Stopping distance-close call

[C. Lee]

This morning while riding to work, I came upon a line of traffic stopped at a light in the straight lane. I was traveling in the turning lane when out of nowhere someone decided it was ok to let a driver out of a starbucks. This person didn't see me at all based on the expression on her face as i stopped about a foot from her car. This was a very close call for me and it made me realize how fast this machine stops. I hit the brakes very hard and the ABS kicked in on dry pavement. This was probably some of my fault as I should have anticipated this happening. Had I been on my goldwing, both tires would have locked up and probably been down or worse hitting the car. It is absolutely incredible how well the spyder stops. I've been reading this forum for awhile and just purchased my spyder a month ago. This was very impressive as far as i'm concerned. Chris

[Bob Denman]

I'm glad to hear that you dodged one!
But I'm sorry to hear that you had to...

[Chupaca]

Trust no one to do the right thing....They do stop well though some think you stop better if the wheels lock up and screech. The ABS is amazing on these machines. Glad you found out without any damage to life and limb...be safe out there....

[UtahPete]

This was a very close call for me and it made me realize how fast this machine stops. I hit the brakes very hard and the ABS kicked in on dry pavement. It is absolutely incredible how well the spyder stops. This was very impressive as far as i'm concerned. Chris

That was the single biggest selling point for me. I've since discovered a whole bunch of other attributes I appreciate too, but that's still #1 - being able to hit the brakes hard and not lose control.

[Easy Rider]

Since there is no hand lever for the brakes, one needs to keep their right foot on or near the brake pedal at all times in traffic........just because of things like this. If you have to fumble to find the pedal.......you're screwed.

I still think I'm going not get the handbrake kit. Safety first.

[Fatcycledaddy]

You are right, they stop very quick, just one more reason to LOVE RIDING MY SPYDER!

[ARtraveler]

Glad to hear you dodged a bullet. Always drive like the idiots are lurking--they are. The sudden stop in a line of traffic happens way to often--IMO.

[HankD]

Glad to hear you dodged a bullet. Always drive like the idiots are lurking--they are. The sudden stop in a line of traffic happens way to often--IMO.

Agree. Any time I see a line of traffic in a straight lane, with a wide-open turn lane (either right or left turn)...my Spidey-Senses start to tingle. If it's not someone cutting thru the line of traffic, it's someone cutting over from the straight lane to the turn lane after getting exasperated with the wait.

I always go slow and careful in those situations and cover the brake.

[Lew L]

Trust no one to do the right thing....They do stop well though some think you stop better if the wheels lock up and screech. The ABS is amazing on these machines. Glad you found out without any damage to life and limb...be safe out there....

Bit@h in a lifted Tundra looked right at me and pulled out in front of me not 2 hours ago. I expect this inconsideration from a large percentage of 4-wheelers. Just often too distracted or just plane rude.

Kaos

[sandeejs]

I did not know this about the Spyders initially. They do stop well and FAST!
I love that about them.
~Sandee~

[heyharris1]

All I can say is wow but it dont surprise me one bit. I had many close calls on bikes excatly how you described. In turning lanes like that I always slow way down. I dont care if someone is behind me on the horn. My life is worth more than their time.

Jim

[Spyder_Cowgirl]

Bit@h in a lifted Tundra looked right at me and pulled out in front of me not 2 hours ago. I expect this inconsideration from a large percentage of 4-wheelers. Just often too distracted or just plane rude.

Kaos

Same was true for me in 1993 .... she looked right at me and turned anyway. I had less than 10 feet between me and her front end ... and I was on two wheels. VERY lucky to have walked away with only bruises and no broken bones or other injuries. Bike was a total loss -- the Toyota had a cracked windshield where the heal of my boot smacked it and, probably, some scratches from the impact.

Just because they look right at you ... does NOT mean they see you .... I honestly don't think the Toyota driver actually saw me until I was on the hood of her car!

Be safe .... I hope you were not injured Kaos and am glad the C.Lee is okay .... Ann

[RinconRyder]

Since there is no hand lever for the brakes, one needs to keep their right foot on or near the brake pedal at all times in traffic........just because of things like this. If you have to fumble to find the pedal.......you're screwed.

I'm an old lifetime motorcycle rider and discovered I can get to the handbrake much faster on the Spyder than with the footbrake. One reason is that on the RTL my foot is flat on the board instead of perching on the peg right over the brake pedal.

I think the handbrake should be standard.

[JayBros]

There are people out there in cages who ARE definitely trying to kill you. They are just too stupid, self-centered or distracted to realize that is what they are doing.

[Road-Kill]

This morning while riding to work, I came upon a line of traffic stopped at a light in the straight lane. I was traveling in the turning lane when out of nowhere someone decided it was ok to let a driver out of a starbucks. This person didn't see me at all based on the expression on her face as i stopped about a foot from her car. This was a very close call for me and it made me realize how fast this machine stops. I hit the brakes very hard and the ABS kicked in on dry pavement. This was probably some of my fault as I should have anticipated this happening. Had I been on my goldwing, both tires would have locked up and probably been down or worse hitting the car. It is absolutely incredible how well the spyder stops. I've been reading this forum for awhile and just purchased my spyder a month ago. This was very impressive as far as i'm concerned. Chris

I just had the same thing and started a thread on the F3s forum (Oil Leak or Gravity). I was travelling down a road and a car pulled up to his stop sign, looked directly at me and pulled out anyway. I slammed on the brakes and stopped in time. He might have thought it was a 4-way stop but it was not. Now I have an oil leak or maybe (hopefully) oil just came out of the dipstick tube, travelled down the tube to my engine and is smoking my bike.

[oldgoat]

That was the single biggest selling point for me. I've since discovered a whole bunch of other attributes I appreciate too, but that's still #1 - being able to hit the brakes hard and not lose control.

I appreciate my Spyder more each year. The brakes are great & I love just sitting there at a red light, feet on the pegs & looking around not supporting the 700-800 lbs of a 2 wheeler.

[Roadster Renovations]

Glad you are OK. A suggestion for everyone that hasn't already done it; take you byke out in a safe place and do some panic stops. Know the capabilities of the byke are and how it will handle before you need to do it.

[PocoToro]

This is my favorite review, vlog on the Spyder. He mentions the breaks at 8:40



PocoToro

Glad you're OK

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I hit the brakes very hard and the ABS kicked in on dry pavement. ..... Had I been on my goldwing, both tires would have locked up .... It is absolutely incredible how well the spyder stops.

The ABS option on the GL1800 prevents wheel lockup, just like the Spyder.

When I took the Trike Rider Course at Wing Ding last fall with my Spyder I did some panic stops. With one of them from about 20 or more MPH I almost instantly found myself wearing the windshield for a bib! Had to reset the break away floorboard after that one.

[UtahPete]

The ABS option on the GL1800 prevents wheel lockup, just like the Spyder. When I took the Trike Rider Course at Wing Ding last fall with my Spyder I did some panic stops. With one of them from about 20 or more MPH I almost instantly found myself wearing the windshield for a bib! Had to reset the break away floorboard after that one.

Somewhere on this forum I read that someone had installed seat belts on his Spyder, mostly so he doesn't get thrown off in the twisties. Maybe they should be standard equipment for panic stops too!

[classicvw]

The ABS option on the GL1800 prevents wheel lockup, just like the Spyder.

When I took the Trike Rider Course at Wing Ding last fall with my Spyder I did some panic stops. With one of them from about 20 or more MPH I almost instantly found myself wearing the windshield for a bib! Had to reset the break away floorboard after that one.

I can relate. Back about 15 years, I wanted to test out the ABS on my new BMW R1200C as everyone said they were really grabby. So I go to a very large mostly empty hotel parking lot and accelerate to about 40MPH and grab and stomp on the brakes. I wasn't prepared for such a sudden stop, I actually slid forward up the gas tank, and my helmet smacked into the windshield. Holy Crap! Another one of my great ideas!

[jwulf74]

Where our Sypder brakes are awesome, I wish Can Am would do the same in their Commanders... those are definitely not stellar...

[asp125]

.. not as well as my sportbikes, not even my cafe bike with it's single front caliper. Granted, it's a 600lb beast compared to a 450lb supersport; physics wins. I have stock brake pads. Has anyone put on performance brake pads (semi-metallic, sintered... etc) and noticed any improvement? I know EBC makes some RS pads, any other brands that are worth it for shorter stopping distances? Don't really care about brake dust or increased wear on the rotors, just want an improvement. Probably braided brake lines?

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

.. not as well as my sportbikes, not even my cafe bike with it's single front caliper. Granted, it's a 600lb beast compared to a 450lb supersport; physics wins. I have stock brake pads. Has anyone put on performance brake pads (semi-metallic, sintered... etc) and noticed any improvement? I know EBC makes some RS pads, any other brands that are worth it for shorter stopping distances? Don't really care about brake dust or increased wear on the rotors, just want an improvement. Probably braided brake lines?

Sorry but you are comparing apples to oranges ....how can you compare a 1100 lb spyder to a 600 lb café racer .... In stopping and accelerating ...weight is Everything ...... jmho ......Mike

[Bob Denman]

...And with the weight transfer to those two front tires (which keep things upright!); you only need to find that pedal... The ABS even maintains your ability to steer through an ugly situation.
If you lose the front tire on your sportbike: you're buying new bodywork for the both of you!