The Adventure Begins, Riding with MS!!!!!!! This is going to be long one......

[Jimboregon]

The shift should only be rough when going into Reverse or First. If you "speed shift" up thru the gears without shutting the throttle down, it shifts smoothly. If you shut the throttle off between shifts, it hesitates.

You'll get used to the turn signal placement. I keep hitting it when trying to blow the horn!

I never have found the tool kit....

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[Jimboregon]

And, you got a deal! Only 2000 miles? I just turned over 7800 on my '15 RT-S.

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[Bytemi]

And, you got a deal! Only 2000 miles? I just turned over 7800 on my '15 RT-S.

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Yes we got a great deal. Negotiated it down to $15,000. . The car dealership purchased it in July. They wanted it off their books I think.


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[PW2013STL]

Being the twin try shifting around 4500 rpm as I found that rpm to be the smoothest. As for the horn instead of the turn signal - well that happens to most of us, but as you get more use to it's location it will happen less often.

Congrats on a great looking RT!

[Bytemi]

Being the twin try shifting around 4500 rpm as I found that rpm to be the smoothest. As for the horn instead of the turn signal - well that happens to most of us, but as you get more use to it's location it will happen less often.

Congrats on a great looking RT!

Thank you!! I'm happy with her.


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[martiniman]

Hate to say it, but nice seeing another MS person still riding. I rode two wheels for over 30 years when diagnosed in 2013 but must have had MS 10 years before that. Anyhow, had to give it up and thankfully my wife was all for the Spyder which we got in 2014 and we ride together (2 up) now more than ever. Thank you Spyder for making it possible to keep my face in the wind!
Wishing you the best.

[Bytemi]

Hate to say it, but nice seeing another MS person still riding. I rode two wheels for over 30 years when diagnosed in 2013 but must have had MS 10 years before that. Anyhow, had to give it up and thankfully my wife was all for the Spyder which we got in 2014 and we ride together (2 up) now more than ever. Thank you Spyder for making it possible to keep my face in the wind!
Wishing you the best.

Never give up. You are in control not the MS. Live life to the fullest, but rest when needed.


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[Bob Denman]

Adele,



I am so happy that you were able to find the bike that you wanted!!

[Bytemi]

Adele,



I am so happy that you were able to find the bike that you wanted!!

Thanks Bob. Now the retraining begins.


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[Bob Denman]

It'll be easy for you...
The controls on the left grip will take you a little bit of time.
If you can: practice getting your thumb to land on the turnsignal and horn buttons first.
The windshield, and the radio controls are a bit less important.
(After seven years: I still let folks know when I'm cancelling a signal... I toot the horn! )

[Bob Denman]

Oh! I almost forgot...
There's a couple of ways to work around having just one key...
Since your bike is a 2012: you can purchase an aftermarket chipped key, and have it cut and cloned by any competent locksmith.
Or... you can buy the correct BRP keyblank, have it cut by a locksmith, and then programmed by a dealer.

While you're at it: pick up an Ilco X-270 keyblank. (These are unchipped)
Have it cut to match your key, bevel the edges of it (so that it'll allow you to push down on the ignition switch)
and hide the key in an accessible place. If you ever lock your ignition key in the frunk: it'll allow you access to it.
Here's a picture of the beveling needed on the X-270:

Bevelled X-270.jpg
I did mine with a big old flat file...

[Bytemi]

2016-12-04 10.55.36.jpg2016-12-04 10.55.09.jpg2016-12-04 10.55.16.jpg2016-12-04 10.55.25.jpg2016-12-04 10.54.57.jpg

More pictures of Peanut. She appears to be missing some covers on the right side. Also can anyone recommend a floorboard to replace the pegs with so I can change my hip position. I took her around the court multiple times! Just enjoying getting use to her right now.

[Bob Denman]

I liked the ISCI floorboards.
You can adjust the height and the angling on them.
(Here's a pic of them on my 2010...)

FloorBoards.jpg

[Bytemi]

I liked the ISCI floorboards.
You can adjust the height and the angling on them.
(Here's a pic of them on my 2010...)

FloorBoards.jpg

So the opening next to the brake do not have covers, I can't tell from you picture. I will check out the ISCI floorboards.

