Goodby BRP and Spyder.

[Perry]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

[BajaRon]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

The Spyder (my SM5) is the best ride I've ever had for touring. The next best I've had was my Honda Valkyrie Tourer.

[wyliec]

:Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

What engine noise? If you have the stock muffler, it's pretty quiet.

I wonder how many come on here and fish with a small motor?

[Firefly]

If wearing the proper ear protection, this engine is nice and quiet.

To each his own--- But think the Spyder is less fatiguing on the long haul.

I've never had a big problem with the engine heat--- unless I do something stupid like wearing shorts!

[musicarcade]

What engine noise? If you have the stock muffler, it's pretty quiet.

[BMW]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

I don't know about you but i've traveled 5000 mi so far on this trip & I don't think I could have done it on any other bike. Have meet two other bikers so far who have crashed (no injuries except pride). one totaled his goldwing the other just skined his harley up. don't have a problem with eng. heat, could use a body heater. and the whooppies are easier to handle. Just my 2%

[ataDude]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

Good luck and have fun with the Goldwing! If you can hold it up (about 900 pounds loaded), its a great bike. And, from a performance perspective, it's a 12 second canyon carver... no kidding.

.

[boborgera]

A lot of people complain about the heat ,i always wear boots and jeans, So i don't find the heat any worst than most bikes I've owned. I think the bike i bought the other day, a naked standard throws about the same amount.
As far as too much noise, The Spyders engine makes no noise, as in it has no Soul.
All that plastic hides the V twins sound.[soul]

[dancogan]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

Some people leave with class ... and some don't.

Good luck with your Goldwing. It's a great touring bike.

[NITSPYDER]

I dont really get alot of heat with mine and I wear shorts most of the time. I thought the bike was super quiet before I put the two brothers on, now I wake up the neighbors but thats what I wanted to do!!

[rnet]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

In stock form, it is not a very comfortable touring bike and I wish it were quieter. As for the heat, about the same as other bikes I've had, but I will tackle that problem soon.

The Spyder (my SM5) is the best ride I've ever had for touring. The next best I've had was my Honda Valkyrie Tourer.

After some major mods and about $7000 I now have a great touring bike.

[MoonChaser213]

My stock muffler is too quiet... to each his own

[BumbleBee]

I have a RT-S and it's a great touring spyder.
No heat problems and muffler is very quiet.


Good luck with your Goldwing.

[Eraser]

The Spyder (my SM5) is the best ride I've ever had for touring. The next best I've had was my Honda Valkyrie Tourer.

(other than the stock seat! I've sat on 2x4s that gave me more comfort.I changed it to BRPs comfort seat,real quick.)

[BajaRon]

Met 2 Goldwinger's coming back from Valcourt in 2008 (the Winger's were coming back from Americade). They pulled into the gas station right after Lamont and I had filled up.

They recognized Lamont (though they had never met him) and came over to say hello.

When they found out how far we'd gone and how far we had to go they started saying how comfortable their Wing's were, how they could go all day without stopping except that they had to get fuel.

They wondered how we endured the torture of riding long miles on the Spyder. We'd alreay put more miles on that day than they had and we planned to do more than they did from there.

Lamont said; "Well, really it isn't that bad at all". So they asked us both how the Spyder's comfort, drivablity, etc., was compared to other bikes we'd owned before. We both told them it was the best long distance machine either of us had ever owned.

They commented that we'd never owned a Goldwing, (which is true) but both of us have owned the Honda Valkyrie which are stripped down Goldwings.

Anyway, they asked if they could ride with us since we were going the same way and we said, 'Sure! No problem!'

So we headed out at our normal conservative pace, Speed Limint +5. The Wing's were back there for quite some time but at about the 120 mile point I saw them both pull off the freeway.

Lamont flipped his turn signals on at about the 135 mile point for a fuel stop. When the Wing's were not there he asked me what happened to them. He never saw them pull off.

So much for the long distance Wing's. We never saw them again.

[MangoMike]

My Wing was outstanding on the Interstates with way too much power, and a fair amount of comfort. I find my RT to be buzzy at 65 mph+, but it is a lot more comfortable, a lot more.

I must admit that I miss the Wing's cruising performance, but would never go back. I found the Wing handle great at speed, but it pretty bad when traveling slower. I really hated starting off on the Wing, and having to immediately turn, as you often do in a parking lot. Never was sure what the bike was going to do. And first gear was so low it was almost useless.

I find the RT better for everything except interstate speeds. My RT's gas mileage really drops when on the interstate, and it the bike just doesn't feel like it wants to travel at those speeds. So, I try to avoid them and thoroughly enjoy my time on the side roads, seeing the sights, meeting people and generally enjoying my ride (something I seldom did on the Wing).

But to each his own. Hope you have many wonderful, safe miles on your Wing.

Mike

[Smylinacha]

My Harley threw heat also. Just on my inner thighs versus the Spyder which throws it on my right leg. But that's what bikes do. Well I think the Wing is quieter than the Spyder and it's a nice bike so good luck with it and ride safe!

[widowmaker2011]

My Wing was outstanding on the Interstates with way too much power, and a fair amount of comfort. I find my RT to be buzzy at 65 mph+, but it is a lot more comfortable, a lot more.

