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What exactly does a Sway bar do for riding comfort??
- Thread starter Fos
- Start date
Chupaca
New member
As I see it, if you're happy with the way your roadster is handling or have few miles your fine. If you're having stability issues from windy conditions etc. or feel you would like a tighter ryde, go for the BajaRon swaybar and hiem joints. If you do, you're gonna feel the difference... :thumbup:
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spydaman60
New member
was my first farkle on both of our spyders and it will be the first on any and all others to come!!:thumbup:
Just like on the front steering wheels of a car, the sway bar on your Spyder is a link across the frame between the front suspension components that helps improve straight line stability by 'matching' the suspension response to bumps & road irregularities as well as reduce body roll during cornering & keeping both the tire treads firmly planted on the road at the correct angles to minimise under/over steer & make the handling safer & more predictable.
Without it, the inside wheel on any corner will readily lift & the outside tire tread may fold under & peel off the rim due to the cornering forces!! That is something that can still happen if you push the bike too fast into a corner & the 'nanny' doesn't or isn't able to keep it all under control as she's designed to, but by fitting a sway bar the speed/cornering forces it takes to make that occur will be significantly increased.
By by fitting a heavier/thicker sway bar, the 'anti-roll' ability of the bar is greater & the speed/cornering forces it takes to start lifting that inside wheel &/or increase the 'tread bite' & 'steering angle' of the outside wheel will also be increased, so the Spyder will corner flatter and can be driven faster thru the twisties. But it also means that if you as the rider want the best from it, you need to become more involved in transferring your weight onto the inside of the corner to avoid the sense of being 'thrown off' to the outside & to help keep the weight where it needs to be to tackle the twisties faster. Sure, you don't hafta do that if you just want to toodle along, the upgraded sway bar will still keep the bike more stable at slower speeds, but it allows & almost encourages you to go a little faster & smoother thru the twisties by being that much better at keeping it all under control; & if you move your weight around accordingly, it does it even better again!! :thumbup:
You don't exactly need an upgraded sway bar to ride comfortably on your Spyder, but fitting an upgraded sway bar will help iron out many of the 'handling inconsistencies' that most feel when they ride as well as giving you a range of 'comfort' that includes a little more speed for much of your riding on top of greater stability, more precise steering, & better handling.
Without it, the inside wheel on any corner will readily lift & the outside tire tread may fold under & peel off the rim due to the cornering forces!! That is something that can still happen if you push the bike too fast into a corner & the 'nanny' doesn't or isn't able to keep it all under control as she's designed to, but by fitting a sway bar the speed/cornering forces it takes to make that occur will be significantly increased.
By by fitting a heavier/thicker sway bar, the 'anti-roll' ability of the bar is greater & the speed/cornering forces it takes to start lifting that inside wheel &/or increase the 'tread bite' & 'steering angle' of the outside wheel will also be increased, so the Spyder will corner flatter and can be driven faster thru the twisties. But it also means that if you as the rider want the best from it, you need to become more involved in transferring your weight onto the inside of the corner to avoid the sense of being 'thrown off' to the outside & to help keep the weight where it needs to be to tackle the twisties faster. Sure, you don't hafta do that if you just want to toodle along, the upgraded sway bar will still keep the bike more stable at slower speeds, but it allows & almost encourages you to go a little faster & smoother thru the twisties by being that much better at keeping it all under control; & if you move your weight around accordingly, it does it even better again!! :thumbup:
You don't exactly need an upgraded sway bar to ride comfortably on your Spyder, but fitting an upgraded sway bar will help iron out many of the 'handling inconsistencies' that most feel when they ride as well as giving you a range of 'comfort' that includes a little more speed for much of your riding on top of greater stability, more precise steering, & better handling.
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robmorg
New member
Good answer from Peter above.
A couple of years ago, when I was asking this same question, I got some very good answers as well in this thread
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?69738-Hard-turning
Look especially at posts 7 and 15 from Magdave and PMK. I will say that the beefier sway bar made a huge difference for me, in the ways outlined in that thread.
