RT HAVE ENOUGH POWER?

[soaring hawk]

PUTTING UP GOLDWING 1800 UP FOR SALE. LOOKING AT 2010 RT-S HAVEN'T
RIDDEN ONE ON HIGHWAY YET. PLEASE ADVISE DOES THE RT HAVE THE POWER TWO UP AND ENOUGH SPEED? HAVE A GREAT DEAL ON THR RT WAITING ,BUT ON THE FENCE . SOUNDS LIKE YOU SPYDER FOLKS LIVE AND DIE BY THEM. PLEASE CONVINCE ME THIS IS THE THING TO DO.
SOARING HAWK

[NancysToy]

The Spyder has plenty of power, not an abundance, but enough to do the job. It is a very different kind of power than what you are used to, however. The bottom end torque is not there, like on your GW. You need to keep the revs up. A test ride is a very good idea, to see if it suits you.

[SilverSurfer]

Plenty ...

Toured from Maryland down to Spyders in the Smokies (SITS) last year. Sufficient time on I-81 and I-40 to tell you that you can comfortably cruise in the mid-high seventies ... pass in the mid-eighties. Hwy mpg -- 32-34 (at least for me at my weight). RT-S is about 227 pounds heavier than the RS, but gets the same; sometimes better mileage, depending on RS mods. I myself am not too hot on engine and fuel mods. I've not seen one that ups mileage; quite the reverse actually.

Nancy's Toy is right; it is a high-rev engine. Highway cruising is in the 4-5K range (engine is happy there). Two-up no problem at all ... From reports I've read, two-up AND trailer ... no problem at all. RT--S weight is about the same as your wing, but much lighter than a GW trike.

I'm at 6400 miles and still love it. Seating position is more comfortable than a Wing with standard pegs, and will be even better when I put on my Corbin-RT seat. Ride is very cush.

It isn't a Wing, so I'd clear the mind and not compare. It is a completely different vehicle with different characteristics. As with a wing, one must love the Spyder for what she is.

~ Surfer

[soaring hawk]

THANKS, I WISH I COULD TEST RIDE BUT 4" SNOW TODAY AND FREEZING RAIN NO DEALERS WILL TEST DRIVE TILL SALT IS OFF THE ROADS.
I'LL JUST HAVE TO BY THE RT-S AND GO FOR IT!

[Dudley]

I rode over 40 years on 2 wheels. The Spyder came at the right time. I was tired of wrestling the heavy weights (I am only 150 pounds, wife 125) so the combined weight was over 1000 pounds. In 2009 we did a tour around the US borders and some parts of Canada on our 2008 SE5. We now own a 2010 RT. We will never go back to any 2 wheeler, no matter what. But, like someone posted, the Spyder is not a GoldWing (I owned 2). My thoughts are that when someone buys a Spyder and tries to compare it to any other bike, then he/she tends to lessen the joy of the Spyder. This machine is like no other. There is NO comparison, IMO.

[CSX4350]

I went from an 07 Wing to a Spyder, and it's exactly as the others have said. The power is good enough for me to burn the rear tire in 1st gear, just hammering the throttle at 3-4000 RPM. The power when cruising is just fine. However, since it is a modified sport bike engine the bottom end is just not there. I have a manual transmission and found that I have to engage the clutch much slower than I'm used to so I don't kill the engine. That's the only spot where the engine lacks. Once you get it moving it's great.
I would say that the automatic would get away from the lack of bottom end, and might be easier to drive when running heavy in stop & go traffic.

[VaughnCat]

PUTTING UP GOLDWING 1800 UP FOR SALE. LOOKING AT 2010 RT-S HAVEN'T
RIDDEN ONE ON HIGHWAY YET. PLEASE ADVISE DOES THE RT HAVE THE POWER TWO UP AND ENOUGH SPEED? HAVE A GREAT DEAL ON THR RT WAITING ,BUT ON THE FENCE . SOUNDS LIKE YOU SPYDER FOLKS LIVE AND DIE BY THEM. PLEASE CONVINCE ME THIS IS THE THING TO DO.
SOARING HAWK

Cat and I logged a lot of miles on a Suzi 1500 V, and the RT seems like a hot rod next to that. . . . the Goldwing is hard to beat for torque/power and refinement, but the RT SE5 is like a European sports car vs and American muscle car; when in doubt, down shift and let it rev. Going through a tunnel lets you hear the true nature of the engine with sound that is like a v-twin sports bike. We have almost 17K on the RT in less than a year, and most of that is curved roads. Even at 9000+ altitude in the Cascades, there was more than enough power to get er done. This is the first time in 44 years that there isn't a motorcycle parked in the garage, but I sold the Suzi since she was just sitting there gathering dust . . . she had almost 80K miles on her, good old bike. The Spyder has expanded our riding season a great deal; I comute to work in the 30's as long as there isn't any ice on the road, and the fear of loosing my two wheeler in a turn due to the sand they put on our roads for ice is gone. Hope you have a chance to ride one soon; Spyders are really different from a bike, but the freedom and 'wind in your face' feeling we all love is there in droves. If anything, the Spyders (we have a RS also) have put a major dose of fun factor back in our riding.

