Using Rally Mode on-road

[garrison]

I've started experimenting with using Off-Road -> Rally mode when driving around town in my R1S. The suspension is much smoother going over bumps and potholes compared to All-Purpose mode. My usual commute is about 50% on dirt roads, which are in pretty bad shape currently from recent storms, and about 50% on paved roads, going about 55mph max. Rally mode also allows me to stay in the High ride height when going above 45mph.

I haven't tried it at highway speeds yet, due to the fact that many key features are disabled when using this drive mode (adaptive cruise control, park assist sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warnings, just to name a few that I noticed are disabled).

It seems like this could be a good option for city driving on rough roads, but not having those Driver+ features is unfortunate. Hopefully Rivian will consider implementing these suspension settings as an option within "All-Purpose" mode, with the various Driver+ options enabled.

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[Si.LE.R1S]

I've started experimenting with using Off-Road -> Rally mode when driving around town in my R1S. The suspension is much smoother going over bumps and potholes compared to All-Purpose mode. My usual commute is about 50% on dirt roads, which are in pretty bad shape currently from recent storms, and about 50% on paved roads, going about 55mph max. Rally mode also allows me to stay in the High ride height when going above 45mph.

I haven't tried it at highway speeds yet, due to the fact that many key features are disabled when using this drive mode (adaptive cruise control, park assist sensors, rear cross-traffic alert, and forward collision warnings, just to name a few that I noticed are disabled).

It seems like this could be a good option for city driving on rough roads, but not having those Driver+ features is unfortunate. Hopefully Rivian will consider implementing these suspension settings as an option within "All-Purpose" mode, with the various Driver+ options enabled.

Other owners agree with your suggestions to somehow incorporate some of the Rally mode tuning to everyday use. See older thread below.

I suspect there is something way too aggressive with the Stabilty Control for normal driving modes. I find a good balance is simply using all-purpose, standard height, soft-suspension, and disabled stability control for best passenger comfort, with the caveat that some features are disabled. But I figure some of nerfed safety is counteracted by the fact that I drive much more conservatively with “valuable payload.” I would leave stability on in bad weather, though, for the occasional snow shower in Vegas.

https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...ity-harsh-on-bumpy-surfaces.12196/post-274782

 

[DTown3011]

I find Rally Mode to be the most amazing setting in terms of comfort - it feels like a mag-lev train. I don't use it as often as I should, but it's the suspension setting that has the best feel IMO.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Rally disables the cross-linking in the dampers. Dangerous on the pavement at high speeds because you have no anti-roll anymore.

 

[dgennetten]

Love this forum! So many juicy tidbits like this.

 

[crashmtb]

Rally disables the cross-linking in the dampers. Dangerous on the pavement at high speeds because you have no anti-roll anymore.

I was told sport mode, suspension in soft, ESC turned down is the “fun button” for street use.

 

[defcon888]

Rally disables the cross-linking in the dampers. Dangerous on the pavement at high speeds because you have no anti-roll anymore.

define "high speed"?

 

[Dark-Fx]

define "high speed"?

55+ in my experience. If you have to swerve to avoid something it'd definitely fail the moose test. Pavement just has too much traction.

 

[R1Tom]

Rally disables the cross-linking in the dampers. Dangerous on the pavement at high speeds because you have no anti-roll anymore.

I think this is why they can't implement for any on road use. Physical anti-roll bars have one advantage and this is it. The only way for Rivian to implement anti-roll is thru stiffening dampers, which leads to greater impact feel in the vehicle. Physical anti-roll bars do not impact damper rates.

 

[RexRemus]

55+ in my experience. If you have to swerve to avoid something it'd definitely fail the moose test. Pavement just has too much traction.

only really concerned about this for around town (max 35-45mph) on a few really crappy Chicago roads around my place. I'll have to give it a try.

Totally fine going all-purpose when getting on the highway if this actually makes a difference around town

 

[Truffle]

Rally mode is my hands down fav feeling in the r1t.. it’s like hopping on a full suspension downhill mtn bike. Cuuuushhy

 

[jimmyb2]

Rally disables the cross-linking in the dampers. Dangerous on the pavement at high speeds because you have no anti-roll anymore.

I do agree that is a good thing to make people aware of potential problems as you have.

However, if you have lived long enough you have driven many vehicles without anti-sway, ABS, traction control, etc. So, is it a problem?

Yes, people got injured or died without those safety features; but people get hurt or die today with those safety features.
Just saying …

 

[Dark-Fx]

I do agree that is a good thing to make people aware of potential problems as you have.

However, if you have lived long enough you have driven many vehicles without anti-sway, ABS, traction control, etc. So, is it a problem?

Yes, people got injured or died without those safety features; but people get hurt or die today with those safety features.
Just saying …

I haven't driven many lifted 7000 lbs pickup trucks without it. Just saying. If you're used to the truck with the anti-sway measures in place it reacts very differently without them.

 

[Lobstahz]

Rally disables the cross-linking in the dampers. Dangerous on the pavement at high speeds because you have no anti-roll anymore.

Is THAT what it does?! Very interesting. I recently started experimenting and driving in Rally Mode more and definitely found an offramp much more unsettling than usual. I am visiting family on Long Island and these entrance/exit ramps are terrible in general so can't rule that out either. So perhaps a bad test, but may match.

I find the R1S porpoises a lot less in Rally Mode, which is my biggest irritation of all purpose mode. I have to assume there are other changes as well as the cross-link would be the side to side, but I wouldn't expect that to impact front to back. I really hope they can take some of what makes really mode nice and integrate that into all purpose mode.

 

[Dark-Fx]

Is THAT what it does?! Very interesting. I recently started experimenting and driving in Rally Mode more and definitely found an offramp much more unsettling than usual. I am visiting family on Long Island and these entrance/exit ramps are terrible in general so can't rule that out either. So perhaps a bad test, but may match.

I find the R1S porpoises a lot less in Rally Mode, which is my biggest irritation of all purpose mode. I have to assume there are other changes as well as the cross-link would be the side to side, but I wouldn't expect that to impact front to back. I really hope they can take some of what makes really mode nice and integrate that into all purpose mode.

It isn't the only thing but it is the biggest change that results in less energy being transferred into the cabin.

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