Spyder RT Generation 2 (2014–2019): A New Engine, a Familiar Touring Shape
The second RT generation kept the recognizable touring body while changing the machinery underneath—and continued to add equipment and electronics throughout its six model years.
Some model changes announce themselves through a new silhouette. The Spyder RT's 2014 transformation tells a different story. Its touring identity remained recognizable, but the powertrain was substantially new: the 998cc V-twin gave way to the Rotax 1330 ACE inline three-cylinder, and the five-speed transmissions were replaced by a six-speed family.
That single model-year boundary changes the technical reference for an RT. It affects how owners identify the transmission, read the maintenance schedule, understand the cooling system, and research a reported condition. A 2014 RT and a 2013 RT can look closely related, but they do not share the same powertrain or service requirements.
The 2014 engineering change
BRP's 2014 information identifies a 1330cc ACE triple and SM6 manual or SE6 semi-automatic six-speed transmissions, with reverse. The company also moved the radiators ahead of the front A-arms and described a fan-reversal mode intended to direct warm air away from the rider. These are documented engineering features, not a promise that every rider will experience identical temperatures or that all heat complaints disappeared.
Another important distinction lies in maintenance. The 1330 engine's service schedule belongs to its own operator's guide, not the 998cc V-twin's. A record that says only “oil service” does not necessarily tell the whole maintenance story.
The trims documented in this generation
Several familiar names continued, while special packages and later lineup adjustments added more distinctions. The precise equipment and transmission listing depends on the model year and the original market document.
RT
The base RT appears in the generation's factory brochures and trim sheets, with core touring features such as the adjustable windshield, audio, cruise control, and heated rider grips in the applicable specifications. The 2014 and 2018 documents identify manual and semi-automatic transmission offerings; the 2019 base RT sheet lists the semi-automatic six-speed.
RT-S
RT-S appears in 2014–2017 factory materials, with year-specific rear-air adjustment, passenger-heating, and floorboard details. The 2017 brochure lists SE6 for RT-S. This is a reason to rely on a specific year's chart rather than broad statements about what an RT-S “always” includes.
RT Limited
RT Limited appears throughout the generation, with equipment lists covering such items as navigation, luggage accessories, rear suspension, finish choices, and passenger provisions in the relevant years. In later model years, Limited also appears in Chrome and Dark treatments. Those names refer to specific equipment/finish presentations and should be shown accurately in the visual gallery, not treated as separate mechanical generations.
Special Series and anniversary presentations
The 2015 RT-S Special Series lists a lower tinted windshield and distinctive seat and finishes; the 2016 documentation includes a Triple Black variation. The 2018 factory sheet identifies an RT Limited 10th Anniversary presentation with special color and trim details. These are real, date-specific versions worth photographing separately—but a Special Series label must not be applied to every year or every RT-S.
Six model years, several clear milestones
2014 — The mechanical reset. The 1330 ACE triple, six-speed transmissions, revised radiator placement, and new cooling architecture define the model-year break.
2015 — Special Series becomes part of the RT story. The U.S. brochure records the RT-S Special Series presentation, including a short tinted windshield, special seat, and distinctive finish.
2016 — Package details still matter. RT, RT-S, Limited, and the Special Series are documented in the 2016 brochure. Navigation-system listings differ from the previous year's U.S. brochure; that is a difference in published equipment lists, not proof that a device was universally fitted, removed, or downgraded.
2017 — Transmission listings shift. The factory chart lists SM6 or SE6 for RT, but SE6 for RT-S and Limited. The distinction is specific to the 2017 brochure and should not be retroactively applied to other years.
2018 — Instrumentation enters a new chapter. BRP introduced a connected 7.8-inch display to the RT range. That change matters for understanding the dashboard in a 2018 or 2019 machine, but it should not be confused with the larger touchscreen introduced in 2024. The 2018 model-year material also identifies the Limited 10th Anniversary package.
2019 — The final year before the new body. The documented RT and RT Limited factory sheets list six-speed semi-automatic transmissions. The next year's RT would adopt substantially different bodywork and luggage architecture.
Service and documented technical communications
The 1330 RT's factory service guidance belongs with the 1330 and the exact transmission. Intervals vary by year, transmission and operating conditions; consult the applicable guide before servicing.
Work's records include manufacturer communications about precisely defined conditions, such as a 2014 SE6 clutch concern affecting listed model codes/serial numbers, an intermittent D.E.S.S. error/no-start topic, and parking-brake cable adjustment for described symptoms. A communication is not proof that every RT in the model year has the problem. Diagnosis and eligibility must follow the original technical document.
Later model-year RTs also appear in documented driveline safety campaigns, including certain 2017–2019 RTs. The front-sprocket and output-shaft campaigns are separate issues and must never be represented as the same repair. Model-year ranges are not enough to confirm a specific VIN's inclusion or completion.
One design chapter ends; another begins
The 2014–2019 RT demonstrates how substantial mechanical development can occur without a wholesale body redesign. The 1330 engine, six-speed family, and updated cooling defined this period; special editions and dashboard technology gave individual years more of their own identity. In 2020, BRP kept the 1330 but rebuilt the touring presentation around it. That is the next RT chapter.
Continue: RT Generation 3A: 2020–2023 · Return to the RT model overview
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