[Mr. White]

PUTTING UP GOLDWING 1800 UP FOR SALE. LOOKING AT 2010 RT-S HAVEN'T
RIDDEN ONE ON HIGHWAY YET. PLEASE ADVISE DOES THE RT HAVE THE POWER TWO UP AND ENOUGH SPEED? HAVE A GREAT DEAL ON THR RT WAITING ,BUT ON THE FENCE . SOUNDS LIKE YOU SPYDER FOLKS LIVE AND DIE BY THEM. PLEASE CONVINCE ME THIS IS THE THING TO DO.
SOARING HAWK

Hawk, I have GW Motor Trike....18K on two wheels and 40K on the trike. Will never go back to two wheels. I am an old guy, but gotta have a RT-S before I go to the big BX in the sky. I did ride a RT-S, both manual and auto (ordered the SE5). It is different than a two or three wheel Wing. It runs, but you have to work the gears and rpms much higher than your Wing. At 3,000 rpm, the Wing is running 70 mph....I think I remember 70 was about 5-5500 rpm on the auto demo. It was a fun machine. I think one of the most important things with me and the Wing (and Spyder) is I don't have to worry about sand on the road...(west Texas) or rain/wet streets. The Wing has more torque and at lower rpm. It is a different machine and will take some time to get use to it. All who post here seem to like their Spyders. Enjoy

[MarkLawson]

I have a GL1800 & two Spyders (GS & RT). Since power is the subject of your question, I'll tell you that you may be disappointed. Yes, the RT has enough power to run the interstate, but you'll wish you had more throttle when accelerating, at least I do. I love the RT & am glad I have it, but am also glad I have the Wing.

Different rides & both please.

[Big Arm]

soaring hawk

[Slybird]

and !! Having gone through three Wings (two 1500's and an 1800) and a Harley Ultra Classic, you're making the right move, to be sure! The RT is the most comfortable touring machine I've ever driven. Perhaps not the most powerful, but if I wanted spunk, I'd have gone with an RS, but I wanted a touring machine and the RT-S fit the bill to a tee. Again, congrats on your decision and hope to meet you on the road. Keep us posted on how things go!

[cjackg]

I have a GL1800 & two Spyders (GS & RT). Since power is the subject of your question, I'll tell you that you may be disappointed. Yes, the RT has enough power to run the interstate, but you'll wish you had more throttle when accelerating, at least I do. I love the RT & am glad I have it, but am also glad I have the Wing.

Different rides & both please.

My RT had the TwoBros Racing pipe when I bought it and I have since added the TBR JuiceBox Pro to even things out. If I had any more acceleration, I would need help hanging onto the thing! Mine runs like a rocket at every speed. Last bike was a V-Strom and I never rode a Wing but I sure do enjoy the RT !

[Dragonrider]

My perspective is quite different - I'm 6'4", & my bride is 5'11". I had a GW1200, & 1500, but hated the 1800 as way too small - so we opted for a K1200LT. IMHO, the LT was the best all around tourer, but spendy to maintain. Our current RT S, is my bride's all time favorite, & it will comfortably take us any where we want to go, and as fast as we want to go.

The only similarity between any of the two wheelers and a Spyder is the wind in your hair.

[ARtraveler]

Similar experiences for me. Never had a Gold Wing because I am to short to feel comfortable with it. Had a 1984 Yamaha Venture which I drove for 3 years and had the last year's model (2004?) of the "old style" Kawasaki Voyager, which I drove for 1 year. The Voyager was a bit of a handful for me, so I moved on to a 1500 Nomad. Now that I have owned three Spyders, I believe the RTS is the best touring bike I have ridden of all the bikes I have owned (20+). I am not a "power" person, so I feel the power in the RTS is sufficient for two up riding, long distances. I will be interested though if BRP comes up with a bigger size "touring engine" for the Rotax. I would like the power to be there, but crusing at RPM's that are lower, as well as a quieter ride. I would like to hear the radio without the volume cranked way up. Just .02 and my opinion of what I would like to see.

[MouthPiece]

Different strokes for different folks???

Chris PE# 0004

[Bob Denman]

The only similarity between any of the two wheelers and a Spyder is the wind in your hair.

and welcome!

[Eraser]

"when in doubt, down shift and let it rev."

Well said,VaughnCat.This engine shines up high.I seldom use 5th gear unless I'm doing 75-80 MPH. It runs smoother up high as well.

[Spyder#353]

[Tonga]

I have a GL1800 & two Spyders (GS & RT). Since power is the subject of your question, I'll tell you that you may be disappointed. Yes, the RT has enough power to run the interstate, but you'll wish you had more throttle when accelerating, at least I do. I love the RT & am glad I have it, but am also glad I have the Wing.

Different rides & both please.

I Agree !!! RT needs more torque. A 4 cyl and more displacement will help !!! A lot of weight to push not to mention the massive front end to cut through the wind.

[Bob Denman]

(Now we're getting into design parameters...)
A four cylinder engine is going to weigh more and take up more space... Aren't these bikes big enough already?
Now a displacement increase...

[Lamonster]

(Now we're getting into design parameters...)
A four cylinder engine is going to weigh more and take up more space... Aren't these bikes big enough already?
Now a displacement increase...

There's no replacement for displacement.

To keep on subject, I've yet to own anything that had "enough" power. More is always better.