In a nutshell, what the sway bar does, is to help to counteract the centrifugal force in turns, which is what is responsible for throwing you to the outside of the turn, and why you need to lean to the inside. Not everyone will perceive the effects of the larger sway bar in exactly the same way. The taller and heavier you are, the more the centrifugal force wants to toss you, and the more benefit you will receive from beefing up your sway bar.
A couple of years ago, when I was asking this same question, I got some very good answers as well in this thread
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?69738-Hard-turning
Look especially at posts 7 and 15 from Magdave and PMK. I will say that the beefier sway bar made a huge difference for me, in the ways outlined in that thread.
In a nutshell, what the sway bar does, is to help to counteract the centrifugal force in turns, which is what is responsible for throwing you to the outside of the turn, and why you need to lean to the inside. Not everyone will perceive the effects of the larger sway bar in exactly the same way. The taller and heavier you are, the more the centrifugal force wants to toss you, and the more benefit you will receive from beefing up your sway bar.
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Ben Burped
New member
What Peter said !
Peter covered it all. I don't know if even the man behind the curtain "Bob Denman" can give you a more informative, insightful explanation.
The only way I can simplify "Peter's" explanation is to tell you to trust him and try it. I tried the Fox shocks and that didn't diminish the body roll. I followed that with the "Baha Ron " sway bar and even my wife on the back could tell how much less body roll that we had. All the hype isn't undeserved or unearned.
Peter covered it all. I don't know if even the man behind the curtain "Bob Denman" can give you a more informative, insightful explanation.
The only way I can simplify "Peter's" explanation is to tell you to trust him and try it. I tried the Fox shocks and that didn't diminish the body roll. I followed that with the "Baha Ron " sway bar and even my wife on the back could tell how much less body roll that we had. All the hype isn't undeserved or unearned.
ThreeWheels
Active member
I'm a reluctant convert. On the machines built before 2014, the RonBar is an absolute essential upgrade.
In 2014, BRP finally got the suspension components right.
Nevertheless, the RonBar on the post 2014 makes a good machine even better still and is highly recommended.
It doesn't affect the linear ride much, but it makes the spyder feel more solid in turns. Also, the OEM heim links are plastic and are less than wholly reliable.
Installing the RonLinks gives you peace of mind.
Just my opinion. I could be wrong, and I'm sure someone on this forum will let me know if I am.
spydaman60
New member
steve, even on the 2015 f3, the stock bar is 1/8th " smaller in diameter than the bajaron bar! the difference was dramatic!nojoke
Being Swayed
Hi Ben,
I met with my dealer yesterday about him putting a sway bar on my 2014 RT Limited. He tried to "sway" me away from it and to put Fox shocks on instead. He says his BRP rep also confirmed that the shocks would be better than the sway bar if I wanted flat turns.
While I'm very familiar with what a sway bar and what HD shocks do in a car, I don't want to feel all the jarring bumps and ruts on a bike with HD shocks. Since you have both the bar and the shocks, and while you have neutralized the body roll, would you do both again in the order you did, or would you take the dealer's approach and do just the Fox shocks? If you did the shocks first, would you still feel the need to put the sway bar on?
Jerry
Hi Ben,
I met with my dealer yesterday about him putting a sway bar on my 2014 RT Limited. He tried to "sway" me away from it and to put Fox shocks on instead. He says his BRP rep also confirmed that the shocks would be better than the sway bar if I wanted flat turns.
While I'm very familiar with what a sway bar and what HD shocks do in a car, I don't want to feel all the jarring bumps and ruts on a bike with HD shocks. Since you have both the bar and the shocks, and while you have neutralized the body roll, would you do both again in the order you did, or would you take the dealer's approach and do just the Fox shocks? If you did the shocks first, would you still feel the need to put the sway bar on?
Jerry
Bob Denman
New member
robmorg
New member
Welcome to the forum, Jerry!
