QUESTIONS?????????

[MikeP]

Hello everyone, took a short demo ride this weekend " ABT 370 mi on an RT" The wife and I were VERY happy w it and will buy one this year or next. The Issues I have are FUEL RANGE and RPMs . Does anyone make an aux tank or Alternative sprockets. Also I noticed i was only puting in 5.2 gallons of gas after the light came on so I had 1.4 gal left, So my question do some of you members have a high and low as to how far these things go on a tank of gas? THX

 

[ARtraveler]

On the current models, the fuel lights come on very early--usually 130 miles or so. If I fill up at that point, it takes right around 4 gallons. It is scarry to drive with the light on, and when the gas guage is showing empty. I can run mine until the gas needle bottoms out--about a quarter inch below the empty square. I have went 175--but usually fill between 130 to 150.

Overall gas mileage about 31 mpg.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Mr. Orange has an extra fuel tank on his RS but it takes up the entire front trunk. I didn't think that the capacity of the tank was 6.6 I thought it was more like 6.1. I have read that due to the shape of the tank it has a slightly smaller actual capacity than what the specs show.

I start looking for fuel at 125 miles.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Welcome Mike,P

You've found the BEST SITE ON THE WEB for anything and everything SpYder related.
Here is a thread I started a couple months back about fuel miliage.
http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...les-on-1-Tank*I-challenge-other-Ryders-to-try

This chronicles my personal experiences and that of a few others as well. Hope this halps to answer some of your questions, & again, Welcome to the SpYderHood:2thumbs:

 

[BikerDoc]

This is a high RPM bike. It seems most comfortable and performs best if yu keep the RPMs high.. As to fuel - it is not a traditional motorcycle = it is a comfort cruising machine. Very few people that I speak with get better than 30MPH on the RT unless the are mr. Whipple drivers.. 5.7 gals was the most I have ever been able to get in the tank and that was after running completely out of fuel. There is unfillable breathing space in the tank.. Most of folks seem to ride comfortable stretches of 125 miles on RT and are happy to rest for a few moment while fueling before heading out again. This will no doubt prompt some argument but this is the profile that I see after watching Spyder Lover every single day for nearly two straight years.

 

[MikeP]

I seriously think BRP is going to upgrade this bike nxt year, given the fact this model has been out a few years. I would EXPECT from any TOURING bike a decent range which this bike CLEARLY does not have. All the Lux Touring bikes have things that the RT needs to grab even MORE customers, Heated seats, Fuel Range, Over drive 5th or a six speed, seriously this motor is SINGIN @ 80 and above! They NEED TO BE KNOCKIN on the door of 40MPGs. I would have one of these in my garage as soon as the 12s are availible and still may get one but I'm not sayin anything that hasn't been said OVER AND OVER AND OVER on every Spyder forum, These things need better MPGs and some range! It's nice to get off the bike @ 160mi if you want to but its nice to ride ALOT FURTHER if you can.

I took to this bike almost IMMEDIATLY and was so impressed w the way it rode and handled! The wifey LOVED it too! It looks like this WILL BE our nxt bike but we just might wait a bit.

 

[MikeP]

I see BRP selling the **** out of these to SO MANY PEOPLE for SO MANY different reasons. They are really an AWESOME machine. I think ALL bike MFRs monitor web sites to get feedback so I know they ARE listening. When I pulled up to the dealer on my BMW, EVERYONE came over to look and ask questions, even the BRP demo guys! The wife and I took the dealer demo out for abt 15 mi and were impresed so much that I said to the salesman "I need to take this thing on a REAL test ride" He was very eager to accomidate me. I did every concievable thing I would do w this bike if I owned it and was VERY impressed!!!!!

 

[Littlebadwolf]

Town & Country in Cement City rents the Spyders for $125 a day...I'd take that approach if you want to spend more time on one to get a real feel for the way it handles, etc.

 

[BikerDoc]

I seriously think BRP is going to upgrade this bike nxt year, given the fact this model has been out a few years. I would EXPECT from any TOURING bike a decent range which this bike CLEARLY does not have. All the Lux Touring bikes have things that the RT needs to grab even MORE customers, Heated seats, Fuel Range, Over drive 5th or a six speed, seriously this motor is SINGIN @ 80 and above! They NEED TO BE KNOCKIN on the door of 40MPGs. I would have one of these in my garage as soon as the 12s are availible and still may get one but I'm not sayin anything that hasn't been said OVER AND OVER AND OVER on every Spyder forum, These things need better MPGs and some range! It's nice to get off the bike @ 160mi if you want to but its nice to ride ALOT FURTHER if you can.

