New around these parts...

[TomB985]

Good morning everyone.

Wife and I got our first Spyder over the weekend. I've been riding two-wheeled bikes for the last 13 years, and my wife has always wanted to ride as well. She got her motorcycle license a few years ago, but never got comfortable on a two-wheeled machine. Part of that was the trouble she's had with her right knee.

She always wanted a Spyder, so last weekend we pulled the trigger on this guy:

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It's a '13 RT-S SE5, and we bought it with 13,400 miles. The previous owner had an extended warranty that was still in effect, so we forked over $750 to extend that to five years and 5/2019 for some peace of mind. I'm pretty handy with a wrench, but parts for these things aren't cheap, so we think it's a good bet.

So far she's put about 250 miles on it and has really gotten comfortable with it. I've gotten about 150 miles in myself, and am really impressed. Don't plan on getting rid of my "leaner" anytime soon, but I'm definitely enjoying myself on the new Spyder.

Here's my two-wheel machine if anyone's interested. It's an '04 Suzuki Intruder 800...bought it brand-new as my first bike, sold it to my mom two years later, and just bought it back from her last May. Brings back the memories!

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[Bob Denman]

on the new Bike!
It seems to have the airscoops on it; were the rest of the heat-attenuation procedures carried out?
If so: it'll be a GREAT bike for her!

I predict that the "infestation", will soon be growing in your garage!

[TomB985]

on the new Bike!

Thanks Bob!

It seems to have the airscoops on it; were the rest of the heat-attenuation procedures carried out?
If so: it'll be a GREAT bike for her!

I'm not certain. I never even knew there was an issue until stumbling upon a thread that mentioned it. Found a recall on NHTSA's website for the '13 RT, but my VIN doesn't show anything open on the same site or Can-Am's recall checker. What was involved with the recall? What are the concerns if it wasn't carried out?

I predict that the "infestation", will soon be growing in your garage!

Maybe at some point, I have to admit that I like this thing more than I thought I would. Extremely comfortable ride...Karri leaves for work before I get up in the morning, and I was disappointed that she took it. It was MY turn, dammit!

[BoilerAnimal]

Congratulations on your Spyder! We got a silver one like yours about a month ago and have put a little over 2000 miles on it so far. It is a different ride and style than a leaner but just relax and it will practically drive itself. We love ours and take it whenever and wherever we can. Just a note of caution..........a short errand that might have been 5 miles before will somehow turn out to be 50 miles now. Ride safe and often!

[Bob Denman]

If you take the V.I.N. of the bike, and call your servicing dealer: they can punch in the numbers, and see what has been done to the bike...
My guess, is that it has been completed. It is just better to know for sure!

[Chupaca]

And welcome to both the spyder world and this site.... Looks like your now both set for ryding and will enjoy many rydes but beware of the spyder cause it has been known to grow on you....

[deer30084]

Yep, I developed a left foot problem and had a left knee replacement. Hello Spyder! Enjoy your ride!

[Pirate looks at --]

And on the new I wish you and your wife mile and miles of smiles!!! Cue Bob with the smiley faced guy with bugs in his teeth!

[Bob Denman]

Don't forget to brush after each and every ride!


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[ARtraveler]

and on your new

[PrairieSpyder]

on your new Spyder. Welcome to the fold!

[Pirate looks at --]

Don't forget to brush after each and every ride!


biker.jpg

Right on Cue!

[Bob Denman]

I aim to please...

[TomB985]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! Lots of information on here, I was pulling up this forum more than a few times when I was searching for information on Google.

So far the only disappointment is fuel economy, I sort of expected this thing to do a little better than the ten-year-old midsize sedan we have. The three tanks we've put into it have averaged 28 MPG. Not a big deal by any stretch, but a little surprising considering most of our miles have been cruising on rural highways.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Actually that's not bad for an RT with a V-twin engine and riding double.......The 1330 triple would get you another 10 MPG's, but the fun factor is pretty much the same...................Mike

[jerpinoy]

and

[pegasus1300]

Welcome.+ one on Mikes advice. If you haven't done it yet read the do's and don'ts and be sure your wife reads them also. Lots of good 998 infor especially at the first.
I like your Intruder.I found a 1996 800 for my son and he loves it. He put a mustang seat and Leatherlyke bags on it.

[TomB985]

Actually that's not bad for an RT with a V-twin engine and riding double.......The 1330 triple would get you another 10 MPG's, but the fun factor is pretty much the same...................Mike

A bit misleading, only about 25 miles have been with both of us. We've both been grabbing the keys and going as much as we can. To date she has more miles on it than me, and I hope to fix that this evening.

[TomB985]

Welcome.+ one on Mikes advice. If you haven't done it yet read the do's and don'ts and be sure your wife reads them also. Lots of good 998 infor especially at the first.
I like your Intruder.I found a 1996 800 for my son and he loves it. He put a mustang seat and Leatherlyke bags on it.

Thanks, I read through that Saturday evening after we bought it. Answered a lot of questions, but I'm still a bit perplexed about the high RPM advice. Seems to run contradictory to everything I've ever been taught or heard.