I think your dealer does not fully understand the benefits of upgrading to a beefier anti-sway bar on the Spyder. (Either that, or he just wants to sell you a set of shocks.
) Since you are familiar with the function of an anti-sway bar, you will understand that its function is very different from that of shocks, as Peter described a few messages above. If you are interested in flatening out your turns and in having to lean less to turns at higher speeds, then there is no question that you should try the BahaRon sway bar first. Yeah, I know, the bike already has an anti-sway bar on it, and I was also skeptical at first that just beefing it up a bit would make that much of improvement. But as I found out, as did hundreds more here on this forum, it truly makes a BIG difference!Like many have said here, I changed out my sway bar early - about a year after I bought the RT. And I received all the benefits from doing that that I described in post #6 above (and in the link included it that post). But I came to realize that I still had a shock problem that had NOTHING to do with turning. I'm a big guy, and the front shocks on the bike were simply not doing the proper job for me - especially when I carried any weight in the frunk. The ride felt "spongy", I was porpoising when I braked or hit a bump, etc. I was about to upgrade to Elka shocks earlier this year when BahaRon came out with his shock adjusters for the 2013 and later RT's. I bought those instead and saved a bunch of money. They have a continuous adjustment, so I was able to try several degrees of tension with them to find that exact sweet spot between "too spongy" and "too harsh" a ride. (For me, it took exactly 4.5 turns.) Now I have a smooth comfortable ride with no porpoising, AND, because of the beefier sway bar, I also have much more stability in the turns, and I have to lean much less than I did before. (My dealer installed both of these mods for me, by the way.)
Ben Burped
New member
Listen to your dealer
My dealer suggested the Fox shocks and even let me try his RT that had them. I took it on some curvy roads and really liked the improvement in lessened body roll. I bought a set that day. I put them on as they were set and noticed that I was hitting speed bumps that I had previously cleared. I bought "spanner" wrenches and adjusted them all the way down to get the ride height up as far as possible. I was very pleased with the reduced body roll and was also pleased with ride comfort (as was my wife). I still had more body roll than I wanted, so I called Ron and got one of his bars on the way. I followed the provided instructions and self installed my new bar. This completed the package ! There is virtually no body roll even when riding with a passenger. The ride is still very comfortable and my wife noticed the improved handling and lessened body roll. I don't really see a down side to the beefier bar. I can't tell you of any down side to the Fox shocks or the Baha Ron bar. They are both excellent products. Yes, I would do both again and I would do it in the same order I did so I could personally feel each step and the improvement that step made. Your Friend, Ben
My dealer suggested the Fox shocks and even let me try his RT that had them. I took it on some curvy roads and really liked the improvement in lessened body roll. I bought a set that day. I put them on as they were set and noticed that I was hitting speed bumps that I had previously cleared. I bought "spanner" wrenches and adjusted them all the way down to get the ride height up as far as possible. I was very pleased with the reduced body roll and was also pleased with ride comfort (as was my wife). I still had more body roll than I wanted, so I called Ron and got one of his bars on the way. I followed the provided instructions and self installed my new bar. This completed the package ! There is virtually no body roll even when riding with a passenger. The ride is still very comfortable and my wife noticed the improved handling and lessened body roll. I don't really see a down side to the beefier bar. I can't tell you of any down side to the Fox shocks or the Baha Ron bar. They are both excellent products. Yes, I would do both again and I would do it in the same order I did so I could personally feel each step and the improvement that step made. Your Friend, Ben
I can not answer any better than those who answered your question. What I can say is:
After the first couple of rides on my 14 RTL, I noticed the front end sloppiness while making turns, fast forward 1 month after having the Baja Ron's anti-sway bar installed, no more front end sloppiness and significantly better control during higher speed turns. Best after market accessory ever purchased.
After the first couple of rides on my 14 RTL, I noticed the front end sloppiness while making turns, fast forward 1 month after having the Baja Ron's anti-sway bar installed, no more front end sloppiness and significantly better control during higher speed turns. Best after market accessory ever purchased.
