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Active Member
First Spyder Ride
Wife and I took our first ride yesterday. Only went about thirty miles total and all in town because we haven't bought helmets yet and I want to change all the fluids and filters before we really open it up. (ND interstate speed limit is 75, but I routinely drive 83-84!)
I want to send a big "Thank You" to all who contribute to this forum! Your advice made our first ride very easy. Previous owner had tire pressure WAY too high (28) in the fronts. I dropped it down to 15 and it rode quite nicely IMO. It seems to track really well, I set the cruise at 50 on an empty straight road and went hands-free for almost two blocks.
I am a former two-wheeler (a few years removed) and I was expecting lots of problems:
• I grabbed for the front brake three times
• I grabbed for the clutch lever once
• I almost always forget the stupid parking brake
• I never tried to put my feet down at stops and I never reached for the foot shift lever.
Your helpful hints prevented operator mistakes, I certainly would have been shifting too early most of the time and cruising at 3000-4000 rpm.
My only complaints (so far):
• The typical motorcycle turn signal switch that works inconsistently. I have used lubricating spray on past bikes to improve reliability, but it doesn't last. (I know, this has been discussed on here already, but you would think that someone would have figured out a more reliable alternative by now. I seem to remember that my 1970 Honda CB350 Twin had the same style switch!)
• A weird feeling at the end of braking to a stop, kind of reminds me of a cross between a warped rotor or ABS engaging. Braking feels very good all other times. This occurs at that point where you are almost stopped and you are easing up on the pedal so you stop smoothly instead of abruptly. It might be from low usage over the last couple years, but I will inspect the rotors and flush the brake fluid anyway.
In conclusion, we both enjoyed our ride very much and look forward to some serious cruising this spring, summer, and fall. The wife loves the heated hand grips, but felt comfortable going hands-free too. I was amazed at how quickly I felt comfortable with the ride and controls. The only exception is turning, I didn't improve much on that during the ride. I am pushing with the outside foot and leaning into the inside hand grip, but it still feels like I am going too slow (10 or less) and the whole thing feels unnatural. I am sure that will improve over the next few hundred miles.
Tony
2012 RT-S SE5 - Viper Red
Castle Atom SV Tarmac Modular Helmets
Sena SMH5 Headsets
Ultraguard Half Cover
Hopnel Luggage: Frunk, Top Case, and Saddlebags
Big Bike Parts Short Spiral Antenna
Kumho Ecsta AST 225/50R15 Rear Tire - Got almost 18,000 miles before replacement with Riken Raptor
Vredestein Quatrac 5 165/65R-14 Front Tires
BajaRon Spark Plugs and Wires
EBC Rear Pads and Rotor from BajaRon
Riken Raptor HR 215/60-15 Rear Tire
Future Plans:
2013 Cooling Kit
BajaRon Sway Bar
High-Mount Brake Light
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give it a month or so and you'll be riding one handed. unless of course you're running hot! passenger arm rests gave my wife a better sense of security.
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Very Active Member
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Very Active Member
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Very Active Member
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Very Active Member
Congrats on the new ride! Maybe we’ll see you in Deadwood this summer?
Trent - 2017 asphalt grey RT Limited,
Ultimate Seat, Baha Ron’s sway bar, Vredestine rear tire, Federal Formoza fronts, SlingMod’s LED head and fog lights, Lamonster’s highway pegs
HE>I
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Originally Posted by TRBorslien
• I almost always forget the stupid parking brake
Welcome to the Spyder world; you're gonna love it!
BUT... the parking brake is NOT stupid. It's the equivalent of PARK gear on any AT vehicle.
The SE transmissions will NOT hold the machine, even on a tiny grade.
NEW - 2015 RT Limited SE6 Intense Red Pearl - 07/21/15
Retained the old mirrors with TricLed Signals
General Altimax RT43 rear tire (at...17,000 miles) Ran for 36,500 miles
Michelin Defender.......rear tire (at...53,500 miles) Ran for 60,700 miles
Riken Raptor HR.........rear tire (at 114,200 miles)
Vredestein Quatrac 5 front tires (at 70,500 miles, first new fronts!)
Gear Brake Decelerometer Module
OLD - 2012 RT Limited SE5 Pearl White - 01/31/13 - Traded in at 32,600 miles.
BajaRon Anti-sway Bar
Kumho ECSTA AST rear tire (at 14,200 miles)
TricLed Turn Signals in Mirrors
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STUPID PARKING BRAKE
Okay, it's that 20-second warning beeper that's STUPID about the parking brake. I agree with that!
But the fix is real quick:
Key On
Brake On
Key Off
When you learn and remember to do the above, quickly, you can escape with no more than a Beep-And-A-Half!
NEW - 2015 RT Limited SE6 Intense Red Pearl - 07/21/15
Retained the old mirrors with TricLed Signals
General Altimax RT43 rear tire (at...17,000 miles) Ran for 36,500 miles
Michelin Defender.......rear tire (at...53,500 miles) Ran for 60,700 miles
Riken Raptor HR.........rear tire (at 114,200 miles)
Vredestein Quatrac 5 front tires (at 70,500 miles, first new fronts!)
Gear Brake Decelerometer Module
OLD - 2012 RT Limited SE5 Pearl White - 01/31/13 - Traded in at 32,600 miles.
BajaRon Anti-sway Bar
Kumho ECSTA AST rear tire (at 14,200 miles)
TricLed Turn Signals in Mirrors
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