What's your secret recipe?

[ARtraveler]

Time in the saddle. I took about 1500 miles before becoming comfortable.

Overcontrolling: If your knuckles are getting white and your hands starting to cramp--you may be overcontrolling.

I have mentioned a few times: Pretend there are eggs between the grips and your hands. Don't break the eggs. A light push/pull on the bars. Lean into the curves a bit. This reduces the "g" forces. Plant the outside foot on the pegs/floorboards. Grab the tank with your knees. If you have to brake for a curve--your entry speed is to fast. You should be able to accelerate slightly.

A laser alignment was helpful to both our :spyder:'s.

You may have a mental block when it comes to "over 60 mph." Don't think about it--just do it.

 

[UtahPete]

Time in the saddle. I took about 1500 miles before becoming comfortable. Overcontrolling: If your knuckles are getting white and your hands starting to cramp--you may be overcontrolling. I have mentioned a few times: Pretend there are eggs between the grips and your hands. Don't break the eggs. A light push/pull on the bars. Lean into the curves a bit. This reduces the "g" forces. Plant the outside foot on the pegs/floorboards. Grab the tank with your knees. If you have to brake for a curve--your entry speed is to fast. You should be able to accelerate slightly. You may have a mental block when it comes to "over 60 mph." Don't think about it--just do it.

:agree: It's all in the ryder's head.

 

[JayBros]

Still trying to figure out if the wind buffeting is causing the "twitchiness" or tires etc...
I did have the laser alignment and it made 0 difference to me. Still getting used to the Ryde, right at 1000 miles
but not completely comfortable that's why I'm looking for the secret recipe!

I came to Spyderworld after a long two wheel hiatus and via a different route not worth detailing here. Safe it to say, I had absolutely no problem adjusting my RT; a 50-mile test ride convinced me it was the bike for me. Yes, I could have bought a Harley trike or a Gold Wing conversion but opted for the Spyder. As a result of a lot of reading here on SL I had a Bajaron sway bar installed by the dealership and the rolo laser alignment before I took possession. After a couple of weeks toodling around the countryside I headed for a local stretch of milti-lane interstate where the speed limit is 60 but if you're not doing almost 80 you get run over. I intentionally went looking for two semis with an open lane between them and ran right up to the tactor noses. Yes, I felt wind buffeting about my shoulders and upper torso but with a light grip on the bars the Spyder tracked like an arrow shot from a crossbow. IMO, your arms from shoulders to fingertips need to be fully relaxed or any movement in them will be transmitted to the handlebars.

If you are uncertain about the stability of the Spyder itself find a long stretch of straight road and safely ride with hands off the bars. If the bike doesn't track perfectly straight take it back to the shop that did the laser alignment. If it's tires, I'm sorry, can't help. My crappy Kendas have performed well for me except for the shorter life of the rear tire that I will replace very soon with an Altimax; have never had a problem with the fronts.

I wish you'd said you have only a grand on the clock in your OP. Some folks take longer than others to get acclimated to a Spyder than others. It's nothing to worry about; just keep adding the miles and see what happens.

 

[MR. H1956]

Time

Don't worry time heals all. The best thing I've found is to go out early on Saturday or Sunday morning. Before a lot of traffic gets out and ride several roads. Just keep in mind on how the ride is going and how you are acting with or against the bike. Just remember that your on 3 wheels now that are wider and more prone to do different things at different times. No 2 roads are the same and no 2 bikes aren't either. You may travel the same strech of highway 10 times and you may find that the ride was not the same 8 out of 10 times. So just go out and have fun. Enjoy the ride. Happy Trails my Friend.

 

[fjray]

I gave the 15RTL 15,000 miles and never made friends with it so re-homed it to someone else and went back to two wheels. We never got comfortable with the ride or the handling. Went through laser alignment,shock adj.,new tires on both ends, RDL seat and played with air pressure up and down the scale. I loved it in town and thought the sissy shift was the greatest thing going but as soon as I was in the twistys is handled like a truck. It's like drinking scotch as it is an acquired taste. I do like scotch but not so much the spyder. YMMV.

 

[Jeffmal]

I gave the 15RTL 15,000 miles and never made friends with it so re-homed it to someone else and went back to two wheels. We never got comfortable with the ride or the handling. Went through laser alignment,shock adj.,new tires on both ends, RDL seat and played with air pressure up and down the scale. I loved it in town and thought the sissy shift was the greatest thing going but as soon as I was in the twistys is handled like a truck. It's like drinking scotch as it is an acquired taste. I do like scotch but not so much the spyder. YMMV.

Do the sway bars really help on the highway or just on the curvy roads?
btw- I take it up to 85 mph to really get out of my comfort zone and it is feeling better as I log on the miles. I was just wondering if I needed to add a taller windshield or sway bar to enjoy the ryde more...

 

[AeroPilot]

Nice looking Ryde Jeff

We had Rons Swaybar on our 2011 RT and it helped especially getting used to the corners or when pushing it faster. I would say that the Spyder will always have some "twitchiness" especially on uneven or worn roads, or when riding in buffeting conditions or when semis pass. Most of the comfort factor comes with getting some miles and learning to trust the stability of the machine. After a while each of us gets confidence in how the Spyder rides and how we can keep it on the road with little effort (Just like riding a bike, motorcycle or horse as others have mentioned). Part of my enjoyment of being in the Wind is that bit of wandering that is different from riding in a car and being isolated from the world. I do however like to have the windshield to keep most of the wind off (the 23" F4) is what we like on the F3T. I do like to look over the windshield on the RT. Different strokes, different folks. No matter what you like, hope you get to enjoy your time on three wheels and riding in the wind!

 

[Mad Mac]

The sway bar I installed was Baja Ron's. The stock sway bar worked fine when it was just me riding it, but when two-up, the machine had too much body roll to the outside of turns for my liking, even if we were laying down "crotch rocket" style. It felt like the inside tire was going to go "airborne" although I knew it would not. I've only got about 19,000 mi. on it, but I ride it now without issue. I also have the stock height windshield and raise it so I can look over the top of it and not thru it, and I d/n get no more buffeting than I did with the Gold Wing's that I have owned. Good Luck! Machyea:

 

[Yazz]

Who on this thread found an improvement with a taller windshield?​

Does the windshield make for a better feel due to less wind buffeting or does it push the byke a little more??

The height of the windshield depends on how tall you are. Ideally, with a tall shield, it should come up to the middle of your nose, so you can peek over in the rain. There are shields made that flip the wind over your head, lessening the head buffet.

My GS has a BRP touring windshield and a shorty. The Spyder is stable with either shield.

Start this subject in a new thread and you'll get more help.

*****

Get the sway bar first...

 

[jaherbst]

Simple: Ron's Swaybar and Lazer Alignment.

Jack

 

[pegasus1300]

I am 6' and still using the stock windshield. I bought my Spyder in June '15 and rode it to Sturgis in Aug '15. I did not have a taller windshield nor did I have Baja Ron's bar. I was just fine. I finally decided on the bar because the new car tire I put on for the trip allowed me to corner harder and the body roll was just too much. I put it on when I got back from Sturgis. In Sept '16 I went to Red Rock Spyder Rally and had it Laser aligned. By then I had put car tires on the fronts because the stock were wearing funny and I saw no sense doing an alignment with tires that were already showing signs of misalignment. They had plenty of tread at 20,000 miles but had worn funny.

 

[Easy Rider]

Kindly do not impugn my questioning when I was simply asking the OP to give us an idea of just how many owners are unsatisfied with their Spyders.

And how exactly do you expect him to KNOW that ??

YOU can search this forum (and others if you want) to get that number yourself just as easy as he can.

There was a definite tone in the wording of your post that sounded like you were outright challenging his feeling that there are more than a few "new" riders who just don't seem to be getting much better over time. I share his feeling.......based on the number of posts made here to that effect.....and my guess that many are suffering in silence........and my personal experience so far.

And I am NOT a new rider.......FAR from it.

 

[bcer960]

The sway bar I installed was Baja Ron's. The stock sway bar worked fine when it was just me riding, but when two-up, the machine had too much body roll to the outside of turns for my liking, even if we were laying down "crotch rocket" style. It felt like the inside tire was going to go "airborne" although I knew it would not.hyea:

The shock stiffeners for Doc Humphrey's took the roll out.

Ray

 

[Easy Rider]

Get the sway bar first...

How does a stiffer sway bar help when most of the problem is when GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD ??

I actually feel more stable going around corners and curves than when going straight.

 

[bcer960]

How does a stiffer sway bar help when most of the problem is when GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD ??

I actually feel more stable going around corners and curves than when going straight.

The sway bar will help with semi wind buffeting. It just stiffens up the bike.

Ray

 

[JayBros]

The sway bar will help with semi wind buffeting. It just stiffens up the bike.

Ray

Very much so IMO! I've ridden behind my son at high speed watching crosswinds blow his BMW1200GSA about and my RT just tracks along straight and undisturbed. I cannot say how my Spyder would behave with an OEM sway bar.

 

[Jeffmal]

How does a stiffer sway bar help when most of the problem is when GOING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD ??

I actually feel more stable going around corners and curves than when going straight.

I think you and I are on the same page! If I ever take the spyder to Central Fl,
maybe we can ryde together and try to figure it out lol...

 

[Jeffmal]

I’m still counting for you!

What specifically are you uncomfortable with about your Spyder at highway speeds?

How about some numbers, please. "A lot of us" doesn't cut it without some empirical data.

Trying to get you an accurate number...really?

 

[imfleck]

You just gotta ride for a while

Well, at least that's how I did it. I rode my motorcycle 850 miles, traded it in for my Spyder, and then rode it back the same 850 miles. All highway miles.

Having never ridden a Spyder (15 mile test didn't count), and about 20 miles into my adventure home, I was convinced that I'd wasted $$$ on a toy that I would never be able to ride comfortably. HUGE cross-wind storm on the way home while traveling 80 MPH on the highway taught me that I COULD deal with the highway. Getting home and finally relaxing my butt cheeks a little I decided to finally read about my new Spyder.

I should have done my homework first, but now that I've dealt with it once and learned how to control the Spyder on the interstate I'm good to go! My best piece of advice is to just ride it and remove any pre-conceived notion you had/have about how it's supposed to ride.

 

[Bob Denman]

We ALL come into the "Spyder Experience" with preconceived notions about what to expect.
When they are proven wrong: all Hell breaks loose! :yikes:
The fact, is that nobody ever told you that these things handle like a motorcycle. nojoke
(If they did: I gonna turn them into the I.R.S. for a much-needed audit! :shocked
My first two miles on my original RT were freaky... I was all over the road; trying to make constant corrections to keep the damn thing straight. I was SURE that I had just made a $25,000 mistake! :gaah:
After I thought about it for a bit: I remembered that Ski Doo had no problem building sleds that tracked straight down the trails with nary a hint of wander...
So I took a deep breath, relaxed my grip...

...And the clouds parted! :yes::yes::yes:

Give ti some time, and quit whining about how your friends on "leaners" have no problems with cross-wind buffeting.