a video, but was confronted with "Didn't have the time to watch you need to bring it in."

Worst P.O.S. I have ever owned.

 

[aregg]

Final update on the CVT issue. After sending the video of what was happening to my Ryker 900 Rally to three different dealers I finally ended with Tri County Powersports. They actually bothered to watch the video and discuss the issue within the dealership. So I took it to them six weeks ago.
After almost three weeks they called me saying that they are having issues getting any feedback or decision from BRP and asked if I wanted the bike back while they waited for responses. I said no, keep it till you fix it. Finally they got a response, ordered a complete CVT transmission, replaced mine I got the back yesterday.
Today I took it to the worst areas around our home and absolutely no issues.

 

[Possible]

Sounds like a dealer to hang on to. Good deal.

 

[BajaRon]

Final update on the CVT issue. After sending the video of what was happening to my Ryker 900 Rally to three different dealers I finally ended with Tri County Powersports. They actually bothered to watch the video and discuss the issue within the dealership. So I took it to them six weeks ago.
After almost three weeks they called me saying that they are having issues getting any feedback or decision from BRP and asked if I wanted the bike back while they waited for responses. I said no, keep it till you fix it. Finally they got a response, ordered a complete CVT transmission, replaced mine I got the back yesterday.
Today I took it to the worst areas around our home and absolutely no issues.

Kudos for hanging in there and getting this done. You wouldn't take 'NO' for an answer and you didn't swallow their BS.

I am embarrassed for BRP and the dealerships which made this such a bear for you. Shame on them! But like most things in this life. If you want it done right, you have to dig in and scrap for it. You found a good dealership (awesome!). And they got it done for you. Tell them Thank You ! for all of us!

Anytime I hear the phrase; 'They all do that', it makes me cringe. I wonder how many walk away thinking this is true and living with the issue. That is very sad.

I've always said, the Spyder (and now the Ryker) set up properly are one of the finest rides you'll ever own. But if they are not right, they can be one of the worst. I hope you get many thousands of miles of smiles from your 'Fixed Right' (NO! They don't all do that) ride!