New rider intro, questions and comments

[jojo]

Hello everyone,

New Spyder owner/rider here. Been riding cycles for about 12 years (Hondamatic, Royal Enfield, Honda Shadow Aero, Piaggio MP3), and never really felt comfortable with a passenger (wife) on the back, so I started looking into the Can-Am Spyder. I did a bit of reading and watching videos, and found one for sale locally, test rode it and bought it. 2011 Can-Am Spyder RT SE5 with only 3500 miles on it.

So far the hardest part about riding the Spyder is remembering to ride in the middle of the lane ! After all of my miles on cycles, it just seems so foreign to me to ride in the middle. For my first couple of double up rides, the wife kept tapping me on the helmet, reminding me to move over to the right. I solved that problem by running a thin piece of red pinstripe tape down the middle of the windshield, which I try to keep aligned with the middle of the lane on the road ahead of me. It seems to be working really well, and hopefully I'll remove the line when I get a few more miles under my belt.

And speaking of windshields...I can't believe what a difference riding with a windshield makes. No wind on me at all, and all this week I rode with the visor up on my helmet and never once got cold.

Another minor annoyance with the Spyder is that the horn button is located right about where the turn signals were on my last bikes. I've honked the horn a few times when I meant to push the turn signals. Oops! No biggie, just another thing to get used to, (same for reaching for the hand brake).

I've found the seat to be quite comfortable, and my wife says that she's quite comfy up in her perch as well.
Love all of the storage room on the RT, I may just put away my backpack for good !
Reverse gear....fantastic !!!!
Great power on the RT as well. I haven't really rolled the throttle a lot, but when I have, it's responded quite well. Throaty sound and quick acceleration.
Automatic downshifts - love it.

I feel like I'm a turtle going around corners right now, but I know that will get better with time and miles.

Hit my first roadkill the other day. I saw it on the road ahead of me, and was concerned with getting it between my front wheels, and was worried about the low front end clearance.....but I didn't even think about the fact that I had lined it up perfectly with that back wheel. Bump and squish.

I'm getting lots of heat on my right foot, and realize that it's coming from that lower vent (radiator and engine heat). Is there a accessory vent available to redirect that heat ? It feels OK now, but in the summer that will be one hot foot.

I've already added a ram ball mount for my cell phone (which doubles as my GPS) between the handlebars, and I plan on adding USB charging port in the place of one of the empty switches in the dash. Also scouting out locations to mount my GoPro. Picked up a repair manual on CD as well.
I've been reading many, many messages and posts on this forum...lots of great information loaded here !

Looking forward to many miles of smooth, happy riding.

Joe Lynch
Columbus, Ohio

2015 Chevy Volt
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
2011 Can-Am Spyder RT SE5
1979 Triumph Spitfire
Homebuilt motorbike - Torker Bicycle w. 88cc 2 stroke gas engine

[Chupaca]

Welcome to the spyder world and this awesome site. Congrats on the new ryde Glad you found a ryde you both can enjoy and feel comfortable on. Your in for a lot of miles of smiles and will meet some fine folks out there...

[LateLifeCrisis]

Hello everyone,

New Spyder owner/rider here. Been riding cycles for about 12 years (Hondamatic, Royal Enfield, Honda Shadow Aero, Piaggio MP3), and never really felt comfortable with a passenger (wife) on the back, so I started looking into the Can-Am Spyder. I did a bit of reading and watching videos, and found one for sale locally, test rode it and bought it. 2011 Can-Am Spyder RT SE5 with only 3500 miles on it.

So far the hardest part about riding the Spyder is remembering to ride in the middle of the lane ! After all of my miles on cycles, it just seems so foreign to me to ride in the middle. For my first couple of double up rides, the wife kept tapping me on the helmet, reminding me to move over to the right. I solved that problem by running a thin piece of red pinstripe tape down the middle of the windshield, which I try to keep aligned with the middle of the lane on the road ahead of me. It seems to be working really well, and hopefully I'll remove the line when I get a few more miles under my belt.

And speaking of windshields...I can't believe what a difference riding with a windshield makes. No wind on me at all, and all this week I rode with the visor up on my helmet and never once got cold.

Another minor annoyance with the Spyder is that the horn button is located right about where the turn signals were on my last bikes. I've honked the horn a few times when I meant to push the turn signals. Oops! No biggie, just another thing to get used to, (same for reaching for the hand brake).

I've found the seat to be quite comfortable, and my wife says that she's quite comfy up in her perch as well.
Love all of the storage room on the RT, I may just put away my backpack for good !
Reverse gear....fantastic !!!!
Great power on the RT as well. I haven't really rolled the throttle a lot, but when I have, it's responded quite well. Throaty sound and quick acceleration.
Automatic downshifts - love it.

I feel like I'm a turtle going around corners right now, but I know that will get better with time and miles.

