F3 Limited SS Cons

[Midian]

We've all seen and heard the praises of the F3T and F3 Limited. But here are some cons I have noticed over the 6 months of ownership.

Manual turn signal cancellation: Absolutely blows! Seriously, this is the worst turn signal set I have ever had on a motorcycle in my life. Every time you go to cancel the signal, after lane changing, it will activate the other direction's signal, unless you hit it exactly dead center. Automatic cancellation after a turn, however, works flawlessly. Solution... don't use turn signals for changing lanes. Seriously, it's not worth the hassle. Oh, and good luck finding the signal button at night, or the radio controls for that matter! Maybe on a $30,000 machine you could splurge and backlight the buttons, ya cheap bastards!

Adjustable air shock: Really cool feature but make sure you check it at least every two weeks because you will have lost 5-7psi in that time.

Dashboard clock: Give it a couple of weeks and you will be, on average, 5-10 minutes faster than every other clock in the the free, friggin' world.

Hard bags: Oh these are real finicky bitches to close. Sometimes you have to get them just right with a 'not too strong, not too soft' pressure when closing them. Which, by the way, can be a real pain in the d*ck when you're in a rush and just want to go, go, go!!

Aside from these very minor shortcomings (because honestly, I wasn't looking for the manufacturer to kiss my ass or wash my feet) it is an incredible machine. You have moments of 'Wow, this is worth every penny of the 30 grand' to moments of 'really, this was overlooked when designing a bike that costs 30 grand??' But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Well, except maybe for a model that has these pains in the ass anomalies adressed!

 

[Navvet]

We've all seen and heard the praises of the F3T and F3 Limited. But here are some cons I have noticed over the 6 months of ownership.

Manual turn signal cancellation: Absolutely blows! Seriously, this is the worst turn signal set I have ever had on a motorcycle in my life. Every time you go to cancel the signal, after lane changing, it will activate the other direction's signal, unless you hit it exactly dead center. Automatic cancellation after a turn, however, works flawlessly. Solution... don't use turn signals for changing lanes. Seriously, it's not worth the hassle. Oh, and good luck finding the signal button at night, or the radio controls for that matter! Maybe on a $30,000 machine you could splurge and backlight the buttons, ya cheap bastards!

Adjustable air shock: Really cool feature but make sure you check it at least every two weeks because you will have lost 5-7psi in that time.

Dashboard clock: Give it a couple of weeks and you will be, on average, 5-10 minutes faster than every other clock in the the free, friggin' world.

Hard bags: Oh these are real finicky bitches to close. Sometimes you have to get them just right with a 'not too strong, not too soft' pressure when closing them. Which, by the way, can be a real pain in the d*ck when you're in a rush and just want to go, go, go!!

Aside from these very minor shortcomings (because honestly, I wasn't looking for the manufacturer to kiss my ass or wash my feet) it is an incredible machine. You have moments of 'Wow, this is worth every penny of the 30 grand' to moments of 'really, this was overlooked when designing a bike that costs 30 grand??' But I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Well, except maybe for a model that has these pains in the ass anomalies adressed!

You're right, it is an incredible machine.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Yep Awesome

Nothing to complain about here!:yes:

 

[Peteoz]

Nothing to complain about here!:yes:

You obviously didn't have to ride your brand new Spyder home 3 hours on mostly freeways in the dark, Pirate.....you would have a different take on the lack of illumination and using the indicators for lane changing then.

Of course, it is not a problem now that I know the buttons by feel, but it was one very hairy trip home

Pete

 

[Copperman]

Of course, it is not a problem now that I know the buttons by feel, but it was one very hairy trip home Pete

Exactly! It would be that way on any new vehicle you buy. It's just a learning curve.

 

[Peteoz]

It Would? No it Wouldn't

Exactly! It would be that way on any new vehicle you buy. It's just a learning curve.

I can't agree with that Copperman. I also rode my Victory Vision home in the dark. All the major controls were lit, so you could see where indicator and horn were positioned in the pitch black, and holding the indicator for two seconds meant it auto cancelled after 3 flashes when changing lanes.......common sense and already popular additions even in 2011........it made the ride home easy........and the Vision was cheaper than the Spyder.

Please don't get me wrong, I love the Spyder and doubt I would ever go back to two wheels, but BRP have made some calls to save a couple of bucks.....literally......that are hard to understand.

