Shock Settings...

[FrankPa]

First off, let me say I'm 6'3" (6'4" if I get a good night's sleep), about 270#, and will be 60 in May.

I don't have a lot of cycle experience, so I feel much more at home going 45 on a smooth twisty road than 65 on the "slab."

When I got my 2011 RT-S, the shocks were set to "3" (aren't they all from the factory), and I didn't really think to bump them up at the 600 mile service. Well, I just got my Harbor Freight cycle jack unpacked and put together ($119 cut to $99 and $59 delivered with the $40 coupon... what a deal) and after taking the weight off the front shocks I moved them to #5 position.

WOW WHAT A DIFFERENCE !! Feels like I'm on a rail, steady as can be, without significantly increasing the 'busy-ness' of the ryde. I then got out on the slab and, while I still felt the buffeting of trucks on my body, the bike was MUCH steadier and still rode solid and straight, with little influence from surrounding traffic.

Just wanted to share...
Frank.

PS- If you have the SpyderPops Cat Shields be careful... there's only a small window of opportunity to get the jack under the Spyder and lifted without crushing the shields.

 

[Farmboy]

I am running on 4th setting and the wend buffering is ruff on the interstate, Scary for me. I tried it on the highest setting but like riding in a log truck. I thought the whole dash was going to shake off. But I am a little guy at 145-150 and wife at 125.

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm set at position #4
I'm about 210, and the Missus is :shocked::hun: (I've been trained to not respond in that manner!)
I felt that the front end firmed-up enough with just the minor change for me...

 

[daveinva]

Shock settings are a matter of personal choice, of course, but you'll find that it's rare for many Spyder riders to use anything less than the max shock settings, particularly on the RS.

To many, those shock settings are the *minimum* of enjoyable riding. I wasn't happy until I augmented it with the (dearly departed) Evo sway bar. Now, if only I had the money for Elkas....

Bottom line: if you want to have fun on rails, jack those shocks up; if you want a soft plush boat ride, buy yourself an old Cadillac. :joke:

 

[hrbeta]

I wasn't happy until I augmented it with the (dearly departed) Evo sway bar. Now, if only I had the money for Elkas....

@daveinva, from one that has both the EVO bar and Elka stage 2 shocks on his 2011 RS, I'd say that the bar makes the most difference/improvement for the buck. Elkas are great also, but IMO the sway bar is indispensable


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[daveinva]

@daveinva, from one that has both the EVO bar and Elka stage 2 shocks on his 2011 RS, I'd say that the bar makes the most difference/improvement for the buck. Elkas are great also, but IMO the sway bar is indispensable 


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That's what I had heard too-- plus the bar was far cheaper. I put mine on less than a month after I got the Spyder, difference was immediate.

 

[Sarge707]

Well, as someone who had the Stock Shocks on #5 and the Evo sway bar for about 6 months BEFORE I got the Elka 1+ shocks.
The Elka shocks make the cornering sooo much faster without even having to "Set Up" for a corner AND I was on I-95 yesterday during a wind storm of sorts passing semi,s with no problem- I never minded being pushed around on the freeways because on a jet ski in rough water your constantly making small adjustments at 60+ MPH BUT with the Elka,s th e highways are fairly tranquil.

 

[Bob Denman]

Too bad that EVO's gone belly-up... :shocked:

 

[ARtraveler]

2010 RTS. I am running all stock. I have the setting on #4. Weight 185 and double that with passenger. No handling problems for me.

 

[kevorama]

I never adjusted the stock shocks on my 2011 RTS. The 'roll out' that I experienced when cornering and when riding interstate conditions was what I figured to be the natural aspect of a 3 wheeled bike. The past 30+ years of my life has been on 2 wheels in the dirt, on the road, and from the road back into the dirt again. That last one wasn't intentional. It was a very unorthodox way of dismounting a Honda Hurricane at 70 MPH. Albeit, my fault, totally. I digress, the stock shocks are more spring controlled than fluid dampening, from what I understand. We just added the Elka Stage 1's and I can adjust the spring (300 lb. spring) like you can on the stocks. I might be wrong, but I thought the Elka's came set at 4". The fluid dampening has 50 clicks of settings and I have found a sweet spot that works great for highway, side winds and twistys with my weight on it and adding my wife settles it down to a more comfy, cruising style that she prefers. I am very happy with them and it has made what was already a very 'killer' ride that much more fun and unique.