I actually had to do some thinking on this one. Over the years, I have farkled six different . Two things have been on ALL of the that I have owned.
Extra lights. My thought, you can't have to many lights. My most recent has extra driving lights, signature light, mirror lights, vent lights, and on the back trunk, extra lights. The new F3 looks like a fully decked out semi going down the road at night. I think they see me now.
Aftermarket seat. I have always cried the blues about the OEM mush seats. On my first (08 GS), I had to have a Corbin with the gas door. On my third (10 RTS), I did the same. I liked both Corbins that I owned. I am a fan of the "firmer" feel. I have always called them "supportive." 56,000 combined miles on the Corbins.
Then, I turned cheapskate. All of the other aftermarket seats have been BRP comfort seats, and on my latest F3, I purchased the Cannonball seat, because I liked the quilted pattern. All of these seats were in the $500 - $600 range. I have found them to be an improvement over the OEM.
I have not added any mechanical devices on ANY of my . I am happy with the operation of the machines, and they have all worked well for me.
I have always been into the "bling" mode though. Footboards when they were not OEM, Fairings, Trunk, and Saddlebags, when they were not OEM. The latest, a chrome rack on my F3 trunk.
That's my story.
Last edited by ARtraveler; 05-23-2020 at 10:49 AM.
Currently Owned: 2019 F3 Limited, 2020 F3 Limited: SOLD BOTH LIMITEDS in October of 2023.
Best mods for me were the Tri-Axis handlebars, driver backrest and the Vredestein front tires. Spyder came new with the Rolo alignment,,,,dealer does it (or at least did it) on all setups prior to display.
BUT, the Spyderpops Air Mananagement System, Missing Air Dams, and Missing Heat Shield for the 2012 Spyder RS-S I installed yesterday take the award now. My right foot would swell from the heat that was coming out of that hole in the desert heat, was like somebody peeing hot fire on your foot when you tried to use the floorboards when it was hot out.
I got my floorboards back, plus the two bar drop on the temperature gauge makes me feel a lot happier about the cooling system now, they are vital here in western Colorado, and its nice to see this improved it. The tunnel is even cooler so the seat stay cooler too, great improvement to overall rider comfort.
I wont lie, if I knew about the RS-S Dragon Foot issue, I would not have bought it, its that annoying to me. IF this had not worked I would have traded it for the F3S I have been ogling. I am golden now.
Kraig B. Kumlin, M.M., M.C.P. (Retired)
Only Two States Left to Visit on MC or Trike, RI and CT
2012 RS-S , Baja Ron Plug Wire Kit and NGK Iridium Plugs Grey and Black
My husband and I were trying to decide which seats were the best to upgrade our 2015 RT Limited stock seats. We looked at a lot of options and decided that the most comfortable seat was the one on the 2020 RT Limited, Marsala red. So we bought that one.
BEST. MOD. EVER!!!!!
We're picking it up Saturday.
Well, I feel kinda dumb because we moved shortly after we bought the 2015 RT in 2017. (It was new.) We went on great trip with the Spyder to the 3 Wheel Rally in Deadwood. I was feeling comfortable on the bike and did a few group rides myself. Lots of fun. After we moved, my husband worked a lot, and neither of us rode much. He's got a better job now so we started riding again. He kept saying that we should take a trip on the bike, but I remember how miserable he was on that seat and was always suggesting that we tow the bike to wherever and ride it when we get there. I started researching a seat solution. He went on a test ride. After reading about the badly needed redesign on the RT, it didn't take much more than a test drive to realize that it was time to trade. So, I'm starting to learn to drive it again. Doing the parking lot thing now. There is a 3 wheel course by BRP that I plan on taking in a few months. Between daily practice on the bike and the course, I should be a better driver than ever. And I'll be learning it all on the new bike!
We looked at a lot of options and decided that the most comfortable seat was the one on the 2020 RT Limited, Marsala red. So we bought that one.
