Tilt!

[lizmcg]

:duh:OK, here's another off-the-wall, probably totally dumb newbie question. I've started riding some of the back roads here in central VA, and I noticed something I never noticed in my car: they TILT! I'm not talking camber (if that's the right term; higher in the middle for drainage), but random tilting. I'll be going along at 45-55 and suddenly I feel a strong tilt to the right for a good distance. Along with the sometimes rough surface, narrow lanes without a shoulder, and lots of curves, this makes for exciting practice!:barf: The tilt, though, makes me feel uncomfortable, especially when it's on a curve. I'm sure it feels a lot more extreme than it is, but still, I was wondering if it's just me or if anybody else has experienced this on smaller roads. The main and secondary roads are generally fine, it's the "scenic country by-ways." Also, is this something I should worry about or try to compensate for, or just get used to it? IS there a way to counteract it?

Thanks!

 

[Questions]

I've noticed some off camber spots especially in curves that I never noticed either in my truck or on my Harley. It's just bad road construction, I think. Not much you can do but ride through it.

 

[Chupaca]

Oh yeah....

They have them everywhere, but like you saw, not all the time and not everywhere. It is mostly for water runoff control and not a whole lot you can do but ryde on and keep her straight..:thumbup:

 

[Yazz]

No such thing as a dumb question. Only dumb answers.

You are feeling the tilt of the road more on a Spyder. You'll get used to it after time.

As for the exaggerated tilting in a curve, BahaRon's anti-sway bar stops the Spyder's body roll.

 

[BilltheDiver]

Come on down to Florida! Even our hills are flat.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Remember that you've got the rear wheel riding in a different track then the front ones which will make you feel the road's unevenness.

 

[WA5VHU]

I have spent a fair amount of time down there and too many of the roads in the central Virginia area must have been built by dropping asphalt down on existing well-worn wagon trails. Improperly banked on curves, no shoulders, deep ruts along the edge of the pavement where other folks have drifted off the road, all amount to death traps.

To be safe I recommend you go somewhere else to ryde.

 

[Sam Mac]

BajaRon sway bar and shock adjusters along with a front end alignment. Totally different ride. Ask me how I know. :yes:

 

[IGETAROUND]

Tilt

:duh:OK, here's another off-the-wall, probably totally dumb newbie question. I've started riding some of the back roads here in central VA, and I noticed something I never noticed in my car: they TILT! I'm not talking camber (if that's the right term; higher in the middle for drainage), but random tilting. I'll be going along at 45-55 and suddenly I feel a strong tilt to the right for a good distance. Along with the sometimes rough surface, narrow lanes without a shoulder, and lots of curves, this makes for exciting practice!:barf: The tilt, though, makes me feel uncomfortable, especially when it's on a curve. I'm sure it feels a lot more extreme than it is, but still, I was wondering if it's just me or if anybody else has experienced this on smaller roads. The main and secondary roads are generally fine, it's the "scenic country by-ways." Also, is this something I should worry about or try to compensate for, or just get used to it? IS there a way to counteract it?

​You will most definitely feel pavement irregularities and changes in slope. Have you had you bike Laser aligned; if not you would do better and be safer if you had this done.

The rest of it is getting enough miles under your belt, and the movement within your lane will diminish. Give yourself 2K to get used to things and get smoother. Hang in there and don't overdrive your skills and ability.:clap::thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

Once you leave the confines of a Cage :shocked: : it's amazing what you can learn from the World around you. :thumbup:

 

[lizmcg]

Thanks for the input, but. . .

I can't go elsewhere to ride, because this is where I live.ray: I'll change that eventually (not a native here), but not just yet. I know what you're talking about, though.

I bought my Spyder used, so, other than the obvious Seal floorboards, I don't know what, if anything, was added or done to it. Is there some way to see if the sway bar was added by the original owner? I haven't noticed any special sway or anything in regular turns. It feels pretty good, but of course, I have nothing to compare it to. Regular curves at speed on main roads and secondaries seem quite solid. It's just these back roads that have the sharper curves and strange tilts, and part of that is my inexperience and lack of expertise in executing the turns, although I'm getting better.

I've read over and over about laser alignment and the sway bars, but where can you get that done? Do dealers do the alignment? Would a dealer install an after-market sway bar like Baja Ron's? Oh, and if I read the description on Ron's Web page correctly, the 2012s already have adjustable front (and rear) shocks, no? I think mine are OK, though, since I ride solo and only weigh 135.

 

[oldgoat]

Our roads are bad up here & I often experience the feeling/problem you feel. Even after 5 summers of riding my Spyder it still throws me off my stride when it happens.