Hit my first roadkill the other day. I saw it on the road ahead of me, and was concerned with getting it between my front wheels, and was worried about the low front end clearance.....but I didn't even think about the fact that I had lined it up perfectly with that back wheel. Bump and squish.

I'm getting lots of heat on my right foot, and realize that it's coming from that lower vent (radiator and engine heat). Is there a accessory vent available to redirect that heat ? It feels OK now, but in the summer that will be one hot foot.

I've already added a ram ball mount for my cell phone (which doubles as my GPS) between the handlebars, and I plan on adding USB charging port in the place of one of the empty switches in the dash. Also scouting out locations to mount my GoPro. Picked up a repair manual on CD as well.
I've been reading many, many messages and posts on this forum...lots of great information loaded here !

Looking forward to many miles of smooth, happy riding.

Joe Lynch
Columbus, Ohio

2015 Chevy Volt
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
2011 Can-Am Spyder RT SE5
1979 Triumph Spitfire
Homebuilt motorbike - Torker Bicycle w. 88cc 2 stroke gas engine

Hello and Welcome!

You have found the best "Spyder" site in the universe! The members here are extremely helpful, knowledgeable, and informative. Looking for something for your Spyder? Just post your question, what you need, etc., and they'll respond - giving you the best, most up to date information available. Have a problem or want advice on maintenance? Just ask. Scheduled rides, clubs located near you, national Spyder events, products, clothing, tips, safety information? It's all here. So again, welcome and ENJOY - because this site will enable you to get the very best Spyder Ryding experience possible.

[SteveP]

Keep Ryding and most " little annoyances" will soon be a distant memory . There are so many people on this site with thousands of miles experience and multiple Spyder purchases under their belt , they have many ways to personalize every possible whim or concern ... And maybe even some things that never crossed your mind . A had a little bit of that issue with staying in the center but it was brief . Enjoy your new passion

[UCLA F3S]

Welcome aboard, Jojo! If you're wife is anything like my wife...she'll quickly get tired of riding passenger and want her own Spyder!

Nothing wrong with having two of these fantastic machines in the stable, either

[Highwayman2013]

Welcome. There are many things you can do to reduce the heat on the foot. Use the advanced search and much will be revealed. Here are a few: Remove splash pans under the motor, Spyderpops block off plate(upper), 2013 Rt heat recall scoops kit(this worked great on our 2012 RT).http://spyderpops.com/rt-rts-rt-limited/new-category-2/

[Bob Denman]

We're really glad that you found us, and we all want to say ""
About lane placement:
Folks normally put their "leaners" into either the left, or the right tire track...
We were always told to avoid the "grease patch" in the center of the lane.
I STILL find myself trying to move to the left or the right, but I did find a workable solution:
I stay JUST off-center, but I move around within the lane to make myself more visible to oncoming traffic.
Dead critters in the Road:
A three-track vehicle sure changes everything; doesn't it? I will normally try to put the recently deceased just to the inside of one of my front tires. This normally allows it to slide right on past the rear tire without any more insult to it's carcass...
But it's not perfect! I did pick up a bunch of quills in my rear tire sidewall, after brushing up against a "Quill-Turtle" once! It's usually best to see them early, slow down, and ride around them.
The Buttons:
They'll come to you; it just takes a bit of time!
Heat on your right foot:
There are lots of block-off plates available: Spyderpops has some of the best!
Take your time, and enjoy the learning process!

[ingramwc]

I hope you enjoy your Spyder!!! Take care and ride safe!!!!

[PrairieSpyder]

&

My first Spyder was also a 2011 RTS that I bought used.

Welcome. There are many things you can do to reduce the heat on the foot. Use the advanced search and much will be revealed. Here are a few: Remove splash pans under the motor, Spyderpops block off plate(upper), 2013 Rt heat recall scoops kit(this worked great on our 2012 RT).http://spyderpops.com/rt-rts-rt-limited/new-category-2/

I put the Spyderpops block-off plate on my 2011 and it helped. They didn't have the scoops then, but I could see how they'd help.

[murphybrown]

So glad you found us. Keep the questions coming...this is where all the experts and all the opinions reside. See that others have addressed your ?'s with the same answers I would have shared...so guess that means they are RIGHT. Glad you are here. Hi to wife..

[Ranman42]

Enjoy your ryde and welcome here lots of quality folks and advice.

[pegasus1300]

I too have a V twin RT,2012 RTL SE5. I too have found the power really fun. +1 on the Spyderpops block off plate, I have one on mine, the upper plate and I found it enough. As you ride and read posts you discover other things you will want to add to your Spyder. I have found there is a small space between the inside of the front tires and the outside of the rear and bumps, potholes and roadkill will often fit there. You'll soon learn what is too big and how to go around it safely.