Wow! And here I thought an Ultimate was expensive. Silly me. But I know you are going to enjoy your your new seat.
Ours is a red, black and chrome 2017 F3 Limited. Bought new in 2/2019. The avatar is my first bike back in 1952, a Simplex Servi-Cycle. Photo taken at the Barber Museum.
There were comfort issues that had nothing to do with the seat itself which were corrected by the new design, like my husband wanted to have more options for body position on longer trips. I just wish that I could alter my position when we're on longer trips. Unfortunately, the passenger position has few options. I know I'll be getting off and stretching my hips every time we stop for gas.
The trailer will be useful, but the backrest makes me feel much more attached to the machine.
MWO (Ret'd) SJ Barnes
‘20 RTL Stone Grey
named Britannia in honour of EE Doc Smith’s
Grey Lensman’s ship.
Farkles:
Bestem Carplay
canamsypderaccessories hitch and wiring harness,
showchrome trunk rack,
12v AND dual USB direct to battery in the frunk,
dual USB switched in the blank console switch spot (parasites the power off the seat heater switch),
frunk lid organizer,
trunk organizer,
showchrome rider backrest,
ryder and passenger cup holders,
ram mount for the iPad mini I use for GPS
quadlock phone mount
Nautilus horn
Data blocker on the glove box USB
Big Bike Parts highway pegs
Spyderzone dash pouch
Convex mirrors
‘20 Ryker 900 (my wife’s ryde)
Farkles
Slingmods fwd/rev ‘suicide shifter’
frunk organizer
dual horn
Max mount
Rear seat with tall back rest (not mounted)
Ryder backrest (not mounted)
Side bag
Top bag
top bag makes a good backrest. Will swap on the rear seat if she ever wants to 2up
Federal Formoza AZ01 up front and a couple weeks later the BajaRons sway bar.
2018 RT Limited - Asphalt Metallic - East Valley of Phoenix/ 2018 RT Limited Chrome
Champagne Metallic Lake Stevens, Wa
(Champagne/Hooker)Magic Mirrors, 360 LED head lights, BajaRon sway bar, H&R springs and shock adjusters, dash cam, foam grips, third brake light 4 LED strobe for 7 seconds and then on steady, rear LED turn signals/8 ohm 50W resistors, sequential turn signals on front fenders, Federal Formosa's front and General out back, and driver backrest.
Things that move between machines: Ikea sheep skins, Zuno XT GPS, and extra tools. Hooker is going to be my summer up North and Hookie my winter trike down South.
(Asphalt/Hookie) Elka shocks on front - BajaRon sway bar, OEM drivers backrest, LED headlights, dual USB with volt meter, dash cam, foam grips - magic mirrors - front tires Vredestein Quatrac SL on PPA ORB Chrome wheels.
The heads up display for my speedometer. Best mod ever!!!! I never have to look down at the gauges. My speed is projected onto the windscreen. Only about a $30 mod! Available on Amazon and uses gps satellites for speed. Best mod ever!!!! I have had it on 3 different bikes. It can be seen in green on the windscreen in the photo below IMG_20190330_163236496_HDR.jpg
Asking what is my best mod is not a fair question. Each mod has its own purpose and I cant say which one is the best.
the combination works for me;lighting category has probably the most additions & visual enhancements: SpyderPops LED bumpskid trick ringz & fenderz, rivico &tricLed tail & brake lights.
Smooth SPYDER Dual mode backrest Very well used as well the LidLox
Rest are quite handy as well, surely don’t wanna give them up.
2013 STL SE5 BLACK CURRANT
SpyderPop's: LED bumpskid
SmoothSpyder: dualmode back rest
T r * * LED:foam grip covers, Tricrings, FenderZ,
brake light strips, wide vue mirrors
Rivico SOMA modulation brake leds
sawblade mowhalk fender accents
minispyder dash toy
Lid lox
KradelLock
Pakitrack
GENSSI ELITE LED H4 headlights
FLO (Frunk Lid Organizer)
BRP fog lights, trailer hitch
SENA 20S EVO
For me the sway bar was the best. Looking at some of the others here I think I have some more upgrades to do before spring.
