RDRS Rain Traction Control setting
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,676
Likes: 11,468
From: State of Confusion
RDRS Rain Traction Control setting
so coming up a slight uphill section of straight highway that was wet yesterday I was in the process of redlining it in 4th gear and the TR lamp flashed until I backed off the throttle to shift to 5th. so it came on somewhere between 4500 & 5000 rpms and was over 80 mph ...surprised because this is a bone stock 114 and I would never expect it to come on in this scenario..wonder if it's perhaps programmed overly sensitive, maybe if it was in standard TR instead of Rain it wouldn't have, maybe the OEM Dunlop is just a bad wet conditions tire, or there was a slight uneven bit of highway that lifted the tire up enough......anyone else have personal observations with their TR?
Last edited by mjwebb; Jan 20, 2020 at 06:55 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 21,765
Likes: 22,967
From: North Carolina
My 2017 of course does not have it and I have not ridden one of the new ones yet. But I am interested and think that these advancements certainly add a new level of safety.
Just an observation and in no way criticism. I Seldom see 4 k RPM or over. In wet road conditions I apply my own traction control by staying in a higher gear and keeping the revs lower. As for Dunlop’s my personal opinion of them in wet conditions is very good. I have several thousand miles of safe travels in heavy rain with them. Keep in mind you have a small contact patch.
To me it sounds like the system is working! Thanks for posting so we can all learn and get a better understanding of the system.
Just an observation and in no way criticism. I Seldom see 4 k RPM or over. In wet road conditions I apply my own traction control by staying in a higher gear and keeping the revs lower. As for Dunlop’s my personal opinion of them in wet conditions is very good. I have several thousand miles of safe travels in heavy rain with them. Keep in mind you have a small contact patch.
To me it sounds like the system is working! Thanks for posting so we can all learn and get a better understanding of the system.
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,676
Likes: 11,468
From: State of Confusion
My 2017 of course does not have it and I have not ridden one of the new ones yet. But I am interested and think that these advancements certainly add a new level of safety.
Just an observation and in no way criticism. I Seldom see 4 k RPM or over. In wet road conditions I apply my own traction control by staying in a higher gear and keeping the revs lower. As for Dunlop’s my personal opinion of them in wet conditions is very good. I have several thousand miles of safe travels in heavy rain with them. Keep in mind you have a small contact patch.
To me it sounds like the system is working! Thanks for posting so we can all learn and get a better understanding of the system.
Just an observation and in no way criticism. I Seldom see 4 k RPM or over. In wet road conditions I apply my own traction control by staying in a higher gear and keeping the revs lower. As for Dunlop’s my personal opinion of them in wet conditions is very good. I have several thousand miles of safe travels in heavy rain with them. Keep in mind you have a small contact patch.
To me it sounds like the system is working! Thanks for posting so we can all learn and get a better understanding of the system.
yeah, I don't run around redlining it everywhere I go either..
this was just one of those times being able to get out with cabin fever since the weather has been horrible...it wasn't raining at the time, there was no traffic, didn't 'see' any cops and seriously needed to blow the cobwebs out of my bike, and mind
edit: so my takeaways from this experience are:
1. it does appear to be working as intended / designed
2. the stock 114 is not an underpowered slug
3. I will always enable Rain mode when roads are wet
Last edited by mjwebb; Jan 20, 2020 at 07:45 AM.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 71
so coming up a slight uphill section of straight highway that was wet yesterday I was in the process of redlining it in 4th gear and the TR lamp flashed until I backed off the throttle to shift to 5th. so it came on somewhere between 4500 & 5000 rpms and was over 80 mph ...surprised because this is a bone stock 114 and I would never expect it to come on in this scenario..wonder if it's perhaps programmed overly sensitive, maybe if it was in standard TR instead of Rain it wouldn't have, maybe the OEM Dunlop is just a bad wet conditions tire, or there was a slight uneven bit of highway that lifted the tire up enough......anyone else have personal observations with their TR?
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 433
From: Menifee, CA
I've not used anything but the stock type Dunlops on mine. I had a step-out happen with an easy throttle roll-on on wet pavement, 60 degrees f, in 5th gear, at 70 mph. The step-out on the rear wheel was a major event that caused my pants to get dirty. I wish I had RDRS! Nowadays I don't ride much in rain, but when I do, I don't do very much "rolling-on."
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,676
Likes: 11,468
From: State of Confusion
makes sense with the MT center tread being harder for wear longevity...I'm feeling really good about having RDRS now despite somehow having survived 15 years without it
Trending Topics
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 804
Likes: 237
From: TN
I went thru a couple of corners at a faster pace then I should have, when powering out of them hit some ripple bumps the rear slid a bit, the rdrs/tc reduced the throttle action and let the bike stabilize quickly. No long lasting effects, was back to normal in a couple of seconds or so. Dry pavement though.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 99
Likes: 63
From: Lanvéoc
TC solution for non equipped bikes
This will be my first Harley (Low Rider FXLR).
HD softails have plenty of powerful torque. When the road is wet and/or muddy, TC is not a gadget in my opinion.
I would have liked to be offered the option of installing TC on mine. Same as the Cruise Control available kit.
Softails got ABS (standard in Europe), Ride by Wire and an on board computer. I think it should not be complicated to
implement a TC solution for bikes like mine.
HD softails have plenty of powerful torque. When the road is wet and/or muddy, TC is not a gadget in my opinion.
I would have liked to be offered the option of installing TC on mine. Same as the Cruise Control available kit.
Softails got ABS (standard in Europe), Ride by Wire and an on board computer. I think it should not be complicated to
implement a TC solution for bikes like mine.
Road Master
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 894
Likes: 224
From: Lynden, WA
That computer in your bike can probably detect wheel slip well before you can feel it, its comparing the wheel speed of the front and rear wheels most likely and calculating a slip percentage. Sounds like the system was workin to me. I really wish my bike had the cornering ABS etc. considered trading up to get it. I think if H-D can figure out how to get these systems on the bikes to get new riders in em Im all for it. I am 100% opposed to an automatic or automated transmission but Im sure thats coming. If it gets people on Harleys I'm ok with it as long as i am not required to buy it.