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Swerving, Nanny, & cruise control
- Thread starter IdahoMtnSpyder
- Start date
Bob Denman
New member
:shocked: Wear a hat, and don't look up with your mouth open! :yikes: :barf:
Bob Denman
New member
:agree: I use mine as much as is safely possible.
But I'm a "Creeper"... :banghead:
If I start out at 62 mph: I'll be doing 77 in no time! :yikes:
I set it, to keep me at a steady pace...
But I'm a "Creeper"... :banghead:
If I start out at 62 mph: I'll be doing 77 in no time! :yikes:
I set it, to keep me at a steady pace...
heyharris1
New member
I have no problem saying I am a creeper as well. I usually set mine just a few miles above the speed limit and I'm content to just enjoy the ride, guess why I got the RT.
Jim
Jim
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
In a sense it is, "To each his own", but nevertheless it is a discussion that just might be worthwhile having. I guess we see the use of cruise control in different lights. As I said I use it as much as I can, even on city streets. The number one reason is that, as I see it, driving at a steady speed enhances the safety of everyone on the road. Whether it's in the car or on the Spyder I have trouble keeping a steady speed, especially if the road is up and down. What would be better is if everyone drove at the same steady speed but that of course that will never happen. If I'm staying at a steady speed at or just above the posted speed limit (usually about 4 - 5 above) I don't need to worry about getting a speeding ticket. On a hill the CC keeps me from slowing down and causing a driver behind me to get irritated, and then compensating by speeding up and further aggravating the guy behind me. For me, when I use CC I minimize the distraction of speed control and can devote more attention to all other aspects and distractions of driving. I see it as a safety feature, not a convenience feature. Most of the time the Spyder CC does a damn good job of keeping the bike at a steady speed, even downhill, sometimes by using a lower gear.
As others have said, out on the open straight road I tend to be a 'creeper' in both directions, up and down. CC mitigates that problem. But there is the offsetting danger of using CC and that is complacency, especially on the open road. CC makes it a lot easier to sight see while driving, and that can lead to bad results if one does it too much and doesn't pay attention to the road ahead.
Cruise control is a tool to aid in driving safely. Use it however it works best for you.
ofdave
New member
65 mph, and 6th gear comes to mind...
But that's just me; you've got to ride your own ride! :thumbup:
that's exactly the speed the OP mentioned and the speed with which easyrider has a problem
65 sure works for me and is a good idea, not sure what he thinks is wrong with that
stevencovert
Member
Cruise in 5th here too...
6th is fine for a long flat road to use cruise, but I like to keep the RPM in the 3500 - 4500 when using cruise. In hilly areas at 55-65MPH in 6th the engine gets a bit bogged for my taste. What's a few MPG
6th is fine for a long flat road to use cruise, but I like to keep the RPM in the 3500 - 4500 when using cruise. In hilly areas at 55-65MPH in 6th the engine gets a bit bogged for my taste. What's a few MPG
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
You're probably saving more gas than you think in hilly country! Determining and controlling MPG is as successful as nailing Jello to the wall! I think it depends more on how hard the engine is working than what RPM it's turning at. Faster RPM at less strain I'm sure gives better mileage than lower RPM with more strain.6th is fine for a long flat road to use cruise, but I like to keep the RPM in the 3500 - 4500 when using cruise. In hilly areas at 55-65MPH in 6th the engine gets a bit bogged for my taste. What's a few MPG
Easy Rider
New member
Please read ALL of the words in the posts that you are going to comment upon.
He was at 65 MPH in FIFTH GEAR......with cruise engaged.
I didn't necessarily have "a problem with that", but it is unusual and I wondered why.
Do you have a problem with THAT ??
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Cruise control usage: Answers will be all over the place.
Me? I don't use it in town, or in heavy traffic. One mistake and you get bit.
I always use it on the highway--mostly to maintain speed at a couple miles per hour over posted. That puts me in the "flow" most of the time. Also use it when on slower deserted roads where I want to maintain a certain speed. I am also a "creeper" and cruise cleans that up for me.
I always drive with the "best" gear. For me that keeps my engine in the "happy" spot. 5500 on our 998 and 3500 on our 1330. Cruise will work in any gear as long as your speed is above 28 or so mph.
You? Do what works for you. :yes::yes:
Me? I don't use it in town, or in heavy traffic. One mistake and you get bit.
