Keeping your panels on and cable to bike for extra protection...

[Jim&Teresa]

I've seen some posts about people losing panels....so far, this has not happened to us on either of our Spyders we have owned :thumbup:

However, here's a couple of thoughts on what I have done to insure they stay on and IF they come off, the chance of saving them. I've learned most of this through this great forum, but wanted to have it in one thread. It's a small cost to do this for a little piece of mind!

I have used cable ties on the grommets on the bike that hold the panels. Cable tie each grommet to the bike frame when you remove a panel to work on your bike. That way the grommet stays in place better. The grommet stays in place even if you happen to pushed it out when replacing the panel, it's still right there and you can put it back. My first experience with this was my first panel removal on my 2012 RT L and I saw a grommet on my garage floor :yikes:....problem solved with cable ties - photo attached.

Secondly, I've read to use cables to keep panels near your bike and off the ground in case they pop off. Here's what I used and others have done something similar, but I thought I would post a couple pics of them. When off, they hang just above the floor with a 6" steel leader and using a carabiner to attach to bike so it's easily removed if you want the panel totally off the bike.

Good luck with all your farkles:yes::yes::yes:.....hopefully these couple suggestions will help someone! hyea:

 

[Bob Denman]

Good idea! :thumbup:
I glued the grommets in place on my 2010; that worked well also.

 

[Chupaca]

Good to know..!!

Great reminder. Have seen the lose of this panel too often. Seems that by now this problem would have been addressed. Your solutions are good ones and easy diy ways. Have also seen them add glue to the gromets to keep them in place...thanks..!! :thumbup:

 

[PW2013STL]

Good Idea as I have already pushed one grommet out and spent some time trying to find it :banghead:

Since this is my first RT I noticed that there is a small locking tab in the corner of each side pannel that snaps onto the next panel helping secure it to the bike. Did the earler RT's have this also?

 

[Jim&Teresa]

Good Idea as I have already pushed one grommet out and spent some time trying to find it :banghead:

Since this is my first RT I noticed that there is a small locking tab in the corner of each side pannel that snaps onto the next panel helping secure it to the bike. Did the earler RT's have this also?

Yes...my 2012 RT Limited had the locking tab also. Be careful not to pop that little tab off. Always protect it and pull off the bottom of the panel first and work your way to the locking tab....good luck! :thumbup:

 

[cuznjohn]

just to let you know

i put the fishing leaders on my bike with 70 pound test and when the pnl. came off it broke the leader

 

[Jim&Teresa]

i put the fishing leaders on my bike with 70 pound test and when the pnl. came off it broke the leader

I was afraid of that -- need go with industrial strength cabling! :yikes::yikes: Then the panel would break! :gaah:

Wow.. that's a lot of wind force to deal with if you panel comes off at highway speeds.....

 

[PW2013STL]

Yes...my 2012 RT Limited had the locking tab also. Be careful not to pop that little tab off. Always protect it and pull off the bottom of the panel first and work your way to the locking tab....good luck! :thumbup:

I wonder how many were lost because that tab was not locked onto the next panel :dontknow:. I know it is easy to miss doing that.

 

[Bob Denman]

Since this is my first RT I noticed that there is a small locking tab in the corner of each side pannel that snaps onto the next panel helping secure it to the bike. Did the earler RT's have this also?

Not the earliest ones... :shocked:
They changedeverything back in 2010... Mine didn't have them; but later 2010s did.

 

[PW2013STL]

I was afraid of that -- need go with industrial strength cabling! :yikes::yikes: Then the panel would break! :gaah:

Wow.. that's a lot of wind force to deal with if you panel comes off at highway speeds.....

Since you are using vinyl covered cable I think you are covered. If the wind breaks that you are in a tornado and have other issues to worry about :yikes:

 

[Jim&Teresa]

Since you are using vinyl covered cable I think you are covered. If the wind breaks that you are in a tornado and have other issues to worry about :yikes:

I think I'll listen to cuznjohn about losing his panel with 70 lb test. I have some 550 nylon paracord rated for 110 lb working load and 550 lb max load. I think I'll be replacing those 20 lb fishing leaders with the paracord and see how that works! At that point, the cord will hold, but will the fastener in the panel?????

Oh well, just for peace of mind anyways. Hope to never need it! :thumbup: