Swar bar/ laser alingment

[Captkerosene]

I'm a newbie to the spyder but over 300K on motorcycles. Just bought a new 2015 and put 1200 miles on it the 1st 3 days. I played with different tire pressure and riding style. The bike still pulls to the right, even on flat parking lot so laser alignment is happening tomorrow. However, I am not impressed with the tuck n roll and subsequent oversteer that happens in curves. There is a lot of talk about BajaRons's bars on older RT's. Would it help on 2015s also. Really like the bike. Don't like the Buick handling. Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[Marker]

I own a 2015 RT Limited. First thing as it was being put together at dealers. I had Lamonster swaybar(same as Ron bar)installed and laser alignment done.
front tire pressures is 18PSI rear is 20PSI. Rt handles likes its on rails. When you corner lean into the corner a little .It will help the spyder turn better and you wont feel like you are coming off the seat.
I ride it like a snowmobile or ATV and have no problems when cornering and the RT tracks straight.

 

[Captkerosene]

Thanks for the info. Ended up with 20lbs in front which seems to work best for me. I have tried leaning into the turn, even to the ridiculous of hanging off like you would in an extreme turn. The machine starts to feel loose in the rear end just before it dives to the outside and then starts the oversteer problem. I am 65 and not an extreme rider but at least 400 miles of those 1200 were on nice curvy roads and I could never find anything that felt comfortable. Really hoping the laser alignment works. Just wondering if maybe I have some defective suspension part on the bike. Haven't ridden another RT to compare.

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Thanks for the info. Ended up with 20lbs in front which seems to work best for me. I have tried leaning into the turn, even to the ridiculous of hanging off like you would in an extreme turn. The machine starts to feel loose in the rear end just before it dives to the outside and then starts the oversteer problem. I am 65 and not an extreme rider but at least 400 miles of those 1200 were on nice curvy roads and I could never find anything that felt comfortable. Really hoping the laser alignment works. Just wondering if maybe I have some defective suspension part on the bike. Haven't ridden another RT to compare.

The Laser Alignment will definitely help to remove the quirkiness of the steering and the BajaRon Bar (sold by Lamonster or Spyderpops) will really improve the cornering "wiggle".


Cruzr joe

 

[Bob Denman]

:welcome: You have to remember: BRP has probably built these bikes with the idea that the riders will always want the cushiest ride possible...
But the riders often seem to think otherwise! :shocked:
There's no doubt that a high-quality anti-Swaybar will sharpen the handling of these bikes. BRP should really be noticing how many of us have replaced the OEM piece...

 

[Captkerosene]

Thanks Guys,
I appreciate it.

 

[MikeT]

After riding 3 different H-D Touring platforms, and 2 different GL1800 based trike conversions since I took riding up again '96, surgery on my left forearm and thumb in spring of '14 caused me to evaluate, and purchase a '15 Limited 14 months ago. For the first year I rode with 22 PSI in the front tires and 28 PSI in the rear with a single spring stiffener in each shock to get the ride I liked with 2-up.
This year @Spyderfest I had the Baja Ron's Sway Bar installed AND got Squared Away. I rode home with my original PSI settings. I discovered how Nanny can intrvene. Since then I lowered the fronts first to 20PSI, then 18PSI. I have not changed the rear tire to keep variables limited.
You'll find out there are many Spyder Riders our age. :welcome:

 

[Chupaca]

Well....

I think the best way to do it is step by step. Do the alignment ryde it a bit then do the swaybar and then the shock adjusters if you have no adjustment and finally if all this did not do it for you, get the big buck shocks from like Elka or Race tech...This way you what each one did and you can stop when your happy...:thumbup:

 

[sfcarn]

New To The Spyder

I am new to the Can Am Spyder. I bought a new 2014 carry over RT Limited last March. It also has the problem with it veering to the right at low in town speeds and highway speeds. The dealer never heard of this they did mention they would take a look at it. I talked with another dealer they claim its the crown on the road. I found a dealer in my area that does the laser alignment and am thinking about having this done. I am not totally sure if this will cure the problem. I really like riding the Spyder. My wife and I like to ride long distances. It will get tiring real fast with it pulling to the right. Are there other issues that should be looked at besides alignment? I noticed the right front wheel has 14 weights stuck to the inside of the rim, don't know if this would have any effect or not. Any information would be greatly be appreciated

