Traded my 2013 RTS SM 5 for a Harley today

[bassman]

I could not get used to the wind buffeting and traded today for a 2011 HD Ultra Limited. Rode the Spyder 3 hours to the dealer. Was blown all over the road. Rode the Harley home in the heat of the day with the wind up. No buffeting. Like it was on a rail. Took a loss on the Syder but had huge grin on my face. Happy now. Will wave at you as I pass you.

[PrairieSpyder]

[Chupaca]

on your new ride..hope it's all your looking for. Enjoy and we will most definately wave back..stick around and tell us how it goes...

[SpyderAnn01]

I could not get used to the wind buffeting and traded today for a 2011 HD Ultra Limited. Rode the Spyder 3 hours to the dealer. Was blown all over the road. Rode the Harley home in the heat of the day with the wind up. No buffeting. Like it was on a rail. Took a loss on the Syder but had huge grin on my face. Happy now. Will wave at you as I pass you.

While it is doubtful that you would pass me I would wave anyway. Enjoy, and don.'t forget to put your feet down.

[finless]

[Bob Denman]

That's right ... Don't forget to deploy your feet at stoplights and such now!
Good luck with your new ride; and

[Tazzel]

Thats funny because on the way back to Denver from Durango after attending the Spyder Owners event I was in a group of 8 riders 2 being Harleys. It was very windy and it was the Harleys having the trouble. We had to stop and rest so that they could have a brake. One of them said he was having a hard time keeping his bike on the rode. I use to ride the 2 wheelers and loved it too but I had a hard time controlling the bike in the wind. It was one of the main reasons I went with the spyder.

[ARtraveler]

on your new HD. The is not everyone's cup of tea and most of us respect that.

There are a lot of great rides out there. The important thing is to ride if you can.

[MikeT]

[QUOTE=bassman;837997]I could not get used to the wind buffeting/QUOTE]
I am a potential '14/'15 RTS owner. I'm interested in a more complete explanation of what you mean by wind buffeting. I've ridden 3 different H-D touring bikes(Road King, Ultra Classic, SE RoadGlide). I also rode a GL1800 before having it converted to a trike. Under the wrong conditions, all are subject to wind buffeting. In theory with the electrically adjustable windshield of the RT, it could be raised to decrease the affects of a head wind.
Trikes are more susceptible to cross winds because of their size. As you know, on a motorcycle you have to lean into the wind to keep the bike going straight down the road.
Thanks,
Mike

[Bob Denman]

Hi Mike!
The "problem" is what you make of it...
Keep your hands on the bars, tuck your knees in against the tank, and just ride!
It's real easy to find a problem if you want to!

[jcthorne]

Well my wife Louise traded her 2008 Harley for a Spyder RT-S for the same reason. Wind would effect the Harley far more than the Spyder. She also could not keep up with the Spyder when we rode together.

[nonseven]

I'm not sure I understand this either. I've got a 2013 STS, and it's rock solid in the wind, unlike any 2 wheeler I've had, the last one an 800 lb Harley Softtail. A gust of crosswind that would definitely move the Harley won't touch the Snyder with those 3 wheels on the ground. And that's without a steel grip on the Spyder.

Almost sounds like an alignment issue.



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[Pennyrick]

I don't think it about the machine at all but the way it is ridden.

If you ride a Harley like one would ride a Spyder I think you would be off the road in short order because without counter steering it wouldn't stay straight.

If you ride a Spyder like you ride a Harley you will be all over the road because those little corrections needed on a two wheeler will wreak havoc with your ability to keep the Spyder in a straight line.

It's like comparing Apples to Alligators

[jcthorne]

Almost sounds like an alignment issue.



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I was thinking alignment too.

[Bob Denman]

That sure will make them...


...Skittish!

[JoeUpchurch]

I never get buffeted by the wind because I never let an 18 wheeler pass me!


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[SPYD1]

I was having wind issues on my RTS. The sway bar took care of most of it and the wheel alignment I had done this weekend made the ride perfect. Rode in strong winds today...no issues. Thought I was back on my RS.

Have fun on your new ride.

[Cruzr Joe]

Enjoy the new ride and wave as we pass on the road

Cruzr Joe

[bassman]

I'm not sure I understand this either. I've got a 2013 STS, and it's rock solid in the wind, unlike any 2 wheeler I've had, the last one an 800 lb Harley Softtail. A gust of crosswind that would definitely move the Harley won't touch the Snyder with those 3 wheels on the ground. And that's without a steel grip on the Spyder.

Almost sounds like an alignment issue.



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I had my Spyder laser aligned at Winston Salem Can Am/ Honda at my 600 mile checkup. The tech said he was trained by Lamont. Said my Spyder was right on and did not need any adjustment. I did not have a Sway bar put on because I thought my issue was wind buffeting. I read all of the posts on here. Tucked in knees, had loose grip, put windshield up/ down, etc. Just could not get used to being blown all over the road. Felt like the wind was going to flip the Spyder which I guess is not possible. The Spyder was not for me. I could not keep up with other riders I was with. To each his own. Spyders are neat, attract many questions, and are fun to ride around town. I like to ride away from town. Enjoy riding but ride!