[Bob Denman]

No; it doesn't..
BRP never put a grille on the right-hand side of the 998 bikes. I suspect that they didn't want anything to impede airflow from the radiator.
But you can modify the one from a 2014 or later RT, and make it fit!

[Buckeye Chuck 54]

I was thinking that I would start this thread to help other people like me that have a physical limitation but want to ride and I will update this thread as I work towards finding my next Spyder, but let me start from the beginning:

In 2010, I had this crazy idea that I could ride a motorcycle despite the fact that I had Multiple Sclerosis. My husband thought I was a little off my rocker, but he is a great man and went with it. He gave me a $10,000 budget and said if you can find one, you can get it. I searched craigslist for months and every person I spoke too, said "No that is too low", then one day I woke up and about a 3 miles from house a 2008 Premier Edition Spyder appeared. I email the gentleman selling it. He explained that he received his Spyder for free as a Can Am Spyder Ambassador and if I was willing to keep people informed about the Spyder he was happy to accept my price. So Billie was born..... and my screw you MS and the customization began. Here is what we did:

1. We installed handle bar risers to bring them back to comfortable level so my legs wouldn't hurt
2. Mirror extenders so they were usable with my decreased vision
3. Heat redirection so all the engine heat was not hitting my legs
4. Add clips to the side for my cane
5. Installed throttle boss for hand weakness
6. Added blue tooth to my headset so Erik could tell me if I was in trouble
7. We used truck bed liner and repainted her flat black (OK this was just for looks and it turned out great!!!!!!!!!!!! Step by step instructions can be found in the forum some place with pictures). Stealth Billie was born.

It didn't take long before I had my motorcycle license and I was on the road!! But then summer hit and the heat started to kill my ability to ride. We tried evaporation vests, ice vests, an iced buff to cool my head, but nothing worked. Then my daughter was diagnosed with convergence insufficiency (that is a long story all its own, basically her left brain and right brain didn't know about each and she was having problems functioning) and we considered selling Billie to pay for her 48 weeks of Vision Therapy. I have always believed that when it comes to money, that I will help anyone that is truly in need, because when I am in need God always provides for me and this was not an exception, I actually won two jackpots at the casino that paid for her Vision Therapy in full. To keep her going in vision therapy we used Billie as incentive, if you do your home therapy and work really hard, you can ride on Billie with me and we can both say "you can't stop me!" together. Thanks to wonderful people on this forum we were able to make the following accommodations to make that possible:

1. Added a sports rack and back rest for little bylemi to keep her save
2. Added arm rests to keep her safe
3. Full gear and a blue tooth helmet so she could let me know how she was doing.
4. A fun trip to Kings Dominion on the Spyder that killed my legs for 3 days, but was so worth it!!!!!!!!!

In the end, she completed her 48 weeks of therapy and has actually become the poster child for the Vision Therapy group. It is still funny seeing her face on emails and mailings. LOL

So anyways, in 2013 because of the MS, I found that I was riding less. I would wake up saying no not today, I'm not up to it. In 2014, there was no riding at all, my legs hurt, I couldn't hold the clutch in, I didn't have the energy. I lot of excuses I know, but riding just stopped being possible. So we decided to sell Stealth Billie, she was going to waste in the garage. I was contacted by a very nice woman, who was deaf that wanted to ride, but needed some accommodations. Stealth Billie was perfect for her, so to pay it forward, we sold her for a price that the woman could afford and I gave her instructions and guidance on how to ride and directed her to this forum, she may be reading this post......

Well now we have figured out that the medications that were suppose to make the MS better, were actually making it worse and I told Erik, I want to ride again. He agreed but said we have to make some adjustments first. Here is what he said we need:

1. Has to be an RT, he feels the comfort will make it easier with my degraded spinal cord.
2. Has to be an SE, since my hand cannot hold the clutch in.
3. We have find a solution to keep my core temperature down.

