Midnight ride

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

It's darn HOT in the northeast which is a bit unusual ….. Now in my old age ( 72 ) and with differing sleep patterns … I decided to take a ride on the back roads ( paved and unpaved ) just because it was still pretty hot out …. How refreshing it was , nice smells in the air , no traffic, just me , my RT and of course the Sirius XM …. For the most part kept it around 30-40 mph …. did 35 + miles and came back quite refreshed …. The LED headlights make a world of difference, good beam spread and distance ….. didn't see any ground critters big or small, but I did spook a rather large owl, which brought a flashback of the wild Turkey that hit me in Mo. in the Mark Twain forest .......... Mike

[UtahPete]

It's darn HOT in the northeast which is a bit unusual ….. Now in my old age ( 72 ) and with differing sleep patterns … I decided to take a ride on the back roads ( paved and unpaved ) just because it was still pretty hot out …. How refreshing it was , nice smells in the air , no traffic, just me , my RT and of course the Sirius XM …. For the most part kept it around 30-40 mph …. did 35 + miles and came back quite refreshed …. The LED headlights make a world of difference, good beam spread and distance ….. didn't see any ground critters big or small, but I did spook a rather large owl, which brought a flashback of the wild Turkey that hit me in Mo. in the Mark Twain forest .......... Mike

You got hit by a bottle of whiskey...?

[BoilerAnimal]

Rode our Spyder to work Wednesday and Thursday. I work 3-11, so I leave at 1:40 PM and get home at 11:45 PM. It was 84° when I got home Thursday night and VERY humid.

I spent Friday morning getting my new Vredstein tires mounted and by the time I had everything buttoned up, I was too hot to ride the Spyder. Took another shower and drove the truck to work with the AC on full blast. Got transferred to a new job in the new plant last Monday. Hate the new job but it is in a temperature controlled building. That means AC! Thank goodness.

Yes, Mike, I agree about the late night riding. I just wouldn't recommend doing it with the OEM headlights. If you do, you run the risk of getting an unwanted hood ornament!

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

You got hit by a bottle of whiskey...?

No Pete it was a REAL wild turkey , it felt like it weighed about 50 lbs, and know it wasn't even close to that weight …. but it almost knocked me off my RT …. it actually got between my windshield and my chest ….. not a pleasant feeling ….. Mike

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Rode our Spyder to work Wednesday and Thursday. I work 3-11, so I leave at 1:40 PM and get home at 11:45 PM. It was 84° when I got home Thursday night and VERY humid.

I spent Friday morning getting my new Vredstein tires mounted and by the time I had everything buttoned up, I was too hot to ride the Spyder. Took another shower and drove the truck to work with the AC on full blast. Got transferred to a new job in the new plant last Monday. Hate the new job but it is in a temperature controlled building. That means AC! Thank goodness.

Yes, Mike, I agree about the late night riding. I just wouldn't recommend doing it with the OEM headlights. If you do, you run the risk of getting an unwanted hood ornament!

I know and agree …. that was why I mentioned My LED's …… Mike

[Chupaca]

Great time to Ryde. Do enjoy it from time to time and grocery shopping at that time similarly nice I pick up some ice cream on the way home...

[vtrider]

When I take the Spyder to work, which is around 3:00 am for me, I find it is the best time to cruise on my 20 mile trek to work. It is cooler, no traffic and just a peaceful ride. I sometimes blast the stereo to try scare off any road critters. The deer is what I have to watch for the most. I did have a black bear cross in front of me once a while back.

[ChicagoSpyder]

It's darn HOT in the northeast which is a bit unusual ….. Now in my old age ( 72 ) and with differing sleep patterns … I decided to take a ride on the back roads ( paved and unpaved ) just because it was still pretty hot out …. How refreshing it was , nice smells in the air , no traffic, just me , my RT and of course the Sirius XM …. For the most part kept it around 30-40 mph …. did 35 + miles and came back quite refreshed …. The LED headlights make a world of difference, good beam spread and distance ….. didn't see any ground critters big or small, but I did spook a rather large owl, which brought a flashback of the wild Turkey that hit me in Mo. in the Mark Twain forest .......... Mike

You're lucky it didn't bust you up or worse, toms can easily go 30+ lbs.

[ARtraveler]

What a great idea. Now that we are where it gets dark about 9:00 PM or so. We have miles and miles of country road just outside our fence. We did it yesterday on the bikes during the day. Nighttime just might be very interesting.

Time to look at glo ryders again too.

[BoilerAnimal]

One thing I do is to tilt my head back just enough to block the light from the digital display with the bottom of my modular helmet. It helps to see better down the road without the glare distracting me.

On that note, is it possible to adjust the digital display beyond what the sensor does automatically? Or does anyone know of a source for tinted material that could be trimmed and he placed over it to darken it so the glare isn't as bad?

