Vehicle Stability System - Any Way to Make it Less Sensitive?

[mike3069]

When touring together, it is not an issue as it never kicks in.

This comment is on the mark. I had the same experience with my '08 GS. After a lot of thought I concluded that the computer was making adjustments to the sensitivity to the yaw/body roll sensor when there is a passenger aboard. I mentioned this at the 1st event in Gatlingburg to some other Spyderlovers and one of them decided to do something to test it. He managed to rig the seat sensor switch to think that a passenger on board all the time and verified that, indeed, the nanny did back off on how quickly it engaged. That said, anything that you can do to limit the amount of body roll will postpone the nanny from kicking in. This would include sway bars, shocks/springs, tires etc. Any or all of these can be used to accomplish what you are looking for!

 

[Bob Denman]

I talked with one of the fellows who was a subcontractor that worked on the front suspension developement... He personally told it to me, and I believe him!
They were having a lot of trouble getting the bike to handle consistently; any cargo stored up in the front was making for some really wonky changes in how the bike felt... :yikes:Cubic dollars were being spent on getting it to work; it took Bosch, to make it a real possibility! :thumbup:

 

[daltmeyer]

Must ride harder! My nanny has been asleep at the wheel! I mean handlebars. I kindve like it that way but I think she may wake up after Im already in a ditch.

 

[Bob Denman]

If you cross the line; she'll let you know about it... :lecturef_smilie::shocked: nojoke

 

[HuckFin]

Must ride harder! My nanny has been asleep at the wheel! I mean handlebars. I kindve like it that way but I think she may wake up after Im already in a ditch.

That's been my concern too... While taking my trike ryding test I misunderstood what speed I was supposed to take a hard right turn at. Anyway I tried to hold 20 mph around the turn and the front wheels broke loose a little and went over the white line, then at the end of the test while making a hard stop from around 15 mph, I managed to break loose a wheel or two, no big deal though, passed anyway. About 2 weeks or so ago I took a left hand 30 mph turn at 60 mph (It's a decreasing radius kind of corner and kind of tricky) Anyway the rear tire broke loose for a split second, went into slight oversteer, caught and came back but I never felt the nanny kick in, nor have I ever felt it. But then again, maybe it's been keeping stupid me out of the ditch all along and I didn't know it.

 

[Bob Denman]

Yup! :thumbup:

 

[ARtraveler]

My take on the whole thing is recommending not messing with the vehicle control systems. As technical as the :spyder2: is, there is a lot that can go wrong if something is not adjusted right. I would also think that messing with the system could cause warranty issues in the event of a catastrophic failure of any kind.

 

[stewartj239]

He managed to rig the seat sensor switch to think that a passenger on board all the time and verified that, indeed, the nanny did back off on how quickly it engaged.

Do you know where this switch is located and how to rig it? Is it a matter of unplugging it or closing the circuit on it? I would certainly be willing to give it a try to see if it does what I'm looking for.

 

[daltmeyer]

But then again, maybe it's been keeping stupid me out of the ditch all along and I didn't know it.

I highly doubt it. How could you not know its applying the brakes or limiting your rpms? At the very least the icons on the dash should light up if this was happening to clue us in. Ive heard many say on here that its unmistakable when she takes over and kindve jarring if youve never experienced it.

 

[daltmeyer]

Do you know where this switch is located and how to rig it? Is it a matter of unplugging it or closing the circuit on it? I would certainly be willing to give it a try to see if it does what I'm looking for.

Its the round cap with a couple screws and wire under the seat on an RS. The switch is round and gets pushed in when someone sits down to close the circuit.

 

[BajaRon]

I highly doubt it. How could you not know its applying the brakes or limiting your rpms? At the very least the icons on the dash should light up if this was happening to clue us in. Ive heard many say on here that its unmistakable when she takes over and kindve jarring if youve never experienced it.

When the Nanny kicks in, you can tell. You don't have to wonder. If you're not sure then she has never taken control.

