Sway Bar Question

[Tony8472]

I'm a new Spyder rider with just a little over 1,000 miles. I'm a lot more comfortable with the trike than I was at the beginning but I'm still getting used to it. Many of you have said how great a sway bar is but I don't know exactly how it changes the riding experience. What does it actually do for you? Note: I am not an aggressive rider.

 

[vided]

I'm a new Spyder rider with just a little over 1,000 miles. I'm a lot more comfortable with the trike than I was at the beginning but I'm still getting used to it. Many of you have said how great a sway bar is but I don't know exactly how it changes the riding experience. What does it actually do for you? Note: I am not an aggressive rider.

The big change I've notice with ron's sway bar concerns buffering from the big guys on the interstate.
before the change it was " oh crap and hang on"
after the change " oh nice paint job on that rig"
well worth the cost, and do the links also.

 

[JayBros]

+1 on the buffeting from trucks when slabbing along. I'm a very new rider with a BajaRon on my RT-S at part of the OTD package. The bar definitely performs as all OP have stated in numerous threads. I can feel the wind beating me up but the trike tracks true with no wavering. I could not see coming home with the stock bar and later having to change it. The initial investment, and laser alignment are the tasty bread slices of the Spyder sandwich.

 

[Spyder RTL]

I'm a new Spyder rider with just a little over 1,000 miles. I'm a lot more comfortable with the trike than I was at the beginning but I'm still getting used to it. Many of you have said how great a sway bar is but I don't know exactly how it changes the riding experience. What does it actually do for you? Note: I am not an aggressive rider.

I agree with the prior replies and I would like to add that it helps when turning/cornering. When I first got the Spyder, I thought I had made a huge mistake. When I turned a corner or went into a curve, I had to lean into the turn to stay on the bike. The feeling of the bike wanting to throw me off made the rides less enjoyable.

But once I got Ron's sway bar, the bike feels more planted in the turns and the feeling of being thrown off has lessened considerably. I now totally enjoy the ride and I owe that to Ron's sway bar. After the sway bar was installed, I also had a laser alignment done as well.

The only regret you will have is that you did not get Ron's sway bar sooner. It's that good.

Dave

 

[Bob Denman]

Ride your bike just the way you have it, for another thousand miles or so... :shocked:
THEN: give Ron a call, and get his bar and the end links.
I guarantee that you'll appreciate it even more! nojoke

 

[Tony8472]

Thanks Everyone,

Ok, it is definitely on my list now. I also found a dealership that does the laser alignment. It's about 50 miles from me but it sounds like it is worth it.

 

[Chupaca]

There you go...!!

get the alignment..and as Bob said keep ryding. If you are not an agressive ryder and it is feeling good as it is you have time... :thumbup:

 

[Dragonrider]

Buy it now, wrap it up & give it to your SO to give to you for Christmas. Which will give you a winter project to prepare for next Spring!!!

 

[lightnin leeRoy]

I bought a '12 RT S new, put over 7K miles on it. Then I traded it for a '14 RT L. I currently have 3500 miles on this one. I have not had the sway bar or the elka shocks installed or the laser alignment. I do plan on ordering the the sway bar & elka shocks this winter and the laser alignment.
I am a sort of aggressive rider and have not had any issues with handling problems. I have been passed and I have passed many 18 wheeler's with no issues. But as I said earlier I plan on having it done January time frame.
Lightnin' LeeRoy

 

[robmorg]

Couple of things to add that may help you...

1. This Thread is one of the best I have seen regarding what the Sway Bar does. Also look at the videos in posts #7 and #8.

2. You don't see this mentioned often, and it may not apply to you, but the larger you are, the more difference the beefier swaybar will make. I can personally attest to that. In short, the purpose of the sway bar is to counter the tendency for the inside front tire to want to leave the road in a turn due to centrifugal force. That, in turn, counters the forces you feel while riding the bike through a turn. The higher the center of gravity, the more you will feel the effects of centrifugal force, pulling you to the outside of the turn (a few inches of difference in COG can be significant). Therefore the larger the rider, the more the sway bar helps.

Interesting side note.... One of the reasons (not the only reason) the new F3 feels so much smoother in the turns (as reported by the dealers who rode it in Connecticut) is because due to the new frame and rider position, The overall COG of the machine and rider is much lower on the bike.

 

[Tony8472]

Couple of things to add that may help you...

1. This Thread is one of the best I have seen regarding what the Sway Bar does. Also look at the videos in posts #7 and #8.

2. You don't see this mentioned often, and it may not apply to you, but the larger you are, the more difference the beefier swaybar will make. I can personally attest to that. In short, the purpose of the sway bar is to counter the tendency for the inside front tire to want to leave the road in a turn due to centrifugal force. That, in turn, counters the forces you feel while riding the bike through a turn. The higher the center of gravity, the more you will feel the effects of centrifugal force, pulling you to the outside of the turn (a few inches of difference in COG can be significant). Therefore the larger the rider, the more the sway bar helps.

Interesting side note.... One of the reasons (not the only reason) the new F3 feels so much smoother in the turns (as reported by the dealers who rode it in Connecticut) is because due to the new frame and rider position, The overall COG of the machine and rider is much lower on the bike.

Thanks for the links! Now I can say I have a much better understanding of what is happening after watching the video from post #7.

 

[Roadster Renovations]

Couple of things to add that may help you...

1. This Thread is one of the best I have seen regarding what the Sway Bar does. Also look at the videos in posts #7 and #8.

2. You don't see this mentioned often, and it may not apply to you, but the larger you are, the more difference the beefier swaybar will make. I can personally attest to that. In short, the purpose of the sway bar is to counter the tendency for the inside front tire to want to leave the road in a turn due to centrifugal force. That, in turn, counters the forces you feel while riding the bike through a turn. The higher the center of gravity, the more you will feel the effects of centrifugal force, pulling you to the outside of the turn (a few inches of difference in COG can be significant). Therefore the larger the rider, the more the sway bar helps.

Interesting side note.... One of the reasons (not the only reason) the new F3 feels so much smoother in the turns (as reported by the dealers who rode it in Connecticut) is because due to the new frame and rider position, The overall COG of the machine and rider is much lower on the bike.

:agree: What he said! As a bigger rider I can tell you it made a huge difference.

 

[Bob Denman]

Buy it now, wrap it up & give it to your SO to give to you for Christmas. Which will give you a winter project to prepare for next Spring!!!

I had no idea, that you had such a Romantic Soul... :2thumbs: