Back from Maggie Valley!

[stevencovert]

450 mile trip from Virginia Beach, in the sideways rain from Hurricane Michael. Friday and Saturday cleared up but was cool. I had a chance to try out a friends RT(998cc) with a new sway bar. Huge difference in turning and hard curves, front dipped very little. So that's next on the list! We had a cat-bypass put in our 2016RTS by Spyder1Attitude, could feel more zip out the gate. Then the wife heard another full length kit, so we upgraded. Without the baffle it is LOUD, sounds like one of those little cars with the "fart can" exhaust! Put in the baffle and the volume dropped to tolerable on the highway. I always heard you couldn't get much out of the 1330ACE, but people must mean low rumble (true). You definitely can get serious db's "raspy style".

SpyderPops was packed as expected with LED headlamp upgrades, bump skids and mostly sway bars. Ultimate seat got my business too on my 2008GS. Got a laser alignment for $100. So easy to drop $1K - $2K there! Glad the wife held me back. Ordering the sway bar, and our local Spyder group is going to have "parts party" to install aftermarket parts and eat BBQ. One of members has a car lift converted to hold a Spyder up nice and high. Generally the installations were about $60 - $80 depending on difficulty, which really isn't bad, it's just you can wait for hours to get your bike in - and miss the riding events, etc. So it was a balance. That's why many in our club decided on the parts install party. I am comfy with LED's and electronics, we have to mechanics for all those other farkles!

Trip home Sunday was cloudy but dry! But 450 miles (in one shot) was our longest trip to date.

[ARtraveler]

Sounds like you had a great trip. Thank you for the update.

[Chupaca]

Sounds like a very successful event though we saw little here. Glad you made the storm safe and the trip back was a bit better. if you didn't know about farkling you do now....

[stevencovert]

They also unveiled a Ryker there. I sat on it, pretty comfy position. I like the low seat, low center of gravity. I'm sure it is a great bike with the CVT, but I think a GS/RSS with a sway bar is going to more fun for me. They certainly hit the mark for the young-uns, with the drive shaft (bit of off road now).

[stevencovert]

Another club member put an F4 shield on their RT - I really liked it. I could appreciate it on the ride home - my shoulders and arms were cold. That F4 shield is about 4" - 5" wider. With a vent for summer.

[Chefex]

I have a Dual HD all in one exhaust in chrome on order from Spyder1attitude. Cannot wait for it to arrive for my F3 limited. First saw them at the 3 wheeler rally in Deadwood this year.

[Deanna777]

Thanks for the update!

Post some pictures for those who couldn't go due to work.

Deanna

[Hecam17]

It was another great rally, will make plans for next year too. Between this and the Carolina Spyder rally in August our corner of the map has some good rides and great Rally's. Spyder Adventures will be in October '19, Carolina Spyder rally will be May '19.

[one2doo]

Where is the Carolina Rally?

[Woodaddict]

near Anderson,SC

[Firefly]

Made it home Sunday night... 640 mile ride home.... bit of rain but otherwise good.

Who was doing alignments there? I didn't see that.

Some great riding on Friday and Saturday.....

[Trbayth]

Made it home Sunday night... 640 mile ride home.... bit of rain but otherwise good.

Who was doing alignments there? I didn't see that.

Some great riding on Friday and Saturday.....

Netzley Tire came down from NY and I'm sure they were doing alignments. Not sure if Spyderpops was.

[Firefly]

Netzley Tire came down from NY and I'm sure they were doing alignments. Not sure if Spyderpops was.

I spoke to them and didn't see any alignment area set up. I saw tire changes being done, although they couldn't do rear bearings. Didn't see it at Harvey's booth either, but I wasn't at the fairgrounds once it got nice out.....

[BajaRon]

Friday was a very nice day. Beautiful!

Nice meeting everyone there. Hope to do more of this in the future. Get back to the reason I started all of this in the first place!

Ride, Meet & Enjoy!

[Trbayth]

I spoke to them and didn't see any alignment area set up. I saw tire changes being done, although they couldn't do rear bearings. Didn't see it at Harvey's booth either, but I wasn't at the fairgrounds once it got nice out.....