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I am new to the Can Am Spyder. I bought a new 2014 carry over RT Limited last March. It also has the problem with it veering to the right at low in town speeds and highway speeds. The dealer never heard of this they did mention they would take a look at it. I talked with another dealer they claim its the crown on the road. I found a dealer in my area that does the laser alignment and am thinking about having this done. I am not totally sure if this will cure the problem. I really like riding the Spyder. My wife and I like to ride long distances. It will get tiring real fast with it pulling to the right. Are there other issues that should be looked at besides alignment? I noticed the right front wheel has 14 weights stuck to the inside of the rim, don't know if this would have any effect or not. Any information would be greatly be appreciated

I can about guarantee that your Spyder will benefit from an alignment but it sounds like you may have either a bad wheel or bad tire. You could have the dealer switch the tires from side to side, without remounting them, to see if the Spydet would then pull to the left. The 14 weights on one side is also something that we commonly see on Spyders. :banghead:

 

[Brogers57]

I can about guarantee that your Spyder will benefit from an alignment but it sounds like you may have either a bad wheel or bad tire. You could have the dealer switch the tires from side to side, without remounting them, to see if the Spydet would then pull to the left. The 14 weights on one side is also something that we commonly see on Spyders. :banghead:

Ann - mine has weights on the right and not the left. I'm sure mine pulls to the right as well. Is it supposed to have weights only on one side?

 

[TnT]

Soft ride

We brought our 2015 RT-S home in March 2016. After 1,600 miles have installed the Baja Ron Spring adjusters and upgraded to the Baja Ron sway bar. These changes have made the bike handle totally different 2 up and totally loaded. The soft suspension that compresses and causes over steer in the corners is now gone. We are now more sure footed and quicker in the corners and highway interchanges that I no longer feel traffic is trying to run us over. Very happy with the changes the upgrades have made and glad I experienced the before and after.

Tom N Tonja

 

[BajaRon]

I can about guarantee that your Spyder will benefit from an alignment but it sounds like you may have either a bad wheel or bad tire. You could have the dealer switch the tires from side to side, without remounting them, to see if the Spydet would then pull to the left. The 14 weights on one side is also something that we commonly see on Spyders. :banghead:

:agree: Alignment is a pretty universal need on the Spyder. It is unfortunate. But a reality none-the-less. And just because someone has the Laser Alignment system doesn't necessarily mean you'll get it done right. Another unfortunate reality. It is important that the person doing the alignment knows what they are doing. The system isn't magic. The magic comes from having the Laser system in the hands of someone who knows how to use it.

As for the OEM tires. They are a cheaply made, low quality control product. Another unfortunate reality. The tires commonly need a great deal of weight to balance. Another reason to go car tires when the time comes.

The Spyder is a great machine with leading edge technology built into many areas. But there are some components which could easily be improved upon. Fortunately, there are some very good alternatives to address these issues.

 

[Captkerosene]

Just got the bike back from the dealer. When they jacked it up and turned on the switch the power steering turned the wheels to the Right. WEIRD!! They fixed that and it is much better. Going for a ride tomorrow to see how much improvement was made. Think I will probably still do the sway bar. Thanks for all the good feed back from everybody.

 

[BajaRon]

Just got the bike back from the dealer. When they jacked it up and turned on the switch the power steering turned the wheels to the Right. WEIRD!! They fixed that and it is much better. Going for a ride tomorrow to see how much improvement was made. Think I will probably still do the sway bar. Thanks for all the good feed back from everybody.

That can happen. Glad you got it fixed. You've been fighting the PS all this time. Been there, done that!

 

[Questions]

BRP Quality Control

I too fought the steering to the right issue on my 2015 RTL. Dealer supposedly checked alignment 3 days after purchase and said it was ok. I checked the front tire balance and they were horribly out of balance... I added a Baja Ron sway bar and Elka stage 2 shocks, everything helped the poor cornering but, it still pulled to the right. I called the dealer to have the alignment rechecked and they wanted to schedule it for 4 weeks out ( I told them that it didn't take me 4 weeks to write the check ). I was going to Arkansas so I made arrangements to have Lamonster Garage check it on my way. It was way off and now is much better. With out of balance tires, improper alignment, weak sway bar, weak shocks, and vibrating belt, where is the BRP quality control on these machines?