[safecracker]

Yes you can adjust the contrast. I adjust mine to zero at night. Once you shut off and then turn it back on my goes to default of 40. I like.riding at night.

[Jeriatric]

You got hit by a bottle of whiskey...?

Funny as heck!

On the flip side,

it's one of my main concerns when riding in the wee hours. Not being hit by the bottle but, the consumer of.

[h0gr1der]

Rode our Spyder to work Wednesday and Thursday. I work 3-11, so I leave at 1:40 PM and get home at 11:45 PM. It was 84° when I got home Thursday night and VERY humid.

I spent Friday morning getting my new Vredstein tires mounted and by the time I had everything buttoned up, I was too hot to ride the Spyder. Took another shower and drove the truck to work with the AC on full blast. Got transferred to a new job in the new plant last Monday. Hate the new job but it is in a temperature controlled building. That means AC! Thank goodness.

Yes, Mike, I agree about the late night riding. I just wouldn't recommend doing it with the OEM headlights. If you do, you run the risk of getting an unwanted hood ornament!

I know and agree …. that was why I mentioned My LED's …… Mike

Since it was mentioned twice, what LED package gives the best light spread with the stock buckets? Is the can bus system involved in any way in the upgrade to LED's? I don't want to upset the apple cart so to speak.

[Jeriatric]

Since it was mentioned twice, what LED package gives the best light spread with the stock buckets? Is the can bus system involved in any way in the upgrade to LED's? I don't want to upset the apple cart so to speak.

Personally went with Can AM's offering. Not cheap but every once in a while you'll find a deal. Others install their own.....ballast location is key if you go that way. Many posts can be found on the subject, just look back in the 2010 to 2013 years when you search.

[Wildrice]

No Pete it was a REAL wild turkey , it felt like it weighed about 50 lbs, and know it wasn't even close to that weight …. but it almost knocked me off my RT …. it actually got between my windshield and my chest ….. not a pleasant feeling ….. Mike

I've been hit in the forehead by a big June Bug while I was riding 65 mph--It really hurt & I had a red lump the next day. Riding without eye protection would be very dangerous. Average weight of the male wild turkey is approx 20 lbs-----at 65 mph a 20 lb punch could render one unconscious--Mike -you were lucky you stayed on the Spyder. & keep the liquid Wild Turkey in your saddlebag.
Darrell

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Yes you can adjust the contrast. I adjust mine to zero at night. Once you shut off and then turn it back on my goes to default of 40. I like.riding at night.

….. I like my night screen at zero also …. I' think mine ( 2014 RT ) stays that way …. I'll have to check …. Mike

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Since it was mentioned twice, what LED package gives the best light spread with the stock buckets? Is the can bus system involved in any way in the upgrade to LED's? I don't want to upset the apple cart so to speak.

I have TricLeds and they don't have a ballast - just plug n play ….. nice light spread ….. and distance …. Mike

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I've been hit in the forehead by a big June Bug while I was riding 65 mph--It really hurt & I had a red lump the next day. Riding without eye protection would be very dangerous. Average weight of the male wild turkey is approx 20 lbs-----at 65 mph a 20 lb punch could render one unconscious--Mike -you were lucky you stayed on the Spyder. & keep the liquid Wild Turkey in your saddlebag.
Darrell

… after it hit me I hit the brakes, and slowed until I had full control over all aspects of driving. I go back to see if the Turkey got damaged … I could n;t find it ….. Mike

[TheCajun1957]

Hmmmm TricLeds name did not get ******* bleeped out!

[k8sdad]

I am retired as well and have been known to do the same thing. I live for the balmy evenings when I can ride in a short sleeve shirt and feel summer on me. Gotta watch for deer here in East Tennessee though. Ride safe!

[BoilerAnimal]

Since it was mentioned twice, what LED package gives the best light spread with the stock buckets? Is the can bus system involved in any way in the upgrade to LED's? I don't want to upset the apple cart so to speak.

I got my LED headlights on eBay after the recommendation of Joel the Biker. Not absolutely perfect but they were a HUGE improvement over the OEM headlights. Everything fit inside the cover with no modifications needed. I only wish that they were about 5000°K instead of 6500°K. That would give a whiter light. These are far better than the original lights, they just have a slight tinge of blue to them. Unfortunately, that brand is no longer available. Got them two or three years ago, no problems at all with them.

There is a slight decrease in the ability to pull in distant radio stations but we don't listen to the radio that often while riding. We have listened to iHeart radio on our iPhone and are going to try SiriusXM after we download the app to one of our iPhones. We pay $5.00 for five months for it in the car, so we might as well take full advantage of it!

[missouriboy]

Hmmmm TricLeds name did not get ******* bleeped out!

Yeah, that changed a few weeks ago. I noticed it in my signature.

[ARtraveler]

The "bleep" is off for Tricled.