I was 18 when I bought the Intruder as my first bike, and at the time they were running a promotion for free saddlebags and windshield. My mom ditched the factory pleather bags about three or four years ago for some cheap hard plastic ones, but it still has the factory windscreen. The bike has been great, only one mechanical failure in twelve years, and that was a $65 coolant temp switch that I replaced a few months ago. I could only hope the Spyder gives us as good of service, but I think that's unlikely given the complexity.

[Bob Denman]

Since it's an "ESSIE"; that's where the importance of keeping the revs up actually originates...
Your SE-5 transmission has a centrifugal engagement clutch. Things have to be kept spinning at a high enough rate to keep the clutch plates from slipping.
The rough rule of thumb, is to upshift at about 5,000 rpm. That keeps things happily spinning above the 3,500 rpm level that seems to be generally accepted as "safe".
Note that when there's no load on the drivetrain (you're coasting or slowing down); the rpm levels can drop to a much lower rate, and the clutch won't slip.

[pegasus1300]

Thanks, I read through that Saturday evening after we bought it. Answered a lot of questions, but I'm still a bit perplexed about the high RPM advice. Seems to run contradictory to everything I've ever been taught or heard.

That"s because all you have heard about is Harley or Harleyesque V Twins. This is an European V Twin originally used by Aprilia a high reving sport bike. Also remember Ducati built to rev. I never run my engine under 4000,it's sweet spot is 5000. I can cruise all day between 5 and 6000 getting 32mph at freeway speeds with my Goldwing friends in total comfort. Run that motor up don't run it at low rpm's. It is not a Harley or an Intruder VTwin. If you have to hold it in a lower gear. I only go into 5th if I am going to be at 70 or above.

[TomB985]

Since it's an "ESSIE"; that's where the importance of keeping the revs up actually originates...
Your SE-5 transmission has a centrifugal engagement clutch. Things have to be kept spinning at a high enough rate to keep the clutch plates from slipping.
The rough rule of thumb, is to upshift at about 5,000 rpm. That keeps things happily spinning above the 3,500 rpm level that seems to be generally accepted as "safe".
Note that when there's no load on the drivetrain (you're coasting or slowing down); the rpm levels can drop to a much lower rate, and the clutch won't slip.

Thanks. I've read a bit about the centrifugal clutch, and it seems like the computer acts to protect the clutch. Seems like engine power on takeoff is significantly restricted until the clutch locks up. Also, it appears to restrict power at low RPMs, and when you're asking for more than the clutch can handle it downshifts.

What perplexes me is how many recommend 5-6,000 RPMs for better fuel economy. If I'm tooling through town at 35 MPH, why wouldn't I want to keep RPMs around 3,500? Why keep it spinning so high?

• That"s because all you have heard about is Harley or Harleyesque V Twins. This is an European V Twin originally used by Aprilia a high reving sport bike. Also remember Ducati built to rev. I never run my engine under 4000,it's sweet spot is 5000. I can cruise all day between 5 and 6000 getting 32mph at freeway speeds with my Goldwing friends in total comfort. Run that motor up don't run it at low rpm's. It is not a Harley or an Intruder VTwin. If you have to hold it in a lower gear. I only go into 5th if I am going to be at 70 or above.

• 
  
  Sort of...the Intruder doesn't like low RPMs at all, it tends to bog down. No tach on that one, but some quick calculations with gear and road speed, and it's not happy much below 3,000 RPMs or so. I've had a couple of sport bikes, an '05 Kawasaki Z750 and '08 GSX1300BK, and both of them would spin to 12,000 RPMs quite happily. They seemed quite happy below 5,000 RPMs though.

[BoilerAnimal]

Try riding at low RPM's and check your mileage. Do the same at high RPM's and check your mileage. I thought the same as you until I did what I'm recommending to you. It made a believer out of me and I think it will out of you as well.

I regularly qet 30 to 31.5 MPG at higher RPM's. That's riding 2-up, I imagine it would be even better riding solo. Try it.

[Deanna777]

and enjoy your new .

Deanna

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

but I'm still a bit perplexed about the high RPM advice. Seems to run contradictory to everything I've ever been taught or heard.

That's the nature of the Rotax V-twin design. Its pedigree includes ultra light aircraft. When you take it in for servicing the tech will connect up the BUDs. One of the readouts is a histogram of rpm in 2000 rpm increments. There should be very, very, little under 2000 since that is basically just idle range. There should be a low amount in the 2000 to 4000 range. Most of the rpms, like maybe 80%, should be in the 4000 to 6000 range. Above that is OK but you'll usually be there during acceleration and maybe times of heavy pull when you need to use 4th gear. The engine doesn't like to be lugged in 5th gear. Most of us who have, or had, the 998 engine didn't shift into 5th until 65 or 70 mph. As is written in the Do's and Don'ts the 998 is quite happy to run all day in 4th gear.

You have noticed that red line is around 9000 rpm, right? That tells you something about how fast the engine is made to spin.