Visit us often tell us about your experiences and your rides. And don't forget the pictures.

[Pirate looks at --]

One thing to remember, make sure you wear a good pair of Ryding boots! That is all I needed to keep my foot from heating up, and I have a 2013 RT, the real heat monster! Enjoy the ryde! And during the summer when the rest of you is hot, you won't notice your foot so much!

[ARtraveler]

and on your RT. We have one of the same in our current stable. Great and at 24K, no problems or issues. Enjoy your new ryde.

[Habib]

And

[ruralgirl]

Welcome to our wonderful world! I, too, beeped instead of blinked at least 4 times before finally getting the feel of where my signal button was! And don't worry about cornering; it takes most of us quite awhile to get totally comfortable with that maneuver. As far as centering, I try to line up pot holes, etc, between a front tire and my rump. It's a whole new game. Enjoy the ryde!!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

& .......Despite what you will be told here the Spyder NEEDS NOTHING .... to be enjoyed, however the V-twin has a weak charging system ( magneto ) and I advise getting a battery MAINTAINER ( not the same thing as a Charger ) and keep it connected when not riding it......Also find the thread " Do's & Do Not's " there is a lot of great info there ......ride safe ............. Mike

[Bob Denman]

If you have any riding experience on ATVs or snowmobiles: it often helps a lot!

[kamper]

I'm still new too and have found more information on this sight than any other, and the videos are a huge help if you want to take on any part of your spyder.

[Navydad]

from your neighbor to the south. We are new to the Spyder world after 40+ years on two wheels. There is a learning curve especially after that many years on two wheels, but after 700 miles I am getting much better. Yeah, I still beep when trying to turn, it is getting easier though.

[d.o.spyder-rts]

on your spyder purchase andto the spyder web. Dale

[GloryRyders]

Welcome to the party...............enjoy the ryde.

[Netminder]

Happy (S)miles!

[Spyder 10]

Joe

I too am in Columbus Ohio. Maybe we can get enough new riders and start having rides together.

Hello everyone,

New Spyder owner/rider here. Been riding cycles for about 12 years (Hondamatic, Royal Enfield, Honda Shadow Aero, Piaggio MP3), and never really felt comfortable with a passenger (wife) on the back, so I started looking into the Can-Am Spyder. I did a bit of reading and watching videos, and found one for sale locally, test rode it and bought it. 2011 Can-Am Spyder RT SE5 with only 3500 miles on it.

So far the hardest part about riding the Spyder is remembering to ride in the middle of the lane ! After all of my miles on cycles, it just seems so foreign to me to ride in the middle. For my first couple of double up rides, the wife kept tapping me on the helmet, reminding me to move over to the right. I solved that problem by running a thin piece of red pinstripe tape down the middle of the windshield, which I try to keep aligned with the middle of the lane on the road ahead of me. It seems to be working really well, and hopefully I'll remove the line when I get a few more miles under my belt.

And speaking of windshields...I can't believe what a difference riding with a windshield makes. No wind on me at all, and all this week I rode with the visor up on my helmet and never once got cold.

Another minor annoyance with the Spyder is that the horn button is located right about where the turn signals were on my last bikes. I've honked the horn a few times when I meant to push the turn signals. Oops! No biggie, just another thing to get used to, (same for reaching for the hand brake).

I've found the seat to be quite comfortable, and my wife says that she's quite comfy up in her perch as well.
Love all of the storage room on the RT, I may just put away my backpack for good !
Reverse gear....fantastic !!!!
Great power on the RT as well. I haven't really rolled the throttle a lot, but when I have, it's responded quite well. Throaty sound and quick acceleration.
Automatic downshifts - love it.

I feel like I'm a turtle going around corners right now, but I know that will get better with time and miles.

Hit my first roadkill the other day. I saw it on the road ahead of me, and was concerned with getting it between my front wheels, and was worried about the low front end clearance.....but I didn't even think about the fact that I had lined it up perfectly with that back wheel. Bump and squish.

I'm getting lots of heat on my right foot, and realize that it's coming from that lower vent (radiator and engine heat). Is there a accessory vent available to redirect that heat ? It feels OK now, but in the summer that will be one hot foot.

I've already added a ram ball mount for my cell phone (which doubles as my GPS) between the handlebars, and I plan on adding USB charging port in the place of one of the empty switches in the dash. Also scouting out locations to mount my GoPro. Picked up a repair manual on CD as well.
I've been reading many, many messages and posts on this forum...lots of great information loaded here !

Looking forward to many miles of smooth, happy riding.

Joe Lynch
Columbus, Ohio

2015 Chevy Volt
2016 Mitsubishi Outlander
2011 Can-Am Spyder RT SE5
1979 Triumph Spitfire
Homebuilt motorbike - Torker Bicycle w. 88cc 2 stroke gas engine