I always use it on the highway--mostly to maintain speed at a couple miles per hour over posted. That puts me in the "flow" most of the time. Also use it when on slower deserted roads where I want to maintain a certain speed. I am also a "creeper" and cruise cleans that up for me.
I always drive with the "best" gear. For me that keeps my engine in the "happy" spot. 5500 on our 998 and 3500 on our 1330. Cruise will work in any gear as long as your speed is above 28 or so mph.
You? Do what works for you. :yes::yes:
Easy Rider
New member
Opinions are like.....well you know !!
Thinking that some given RPM is "best" when cruising down the highway is a bit short sighted in my opinion.
Especially your 5500 figure for the twin.
Except for somehow making you feel good, I see nothing that qualifies that for "best" status.
NOW.....if you are in traffic that is speeding up and slowing down or you otherwise want to be able to accelerate quickly, then I've got no problem with keeping the RPMs up to where your available HP is more. But with the cruise control set.......NO reason (unless maybe the terrain is really hilly).
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
The sweet spot will vary from :spyder2: to :ani29:. One needs to find theirs. Feel and sound are my two. At the 5500 rpms that is where the 998 comes "alive." This allows you to get up and go if needed. The 1330 is a bit different. For me, 3500 happens when :f_spider: is cruising down the highway at 65 in 6th. It increases from there with speed. The 1330 has great low end torque, you can just twist and go from pretty much 2500 and up if needed.
As I mentioned earlier--opinions will vary. Just letting others know what works for ME. :thumbup:
Easy Rider
New member
Which I acknowledged in my last post.
But I also said that needing to "get up and go" is highly unlikely when actually cruising down the highway.
There is absolutely, positively NO ADVANTAGE to running an engine faster than is necessary to maintain a cruising speed.
AND......if you are doing that by running in a lower gear, then you are putting unnecessary wear and strain on the engine.
But if it makes you happy......:thumbup:
ofdave
New member
No problem with THAT
a problem with your attitude though
I see from many of your posts you like to argue and are confrontational.
I did not join this forum to deal with that crap so I will just ignore what you have to say from now on.
Could be the OP meant 6th but typed 5th.
Easy Rider
New member
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
Nope! I was in 5th! Hill is too steep to hold speed in 6th.
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Well, thanks for telling me how to drive my :spyder:. I guess I have been doing it wrong since 2008 and those 135,000 miles have meant nothing. Never mind that I have never had a major mechanical problem over 5 assorted. Never mind that the Buds report indicated that our current operations (2015 and two :ani29:'s) had been driven in the proper gear ranges most of the time.
One point possibly missed--over 60 mph gets 5th gear on the 998 and 6th gear on the 1330. If we are driving less than highway speed--then the appropriate gear for the speed is used.
Another point possibly missed is that the Rotax (998) LIKES high rpm's.
We have had the attitude discussion behind the scenes--and I will leave it at that. :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:
One point possibly missed--over 60 mph gets 5th gear on the 998 and 6th gear on the 1330. If we are driving less than highway speed--then the appropriate gear for the speed is used.
Another point possibly missed is that the Rotax (998) LIKES high rpm's.
We have had the attitude discussion behind the scenes--and I will leave it at that. :bowdown::bowdown::bowdown:
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Easy Rider
New member
There is no "attitude" here.
I'm trying to have a useful, adult discussion without looking to pick apart the motivations or style of the other person in the "discussion".
Maybe that isn't possible.
And yes, that point was missed because it wasn't included before.
Just because a given engine NEEDS to run at 5500 RPM at 70 MPH in top gear does NOT mean that it is somehow good for it to run up to 5500 in every gear before shifting. And a really lot of engines develop more impressive HP at higher RPMs.......but that doesn't mean that the engine "likes" to run faster than it needs to. No doubt the RIDER likes that, but the engine.......not so much.
There really is nothing wrong with running YOUR engine at whatever speed you like, within the design range.
But to claim that running it at a higher RPM than is needed at a given speed is somehow "good" for it......or that it "likes" to run faster......just doesn't stand up to rational analysis.
I think we've about beat this to death. Truce ??
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
The "sweet spot" on my 998 is 5500 for shifting and 3500 on the 1330. No clunks--smooth as butter to the next gear. The Red line for the 998 is 9000 rpms. I have never been over 7000 that I know of on the 998. Truce? Absolutely. :bowdown:
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