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First Impressions
IMG_3323.jpg
Heading home from the dealership.
Wife and daughter at San Augustin Pass in the Organs.
Last edited by flyday58; 04-07-2017 at 10:27 PM.
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Very Active Member
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Very Active Member
Nice...!!
That's quite an impression...great choice.. welcome..!!
Gene and Ilana De Laney
Mt. Helix, California
2012 RS sm5
2012 RS sm5 , 998cc V-Twin 106hp DIY brake and park brake Classic Black
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So 110 miles from the dealer to the house, over the Organ Mountains, across White Sands and up US 82 to Cloudcroft, down NM 130 and Russia Canyon Road. First impressions: seems a little twitchy. I'm thinking tires. Talked with the service guy, he has no problem mounting and balancing non-MC tires so that's to be done soon. The grips were a little tiring on the hands so will look at the foam grips that slide over the stock ones. Not sure about the handlebars yet, will take a little more time riding before I think about replacing them.
Had no problem getting up and over San Augustin Pass or up US 82. It was 87º across the desert, 59 in the home stretch so a mostly comfortable ride in a long tee and BDUs. Did notice my nether yaiah were quite toasty; a good stream of heat coming out at the front lip of the seat so I'll take a look at that and see if there's a way to block or redirect it. Not bad but definitely not a ride for Lady Godiva.
My big concern of course was the 5 miles up the canyon and my ultra-steep driveway. I kept it under 15 mph in the canyon and did okay. The last mile is steep and rutted from winter plowing, so it's the most problematic. Just kept it between 5-10 mph and it wasn't bad. Went front-first down the driveway, reversed and tried to back up. It was a no-go, rear tire started spinning in the gravel. Tomorrow I'll turn around and try it nose first, and if that doesn't work I'll be giving the paving company a call to expedite me up their list. It's still a little chillier at night than they like it for paving, but I may have to chance it.
Other than that it was an enjoyable ride. Popped for the back rest and a new Shoei helmet. I'm going to get LED headlights for it, don't like the yellow tint of the ones it has. Guess I'll get up in the morning, try and get up the driveway, then grab some tools and get my farkel on. Cheers eveyone!
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Nice! Good luck with it!!
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Very Active Member
Beautiful country and a nice time of year for riding
Beautiful Vistas. Enjoy the RT and your new chance to customize your Ryde. Wife and I were west of there from Caballo to Silver City and then on to Tucson last October.
As far as handling, make sure the front tire pressures are balanced within 1/2 psi and then enjoy the miles as the ryde becomes yours
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Welcome
Congrats and enjoy. Our numbers are growing, love it.
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RT-S PE#0027
"First impressions: seems a little twitchy. I'm thinking tires. Talked with the service guy, he has no problem mounting and balancing non-MC tires so that's to be done soon. The grips were a little tiring on the hands so will look at the foam grips that slide over the stock ones. Not sure about the handlebars yet, will take a little more time riding before I think about replacing them"
Welcome Spyder Rider!
These comments are most probably related to the same thing. While there is some disagreement on this , most people cannot differentiate between the factory Kumhos and car tires from a handling standpoint (The car tires will wear longer) , and the grips are pretty easy on the hands. So when I hear twitchy and tiring , it reminds me of my first Spyder ride in San Diego at the press intro in 2008, After a ride up the coast I loved the spyder but found it twitchy and my hands got tired. One of the Spyder engineers told me to relax my grip and loosen my shoulders. That afternoon we hit the same 80 mile loop and it was night and day. That was 9 years ago and many spyders ago for me and not one twitch or hand fatigue since. On your next trip out , consciously relax your grip , use small light corrections and let the spyder do its thing.
My guess is that cures it. period. If its still a little nervous for you, you can experiment with the suspension settings and also a laser alignment can bring things slightly more in line.
Good Luck!
Back amongst the living May 2021
2022 RT Limited Hyper Silver
Out to Pasture:
2013 ST Limited , Black Currant
2022 F3L , Dark Edition
2021 RTL , Chalk Chrome
2013 RT Limited , Circuit Yellow Metallic
2008 GS SM5 , Millenium Yellow
2020 RT Limited Petrol Dark
2014 RT Limited Champagne Black
2012 RT Limited White
2010 Timeless Black RTS SM5
2010 Orbital Blue RTS SM5
2008 GS SM5 PE 1941
2008 GS SM5 PE2011
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Very Active Member
Love that colour. Nice pic.
As far as the twitchiness in handling, I agree that front tire pressure could cause that. What pressure are they at? It can also just be getting used to the different feel of the Spyder compared to 2 wheels. It takes a little getting used to. Many of us over steer the things at first. Bajaron's Sway bar is a big improvement in handling but give it a little time with the stock first.
If your driveway is steep and gravel, the rear is just going to want to spin, I think. Good luck with that part.
Gary
States visited by Bike
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Originally Posted by widowmaker2011
"First impressions: seems a little twitchy. I'm thinking tires. Talked with the service guy, he has no problem mounting and balancing non-MC tires so that's to be done soon. The grips were a little tiring on the hands so will look at the foam grips that slide over the stock ones. Not sure about the handlebars yet, will take a little more time riding before I think about replacing them"
Welcome Spyder Rider!