Pete

 

[Midian]

Exactly! It would be that way on any new vehicle you buy. It's just a learning curve.

Learning curve is one thing. Hitting the horn, lowering the volume on the radio, going into ECO mode and flipping through the menu screens while changing lanes is something entirely different. I agree with the gentlemen that said they were saving, literally, a few dollars. But it is a first gen machine. And just like others that bought first gen F3 machines have no room to complain about the suspension, etc. we have no room to complain either. Thankfully, our bugs are easily squashed.

But you gotta give BRP a big middle finger for going cheap on their second highest priced model.

 

[bigwhammy]

I can't agree with that Copperman. I also rode my Victory Vision home in the dark. All the major controls were lit, so you could see where indicator and horn were positioned in the pitch black, and holding the indicator for two seconds meant it auto cancelled after 3 flashes when changing lanes.......common sense and already popular additions even in 2011........it made the ride home easy........and the Vision was cheaper than the Spyder.

Please don't get me wrong, I love the Spyder and doubt I would ever go back to two wheels, but BRP have made some calls to save a couple of bucks.....literally......that are hard to understand.

Pete

Agree,
cannot understand why they put a $50 made in Mexico rear shock on an f3s.
BMW, Ducati, mv and a few others can put full electronically controlled suspension set ups ie sport, criuise..... Instead of paying $1500 US ($2,000 Australian) to get better BRP fox shocks front and rear with stage 5 adjustability rear and 3 stage fronts.
BRP are just starting to let the nanny loose. Ie sport mode.
BRP should offer a sportier (with electronic suspension) version for riders who have over 10,000 miles experience. Re many posts about getting miles up before writing the handling off , as the Spyder is unique - car front end - bike rear. Hence unique handling foibles.
it was like going from a bike to a sidecar setup, or 4 wheel drive Audi A6 , sti wrx.
Like most, after 5,000 miles I can now feel comfortable with the front wheel lifting a bit off the ground.
I see some people jump in for a quickish fiix and fit a bigger stabiliser, this tightens the front but be aware of the issues with off camber roads when you ONLY stiffen up the front end. Rally drivers kill themselves on off camber corners. Australian roads have quite a few of thes corners. Podium fox 5 / 3 stage shocks or ohlens etc are a better option. Sorry but having designed and raced cars for 40 years , big fat stabilisers are what you did in the 70's. Shocks have evolved to fully electronically controlled for a reason.
Re :- like a few other posts learn to ride a Spyder then decide what you need (After you get the obligatory wheel alignment with BUDS centralisation of the power steering), and get their tyre pressures correct.
Love to see spyders get on the race tracks one day.
I have been to two tracks now and I am not the slowest 60 year old against some fast bikes, allowed me to set up the suspension properly re high slow speed rebound etc. All with the standard tyres. In the dry. Love to have a Spyder track day.
The 1330 is so detuned so much it is not funny.
Sign me up for the turbo version, but is not desirable for many(and too costly), we all have different desires and needs/wants, budgets, meanwhile I now love the riding the Spyder as it is.
BRP would open up the market to cashed up youngsters.

 

[Bob Denman]

Your "turnsignals and switches" problems will go away with more time on the bike... nojoke

Who know: they might even add lighted switch clusters someday!

 

[Pirate looks at --]

You obviously didn't have to ride your brand new Spyder home 3 hours on mostly freeways in the dark, Pirate.....you would have a different take on the lack of illumination and using the indicators for lane changing then.

Of course, it is not a problem now that I know the buttons by feel, but it was one very hairy trip home

Pete

Wow! Don't know where that came from? I have put thousands of miles on my spyder in day night rain etc. Still nothing to complain about. Sorry to have offended you.

 

[Peteoz]

Huh?

Wow! Don't know where that came from? I have put thousands of miles on my spyder in day night rain etc. Still nothing to complain about. Sorry to have offended you.

You don't know where my reply came from??? Right back atcha for your reply above, Pirate. You said that you had nothing to complain about. I said that I didn't either, except for very first hairy trip home from the dealer in the pitch black because the controls weren't lit, which you obviously hadn't experienced.

I don't know how you could interpret my post as a response to you offending me, or that I was upset with you? :dontknow: I apologise unreservedly if you think that post was some sort of missive aimed at you. That was definitely not its intent. The written English language can be easily misconstrued.:cheers:

Pete

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I haven't noticed those problems on my F3T. :dontknow: