What did you do to your Spyder today?

[Dasmoetorhead]

Do you have any pictures of the installed lights?

[Poppie65]

Thanks Pete, I wouldn't guess that the Nanny would be so particular with wheel rotation, but i thank you for the heads-up. As for the brakes, we were certainly conscious of the rotors and calipers, and as such there wasn't any significant contact with either that we felt could have collapsed the cylinders enough to warrant a full pedal of movement. Are these caliper pistons/hydraulic system softer than the typical automotive brake system?

[Poppie65]

Front view from inside the garage showing the AA A-arm lights, mirror mounted lights, and the light mounted under the lip of the frunk:
Spyder-Front View-Inside.jpg

Front view from outside with engine running and headlights on:
Spyder-Front View-Outside.jpg

Side view showing the mirror mounted lights, and the fender lights:
Spyder-side view.jpg

Double Flags on rear trunk:
Spyder-Rear View-.jpg

Turn signal and shift paddle mod:
Spyder-Turn Signal-Shifter.jpg

[Peter Aawen]

Thanks Pete, I wouldn't guess that the Nanny would be so particular with wheel rotation, but i thank you for the heads-up. As for the brakes, we were certainly conscious of the rotors and calipers, and as such there wasn't any significant contact with either that we felt could have collapsed the cylinders enough to warrant a full pedal of movement. Are these caliper pistons/hydraulic system softer than the typical automotive brake system?

For someone not used to them, Brembo brakes, especially those on our Spyders, do feel a little different to the brakes most are used to with their cars & trucks etc... Some call it a 'softer' feel; some feel it takes a 'longer pedal/lever throw until they start to bite'; some just feel it takes more pedal movement to get any braking action, but then there's little progressive feel, once they grab they just REALLY brake; while others have completely different 'feelings' & terms for them/the way they work, but for most, they do work well and they are widely considered to be a massive shed load better than the previous brakes on the 2012 & earlier Spyders! And when these Brembo Brakes are teamed with a very good Nanny, like that on our Spyders, then largely because of the larger tire footprint area Spyders have over most bikes; the Brembo's excellent braking effectiveness; and the much lighter weight of a Spyder vs that of most things fitted with similar brakes, then if you/the rider knows how to use the pedal to get the best from them, they will pretty much stop your Spyder vastly better/quicker than just about anything else on the road!!

Regardless of what you call it/how you describe it, it'll take very little disc/pad movement to produce what feels like a much greater 'loss of pedal'! What you've mentioned re the brakes isn't an uncommon thing with Brembo brakes, even if they aren't on Spyders; and it is almost impossible to take the front wheels off a Spyder without moving the discs a little, which means they'll be pushing the pads clear of the discs juuust a tiny amount.... So just that action of removing the wheel is often more than enough to let the pads move away from the discs a seemingly miniscule amount, something that's compounded exponentially if you do happen to noticeably touch &/or drag the disc a bit as the wheel comes off - and even that miniscule amount of additional clearance between disc & pad can give you what feels like a massive loss of pedal!!

But if, as is most likely given what you've told us, Poppie, that's all it is in your case, then simply making sure you apply the brakes a couple of times after refitting the wheels and before turning the ignition on will likely mean you never experience a 'brake failure' warning for the same reason again.... Altho there's still the possibility of the brake fluid level in the reservoir being down juuust a tiny amount thing that can cause similar warnings; or the pressure switch getting a bit of mud on it & not working properly; or your foot touching the pedal as you ride; or the....

Just Sayin' Ride Safe, & have a Great New Year!

[Dasmoetorhead]

Front view from inside the garage showing the AA A-arm lights, mirror mounted lights, and the light mounted under the lip of the frunk:
Spyder-Front View-Inside.jpg

Front view from outside with engine running and headlights on:
Spyder-Front View-Outside.jpg

Side view showing the mirror mounted lights, and the fender lights:
Spyder-side view.jpg

Double Flags on rear trunk:
Spyder-Rear View-.jpg

Turn signal and shift paddle mod:
Spyder-Turn Signal-Shifter.jpg

Very nice!

[troop]

Front view from inside the garage showing the AA A-arm lights, mirror mounted lights, and the light mounted under the lip of the frunk:
Spyder-Front View-Inside.jpg

Front view from outside with engine running and headlights on:
Spyder-Front View-Outside.jpg

Side view showing the mirror mounted lights, and the fender lights:
Spyder-side view.jpg

Double Flags on rear trunk:
Spyder-Rear View-.jpg

Turn signal and shift paddle mod:
Spyder-Turn Signal-Shifter.jpg

What type of material did you use on your paddle shifter pads?

[bikerbillone]

I do like it Poppie, if I only lived closer to Springfield OH.

[Poppie65]

What type of material did you use on your paddle shifter pads?

I purchased the products that are discussed in this tread.

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ig-improvement!

[Poppie65]

I do like it Poppie, if I only lived closer to Springfield OH.

Thank you sir.
This is the time of year to live in Fla though!

[troop]

Got my Lamonster Tail Brighter lights installed today.

[CloverHillCrawler]

Got back in from a ride and noticed a rubbing whine from the belt as I was pushing my spyder back into place in the garage.

Looked and noticed the belt was all the way to the left on the rear sprocket. Jacked the rear up off the floor and took a reading off the drive belt with the kricket. 110 FT-lbs.

So I figured the belt was new as my whole rear swing arm had been replaced from the rear end accident and the belt has "stretched" from wear in so I go to adjust the tension and the alignment and find the rear axle nut is tight but not the 166 ft/lbs it should be as I could take two fingers on my 1/2 in ratchet and just spin the nut off.

