NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
Easy to find out. Adjust the belt tension and see if it changes.
-Scotty
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Vibrations
- Thread starter RYDRS
- Start date
-Scotty
vendit
New member
re: vibration
I recently bought a new 2008 sm5 spyder, and I had a bad vibration at 45mph and faster. I took it in for my 600 mile checkup and they told me the belt tension checked out fine.....however......the tech told me that I had terrible spark knock! He asked me what gas I was using, and I told him Speedway. He told me that Speedway gas has way too much alcohol in it, and therefore the octane is too low, causing the severe spark knock and what I thought was vibration. His suggestion was either Shell or Sunoco gas, and I started using both as well as buying premium octane. It made all the difference in the world!!! Spark knock/vibration is gone. It only took one tank to get rid of the Speedway gas out of the engine.
Try either Shell or Sunoco premium gas. You will Love the difference!
I recently bought a new 2008 sm5 spyder, and I had a bad vibration at 45mph and faster. I took it in for my 600 mile checkup and they told me the belt tension checked out fine.....however......the tech told me that I had terrible spark knock! He asked me what gas I was using, and I told him Speedway. He told me that Speedway gas has way too much alcohol in it, and therefore the octane is too low, causing the severe spark knock and what I thought was vibration. His suggestion was either Shell or Sunoco gas, and I started using both as well as buying premium octane. It made all the difference in the world!!! Spark knock/vibration is gone. It only took one tank to get rid of the Speedway gas out of the engine.
Try either Shell or Sunoco premium gas. You will Love the difference!
bandwagon
New member
I TOO HAVE THE SAME THING AT 60-65 MPH
I know there will be some vibrations but, it is excessive at 60 and smooths out 65 and higher. Tire pressure is good, I too was thinking it could be the belt and will have the whole thing checked out.
I know there will be some vibrations but, it is excessive at 60 and smooths out 65 and higher. Tire pressure is good, I too was thinking it could be the belt and will have the whole thing checked out.
BajaRon
Well-known member
I know after having work done to my Spyder where they changed belt tension I got different vibration at different RPM's than I had before.
As far as the Rotax motor, my opinion is it is pretty smooth, especially for a V-Twin. No motorcycle style vehicle will be as vibration free as a car.
My Honda Valkyrie was VERY smooth. The Spyder isn't all that far off.
You may have a number of vibration issues making it difficult to pin down. Once you get used to your Spyder it will be easier to distinuish.
Belt vibration comes and goes and is almost a harmonic effect throughout the machine. Frequency and magnitude depend on speed and loading (and, of course, belt tension). Given the same parameters it will always give the same effect. Change loading and or speed and belt vibration will tend to move around the RPM range.
Tire/wheel vibration is usually a lower frequency than either engine or belt. You can usually feel it coming from the source area (which is not necessarily true of belt vibration).
Wheel vibration is vehicle speed sensitive and totally independant of engine speed or loading. This is the best way to isolate for wheel imballance vibration.
Engine vibration is probably the easiest one to isolate. You can sit in your garage and check this out. Even though engine loading will change vibration you can get a feel for it sitting still in neutral as all other vibration sources are taken out of the equasion that way.
If engine vibration changes drastically under load you may have other issues like bad engine mounts or engine tune problems. Even bad fuel can make a difference (I think that was mentioned already).
As far as the Rotax motor, my opinion is it is pretty smooth, especially for a V-Twin. No motorcycle style vehicle will be as vibration free as a car.
My Honda Valkyrie was VERY smooth. The Spyder isn't all that far off.
You may have a number of vibration issues making it difficult to pin down. Once you get used to your Spyder it will be easier to distinuish.
Belt vibration comes and goes and is almost a harmonic effect throughout the machine. Frequency and magnitude depend on speed and loading (and, of course, belt tension). Given the same parameters it will always give the same effect. Change loading and or speed and belt vibration will tend to move around the RPM range.
Tire/wheel vibration is usually a lower frequency than either engine or belt. You can usually feel it coming from the source area (which is not necessarily true of belt vibration).
Wheel vibration is vehicle speed sensitive and totally independant of engine speed or loading. This is the best way to isolate for wheel imballance vibration.
Engine vibration is probably the easiest one to isolate. You can sit in your garage and check this out. Even though engine loading will change vibration you can get a feel for it sitting still in neutral as all other vibration sources are taken out of the equasion that way.
If engine vibration changes drastically under load you may have other issues like bad engine mounts or engine tune problems. Even bad fuel can make a difference (I think that was mentioned already).
So was out again today for about 200 miles. I now noticed that there is another rough rev point at about 3800 rpm's. The whole bike was vibrating soo bad I thought the limp might come on (kinda wish it would because there would be a fault code to go along with it). I know it isn't a vibration in the wheels as the engine actually misfired a bit in both the 3800 and 5000 rpm range and the whole bike vibrates as if the engine is running rough. It's not relative to speed, only RPM's. I've tried different gas stations but the problem remains. Probably just gonna have to bring it in and have a tech take it for a ride and hopefully figure this one out.
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NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
An engine that misfires has more than a mere vibration problem, that's just a symptom. Taking it to the tech is a good move. Some things won't show on the diagnostic, either. Make sure they check carefully for bad spark plug wires. There have been a few cases of those arcing to the engine or frame. That will make it run OK sometimes, but misfire under load. So will spark plugs with too much resistance (which will eventually damage the plug wires).