I thought about upgrading the vintage pillion rider on my Spyder to one that is only 25 years old. I hear those come with their own set of issues however! Plus the current one is kinda still great!
The heads up display for my speedometer. Best mod ever!!!! I never have to look down at the gauges. My speed is projected onto the windscreen. Only about a $30 mod! Available on Amazon and uses gps satellites for speed. Best mod ever!!!! I have had it on 3 different bikes. It can be seen in green on the windscreen in the photo below IMG_20190330_163236496_HDR.jpg
Joel, you need to come to Arizona. You will not need the radar detector or heads up display. Just roll with the traffic flow, speed limits here are generally ignored. I just pick a speed and click on the cruise control.
Different vehicles react to the throttle differently. We had a 2004 Buick Rainier with the 5.3 V8 and I hated driving it, as it always felt I had to push it to keep up with traffic. It was totaled last summer and replaced with a Ford Edge ST with the twin turbo 2.7L V6 that puts down 335hp, and I have to pull back on the reins to keep from going to fast, and our 2015 RAM 3500 SRW diesel is the same way. It has long legs and loves to go fast on the freeway.
2018 RT Limited - Asphalt Metallic - East Valley of Phoenix/ 2018 RT Limited Chrome
Champagne Metallic Lake Stevens, Wa
(Champagne/Hooker)Magic Mirrors, 360 LED head lights, BajaRon sway bar, H&R springs and shock adjusters, dash cam, foam grips, third brake light 4 LED strobe for 7 seconds and then on steady, rear LED turn signals/8 ohm 50W resistors, sequential turn signals on front fenders, Federal Formosa's front and General out back, and driver backrest.
Things that move between machines: Ikea sheep skins, Zuno XT GPS, and extra tools. Hooker is going to be my summer up North and Hookie my winter trike down South.
(Asphalt/Hookie) Elka shocks on front - BajaRon sway bar, OEM drivers backrest, LED headlights, dual USB with volt meter, dash cam, foam grips - magic mirrors - front tires Vredestein Quatrac SL on PPA ORB Chrome wheels.
The heads up display for my speedometer. Best mod ever!!!! I never have to look down at the gauges. My speed is projected onto the windscreen. Only about a $30 mod! Available on Amazon and uses gps satellites for speed. Best mod ever!!!! I have had it on 3 different bikes. It can be seen in green on the windscreen in the photo below IMG_20190330_163236496_HDR.jpg
Joel, what mount is that for the radar detector? Looks interesting....................thanks
The heads up display for my speedometer. Best mod ever!!!! I never have to look down at the gauges. My speed is projected onto the windscreen. Only about a $30 mod! Available on Amazon and uses gps satellites for speed. Best mod ever!!!! I have had it on 3 different bikes. It can be seen in green on the windscreen in the photo below IMG_20190330_163236496_HDR.jpg
Thank You All... SO MUCH... for giving me a trunk full of your" Acquired Spyder Knowledge". Going forward, after my Sea To Sky arrives at dealer, I'm going after a Baja Ron Sway Bar, Mirrorlocs and while still at dealer, Alignment, Back Support and Passenger Arm Rests. Extra up front lighting and turn signals later this spring. I'll tell ya...I'm EXCITED!!! Dealer should be getting my new Spyder in the next few weeks. Lots to plan for. Thanks to all of your Intel, Going forward will be just a whole lot easier on my old mind.
Joel, what mount is that for the radar detector? Looks interesting....................thanks
I made the radar mount myself along with many of the other mods like keyless locks( Which I also plan to add to.the 2021.spyder)
The HUD can be found on amazon. I just purchased another for my 2021 S2S on amazon. The brand is Pyle.