Got my belt tension back up to 180 ft/lbs and aligned the belt. I got out the ole torque wrench and brought the axle nut up to 160. Hopefully there should be no other issues. Going out for a new years eve ride with some friends during the day tomorrow I'll see how it holds up.

[GS1]

Installed stealth taillights look great

[Dasmoetorhead]

I tried the Eco mode today on the way to the Liquor store, for a bottle of Champagne. Meh! I guess it'd be OK using that mode in the city maybe, and long stretches of highway with little traffic.
Happy New Year

[vulkus]

Finally got a new battery, my old one died, I think it was the original. If so, it was 8 yrs old.
That battery bracket is a real pain though, got it in its home eventually though.

[BCNewell]

Installed a BajaRon anti-sway bar with Lamonster end links this evening. Used aluminum ramps attached to my F150’s rear bumper to get the nose up the required ~24”. Further safety measures were a floor jack under the center spine, and ratchet straps and a rear wheel chock to keep things from rolling back. Just in case the parking brake and SM6 tranny in 1st gear weren’t enough! Straight-forward install with great instructions. Haven’t ridden it yet, but can tell a big difference just rocking it side to side on the garage floor.

[ZiggyF]

It was a dreary & cold day here yesterday in Central Florida so I finally got around to a little mod I had on my list. I never cared for the grey windshield bracket.

[bikerbillone]

Hi Zig, Sebring here, I'm guessing around Lakeland for you.

[ZiggyF]

I’m in The Villages

[fuzzyspyder]

We finally had a decent day here in western Colorado. Temps mid 40’s and sunny, just a slight breeze. Not bad for mid January. My apologies to the middle country and East coast folks in the brrrrrr areas.

So Christmas Eve I decided I would go for the Baja Ron sway bar. I liked the option of buying it from Lamonster because his links don’t require the spacers. Just a tad easier to install. It didn’t ship until after New Years but that was clearly stated on his site. Didn’t expect to install it until maybe March, but it was nice, so what the hey.

I used two ramps on the tailgate of my truck to get over 24” of clearance. Actually had like 28” since I was alone and not sure how far up the ramp to go. My ramps are only 6’ so there was a pretty big incline, but the Spyder climbed like a champ and the E brake held it until I got down and put the rubber chock behind the rear wheel.

Being 70 and not really liking the ground anymore (getting down is easy, getting up, not so much), I took my little silicon tool tray with all the tools the install vids said I would need and a couple extras. Razor knife, needle nose pliers, my push pins assortment kit and tool - Just in Case.

Install was a breeze. No issues getting any of the bolts out or back in. Did break a push pin, so the needle nose pliers and one new push pin came in handy.

Okay, so would I do it again? Absolutely. Took “Cool Change” for a 10-15 mile ride and it was awesome. Way less body roll and we have a crowned street that I hated to take it on because it leaned so bad. Took it there and it was much more stable. Corners way better and the ride is maybe better although that may be in my head. Steering is still easy and all in all, a great upgrade.

[CloverHillCrawler]

Things have been cold and the baby has been on the maintainer. And as usual Ice on the ground for my birthday. Gave myself a birthday present , ordered the cat delete bypass pipe and Tric led afterburnerz lights for better rear visibility. Now just waiting on the garage to come up above 40 degrees so I can install the lights.

[CloverHillCrawler]

I tried the Eco mode today on the way to the Liquor store, for a bottle of Champagne. Meh! I guess it'd be OK using that mode in the city maybe, and long stretches of highway with little traffic.
Happy New Year

Where you will find eco mode great and I found out about this while I was in your neck of the woods when I was in storms going to the Cherohala Skyway outside of Blue Ridge City GA on the way to Tellico Plains in 2022.

I use ECO mode as my "Rain Mode", turn this on while in the rain and it will help with keeping the rear tire from breaking loose and hydroplaning. Especially with going up and down that hilly terrain with water ponding up and rolling down the hill at you in downpours. It rained on me every *#%!ing day on that trip and the last 2 days I couldn't even take my rainsuit off until I was about 2-3 hours away from home.

Park13 - Copy.jpg Park14 - Copy.jpg

[troop]

Installed my Show Chrome large brake pedal. Only 12 more things to install before riding season

[Lee0123]

Took off one front fender before dinner in preparation for installing sequential turns signals on the bike tomorrow. Will reinstall the fender tomorrow, then take the other fender off and repeat the process.

[troop]

Took off one front fender before dinner in preparation for installing sequential turns signals on the bike tomorrow. Will reinstall the fender tomorrow, then take the other fender off and repeat the process.

I did the fender lights on my F3S by jacking up the tires and removing the wheels. Likely repeat it with my S2S.

[GDoc]

Just what it says really...I see this question/topic on a couple other forums I visit, and it's always interesting to see what people post. So, what did you do to your Spyder today? Any model, heck let's include Ryker too.....

Have an upcoming ride this Sunday 1/28/2024 with the Blue Knights INTERNATIONAL LE MC, San Antonio, Tx. Alamo Chapter IV, heading to La Vernia TX, Blessing of The Bikes. All bikes are welcome. Check Facebook Blue Knights TX IV San Antonio for more info.

I was out pre-checking my Spyder for the ride, fluids, tire pressures, and anything needing my attention. Saturday I'll take my Spyder out to clean up for Sunday's ride. Oh yeah, I sat on my Spyder. Yep, I'm ready.