[billrob71]

Congrats in the new ride change is good just what your happy with, feet down replacing metal side panels and bags are just as expensive if not more for the Harley

Good to hear you won't do the no wave to the spyder riders [emoji4]

[BajaRon]

A properly set up Spyder is always going to be much more stable in the wind than 2 wheels. It's just a matter of physics.

Of course the rider will get the same amount of abuse from the wind on either machine. But on 2 wheels you MUST lean into the wind the exact amount necessary to counter the side force. Whereas the Spyder doesn't need to do much, if anything, depending on the amount of force.

The problem with the Spyder is that any body movement can be transmitted to the handlebars if your grip is too tight. This will then make the Spyder drift or dart. But it isn't the wind buffeting, it is the rider's input. Many try to stiff arm the Spyder in the wind thinking it will stabilize both the rider and the machine. But just the opposite occurs with this approach. Instead, relax the arms and the grip and you'll find your Spyder will settle down nicely.

You can add to this improper tire pressures and wheel alignment as additional possible causes. But the primary cause is almost always the rider. It simply takes a different riding style to handle 3 wheels. It's actually much easier than riding 2 wheels, but you have to unlearn your 2 wheel habits.

Hope you like the Harley.

[jerpinoy]

Enjoy and ride safe. Keep in touch.

[Woodsrider]

I could not get used to the wind buffeting and traded today for a 2011 HD Ultra Limited. Rode the Spyder 3 hours to the dealer. Was blown all over the road. Rode the Harley home in the heat of the day with the wind up. No buffeting. Like it was on a rail. Took a loss on the Syder but had huge grin on my face. Happy now. Will wave at you as I pass you.

Congrats!!! Having had all kinds of motorcycles the buffeting, especially with tractor trailers, was worse on every two wheeler I've had, including an 07 Electra Glide Ultra Classic, when compared to the Spyder.

The bottom line is you being happy, and the Ultra is a fine machine.

Did close to 300 miles yesterday with thunderstorms and 35 mph gusts and it was solid as a rock, I was kicked back with one hand on the bar cruise set at 70something and watching the cages and trucks get blown around . My front tires are set with a dual air fill so matched pressure, a bajaron bar with his links.

[AeroPilot]

I had my Spyder laser aligned at Winston Salem Can Am/ Honda at my 600 mile checkup. The tech said he was trained by Lamont. Said my Spyder was right on and did not need any adjustment. I did not have a Sway bar put on because I thought my issue was wind buffeting. I read all of the posts on here. Tucked in knees, had loose grip, put windshield up/ down, etc. Just could not get used to being blown all over the road. Felt like the wind was going to flip the Spyder which I guess is not possible. The Spyder was not for me. I could not keep up with other riders I was with. To each his own. Spyders are neat, attract many questions, and are fun to ride around town. I like to ride away from town. Enjoy riding but ride!

2 wheelers, SPyder, Hondas, Harleys all feel the wind to different extents. I remember my XS750 Yamaha leaning into a stiff crosswind as the worst. You appreciate the days with a tail wind, endure a headwind and deal with the crosswinds. The heavier bikes like my Road King hold their line pretty well but of course you learn to lean and countersteer. The front passenger seat feels pretty good on the wife's RT, but it can be a B---- on the back with a strong crosswind. We have enjoyed the 50,000 miles on the RT through many relatively trouble free miles and I enjoy the days/turns I get to pilot. I enjoy the fuel economy of the Road King and especially the 6th gear on the interstate.

In a couple of years when we both retire, we'll probably tour on a new Spyder with the new engine/trans and get rid of the old ones. This weekend the Road King will set in the "barn" while we two-up and hit about three states, just because its more convenient that way. I enjoy wrenching on them but like most Enjoy the Ride!

[bikeguy]

Congrats on the Harley and hope you have many happy miles on it. I can almost spit on the highway from my front porch so I see a lot of traffic come by and I'll say that I see Harleys coming by on days when the wind is so bad that I don't see many other bikes at all. There are always more Harleys on the road than anything else but, still, on really windy days they seem to be doing just fine. But then, my spyder does just fine, too.

When I picked up my brand new 2010 RT and started home I thought I had made a terrible mistake. There was about a 15 mph crosswind when I hit the highway and I couldn't keep it in my lane. It was all over the road. A bike that can't be ridden in the wind is useless in west Texas. I tried to be loose on the bars like I read about on Spyderlovers. But knowing something and making your muscles react to what your brain knows are two different things. I don't mind admitting that it took me awhile to overcome years of 2 wheel experience and adjust to the Spyder. When I finally "got it", the Spyder went from being the worst thing I'd ever rode in the wind to being the best. Now, I can swap back and forth between my Spyder and my 650 BMW with no problem. They are both just fine in the wind. They are just ridden differently.

Cotton