So this weekend we did the following:

Went to Coleman's and I sat on one of the new RTs, he was the right, that back of the seat hit the perfect place, to relieve the pain that shoots down my legs due to the spinal damage. The handle bars were perfect and I could see out of the mirrors. The bike was setup perfectly for little bylemi to ride with me. The floor boards were a nice touch and I never had to worry about verifying where my feet were. The salesman looked at Erik like he was joking when said "we just have to attach an AC unit to her and find a used SE and it will be perfect!". He explained that I had MS and the salesman apologized. In the end, I knew more about the Spyder than the salesman and I told him "I am the living advertisement for Spyders and I talk to anyone that will listen about them".

So we ordered a Cool Shirt System with vest and cooling unit (this is the same unit the race car drivers use to say cool during a race) and it will be here by the weekend. Erik is going to take me out on his Harley and we are going to test the cooling system and make sure that it works. After that, I have my budget and I know what I am looking for, 2014 or new RT. I will be back on the road in no time.

Sam Mac, we have not forgotten you. We are waiting on the cooling vest, if it works, you will receive a PM and we will come and get that beautiful bike you have for sale. If it is meant to be, it will still be available, if not the search shall continue.

So the adventure has fully begun.

A very inspiring message.I too ride with a disability,mine is Muscular Dystrophy.It doesn't affect the spine like MS,
it just weakens the muscles, and balance. It has taken most of my leg strength, I looks like I'm drunk when I walk.
Falling is my biggest fear. If I do, I can't stand up, I need to crawl to find something to prop a knee up high enough
to regain standing. I've had this for years, but only in the last 8 years it's gotten bad. I was unable to work, my job
required me to to climb stairs, stairs are tough but ladders, impossible.

I rode a BMW R 1150 RT that I loved. It became a chore to come to a stop and put my feet down. I couldn't lift my
legs to get the feet off the footpegs. I dropped it in the driveway and couldn't pick it up. I tried for 2 hours and finally used
the winch off my ATV. At the BMW dealer in New Philadelphia Ohio they were selling a BMW K1200LT that was converted
to a trike with a Hannigan kit. I rode it for 3 years and 80,000 miles. In march of 2014 I got a flyer in the mail from BRP.
They finally had what I wanted, a 6th gear and a better engine. My insurance agent owned a 2012 Spyder RT-L. He told
me ne was only getting 25- 28 miles per gallon. As much as I was planning to ride I couldn't afford the gas. But the new one
got me thinking. I took a test ride on a RT-L at a dealer and was hooked, but a serious problem. The footbrake. As with
the BMW, I couldn't get my foot off the floorboard to use the brake. I needed a handbrake. They said it couldn't be done.
So I just almost forgot about it. But on a ride one day in June of 2014 I happened to ride past a Honda dealer in Jackson
Ohio that sold Spyders. I stopped and explained my problem to Vinnie, the salesman. He said he they had a handbrake kit
and as an option could be had. So a deal was struck.
The Spyder was totally different than a trike. It handled strange, especially in corners. My insurance agent said it took him
1000 miles to feel confident. Well, I now have 100567 miles on my Pearl White beauty. I come to a stop next to a motorcycle
and ask the rider why he has his foot down.
Love this bike.
I hope everything works out for you too. If riding through the Zanesville Ohio area and see me, give a wave, I always wave back.

Good luck,

Buckeye Chuck

[oldgoat]

Now you need a new avatar!

[Bob Denman]

But keep a picture of Stealth Billie, for your signature pic!

[ARtraveler]

. Introducing Peanut!! I brought her home tonight after trying to walk out 3 times. So she is a 2012 RT Limited. She had 2001 miles, 2042 now. Yes I rode her home with my husband hovering. I will be redoing my training first in the court, the side roads and build to highway.

A couple questions/observations:

The shift is rough, jolting. Can someone help me?
I kept hitting the horn instead of turning off the turn signal.
The dealership knew nothing about the Spyder other than basic usage. I found the tool kit after much searching. He said he didn't have the GPS but I wonder if it is hiding somewhere.
There is a headset jack, why??
What else is different in the 2012 RT vs the 2008gs?
He only had one key, I guess I can't get another.

I cried for about 10 minutes on the way home. I was so excited.


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Glad to see you did it.
Some of your questions:
The shift is rough, jolting. Can someone help me?: Shift points on the 998 engine should be about 5000 - 5500. You will find your sweet spot. The 998 still likes high revs when running down the road. Rough, jolting, is this the initial shift or all of them? Oil level can also be a culprit.

