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Shimmying
- Thread starter Texas
- Start date
Bob Denman
New member
:shocked: Nope...
Does your bike tend to wander a bit?
Is it particularly sensitive to crosswinds?
I'd almost be willing to guess that you've got an alignment issue; if it is.
Does your bike tend to wander a bit?
Is it particularly sensitive to crosswinds?
I'd almost be willing to guess that you've got an alignment issue; if it is.
Texas
New member
No wandering. If I were to guess, it seems like the tires could be off balance just enough to cause this. Not enough to cause any handling issues, but enough to make the plastic up front from the console and windshield to shimmy a little.
Bob Denman
New member
Are you feeling anything through the bars? An unbalanced tire, should throw some "clues" at you.
Texas
New member
Nothing through the bars. The RT seems very solid and tracks well. No issues on the highway. I just see the plastic shaking (shimmying) a bit. That's why I wanted to see if this was normal. It happens on pretty smooth roads. Not being used to a three-wheeler, I don't know if this is just a common characteristic, or if it is something that could be resolved with an alignment/balancing. I will be going in to the dealer in the next month or so to get a laser alignment done. That might end up resolving it, but I just wanted to check with you guys to find out if this is common or not.
Bob Denman
New member
I had a front fender that liked to dance a bit...
It turned out that the mounting bolts had loosened up... :shocked:
Do you seen anything, that you can put a wrench to?
It turned out that the mounting bolts had loosened up... :shocked:
Do you seen anything, that you can put a wrench to?
Jeriatric
Thinks out loud
The windshield mounting system has a lot of play in it. Hold the upper edges and wiggle it. The fact that it is mounted between two tires that are indepedently reacting to varying road surface conditions will cause the windshield to shake.
On a side note. Because of this. DO NOT operate your spyder with the windshield in the all the way down position. It will crack the mounting arms, and they will eventually break. Run with the windshild at least 1/2" off the bottom stop.
On a side note. Because of this. DO NOT operate your spyder with the windshield in the all the way down position. It will crack the mounting arms, and they will eventually break. Run with the windshild at least 1/2" off the bottom stop.
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Texas
New member
No I don't. Sitting still, all seems very solid. Since I'm not hearing anyone quickly speak up to say "yeah, this is a common trait", then I'm going to chalk it up to being ever so slightly out of alignment. I'm sure it'll get resolved when I take it in to the dealer. Troy at Yamaha Funcenter has been very accommodating in letting me know that they'll do an laser alignment on it for me. I just wanted to get a few miles on it first to get the RT settled in first. I'm just over 1,000 miles on it now, so I'm going to take it in on a Saturday when the weather is good. Who knows, maybe even this weekend.
Texas
New member
Yeah, I noticed the windshield does have play fore/aft. I figured BRP must have engineered it this way to resolve the cracking issues that were being reported in previous years. I do alway run with it all the way down, but I'll lift it 1/2" like you said to eliminate any possible issues in the future. I would also like to find a nice "shorty" windshield to put on the RT. Not only do I think it would look better, but it provide a bit more airflow (which I would like) and there would be less wind pressure on the shield which has a two-fold effect: lesser issue of cracking and a slight increase in MPG due to less drag.
Texas
New member
For a regular sized shield, I like the stock shield. For me, its good to keep it around for those colder days in the winter when I don't want so much wind in my face; and to have it as a backup. I think Lamont got one for his, but I've yet to see any detail on it as to who makes it. I was thinking that one with a peak length of 12" would be about right. It would give it that "Streetglide" look.
USAFE7RET
New member
Not sure how to classify the term "shimmying", but mine has vibration in it and the headlight beam on the road in front of the bike bounces like crazy. It is fine at slow speeds, but here in Illinois, we have the worse roads of any state I've been in, and that is all of them! So I would chalk it up to being the 3 wheel configuration with the indepentently sprung front end having some effect, along with the wind and all. I've noticed that the further up I raise my windshield, the less it is "shimmying", but unless the spousal unit is along, I like to ride with it lowered. 
rcturner
New member
If you do a search, you will find lots of comments about this problem. I really think that most will do a very slight amount of bouncing. There is a lot going on between the road and the windshield mechanically. However, if it is significant and rebalance doesn't fix, it is time for tires.
Can-Am Poogs
New member
I agree it's not common
On my bike everything is tight. I never notice anything when moving that would lead me to believe there was something loose. So I agree with you, its not normal and should get checked out.
On my bike everything is tight. I never notice anything when moving that would lead me to believe there was something loose. So I agree with you, its not normal and should get checked out.
Bluehole
New member
Yes, I have the same issue. Did the Ron bar install yesterday and that seemed to help the problem. I DO feel small vibes thru the handlebars and I suspect that a laser alignment will take care of my issue. Going to get that done asap.
eagle
New member
shimmy
May of 2013, I bought a new 2012 RTS. My dash and windshield shook quite a lot. Played with tire pressure, re balance, nothing helped. I then found one front tire 3/8 inch out-of-round. Dealer replaced with new oem tire, helped quite a bit. These were Kenda tires. It still shook a little bit, so replaced both front tires with new Cooper tires. What a difference, smooth as can be, the best thing I ever did with the oem tires was to get rid of them
May of 2013, I bought a new 2012 RTS. My dash and windshield shook quite a lot. Played with tire pressure, re balance, nothing helped. I then found one front tire 3/8 inch out-of-round. Dealer replaced with new oem tire, helped quite a bit. These were Kenda tires. It still shook a little bit, so replaced both front tires with new Cooper tires. What a difference, smooth as can be, the best thing I ever did with the oem tires was to get rid of them
spyderbirds
New member
I cant say I agree with the windshield run at lowest point being the cause of the bracket breakage. I have seen this theory put out for discussion, but I have seen no conclusive results of that discussion... in fact anecdotal evidence seems to point against that theory.
I have 34,000 miles on 2010 RT with about 95% of those on the bottom stop, I have had no breakage and no signs of fatigue in the problem bracket. I think some are good brackets and some (the ones which have failed) were flawed from the get go. JMHO
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
Did you ever see a street sigh oscillate in the wind? Same principle applies to windshields. With the wind at an angle, or if they are a tiny bit assymetrical, they can twist a bit if there is any play or if they are quite long and flex. When they turn in response to the wind, they lose the iar and flop back the other way. It is actually quite common, but not very pronounced in most cases. If yours is this kind of thing, it will be worse at higher speeds, in certain winds, and with the windshield farther up. If changing these conditions reduces the problem, you likely can do nothing much about it.
Texas
New member
This is interesting. I went for a short ride today. Before I left, I lowered the pressure in the front tires. I was running 24psi (I know, a bit high, but I was trying to see how much I could increase MPG). I lowered them to 20psi. I did notice a difference at lower speeds, and while the wheels/fenders do not appear to fluctuate at all, the top half of the RT still shimmies. I also have a suspicion that it is in the wheels, even though the wheels do not appear to shimmy.
For those who don't know what shimmy means:
Shimmy - Abnormal vibration or wobbling, as of the wheels of an automobile.
MidTNDawg
New member
Thanks, to be honest,
I never thought about this, and I do run mine all the way down so I look over the top of the windshield. I will take the advice.
I never thought about this, and I do run mine all the way down so I look over the top of the windshield. I will take the advice.
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