adjusting air ride

[shreck]

When adding air to the air shock to accommodate for a passenger should the display in the dash be in the hard or soft position or doesn't it matter? The owners manual shows a diagram on what air pressure you should put in according to the weight of your passenger.

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

The air ride adjusts itself for passenger based on your preference. There's no need to make any changes unless the terrain or preference dictate.

 

[GadgetGuy442]

On my 2010 RTS, the air ride setting corresponds to a ride height. Particularly noticeable at night, each position on the display takes us to a specific height (by adjusting the air pressure). The highest settings give us a little harsher ride, but we ride higher (and headlight aim come down). The opposite is true for the lowest setting.

If I'm riding with just low beams and want max down the road illumination, I'll dial down the suspension to lowest setting.

Having fun every ride... Just turned 30,000 miles today!

Bill & Sandy

 

[stevedfive]

We like it a little on the soft side and measure that to be 25psi.

 

[NancysToy]

We like it a little on the soft side and measure that to be 25psi.

Actually, the pressure varies during use, to maintain the ride height. After you get off, if the Spyder has adjusted at all beforehand, the pressure will measure lower than in actual use. Add some cargo or a pssenger, and the ride height stays the same, but the pressure increses.

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

Actually, the pressure varies during use, to maintain the ride height. After you get off, if the Spyder has adjusted at all beforehand, the pressure will measure lower than in actual use. Add some cargo or a pssenger, and the ride height stays the same, but the pressure increses.

That's the beauty about the adjustable shock. When mine was not working, it would take several tries to get the right feel. With wife, without wife, luggage, no luggage. The feel kept on changing. With the electronic controls working its a total set it and forget it and the added benefit of hardening in twisties and softening on bumpy roads.

 

[Bob Ledford]

Hard vs Soft

What the previous posters have said is true. Look at your Spyder like a ruler balanced on a pencil. Make the sharp end the front end. If you set the ride PSIG to your weight or preference maybe a better word, and lay a paper clip om the eraser end the pencil tilts backwards. The electronics in the "ride control" automatically pumps the shock up back to balance point.

What took me 3 months to learn was it is not totally automatic the way would think. With the high/soft button in the middle push it to soft and watch on the left hand edge of the center computer screen. It will go down each time you push the soft button. Is that Kool?

Now push it to hard and bump it a couple times and listen for the air compressor to cycle. That's cool too. Now look where your headlights are shining on the wall.. Get your significant other to sit on the back and watch it compensate for the extra weight.

One thing I learned which no one ever tells anyone that I know of, if an on coming car flashes his headlights at you a lot you can adjust for that by pushing the hard button a couple of times. Thereby jacking up the tail or like removing the paper lip off the pencil.

So in order to change things you have to tell the system how many PSI you want. Use the digital gauge on the computer screen. Listen for the compressor when adding weight to the Spyder's tail. I could not begin to tell you how times I read the manual and did not figure it out.

Don't be surprised f your riding bud takes exception to the compressor turning on every time she gets on board. Mine laughs now and sez "stupid computer lies."

 

[gwritesel]

Actually, the pressure varies during use, to maintain the ride height. After you get off, if the Spyder has adjusted at all beforehand, the pressure will measure lower than in actual use. Add some cargo or a pssenger, and the ride height stays the same, but the pressure increses.

Scotty
Where do you set yours when towing the Aspen Classic
Geo.

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty
Where do you set yours when towing the Aspen Classic
Geo.

I have the smaller Aspen Sentry, actually. I also have two other trailers. The trailer doesn't matter as far as the rear suspension settings go, however. First, the Spyder RT is limited to 40 pounds of tongue weight, no matter what, so there is no need to adjust for added tongue weight. Second, the tongue weight is not suspended...it rides on the hitch, which is attached to the swing arm. It doesn't move when loaded. Push down on your hitch versus pushing down on the rear trunk and you'll see what I mean. Finally, the auto suspension will adjust for added weight, to maintain ride heght, so there is no need to make adjustments unless you want it to react differently. It will compensate for a passenger or cargo...al by itself.

 

[gwritesel]

I have the smaller Aspen Sentry, actually. I also have two other trailers. The trailer doesn't matter as far as the rear suspension settings go, however. First, the Spyder RT is limited to 40 pounds of tongue weight, no matter what, so there is no need to adjust for added tongue weight. Second, the tongue weight is not suspended...it rides on the hitch, which is attached to the swing arm. It doesn't move when loaded. Push down on your hitch versus pushing down on the rear trunk and you'll see what I mean. Finally, the auto suspension will adjust for added weight, to maintain ride heght, so there is no need to make adjustments unless you want it to react differently. It will compensate for a passenger or cargo...al by itself.

Thanks Scotty.I hadn't thought about the hitch being not suspended.
Geo.