I must admit that I miss the Wing's cruising performance, but would never go back. I found the Wing handle great at speed, but it pretty bad when traveling slower. I really hated starting off on the Wing, and having to immediately turn, as you often do in a parking lot. Never was sure what the bike was going to do. And first gear was so low it was almost useless.

I find the RT better for everything except interstate speeds. My RT's gas mileage really drops when on the interstate, and it the bike just doesn't feel like it wants to travel at those speeds. So, I try to avoid them and thoroughly enjoy my time on the side roads, seeing the sights, meeting people and generally enjoying my ride (something I seldom did on the Wing).

But to each his own. Hope you have many wonderful, safe miles on your Wing.

Mike

Mike- I concurred with your statements on both my wifes and my RTS's at highway speed versus a wing....however, on the return leg of our last trip we covered interstates for almost 14 hours (yuck). Speeds were in the 75 mph range then slower , then faster with one long blast of a couple hours at 80-85 hanging in the right lane!! , you know the routine. I started leaving my RTS in 4th gear up till at least 67-70 mph and not really staying in 5th unless I was sustained above 75. The smoothness difference was spooky. I hollered to my wife on the bluetooth and told her to leave hers in 4th unless she was over 70mph. About ten minutes later I got a beep back on the intercom and she said, "wow my hands aren't buzzing anymore and you can't feel the engine is even running". The RT loves to sit in that 6000-7500 rpm range all day and when its in that "sweet-spot" it is glass smooth. Just our observations. Having some experience on this motor (V990 used in the Aprillia), that bike stays in the 6000-8500 rpm range all day long so don't be worried about longjevity. Our fuel mileage did suffer a tiny bit , with carol seeing 32 mpg on the return leg versus 34 on the way down. I seemed to get 29 on the way down and 28 on 28 on the way back riding at higher rpm, but I was pulling my 622 and the motor was working less. Just my 2 cents.

[canam9]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

Good luck and be safe.

[MangoMike]

Thanks Widowmaker, I'll try running in 4th and see how it feels. I still have the habit of getting the revs down by shifting into 5th as soon as possible. I know the Spyder likes to Rev, just got to retrain myself.

Mike

[WackyDan]

When I sit on my push mower... I get hot.

Regardless, if the Spyder isn't for you, then it isn't and enjoy your new ride as well be safe.

[Zombo]

....I started leaving my RTS in 4th gear up till at least 67-70 mph and not really staying in 5th unless I was sustained above 75. The smoothness difference was spooky. I hollered to my wife on the bluetooth and told her to leave hers in 4th unless she was over 70mph. About ten minutes later I got a beep back on the intercom and she said, "wow my hands aren't buzzing anymore and you can't feel the engine is even running". The RT loves to sit in that 6000-7500 rpm range all day and when its in that "sweet-spot" it is glass smooth. Just our observations. Having some experience on this motor (V990 used in the Aprillia), that bike stays in the 6000-8500 rpm range all day long so don't be worried about longjevity.

Thanks so much for this! I hope the same applies for my '09 SM5-RS, as I'm leaving in (looking at clock) 6 hours for a round trip to the Spokane area and back, and anything to make the ride more comfy will be awesome!

[docdoru]

...loves to sit in that 6000-7500 rpm range all day and when its in that "sweet-spot" it is glass smooth. Just our observations. Having some experience on this motor (V990 used in the Aprillia), that bike stays in the 6000-8500 rpm range all day long so don't be worried about longjevity.

[chris56]

Traded my RS-5 for a 2010 Goldwing.My reason is simple.Could'nt take the
engine heat radiating to the legs and the engine noise.It also is the worst bike for touring.Other than those complaints it's a great fun bike to ride around town.

??? for me touring means 9h/day-heavy rain-dirty streets-parking in wet grass.. and that all with luggage and passenger
wing-driving was always stressy for me .. (have a lot of stories)
the only reason to trade a GS is : the RT (they call it diamond-wing)
if you would do a 1000mls weekend over the alps with your wing on the side of a spyder you would understand..
but tastes are different - wish you many troublefree mls..
chris

[ARtraveler]

Bike ownership is definately a personal preference. Sorry to hear that you traded the Spyder for the wing. For me, and many others, the Spyder is the bike that we can drive without some of the worries of two wheels. I never had a wing because I always thought the seats were a bit high for me to touch ground. I did have a 1983 Venture which was set up very similar to the wing in those days. Wife and I rode that one through many states. As I got older, and my back got worse, I just could not lift and muscle a 900# bike around anymore. I ended up trading off my 2007 Vulcan 2000CC for one of the first 2008 Spyders. For me, the Spyder was an answer to keep riding. We just came back from a 1700 mile trip in 5 days, and we had no complaints about the touring amenities, the heat from the bikes, or the noise factor. We had 8 to 9 hours in the saddle and bad roads each day. I carried a passenger the whole trip on my RTS while my wife drove her own machine. I did not feel fatigued at the end of any day, and I did not even notice the extra weight of the passenger riding behind. It was much more fun to be able to pay attention to the road conditions, enjoy the scenery, and not have to muscle around a heavy bike and balance a passenger besides. Good luck with your new Wing and enjoy many safe miles of riding. There is no such thing as a bad ride or a bad bike.