-Scotty
Pete Denzer
New member
Better grade gas
When I remounted my Hindle muffler after installing BRP extended passenger pegs I noticed reduced vibes. Maybe muffler is loose.
I was running my '09 SE5 on 87 octane as per owners' manual. I filled up with 89 last gas stop and it seems to run a little better (smoother), enough for me to try high-test next go-round and also calculate mileage on 89 to check efficiency. It's false economy to run Premium grades of gasoline if the engine does not need it.
Wondering if disconnecting battery overnight and doing the 15-minute idle will allow the ECU to recalibrate for different fuel grades, has anyone tried this?
When I remounted my Hindle muffler after installing BRP extended passenger pegs I noticed reduced vibes. Maybe muffler is loose.
I was running my '09 SE5 on 87 octane as per owners' manual. I filled up with 89 last gas stop and it seems to run a little better (smoother), enough for me to try high-test next go-round and also calculate mileage on 89 to check efficiency. It's false economy to run Premium grades of gasoline if the engine does not need it.
Wondering if disconnecting battery overnight and doing the 15-minute idle will allow the ECU to recalibrate for different fuel grades, has anyone tried this?
BLACK WIDOW
New member
..the tech told me that I had terrible spark knock! He asked me what gas I was using, and I told him Speedway. He told me that Speedway gas has way too much alcohol in it, and therefore the octane is too low, causing the severe spark knock and what I thought was vibration.
quote]
Actually I think the alcohol will increase the octane rating. Alcohol just does not produce as many BTU'S as pure gasoline, therefore less power and poorer mileage. Should not cause pre-ignition. Alcohol will draw water, and could be, you were trying to burn H2O.:f_spider:
quote]
Actually I think the alcohol will increase the octane rating. Alcohol just does not produce as many BTU'S as pure gasoline, therefore less power and poorer mileage. Should not cause pre-ignition. Alcohol will draw water, and could be, you were trying to burn H2O.:f_spider:
Firefly
Active member
You don't want higher octane - higher octane actually retards the burn (makes it harder to burn). The Spyder doesn't require higher octane gas - and many of us tried it and found the Spyder to run much worse with it.
Regular 87 octane is what you want to run - anything higher is a waste of $$$ and there's a good chance you will degrade performance.
Some people in higher altitudes may need a different octane.
Rule of thumb - unless you're knocking - you don't need higher octane.
Regular 87 octane is what you want to run - anything higher is a waste of $$$ and there's a good chance you will degrade performance.
Some people in higher altitudes may need a different octane.
Rule of thumb - unless you're knocking - you don't need higher octane.
Tripod
New member
I have an SE-5 and I have a similar issue. At 53 MPH it gets a bothersome vibration, in 5th gear, then it goes away at speeds above 53. It only has 500 miles on it. I'm taking it in Friday for the Steering Recall so we're going to go ahead with the scheduled maintenance and try to diagnose the vibration issue. Is it wheels, belt, who knows...but thanks for the info, I'll raise them with the Service Manager. :thumbup:
Tripod :joke:
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=8826&highlight=vibration
Previous issue where a belt adjustment fixed the vibration.
Previous issue where a belt adjustment fixed the vibration.
Brought mine to the dealer last week specifically for this problem and they ended up telling me that they can feel it, but it wasn't a problem. They told me to buy a new seat, pegs, grips, and better boots, what a joke. That will only mask the problem at hand.
On my way home I decided to lift my feet off the pegs while good ol' rattle trap :spyder2:was doing it's thing at 5K and noticed I can't feel the vibration as bad. I think I'm gonna try tightening down some motor mounts today and see if that helps this out at all. If that doesn't work I'll see if another dealer can give me a better answer than "Normal Harmonic Vibration". Last time I checked, normal vibration doesn't shake your mirrors and other parts loose every other time you ride.
I've seen at least 4 different posts on this subject but no solutions.
***Update***
Just tightened up all motor mounts, and no improvements. Next up, belt adjustment sometime before winter. Until then, gonna try and learn to live with it.
On my way home I decided to lift my feet off the pegs while good ol' rattle trap :spyder2:was doing it's thing at 5K and noticed I can't feel the vibration as bad. I think I'm gonna try tightening down some motor mounts today and see if that helps this out at all. If that doesn't work I'll see if another dealer can give me a better answer than "Normal Harmonic Vibration". Last time I checked, normal vibration doesn't shake your mirrors and other parts loose every other time you ride.
I've seen at least 4 different posts on this subject but no solutions.
***Update***
Just tightened up all motor mounts, and no improvements. Next up, belt adjustment sometime before winter. Until then, gonna try and learn to live with it.
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spyderinkc
New member
It seems to me that various different members are talking about various different types of vibrations. I think the original post was just a v-twin vibration that is very common on any v-twin bike. I only have 126 miles on mine and have already noticed this. The mirrors vibrate like crazy as well.
Has anyone tried these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CAN-...3652099QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Has anyone tried these?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CAN-...3652099QQptZMotorcyclesQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
I don't think mirror vibration is normal. Our Spyder has only showed this only once in a year and a half, after the cowl was replaced. The tech didn't tighten one of the mirrors adequately. As soon as I tightened the offending mirror, the vibration disappeared. I noticed when we were first looking at Spyders that many of them had mirrors where the stalks could be moved. Ours was solid and secure. I would check to see if there is movement in your mirror stalks, and if so, tighten the mirrors. Your fuzzy view of the world could disappear.
spyderinkc
New member
spyderinkc
New member
I think I'm going to pick up a set of these as well...