I have Elka shocks all round & BajaRon's upgraded sway bar but neither of those items helps with the sudden tendency to veer off to the right. IMO a laser alignment would not help, it is just what happens with my Spyder on a road like that.

Those who have the privilege of riding on good roads don't realize what a handful the Spyder can be with its 3 wheels on an irregular & unpredictable road surface.

 

[robmorg]

I can't go elsewhere to ride, because this is where I live.ray: I'll change that eventually (not a native here), but not just yet. I know what you're talking about, though.

I bought my Spyder used, so, other than the obvious Seal floorboards, I don't know what, if anything, was added or done to it. Is there some way to see if the sway bar was added by the original owner? I haven't noticed any special sway or anything in regular turns. It feels pretty good, but of course, I have nothing to compare it to. Regular curves at speed on main roads and secondaries seem quite solid. It's just these back roads that have the sharper curves and strange tilts, and part of that is my inexperience and lack of expertise in executing the turns, although I'm getting better.

I've read over and over about laser alignment and the sway bars, but where can you get that done? Do dealers do the alignment? Would a dealer install an after-market sway bar like Baja Ron's? Oh, and if I read the description on Ron's Web page correctly, the 2012s already have adjustable front (and rear) shocks, no? I think mine are OK, though, since I ride solo and only weigh 135.

My advice... Just give it some time. I find a lot of back roads like that here in Pennsylvania. It felt a little odd at first (because of the three wheels, like Ann said), but I don't even notice it anymore now. Those roads are now just "part of the ride". As you gain more miles on the Spyder they won't bother you so much.

As for the BajaRon stiffer sway bar - it won't help a lot in this situation, but it IS an excellent addition for any Spyder to help stabilize the faster turns. Don't know how to tell you if you already have it - you might look at the heim links that connect the ends of the sway bar to the bike. If these are plastic, you probably have the OEM bar. Yes, most dealers will install this for you, although there are a few dealers out there who won't install any aftermarket accessories. Most do, however.

Since you are still pretty new to the Spyder, if you haven't done so already, check out the "Do's and Don'ts" sticky thread at the top of this forum section. It contains lots of riding hints to help you feel comfortable more quickly. For example, a lot of new riders tend to grip the handlebars too tightly, causing the bike to oversteer, which could exacerbate the problem you mention here. Like I said above, more time in the saddle will resolve these kinds of problems.

 

[ruralgirl]

I live in southern Michigan which is mostly sand, which causes our secondary paved roads to suffer sunken areas that are often invisible to the eye. Consequently, I too, experience the sudden tilts and pulls of my RT-S on roads that my truck, ATV, and regular motorcycle think are flat. It's a unique feature, I believe, of riding a tadpole trike (2 wheels in front - I don't know if delta trikes have the same sensations). Like you, I can't ride on good roads because I live no where near them. But with my first few months of Spydering under my belt, I now view our messed up dirt and paved roads as a challenging game of reflex-honing skills. Much more fun and healthy than twiddling a joy stick in front of a gaming screen!

 

[WA5VHU]

You may already know this and might be doing it but just in case - you should lean your body into turns, as outlined in the Owners Manual. It may not actually help the Spyder get around a turn but it will help you as you won't feel as much like you are about to fall off the motorcycle. I ryde with a group and I am constantly amazed at how many of the long-time ryders sit up absolutely straight in the saddle no matter what the road and the Spyder is doing. These are the same folks that hit their brakes about 1/2 way into a curve every single time, likely because they suddenly feel like they are about to fall over. "Hey, that's me honking behind you, get off the brake and move along!"

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Many dealers do laser alignments, but they're not all equal. I'll let others comment about how to find the right one. I get mine done by Squared Away when I'm at events. I also thing many dealers would install the Baja Ron bar. I don't know how to tell if you already have, though. I hope someone here will chime in on that. As to the shocks . . . I'd say wait until you need new shocks. Replacing the sway bar may be enough. Or it may just the that your roads are so wonky they'll always be a challenge to ryde.

In my opinion, get the Ron Bar if you don't have it. Hold off on the shocks. Why spend a bunch of money until you know it'll matter?

 

[Bob Denman]

I agree with what RobMorg told you: This will all come to you, as time and experience accumulate... :thumbup:
Just be aware of what it feels like, and try to not let it catch you by surprise.nojoke

 

[AY4B]

I agree, you feel it more on a spyder. after awhile though you get used to it and just relax. Trust your spyders ability to handle it and let your sense of balance work and you will notice your body keeping just the right angle to compensate for that and the lateral force of the curves. You really don't need to even think about it. Just RYde.