I kept hitting the horn instead of turning off the turn signal.
The dealership knew nothing about the Spyder other than basic usage. I found the tool kit after much searching. He said he didn't have the GPS but I wonder if it is hiding somewhere. There is a headset jack, why??

You will get the turn signals figured out pretty quick.

What else is different in the 2012 RT vs the 2008gs? You have a radio, cruise control, saddle bags, trunk, and better suspension. You can get another key from a dealer, but be prepared to pay around $150 or so.

We have a 2011 RT and it is very similar to yours. We also like it a lot. 24K miles and still going strong.

[Bytemi]

Thank you Chuck for sharing. My legs don't always work either and my coordination is definitely not what it should be. My legs actually have no strength. When I walk I walk with my core muscles or I need to touch my legs to get my brain to recognize them, LOL. Its entertaining if nothing else. Riding is my way of the say NO not yet, I am in control not you!

A very inspiring message.I too ride with a disability,mine is Muscular Dystrophy.It doesn't affect the spine like MS,
it just weakens the muscles, and balance. It has taken most of my leg strength, I looks like I'm drunk when I walk.
Falling is my biggest fear. If I do, I can't stand up, I need to crawl to find something to prop a knee up high enough
to regain standing. I've had this for years, but only in the last 8 years it's gotten bad. I was unable to work, my job
required me to to climb stairs, stairs are tough but ladders, impossible.

I rode a BMW R 1150 RT that I loved. It became a chore to come to a stop and put my feet down. I couldn't lift my
legs to get the feet off the footpegs. I dropped it in the driveway and couldn't pick it up. I tried for 2 hours and finally used
the winch off my ATV. At the BMW dealer in New Philadelphia Ohio they were selling a BMW K1200LT that was converted
to a trike with a Hannigan kit. I rode it for 3 years and 80,000 miles. In march of 2014 I got a flyer in the mail from BRP.
They finally had what I wanted, a 6th gear and a better engine. My insurance agent owned a 2012 Spyder RT-L. He told
me ne was only getting 25- 28 miles per gallon. As much as I was planning to ride I couldn't afford the gas. But the new one
got me thinking. I took a test ride on a RT-L at a dealer and was hooked, but a serious problem. The footbrake. As with
the BMW, I couldn't get my foot off the floorboard to use the brake. I needed a handbrake. They said it couldn't be done.
So I just almost forgot about it. But on a ride one day in June of 2014 I happened to ride past a Honda dealer in Jackson
Ohio that sold Spyders. I stopped and explained my problem to Vinnie, the salesman. He said he they had a handbrake kit
and as an option could be had. So a deal was struck.
The Spyder was totally different than a trike. It handled strange, especially in corners. My insurance agent said it took him
1000 miles to feel confident. Well, I now have 100567 miles on my Pearl White beauty. I come to a stop next to a motorcycle
and ask the rider why he has his foot down.
Love this bike.
I hope everything works out for you too. If riding through the Zanesville Ohio area and see me, give a wave, I always wave back.

Good luck,

Buckeye Chuck

[Bytemi]

But keep a picture of Stealth Billy, for your signature pic!

I will keep Billie in my signature when I get a new picture for my avatar. I hate getting my picture taken......

[DJFaninTN]

congrats to you for adopting Peanut. I always loved the lava bronze color. hope you enjoy your new ride and all the adventures that await you.

[Bytemi]

Bob,

When I got Billie, you gave me a BRP site where I could register Billie as mine and get the original Welcome Packet for her, I thought it was the BRP site, but I can't find a login so I believe I am mistaken, or they don't do that any more. Can you help me with a link?

[Bob Denman]

I couldn't find it either...
Here's a link to their "contact us" page:
http://can-am.brp.com/spyder/form/contact-us.html
You could try that, and ask them about the process.
Good luck!

[Bytemi]

I couldn't find it either...
Here's a link to their "contact us" page:
http://can-am.brp.com/spyder/form/contact-us.html
You could try that, and ask them about the process.
Good luck!

Thank you, I am not insane.