New Owner Here!

Hi Everyone,

I've been riding bikes since I was 12 back in the early 80's and while looking for a larger "comfy" ride, I stumbled across what is now my 2014 RT Limited! I bought it from a friend. Great shape with 10K miles and I'm loving it.

Maybe after the new excitement wares a bit I might change my tune but right now, I don't have any desire to ride my old bike. Seems like a big awakening for me. I love this Spyder!

Anyway, I'm new to the Spyder Scene and had a few questions please:

I don't know the color of the bike. The seller said it was Black Cherry but I find no reference to Black Cherry anywhere. It looks like it has Red-ish or Purple flakes in it when you look at it indoors but outdoors it looks black. I did find a another thread here that mentioned something about Black Cherry being something else but now I can't find it for some reason.

Is the "Chunk" that happens when shifting into first gear or reverse from neutral "really normal"? Seller said it was.

I'm finding that when I get it up to 60MPH or so, the tires seems rock solid with no shake, and the bike "feels" fine and stable with no shake, but if I look at the mirrors or the windshield, I can see a slight "rocking" motion. Wondering if this slight vibration/rocking back and forth (vertically) is normal or if I might have a tire out of whack or something.

I'm getting a full fluid service on it next week at a Can Am Dealer and I planned to ask them also but looking for any thoughts on the above.

Thanks and great to be here.
:)
Pat

On cheap cycle parts they refer to the color as Black Current Metallic.

Blackcurrant (Metalic) is a 2014 Spyder color. The image shows the various 2014 paint color numbers.

The gear clunk shifting from Neutral to Reverse or 1st gear is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about.

You will soon learn that the OEM Kenda tires BRP equips Spyders with are known by many of us as Crapendas. You can search the site and find enough tire information to cure the world's worst case of insomnia.

Welcome, good luck and stay safe!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kickthefog

Hi Everyone,

I've been riding bikes since I was 12 back in the early 80's and while looking for a larger "comfy" ride, I stumbled across what is now my 2014 RT Limited! I bought it from a friend. Great shape with 10K miles and I'm loving it.

Maybe after the new excitement wares a bit I might change my tune but right now, I don't have any desire to ride my old bike. Seems like a big awakening for me. I love this Spyder!

Anyway, I'm new to the Spyder Scene and had a few questions please:

I don't know the color of the bike. The seller said it was Black Cherry but I find no reference to Black Cherry anywhere. It looks like it has Red-ish or Purple flakes in it when you look at it indoors but outdoors it looks black. I did find a another thread here that mentioned something about Black Cherry being something else but now I can't find it for some reason.

Is the "Chunk" that happens when shifting into first gear or reverse from neutral "really normal"? Seller said it was.

I'm finding that when I get it up to 60MPH or so, the tires seems rock solid with no shake, and the bike "feels" fine and stable with no shake, but if I look at the mirrors or the windshield, I can see a slight "rocking" motion. Wondering if this slight vibration/rocking back and forth (vertically) is normal or if I might have a tire out of whack or something.

I'm getting a full fluid service on it next week at a Can Am Dealer and I planned to ask them also but looking for any thoughts on the above.

Thanks and great to be here.
:)
Pat

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I'm an x-Leo .... and VT's DMV will enter what's close enough ie. Black .....Every Spyder makes the clunk, going from neutral into gear it's because they have straight cut gears, also if the oil is warm it's not as noticible ... not to worry .... The ( crappy ) factory mirror mounts allow the mirrors to shake .... almost everyone now swaps them out for " Magic Mirror Mounts " you can order them from Lamont ( Monster garage, a vendor here ) ..... read the sticky - Do's and do nots " lots of good info ....... If this is your first time on a Spyder, best advice I got was ....drive it like your Car , light touch etc. .... I'm sure the alignment is OK, so it should track pretty straight, ... crowned roads can effect steering, some say ..... test the brakes - they are very good at stopping ....... be careful not to ride the brake pedal - it will cause a Code ..... :congrats: & :welcome: ...... Mike :thumbup:

Ask your friend what, if anything, he did to the suspension. Sway bar, tires, alignment, and shocks are all available to make the ride more enjoyable, safer, and controllable.

Welcome to the forum Kickthefrog. I hope you enjoy it. :congrats: On the new to you Spyder RTL!! Yes as JayBros said, the N to R shift clunk is normal. Some of the vibration you see maybe just the road surface. See how it reacts over a little time.

Hey neighbor....Martinsburg here

If you are going to a dealer and getting a "full fluid service" your wallet is going to HURT most likely. But, you get use to spending money on these, mostly on "farkles". Enjoy the ryde. We are.

Thank you everyone for the Warm welcome and wealth of information. Much appreciated!

I appreciate all the responses. Thanks to all for helping me to better understand this animal! :)

:)
Pat

Hi Pat, Welcome to Spyderlovers. I'm in the Punxsutawney area. If I can be of any help, feel free to message me. John

:welcome: and :congrats: on your new ride. The Black Current color is great looking, and if you get it out in the sun, watch the color seem to change.

The 2014's brought us the 1330/three cylinder engine. They are improved over the 998/2. Better gas mileage, quieter, less expensive to operate and less maintenance. I had a yellow one which I just traded off on a new 2020.

Right on about what others say about the clunk. They all do that when you make that first shift.

Thanks much John and ARtraveler :)

Welcome from the west coast rock of Canada - Vancouver Island. In the same boat so to speak, bought my 2014 Spyder RT LE just over two weeks ago with 9100 Kms on the clock (approximately 5500 miles) - now have almost 10,500 Kms on the clock.

Was wondering about the clunk into reverse and first, question answered.

Enjoy the Spyder and so does the Mrs, have an '85 Honda Goldwing Limited Edition to satisfy the two wheel riding (my long term retirement project). Don't miss putting the foot down to support the bike, do like the shifting on the Spyder along with other great attributes. First item ordered and installed was a set of arm rests for the Mrs, she feels better with the arm rests as it gives a "cockpit" feeling and she likes the arm placement. Now that she is happy, I get to do what I want.

Enjoy your new ride. Cheers

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Rednaxs60

installed was a set of arm rests for the Mrs, she feels better with the arm rests as it gives a "cockpit" feeling and she likes the arm placement. Now that she is happy, I get to do what I want.

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I am already considering armrests for the Mrs for the same reason! Which ones did you get and any drawbacks to having them on all the time?

:)

:welcome:


:congrats:

1330club


Yes,the "Chunk" is normal when shifting into first gear and reverse.

Get alignment.

Deanna

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Kickthefog

I've been riding bikes since I was 12 back in the early 80's. If I look at the mirrors or the windshield, I can see a slight "rocking" motion. Wondering if this slight vibration/rocking back and forth (vertically) is normal or if I might have a tire out of whack or something.

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As others have mentioned there is (for most of us) vibration in the mirrors. There are several fixes for this. I used the 'wedgies' and they work fine. As to the rocking, if you are talking side to side, that is because the 2 front wheels are reacting to the road: something you won't have on a 2 wheeler.

Enjoy your Spyder. I am mine.

Rick