Well TBH I didn't look for alignment setup. I just assumed (!) they were doing them at Maggie Valley.

[spydernatic]

Friday was a very nice day. Beautiful!

Nice meeting everyone there. Hope to do more of this in the future. Get back to the reason I started all of this in the first place!

Ride, Meet & Enjoy!

Wow sorry I missed you would love to have met with you and talk about your products. I was there all weekend and was the 1st one to ride the Ryker after winning the raffle actually it was my wife that won but graciously allowed me to test ride. I also ran the Spyder Olympics on Sat.20181012_130819.jpg

[spydernatic]

Thanks for the update!

Post some pictures for those who couldn't go due to work.

Deanna

Here are some photos from Friday morning before it got busy.20181012_142236.jpg20181012_142259.jpg20181012_142317.jpg

[BajaRon]

Here are some photos from Friday morning before it got busy.20181012_142236.jpg20181012_142259.jpg20181012_142317.jpg

I arrived right about noon and there were a lot more Spyders there then and pretty much the rest of the day. Beautiful riding weather.

Congrats on your Ryker ride. I got a chance to look at it. But no ride....

[Poseidon]

Netzley Tire came down from NY and I'm sure they were doing alignments. Not sure if Spyderpops was.

They were doing laser alignments. They aligned my wife’s F3T, installed a rear tire, and BajaRon sway bar. We timed it right by doing it on Thursday during the rain. Didn’t miss any riding time that way.

[Firefly]

They were doing laser alignments. They aligned my wife’s F3T, installed a rear tire, and BajaRon sway bar. We timed it right by doing it on Thursday during the rain. Didn’t miss any riding time that way.

Cool... I'm sure her Spyder will handle much better now.

[Poseidon]

Cool... I'm sure her Spyder will handle much better now.

A LOT better!!! It normally takes a lot for her to notice a change. Things I notice, she will say “yeah, maybe a little difference.” On the first ride after the sway bar, tire, and alignment, she motioned for me to pull off after the first 2 or 3 curves. I thought something was wrong. She went on and on about how much better it handles, less body roll, and how the steering was more stable and less “twitchy”. She said it is like a totally different bike! Coming from her, that is saying a lot!

When we got back to the hotel, I had to take it out for a ride so I could see for myself. I have to say, I agree with her assessment 100%. The part that surprised me the most was how it reduced the twitchy steering. I’m not sure if that is from the sway bar or the alignment. I’m thinking it is probably the alignment. It was an unexpected outcome tho. I knew the handling would be improved and there would be less body roll. Had I known how much it would improve the steering and overall stability of the bike, I would have done it long before now!

[one2doo]

Wow sorry I missed you would love to have met with you and talk about your products. I was there all weekend and was the 1st one to ride the Ryker after winning the raffle actually it was my wife that won but graciously allowed me to test ride. I also ran the Spyder Olympics on Sat.20181012_130819.jpg

It was a pleasure meeting you and talking after your Ryker test drive. You sold Becky.

[Tenic]

It was a pleasure meeting you and talking after your Ryker test drive. You sold Becky.

Got my sway bar from Netzley at Maggie Valley. Very pleased with the improvement in handling. They said I didn't need alignment. Spyder only had about 800 miles since new. I will probably do alignment next year if it needs it. Met some nice folks, had a good time, and got some good stuff for the Spyder.

Rick

[JayD]

Best rally so far. Met good people and had great rides. Will be back next year.

[blacklightning]

Very nice rally. I enjoyed myself, but didn't get to ride with many of you guys this year. I brought my wife with me, and she is not an early riser. So we did our own little thing on Friday and Saturday. I did get to sit on the ryker just before they started the first test rides.
For my body type, it is just not big enough for longer rides. But for 50-100 mile sprints, it would probably do fine. I actually was hoping the wife would like it. That would give me a chance to have another toy in the garage. But she was not impressed. Thursday had rain until around 2, so I did what I do best (hung out and took a mid afternoon nap). Once things cleared up around 3, I could get no one to ride, so we just ran out and got a bite to eat. I will possibly ride up to the Boone area in the next 7-10 days, just so I can see the leaf changes. Looking forward to being there again next year.