 

[BajaRon]

I too fought the steering to the right issue on my 2015 RTL. Dealer supposedly checked alignment 3 days after purchase and said it was ok. I checked the front tire balance and they were horribly out of balance... I added a Baja Ron sway bar and Elka stage 2 shocks, everything helped the poor cornering but, it still pulled to the right. I called the dealer to have the alignment rechecked and they wanted to schedule it for 4 weeks out ( I told them that it didn't take me 4 weeks to write the check ). I was going to Arkansas so I made arrangements to have Lamonster Garage check it on my way. It was way off and now is much better. With out of balance tires, improper alignment, weak sway bar, weak shocks, and vibrating belt, where is the BRP quality control on these machines?

To be fair, some of this is engineered in (shocks/sway bar, and to a certain extent, belt vibration). With a belt as long as the Spyder's, you are pretty much guaranteed some vibration. And the Spyder is set up very soft from the factory on purpose (other than the F3). For many people it seems to work fine.

But I think everyone can agree with alignment and tire balance. No Spyder should ever leave the dealership with these issues. I can just about guarantee you that the dealer never checked your alignment. Sometimes I think they just park your Spyder out back for a few hours (or longer) and then tell you everything checks out just fine!

Call me a septic.... you'll be right on the money!

 

[Questions]

BRP Quality Control

I can understand the cushy ride on the RT but at some point it becomes a safety issue... They should easily be able to run the curves at posted speeds without turning the "fun factor" into the "fear factor" and getting rear ended by a minivan. I have been riding 2 wheels for 46 years (the last 20 on BMWs) and the dealer connection is not even close. I bought a Spyder because my 60 year old wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and breast cancer and she really fell for the RTL. I thought it would be a good move so we could continue to ride together but I have never been so disappointed in a new machine... Heck, for 2K more, I could have bought the top of the line BMW and there would be no cheap tires, no vibration at any speed, no alignment issues, and most of all, the dealers will treat you like they should. BRP's commercial that states they are "more stable than a motorcycle" is a joke... Most of us ride in the real world with uneven roads, pot holes, wind, etc. and the pitching and leaning towards the outside of the road is unsettling to say the least.

 

[BajaRon]

I can understand the cushy ride on the RT but at some point it becomes a safety issue... They should easily be able to run the curves at posted speeds without turning the "fun factor" into the "fear factor" and getting rear ended by a minivan. I have been riding 2 wheels for 46 years (the last 20 on BMWs) and the dealer connection is not even close. I bought a Spyder because my 60 year old wife was diagnosed with Alzheimer's and breast cancer and she really fell for the RTL. I thought it would be a good move so we could continue to ride together but I have never been so disappointed in a new machine... Heck, for 2K more, I could have bought the top of the line BMW and there would be no cheap tires, no vibration at any speed, no alignment issues, and most of all, the dealers will treat you like they should. BRP's commercial that states they are "more stable than a motorcycle" is a joke... Most of us ride in the real world with uneven roads, pot holes, wind, etc. and the pitching and leaning towards the outside of the road is unsettling to say the least.

I understand your frustration and I might even agree with you on a few points. But the fact is, the Spyder is much more stable than anything on 2 wheels. It's just a matter of physics. The Spyder may 'Feel' unstable (depending on how and where you ride). But you'll never find one tipped over in a parking lot, low-siding from sand, oil or wet leaves in a turn or dropping in a heartbeat because the front brake was applied too hard. It is simply a safer machine by design. How many have Spyders have tipped over in a curve?

With practice and a smooth hand, even the stock RT is more than able to stay ahead of any minivan in the twisties.

It is true that the Spyder is an expensive ride. But there is quite a bit to it. Could it be improved upon? Sure! That's why there are aftermarket products.

The BMW is a nice machine. But so is the Spyder. They both do what they are designed to do. The BMW is doubtless closer to perfection out the door than the Spyder. But BMW has had nearly 100 years to get there.

 

[Questions]

BRP Quality Control

OK Ron, you got me. The BRP commercial should have said "more stable than a motorcycle in the parking lot, or if you're a beginner". I bet there has been no Spyders tipped over in a curve but how many have run off the road? I will get the hang of 3 wheels but I will never fall for the stability claim.