Highway

[Zip]

Took the spyder out for the first time on the highway today. Did a little over 100 mi round trip. Coming home we were going into a strong wind and the spyder did not seem to like that. Also got hit sideways with a few gusts that pushed us but we were able to stay within the lane. All an all it was a nice ride.

[Bob Denman]

When you get caught in crosswinds: pull your knees in against the tank, and brace yourself...

[Zip]

When you get caught in crosswinds: pull your knees in against the tank, and brace yourself...

Yup that's what I did, was just concerned about being pushed out of the lane. Thanks

[Bob Denman]

It's sort of a funny thing... the bike isn't actually getting moved around by the wind: YOU are!
As you get rocked from side to side; you end up adding small steering inputs, as you hang on.
If you're "locked-in": so is the bike!

[Zip]

It's sort of a funny thing... the bike isn't actually getting moved around by the wind: YOU are!
As you get rocked from side to side; you end up adding small steering inputs, as you hang on.
If you're "locked-in": so is the bike!

Won't disagree with you, I'm sure I just need more riding experience. Have clocked less than 300 miles.

[Bob Denman]

"Miles & Smiles": THAT's the spirit!!

[JimVonBaden]

I rode the Spyder ST-S for the first time yesterday. 193 miles of almost all high speed freeway. It was very windy. I have to say, it is no better on three wheels than two in the wind. From my extremely limited experience (on three wheels), I found a light touch on the bars, and a firm grip with the knees, helped a lot. Like on a motorcycle, most of the bike's reaction to wind is the rider moving and that causes the rider to move the handlebars.

Anyhow, interesting experience for a first Spyder ride!

[JayBros]

If you don't have a BajaRon sway bar you don't know how easy it is riding in vicious crosswinds. With one it will track like an arrow fired from a crossbow.

[keefer]

Cross winds and passing tractor trailers was a little scary until I got the laser alignment done. Now I can pass the trucks riding with just one hand on the bars. Best mod so far!

[40Xshooter]

It's sort of a funny thing... the bike isn't actually getting moved around by the wind: YOU are!
As you get rocked from side to side; you end up adding small steering inputs, as you hang on.
If you're "locked-in": so is the bike!

WELL PUT! The trike is very stable in a crosswind. It's quite easy to think it's the trike that's being moved by the wind where in fact it IS you! My wife and I were out yesterday evening coming back from Marengo IL after enjoying ice cream at Fire and Ice. The farmers have harvested most of their crops which leaves NOTHING to stop winds from the west. We were traveling on north-south roads and the west winds were gusting something terrible. I found that if you do what Bob said - gripping the tank with your knees - and keeping a light touch on the bars, your trike won't move around nearly as much!!

[Chupaca]

I ryde very high wind areas here and with the RS have never found it a problem. I do have all the above mentioned mods, swaybar, alignment, front supspension mods but they came later and did a great job at helping. It does take time and if you are on RT's or others where you have added bags, large windshields and trunks this is more pronounced as there is more area for the wind to catch you. Our mountain passes are a great place for an abs workout...

[Zip]

If you don't have a BajaRon sway bar you don't know how easy it is riding is vicious crosswinds. With one it will track like an arrow fired from a crossbow.

Is there a way to tell if it was put on?

[Bob Denman]

If you don't have a BajaRon sway bar you don't know how easy it is riding is vicious crosswinds. With one it will track like an arrow fired from a crossbow.

They'll track straight without a RonBar under their chins...
I just came across the top of the Neversink Reservoir Dam, and it was blowing pretty darn good...
Probably over 40mph!
My bike cut through it, like a knife through butter!
No RonBar yet; I'm considering it for how it sharpens up the cornering!

[Cavman]

When traveling either by Spyder or cage, I look at the top of the trees along
the road/highway to see if they are moving? A great indicator of wind conditions and what I may expect.

This does not work while traveling in the Western states because the trees, if any, are far away from the roads.

[JayBros]

You can tell one of Ron's bars because it will have metal Heim links, mine are red, that say BajaRon on them. As someone else said, in a stiff wind if you have a death grip on the bars any wind buffeting your torso is going to be at least partially transmitted to your arms/hands and thence to the bars, depending upon how much you are relaxing your arms and grip. It takes only a tiny movement of the bars to induce that twitchy behavior of the Spyder at highway speed.

[ARtraveler]

Riding with side gusts can cause you to put those little "inputs" into the steering that make the seem to have a mind of its own. It is better than being on two wheels though.

Drove through the Badlands National Park in the mid 80's. There were 50 plus mph winds blowing constantly. We were aboard my 84 Yamaha Venture 1200. We actually had to lean into the wind in order to keep the bike upright. After a few miles of that we had to stop and take a rest. We also drank about a gallon of water apiece as the hot winds also dehydrated us. A great ride, and one I will never forget.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

You can tell one of Ron's bars because it will have metal Heim links, mine are red, that say BajaRon on them.

Not necessarily. He sold the bar for some time with the links as an option. It's only been the past couple of years that the metal links were part of the kit.

The sway bars have always been red, haven't they? The OEM ones are black.

[WEB-WVR]

Took the spyder out for the first time on the highway today. Did a little over 100 mi round trip. Coming home we were going into a strong wind and the spyder did not seem to like that. Also got hit sideways with a few gusts that pushed us but we were able to stay within the lane. All an all it was a nice ride.

No way to avoid the wind....happens on any bike with a lot of body panels.

I had a Honda ST1300....lots of plastic panels. Sideways wind was murder. Just prior to the Golden Gate at about 45mph, I got hit by a side wind so sudden and hard it shoved me off the road into the grass median. I kept it upright put nerves were shot !

Wind = get in the slow lane and slow down perhaps 10mph.

[Copperman]

The sway bars have always been red, haven't they? The OEM ones are black.

The BajaRon bars I've had for my RT's and F3L have been black. There is a "BajaRon" sticker in the center of the bar.

[Bob Denman]

At different times, Ron has offered some color options...
But I've always just seen the black ones...
That's cool: color doesn't matter!

[PapaHotel]

Thanks to all for the info so I have a bit of "heads up" I will be travelling northbound, and there is an area in Iowa filled with wind generators. I have seen several trailers rolled into the ditch in this area. So being informed will help me negotiate this safely.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

At different times, Ron has offered some color options...
But I've always just seen the black ones...
That's cool: color doesn't matter!

Zip was asking how he could tell if a Ron bar was on his bike. I thought maybe color was it, but obviously not. The next best way is Ron's sticker, if it's still there and visible. Otherwise the most sure way is to measure the diameter.

So without going out in the garage does anyone know off hand what the diameters are for the OEM bar and Ron's bar?

[Bob Denman]

So without going out in the garage does anyone know off hand what the diameters are for the OEM bar and Ron's bar?

I'm anal-retentive; just not quite to that degree!
PM Ron... he would know!

[JayBros]

I'm anal-retentive; just not quite to that degree!

Me either!!

[motoswami]

On our recent trip from GA to the Grand Canyon and back, crossing the prairie we noticed on two-lane highways when the wind was blowing across our path from our left hand side, tractor-trailers in the oncoming lane would really hit us hard with their frontal wind blast. However, when the wind was from our right, that frontal blast from large vehicles (thankfully) disappeared.

With the tall F4 windshield, plus top box and side bags, we have enough additional "sail" to catch the breeze. Think I'll slip on the sway bar I took off my RT when replacing it with BajaRon's item, as it's a freebie and I've laid out enough coins modifying the F3 for the moment.

Pete