Windagetray
Member
The stiffer (anti)-sway bar resists the lean of the bike to the OUTSIDE of a turn. If you decrease the lean, you also prevent overloading the outside tire and lifting the inside tire (eventually) off the ground. With maximum lean, you have 3 wheeled machine where the outside tire is deformed and possibly having the sidewall as your road-contact instead of the tread and an inside tire that is no longer doing anything. This of course is extreme but it can and does happen. SO....increasing the size of the ANTI-sway bar, allows the bar to resist "twist". To make a long story short, this prevents the bike (and riders) from allowing all this deformation and inside tire lift. The more weight on your bike, the more it will lean in similar circumstances.
SO, to answer your question, it REALLY DOES affect the handling of the 2014 RT-S. If I HAD to pay to have the bar installed and that fee was over $100, I would say if you weight under 225# and never/rarely ride 2-up, .....MAYBE not worth it. IF you are over 250# and/or ride with a passenger regularly, you will get significant benefits from it. If you can install it yourself (free), just do it! However, if you fit into that last category, I also recommend the front shock spring adjusters. ESPECIALLY if you bottom out the front end more than once every few trips.
IF however, you are the type who would sooner be driving a 'vette as opposed to a Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac, the increase in cornering ability is significant regardless of what weights too which you subject your Spyder.
I have done a complete "TIPS and REVIEW" of both the ANTI-sway bar and the spring adjusters...See this link
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...-and-Spring-Adjuster-Install-Tips-and-Reviews
I hope this helps,
Mike
SO, to answer your question, it REALLY DOES affect the handling of the 2014 RT-S. If I HAD to pay to have the bar installed and that fee was over $100, I would say if you weight under 225# and never/rarely ride 2-up, .....MAYBE not worth it. IF you are over 250# and/or ride with a passenger regularly, you will get significant benefits from it. If you can install it yourself (free), just do it! However, if you fit into that last category, I also recommend the front shock spring adjusters. ESPECIALLY if you bottom out the front end more than once every few trips.
IF however, you are the type who would sooner be driving a 'vette as opposed to a Lincoln Town Car or Cadillac, the increase in cornering ability is significant regardless of what weights too which you subject your Spyder.
I have done a complete "TIPS and REVIEW" of both the ANTI-sway bar and the spring adjusters...See this link
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...-and-Spring-Adjuster-Install-Tips-and-Reviews
I hope this helps,
Mike
BajaRon
Well-known member
Many feel that they do not need a better sway bar installed. Many have bluntly told me this just before they order a sway bar kit.
Some have said that they are going to order a bar, 'Against their better judgement', because of pressure from Spyder friends they ride with or just couldn't take the suspense anymore.
I love skeptics! They are the best source of feedback I get! Guess how many bars I've had returned in the 4 years I've been selling them.
It's just one of those things that you don't know what you're missing until you try it. When I put a bar on my Spyder I was amazed at how much more fun it was to ride because it was a lot of fun before the install.
Thanks to all of you here on Spyderlovers, I am able to spread the joy around!
hyea:
Some have said that they are going to order a bar, 'Against their better judgement', because of pressure from Spyder friends they ride with or just couldn't take the suspense anymore.
I love skeptics! They are the best source of feedback I get! Guess how many bars I've had returned in the 4 years I've been selling them.
It's just one of those things that you don't know what you're missing until you try it. When I put a bar on my Spyder I was amazed at how much more fun it was to ride because it was a lot of fun before the install.
Thanks to all of you here on Spyderlovers, I am able to spread the joy around!
hyea:As a new Spyder owner, I met up with others this weekend and I was told in no uncertain terms that I MUST get one of your sway bars fitted! So how do I buy one here in the UK, Ron?
Bob Denman
New member
:welcome: This might sound funny, since I'm such a fan of Ron; but why not ride the bike a bit, and see if YOU think that it needs some help in the turns? :dontknow:
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