I took to this bike almost IMMEDIATLY and was so impressed w the way it rode and handled! The wifey LOVED it too! It looks like this WILL BE our nxt bike but we just might wait a bit.

The 2012s show very little change so you may be in for a wait.

 

[harddrive]

Hey Mike,

We have a 2010 RT AC and love it. I use 5th gear as the overdrive because I like to keep the RPMs up and by doing that, I get better MPG. I had to get use to this, because my HD was a low RPM machine. The best I ever got with the RT was 186 miles and it started missing as I pulled in to the gas station. I put 5.9 gallons in it and got the last 1/2 gallon in by slowly topping it off (which you don't want to do because the gas goes in to the overflow, you get a gas smell for days). That gave me 31.5 MPGs and I average 30MPGs.

Now, to get in to the 40 MPG range, you probably will need to go with a 2 wheeler. I had a HD Classic that got 40 MPGs before I put a cam in it, and it got 32 to 35 after the cam. The buell I had got 55 MPG...

If you have to get over 40 MPGs, you may want to look at a VW bug TDI, or a ford festiva...:joke:

I ride with several 2 wheelers, and several trikes. The trikes are a tri-glide, a HD classic that has been triked, and a goldwing that has been triked. When we hit 100 miles on the clock, we have to stop for gas becuase at 110, all three of them are on the side of the road. Some times the tri-glide can be pushed to 130, but it is close. The 2 wheelers are a screamin eagle street glide and a ultra limited. Those to have been modified, but can go to 175 before the light comes on.

I like to get off and stretch my legs and drain the bladder around 100 miles, so I will fill it up also.

 

[Bob Denman]

I can get to 140 miles pretty easy and then it's usually taking right around 4 gallons... A bit less, or more depending on how much in-Town riding I had done.

 

[ARtraveler]

Bob: mid to high 30's is very good. You do the short shift and keep the RPM's down though? That would make a big difference.

 

[NancysToy]

I seriously think BRP is going to upgrade this bike nxt year, given the fact this model has been out a few years. I would EXPECT from any TOURING bike a decent range which this bike CLEARLY does not have. All the Lux Touring bikes have things that the RT needs to grab even MORE customers, Heated seats, Fuel Range, Over drive 5th or a six speed, seriously this motor is SINGIN @ 80 and above! They NEED TO BE KNOCKIN on the door of 40MPGs. I would have one of these in my garage as soon as the 12s are availible and still may get one but I'm not sayin anything that hasn't been said OVER AND OVER AND OVER on every Spyder forum, These things need better MPGs and some range! It's nice to get off the bike @ 160mi if you want to but its nice to ride ALOT FURTHER if you can.

I took to this bike almost IMMEDIATLY and was so impressed w the way it rode and handled! The wifey LOVED it too! It looks like this WILL BE our nxt bike but we just might wait a bit.

Welcome! Glad you liked the Spyder experience...if not the details. You may have to adjust your expectations if a Spyder is to be in your future. A vehicle this large (compared to a motorcycle), with "dirty" aerodynamics brought on by the exposed suspension (among other things) will never get the 40 mpg you are dreaming about. 30ish is more realistic. The rpms are normal. This engine does not like less. It is what it is. If you need something that will cruise along at 2K-3K, you'll have to look elsewhere. I doubt BRP will be changing it soon. Thete are no significant changes for the 2012 models. The cruising range is admittedly more limited than other full tourers. The 6.0 gallon usable capacity makes 100-150 miles per tankful the practical range. You get used to it, and get to stretch more often. No ready-made aux tank is available, nor is any regearing. BTW, 5th gear is already technically an overdrive....but just barely.

It's a lot like buying anything else. The Spyder has the features it has. If they please you, go for it! If they don't, it may be best to wait or pass. We can't make it into something it is not.

 

[MarkLawson]

Lots of variables impact MPG. I've ranged as high as 36.74 MPG (40-50 MPH) in a group ride, one-up, to as low as 18.4 MPG while running 85-90 on I-20 in Texas, pulling the RT-622 trailer & pushing a 30-35 MPH headwind.

 

[MouthPiece]

I've been able to get anywhere from 29 to 32 mpg. This past weekend we did a sunrise to sunset ride (close to 400 miles) and I got 31 mpg. I start looking for gas when I hit 120 miles.

Chris