These comments are most probably related to the same thing. While there is some disagreement on this , most people cannot differentiate between the factory Kumhos and car tires from a handling standpoint (The car tires will wear longer) , and the grips are pretty easy on the hands. So when I hear twitchy and tiring , it reminds me of my first Spyder ride in San Diego at the press intro in 2008, After a ride up the coast I loved the spyder but found it twitchy and my hands got tired. One of the Spyder engineers told me to relax my grip and loosen my shoulders. That afternoon we hit the same 80 mile loop and it was night and day. That was 9 years ago and many spyders ago for me and not one twitch or hand fatigue since. On your next trip out , consciously relax your grip , use small light corrections and let the spyder do its thing.
My guess is that cures it. period. If its still a little nervous for you, you can experiment with the suspension settings and also a laser alignment can bring things slightly more in line.
Good Luck!
Also when ryding on your rutted road, be careful about getting high-centered.
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Originally Posted by widowmaker2011
"First impressions: seems a little twitchy. I'm thinking tires. Talked with the service guy, he has no problem mounting and balancing non-MC tires so that's to be done soon. The grips were a little tiring on the hands so will look at the foam grips that slide over the stock ones. Not sure about the handlebars yet, will take a little more time riding before I think about replacing them"
Welcome Spyder Rider!
These comments are most probably related to the same thing. While there is some disagreement on this , most people cannot differentiate between the factory Kumhos and car tires from a handling standpoint (The car tires will wear longer) , and the grips are pretty easy on the hands. So when I hear twitchy and tiring , it reminds me of my first Spyder ride in San Diego at the press intro in 2008, After a ride up the coast I loved the spyder but found it twitchy and my hands got tired. One of the Spyder engineers told me to relax my grip and loosen my shoulders. That afternoon we hit the same 80 mile loop and it was night and day. That was 9 years ago and many spyders ago for me and not one twitch or hand fatigue since. On your next trip out , consciously relax your grip , use small light corrections and let the spyder do its thing.
My guess is that cures it. period. If its still a little nervous for you, you can experiment with the suspension settings and also a laser alignment can bring things slightly more in line.
Good Luck!
WOW. You've had a bunch of these! I did notice the tendency to overgrip, and after a while kept telling myself to relax. Didn't notice as much twitching on the latter half of the ride. Also the first part of the trip was a little gusty so that was adding to my stranglehold. If I can get up the driveway today I'll take our local 40-miler around the holler and see how it goes. Oh, and I have the other Ks, Kendas, not Kumhos.
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Originally Posted by cognaccruiser
Love that colour. Nice pic.
As far as the twitchiness in handling, I agree that front tire pressure could cause that. What pressure are they at? It can also just be getting used to the different feel of the Spyder compared to 2 wheels. It takes a little getting used to. Many of us over steer the things at first. Bajaron's Sway bar is a big improvement in handling but give it a little time with the stock first.
If your driveway is steep and gravel, the rear is just going to want to spin, I think. Good luck with that part.
Gary
One of the things that surprised me on the RT is the lack of a factory TPMS. Air pressure is problematic up here; my trucks both have a TPMS and depending on the temperature and atmospheric pressure they range from 35 to 45 psi. AND whichever side sites in the sun will be a few psi higher than the shady side. It's a pain because the TPMS is set for a nominal 42 psi so when they drop below 39 I get the caution light and DIC warning. At least it makes me look at the pressures frequently!
Got a pm from a local guy (Hey Harry K!) who has a sway bar on his, I'm gonna check it out when we can get together. I'll look at the pressures when I go downstairs here in a bit. It's also a good day to get my farkel on so should stay busy, as long as no wifeydo's crop up...
Last edited by flyday58; 04-09-2017 at 07:14 PM.
Reason: Fixed Harry's name; duaghter was binge-watching Sabrina the Teenage Witch, the boyfriend's name is Harvey. Oops.
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The cuter one...
IMG_3320.jpg
Nobody wants to see the OF sitting on his new money-sucker, so I give you the cute one.
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Originally Posted by flyday58
Wuzzat? Not familiar unless you mean standing up in the stirrups, ala dirt bike.
I mean getting the wheels in such deep ruts that the bottom of the Spyder drags on the ground.
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/de...s/high-centred
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Very Active Member
Congratulations on your new Spyder and I agree with those that talk about relaxing your grip. If you grew up as a motorcycle rider driving the Spyder is a lot more relaxed in the hand grip and shoulder area, at least then I was used to.
go'n mobile
Safe Rides,
David and Sharon Goebel
Both Retired USAF Veterans
2018 Anniversary Edition RT Limited
Baja Ron ultimate swaybar. Vredestein tires, Baja Ron Front Shock Pre-load adjusters, Pedal Box, See my Spyder Garage
IBA 70020 |
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Originally Posted by widowmaker2011
"First impressions: seems a little twitchy.
On your next trip out , consciously relax your grip , use small light corrections and let the spyder do its thing.
My guess is that cures it. period. If its still a little nervous for you, you can experiment with the suspension settings and also a laser alignment can bring things slightly more in line.
Good Luck!
Yes. I thought I'd made a mistaken purchase on my first ride home. Then, I found out it has power steering! Ride it with a light touch. Enjoy!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
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TPMS? FOBO. Look 'em up. Lamonster Garage. www.lamonstergarage.com
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk
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Last edited by flyday58; 04-09-2017 at 07:09 PM.
Reason: added headlights, corrected bag grammar, yuk...
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