First Spyder Ride

[TRBorslien]

Wife and I took our first ride yesterday. Only went about thirty miles total and all in town because we haven't bought helmets yet and I want to change all the fluids and filters before we really open it up. (ND interstate speed limit is 75, but I routinely drive 83-84!)

I want to send a big "Thank You" to all who contribute to this forum! Your advice made our first ride very easy. Previous owner had tire pressure WAY too high (28) in the fronts. I dropped it down to 15 and it rode quite nicely IMO. It seems to track really well, I set the cruise at 50 on an empty straight road and went hands-free for almost two blocks.

I am a former two-wheeler (a few years removed) and I was expecting lots of problems:

• I grabbed for the front brake three times
• I grabbed for the clutch lever once
• I almost always forget the stupid parking brake
• I never tried to put my feet down at stops and I never reached for the foot shift lever.

Your helpful hints prevented operator mistakes, I certainly would have been shifting too early most of the time and cruising at 3000-4000 rpm.

My only complaints (so far):

• The typical motorcycle turn signal switch that works inconsistently. I have used lubricating spray on past bikes to improve reliability, but it doesn't last. (I know, this has been discussed on here already, but you would think that someone would have figured out a more reliable alternative by now. I seem to remember that my 1970 Honda CB350 Twin had the same style switch!)
• A weird feeling at the end of braking to a stop, kind of reminds me of a cross between a warped rotor or ABS engaging. Braking feels very good all other times. This occurs at that point where you are almost stopped and you are easing up on the pedal so you stop smoothly instead of abruptly. It might be from low usage over the last couple years, but I will inspect the rotors and flush the brake fluid anyway.

In conclusion, we both enjoyed our ride very much and look forward to some serious cruising this spring, summer, and fall. The wife loves the heated hand grips, but felt comfortable going hands-free too. I was amazed at how quickly I felt comfortable with the ride and controls. The only exception is turning, I didn't improve much on that during the ride. I am pushing with the outside foot and leaning into the inside hand grip, but it still feels like I am going too slow (10 or less) and the whole thing feels unnatural. I am sure that will improve over the next few hundred miles.

[quasi]

give it a month or so and you'll be riding one handed. unless of course you're running hot! passenger arm rests gave my wife a better sense of security.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

.......&........If you haven't read the Do's & Don't;s Thread .... lots of good info there ....go to " Spyder General Discussion " Forum ......Mike

[ARtraveler]

and on your new ryde. Sounds like you are getting it. It will only get better as you get more accustomed to your Spyder.

[DGoebel]

Tony, and ! Especially for taking a ND ride already! We've still got way too much road crud down south (here in Faribault, MN) to get ours out of winter storage. Though I'm getting a wee bit impatient.

[RapidSpyder]

Congrats on the new ride! Maybe we’ll see you in Deadwood this summer?

[Chupaca]

To the spyder world and this awesome site congrats on the new ryde.. Glad what we do here help you transision into the Y factor world. You will be a pro before you know it cause your off to a great start...

[missouriboy]

• I almost always forget the stupid parking brake

Welcome to the Spyder world; you're gonna love it!

BUT... the parking brake is NOT stupid. It's the equivalent of PARK gear on any AT vehicle.

The SE transmissions will NOT hold the machine, even on a tiny grade.

[PrairieSpyder]

&

That's a good write-up of your first Spyder ryde. And don't worry; after several years, I still forget the parking brake, too.

[missouriboy]

Okay, it's that 20-second warning beeper that's STUPID about the parking brake. I agree with that!

But the fix is real quick:
Key On
Brake On
Key Off
When you learn and remember to do the above, quickly, you can escape with no more than a Beep-And-A-Half!