RT Limited Owner Wants To Know Pros/Cons/Advice Of Moving To a F3 Limited

[MikeT]

I would like to hear from the Spyderlover members who have made the change from an RTL to an F3L. Our story is this: I bought my '15 RTL in early 2015, well before the F3 was available. We ride 2-up 95% of the time. As a result of my seating position(6'2" with 32" inseam and 90kg) on the RTL I have started having left hip cramping. I can get temporary relief by putting my left foot out on the road peg. I am seriously considering going to an F3 Limited because of the different seating position and adjustable foot board capability.
Being well aware of the saying "Happy Wife, Happy Life". All I can say is that my wife is 4' 11". In straight stock form, she's not a happy camper. The relationship of the passenger seat to the passenger backrest causes her to lean back too far. This angle is made less steep/more upright with the addition of the new BRP armrest.
Any/All advice will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Mike

[canamjhb]

Listen to your wife. You can be made happy with other seats, pegs, more breaks, etc. You can't be made happy with an unhappy wife.

[JP58]

The F3L has less space between you and her backrest which might be better, for she will not be leaning back. But the floor boards are not adjustable. Take her for a test ride. Only way to find out if it will work for her.

[MikeT]

But the floor boards are not adjustable.

Thanks for that "heads-up". We hadn't given that aspect any thought.

[Highwayman2013]

The F3L has less space between you and her backrest which might be better, for she will not be leaning back. But the floor boards are not adjustable. Take her for a test ride. Only way to find out if it will work for her.

Spyderpops makes a passenger seat extender for the F3t and F3L.

[johnsimion]

I would like to hear from the Spyderlover members who have made the change from an RTL to an F3L. Our story is this: I bought my '15 RTL in early 2015, well before the F3 was available. We ride 2-up 95% of the time. As a result of my seating position(6'2" with 32" inseam and 90kg) on the RTL I have started having left hip cramping. I can get temporary relief by putting my left foot out on the road peg. I am seriously considering going to an F3 Limited because of the different seating position and adjustable foot board capability.
Being well aware of the saying "Happy Wife, Happy Life". All I can say is that my wife is 4' 11". In straight stock form, she's not a happy camper. The relationship of the passenger seat to the passenger backrest causes her to lean back too far. This angle is made less steep/more upright with the addition of the new BRP armrest.
Any/All advice will be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Mike

I would not presume to tell you what to do; comfort is subjective and your own opinion is the only one that counts. My advice is to move cautiously on any trade.

You and your wife are very close to the size of me and my wife (6'-4" and 5'-0" respectively). In our case, we chose the RT over the F3 because I felt back strain even sitting on the F3 in the showroom. I also felt very uncomfortable with the control issue with my legs way out front, and with my 35" inseam legs, there is a ridge on the F3 that was going to dig into my knees. Therefore the F3 was easy for me to rule out. Also, my wife absolutely loves the throne behind me on the RT. This brings me to my initial advice to go slow on trading. I'm not saying the F3 wouldn't work, because comfort is subjective and we're not the same person. However, since you already have an RT, instead of rushing to trade for an F3, I encourage you to first try one of LaMonster's highway pegs to move your legs out front into a semi-F3 position. If stretching your legs out is your main reason for wanting an F3, highway pegs on the RT ought to address it. The FBB highway pegs would let your legs stretch out pretty far. In other words, it would be a $300 risk versus ??? to trade for an F3. OTOH, maybe you just like the F3 better. Nothing wrong with that. To each his own. Good luck!

[Blue Star]

I went from a RTS & RTL to the F3T, and for me and my wife I wish I had stuck with the RT because with my wife a bit on the big side the F3T is not as comfortable for me as the RT. Now when it comes to the F3T my youngest daughter who is (I think) 5' 4" said she likes the F3T better because she can reach the hand grips without having to slouch while ryding. She also said she can now see over my helmet (I'm 5' 9"), so she can see what is in front better telling me the rear seat might be higher.

[MikeT]

I want to say thank you to all who have replied to my inquiry about going to an F3 Limited. Each reply:
1. Gave me something to look at more closely in my RTL vs F3L comparison, and
2. Brought up some aspects of the F3 platform that I can relate to from both sitting on them @my local dealer, and my first solo test ride.
Mike

[SpyderAnn01]

While the passenger footrests on the F3 are not adjustable there are ways to customize them for your wife. You can strap blocks to the stock pegs to add needed height to them, I wouldn’t let that be the deciding factor.

[johnv50]

I just picked up a 2017 F3L and the floorboards are adjustable. I can put my feet out far or place them under me.

[MikeT]

I just picked up a 2017 F3L and the floorboards are adjustable. I can put my feet out far or place them under me.

Are your Passenger Floorboards adjustable?????? That's what the previous posters were commenting on.
Mike

[UtahPete]

instead of rushing to trade for an F3, I encourage you to first try one of LaMonster's highway pegs to move your legs out front into a semi-F3 position. If stretching your legs out is your main reason for wanting an F3, highway pegs on the RT ought to address it. The FBB highway pegs would let your legs stretch out pretty far.

John, he may already have the highway pegs, based on what he said in his OP.

[UtahPete]

Maybe first try a comfort seat for you, the driver; that gives you an extra 2" of room in the cockpit. You probably don't want to use a backrest, as that robs even more room from the passenger. Also, somewhere I read you can get a thinner passenger backrest.

[AY4B]

I never liked the F3's mainly because the ones on the show room were always in the #3 position. very uncomfortable. Once I sat in one with it in the #5 position I know this was for me. If you are tall and your wife is short, get a Ultimate tall boy seat. It will give you an extra inch and maybe your Wife will like the fit better. If she can not reach the floor boards, you can probably get an extension made at a metal shop and paint it.

[MikeT]

Maybe first try a comfort seat for you, the driver; that gives you an extra 2" of room in the cockpit. You probably don't want to use a backrest, as that robs even more room from the passenger. Also, somewhere I read you can get a thinner passenger backrest.

My wife is "a little teapot". I have my OEM seat, no backrest, and an Ultimate passenger backrest for her.

[hillbillywhisperer]

2 up on a 17 F3 Limited with Ultimate Seat. Comfort not an issue.


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