 

[HuckFin]

When the Nanny kicks in, you can tell. You don't have to wonder. If you're not sure then she has never taken control.

Yes, I agree with you and daltmeyer.....I have never felt any applying of the brakes or limiting of the rpms while I was breaking the tires loose....So when is this nanny I keep hearing about, supposed to kick in?

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Bad idea, but here is how...

Do you know where this switch is located and how to rig it? Is it a matter of unplugging it or closing the circuit on it? I would certainly be willing to give it a try to see if it does what I'm looking for.

I think its a bad idea, but here is how:
Raise the seat and look near the rear. You will see something bolted to the underside of the seat, near the rear. You will probably need a flashlight. Use a metric hex on your ratchet and unbolt it. Remove the switch, but do not unplug it. Use a high strength tape, and tape the circuit closed. Then use cable tie wraps to reinforce the tape. Reinstall the switch--make sure you keep it plugged in.

Doing this will make the nanny think you always have a passenger. I think it is unwise to defeat safety systems. But now you know how.

 

[stewartj239]

I think its a bad idea, but here is how:
Raise the seat and look near the rear. You will see something bolted to the underside of the seat, near the rear. You will probably need a flashlight. Use a metric hex on your ratchet and unbolt it. Remove the switch, but do not unplug it. Use a high strength tape, and tape the circuit closed. Then use cable tie wraps to reinforce the tape. Reinstall the switch--make sure you keep it plugged in.

Doing this will make the nanny think you always have a passenger. I think it is unwise to defeat safety systems. But now you know how.

Thank you Dan. Like I said, I am willing to TEST this in a controlled state and not looking to bypass the VSS altogether. I just want the Nanny to act 45 instead of 90

 

[Bob Denman]

When the Nanny kicks in, you can tell. You don't have to wonder. If you're not sure then she has never taken control.

Not everybody is tuned in to the bike to the same level...
Nanny plays with the braking bias when she reads that there's a passenger; I'm not sure if that's really a useful tool for taking her out of the equation... :shocked:

 

[stewartj239]

I finally got time to tape / zip tie off the passenger seat switch and wanted to report back my findings. After two days, I am positive that it turns the Nanny into a "Super" Nanny. The VSS kicks in WAY sooner in turns and is MUCH more aggressive. I pulled the zip tie off the switch last night to return it back to its normal state and after riding for 60 miles today, I felt like I was on a new bike. I was actually GLAD to have the old Nanny back. I think my next step will be to swap out the stock suspension for the Elka's in hopes that will help - in addition to giving a better ride for 2-up riding.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I finally got time to tape / zip tie off the passenger seat switch and wanted to report back my findings. After two days, I am positive that it turns the Nanny into a "Super" Nanny. The VSS kicks in WAY sooner in turns and is MUCH more aggressive. I pulled the zip tie off the switch last night to return it back to its normal state and after riding for 60 miles today, I felt like I was on a new bike. I was actually GLAD to have the old Nanny back. I think my next step will be to swap out the stock suspension for the Elka's in hopes that will help - in addition to giving a better ride for 2-up riding.

Thanks for this info....I really appreciate it.

Nancy's Toydoes this square with your knowledge base?

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks for this info....I really appreciate it.

Nancy's Toydoes this square with your knowledge base?

The passenger seat switch changes the response of the VSS, namely the traction control, and it also changes the braking bias. Either would likely cause VSS intervention sooner or stronger without a passenger. The ABS response could also be adversely affected.

 

[BajaRon]

Not everybody is tuned in to the bike to the same level...

Hard for me to believe but I think you're right. There may be people who can't tell that the Nanny has engaged.

Maybe I notice because I'm just such a sensitive guy!

 

[Farmbanker]

Heck, I didn't need a test to tell that the nanny kicks in sooner with a passenger. I can't push curves and turns at all when my wife is riding. However, I am pretty sure she is keeping me from hurting myself......


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