SpyderAnn01
Active member
TricLED does Laser alignments in your area. Their contact information can be found on the home page under supporting vendors.
-
There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.
Stability on the Highway
- Thread starter Jeffmal
- Start date
TricLED does Laser alignments in your area. Their contact information can be found on the home page under supporting vendors.
Jeffmal
New member
Thanks sooo much!
Just got off the phone with Reggie and he is going to have his tech call me to set appt...
I will try this first and let everyone know how it works out!
Thanks to all..Jeff
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
It looks like you have found someone good to do the alignment. I think that may go a long way in solving your issue. :yes::yes:
My 2014 RTL has been fine, alignment-wise, since I bought it new. Now with almost 12K (yes, Ann, I did ryde it to Tombstone...!). I'm just saying this because my personal experience with a new Spyder has been great so far. Maybe it depends on the delivering dealer?
Easy Rider
New member
Since nobody else did..............
I gotta ask: How long have you had the Spyder and how many miles in the seat ??
As time goes along, situations that I was SURE would kill me or give me heart failure a few weeks ago now don't bother me at all.
And that is with spending ZERO dollars on "fixing" anything.
I gotta ask: How long have you had the Spyder and how many miles in the seat ??
As time goes along, situations that I was SURE would kill me or give me heart failure a few weeks ago now don't bother me at all.
And that is with spending ZERO dollars on "fixing" anything.
Jeffmal
New member
I know you are correct as I only have it for about a month and around 300 miles.
I know I will get a lot more comfortable as I log the miles. It's just a really strange feeling of tracking back and forth over 60mph.
I have a feeling the laser alignment will make me feel a whole lot better!
I will let everyone know as I hope to get it done within a week.
Thanks for all the input and support!!
bushrat
New member
There's a reason I took these excerpts from your longer comment. One, you are very early days, as yet, in getting to know your Spyder. Before rushing out to spend a lot of money chasing 'issues' which may or may not be there, give yourself a bit more time to become better acquainted. You are just learning your machine, and it is just breaking in; both of you will improve.
Two, I do agree with much of the advice above. First, look your front tires over closely to see if there are any obvious imperfections - wobbles, out of round, bulges, weak spots. Next, check tire pressure and equalize at the proper level. If problems persist, check wheel balance, especially if you feel vibrations. Failing resolution in those areas, which cost little, perhaps then look at alignment.
However, before you spend, answer me this: does this happen on all roads, or more on the interstate and major highways? Do you notice this tendency to want to track back and forth (I take it you mean left to right and back again) on a particular stretch of highway that you have ridden repeated times? Could it be something in the pavement rather than something in your Spyder?
Road crown is one matter; grooves or depression tracks, caused by repeated travel by heavy transport trucks, are another. On some of the major highways I occasionally ride, I have noted the tendency of my Spyder to want to slew back and forth as one front tire or the other senses a 'groove' and tries to follow it. Sometimes these 'truck grooves' can actually be several inches in depth, and will try to drag you into them much like a tidal current. It can feel 'squirrely'. Because your Spyder's track is more narrow than a semi truck, your front wheels may try to 'jump' sideways from one groove to the other. That sensation can be very unnerving.
If you sense this happening repeatedly on a certain road, and there are multiple lanes, try switching over to another lane not usually travelled by trucks. Try testing whether the wandering happens on particular sections of road, as well as at which speed.
The sensations you feel may be coming from your Spyder, but they could also well be caused by road surface, or by your limited Spyder-riding experience. For my first few weeks of ryding, I called my Spyder "Old Twitchy", based on the insecure feelings it gave me; for the next few weeks after that, I called it "Hunter", because it felt like riding a beagle dog out sniffing for a fox - here, there, everywhere. After a couple of months of becoming much better acquainted, the Spyder got itself 'broken in' and I got more relaxed. Now it's fun; we're both more laid-back, we take our roads in stride and work as a team.
Give yourself and your ryde a bit of time, but do keep on sensing and exploring as you go. There may be an issue, and it may need correcting. Your knowledge as well as experience will deepen and grow.
Last edited:
C. Lee
Member
From my experience, I came from a goldwing to my RTL and I found it to be more important to keep you eyes focused down the road, as if you're in a long turn. I found that I was consistently making small corrections to adjust to road conditions as they came about. As soon as I realized this and switched my focus down the road the spyder took a straighter line and was more enjoyable to ride. Tire pressure is an issue as well but this was a major factor for me. Chris
Easy Rider
New member
Excellent post. This is what I was trying to say.
In the beginning, strong cross winds can be part of the problem too.
Your brain has learned to automatically compensate for that when on 2 wheels; on the Spyder, that automatic response doesn't work.......and results in a confusing feeling.
And finally...........the placebo effect: If you spend a bunch of money on a "fix" that you are thoroughly convinced that it will work......it WILL work, whether it really improves anything or not.
Easy Rider
New member
I think this deserves more emphasis than it gets.
It made a HUGE difference for me......when actually IN curves.
It hadn't occurred to me that it would help going straight too.
I will test; I suspect that it will help.
Yeah, I noticed that I was getting a little too complacent about the stability of the Spyder and found myself wandering a little because I was taking in the scenery. Not turning my head, but my eyes were off to the side and sure enough that's where I tended to steer.
Jeffmal
New member
The problem occurs when traveling over 60mph ( the road isn't the issue ) the wind buffeting seems to move the bike around at high speeds.
Tires are checked and correct. I think I will spend the $ for the laser alignment and maybe the placebo will get me through this lol...
Thanks
I have found that the Spyder is much more stable in wind buffeting conditions (like on a busy highway with trucks) than any of my two-wheelers ever were. But, I still feel the wind buffeting and the Spyder responds accordingly. If you're feeling the Spyder is unstable at speed with wind buffeting, that's one thing and bears further investigation (and maybe alignment or tires). But, if this condition only exists in high speed wind buffeting conditions and not on a clear windless highway, then I think it's just a matter of getting used to it.
Easy Rider
New member
Yes I know but the key word in your sentence is SEEMS.
Unless the wind is really strong I don't think it is really DOING what it feels like.
And you don't really KNOW that the road is not part of the issue.
With more experience, I have that feeling less and less.
And looking DOWN the road might help even more.
Too bad you aren't a little closer. Sometimes riding other machines helps convince you that yours isn't somehow defective.
Last edited:
Fat Baxter
Member
+ 10. The front tire pressures have to be within a half-pound of each other. Also, try dropping the pressure in small increments. A squirrely feeling could be due to overinflated tires hopping around at speed. Each Spyder is a little different. Also, there is some variability in tire pressure gauges; I've found as much as 3 lbs between gauges on the same tire. Use your gauge to start with, but in the end go with what feels best for you, then note what the tire gauge says and stick with that.
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
Definitely get the laser alignment. Seat loose in the saddle and let the wind move you back and forth. You can't escape the side to side push of the wind. That's just plain physics. But if you let yourself move back and forth, and as you've said, keep a loose grip, you'll find the Spyder itself doesn't move much at all side to side.
BLUEKNIGHT911
Sadly Passed Oct 2024 - RIP
ALIGNMENT
attn. Mr Idaho Mtn Spyder as you pointed out to me in a PM .....I have made this correction ( size seven type ), to show you that when I'm told about an error , I will do my best to correct it ...... your welcome ..... Mike :bowdown::yes::yes::yes::yes:
Jeffmal
New member
Follow up
Ok, I promised to get back to everyone with my HONEST findings...
I had the laser alignment done Sunday and saw that one side was spot on and the other was off a bit ( approx. 3" off center with the beam )
I also had some new led's added to the cross bars. I pay and leave and get the dreaded limp home message, dealer says it has something to do
with the new led's that are also turn signals. Just got my Spyder back and still seems the same to me, handling wise ( being honest )!
I know I need more time in the saddle to get more comfortable!!
That is my laser report and now I have to see if I will get another limp home message soon.....
I never knew that adding led's throws off the computer.
Ok, I promised to get back to everyone with my HONEST findings...
I had the laser alignment done Sunday and saw that one side was spot on and the other was off a bit ( approx. 3" off center with the beam )
I also had some new led's added to the cross bars. I pay and leave and get the dreaded limp home message, dealer says it has something to do
with the new led's that are also turn signals. Just got my Spyder back and still seems the same to me, handling wise ( being honest )!
I know I need more time in the saddle to get more comfortable!!
That is my laser report and now I have to see if I will get another limp home message soon.....
I never knew that adding led's throws off the computer.
It usually doesn't. Who did the install? Where did they tap into for power? Those LEDs are such a small current draw, I doubt that's the cause of your limp home situation, unless they were wired improperly.
As noted above, relays are recommended to isolate the load from the electronics when the load is greater, like in driving lights.
