New Spyder owner

[GlenCreek]

Hey guys I just purchased a 2013 RT Limited. I was wondering how they do cruising at say 75-80 riding two up? I’m coming from a Harley road glide 107. Bad ankles and knees needed to get on three wheels.

 

[Mikey]

Well, you'll do ok if it's well maintained and got good tires, heavy sway bar and a laser alinement, and set up for the weight your hauling!! Myself I go out of my way to get off the highway, and get bored to death doing 70-80 for miles on end!! Have fun, be safe!

 

[GlenCreek]

Well, you'll do ok if it's well maintained and got good tires, heavy sway bar and a laser alinement, and set up for the weight your hauling!! Myself I go out of my way to get off the highway, and get bored to death doing 70-80 for miles on end!! Have fun, be safe!

What do you mean set up? Sorry really new to spyder.

 

[trong]

Actually the RT Limited has air adjustable suspension and it will adjust accordingly. I have mine for almost 3 months now and have not had to mess around with suspension either solo or two up. Cruising 70-80 is no problem at all. Gradually I like the Spyder better than the Vstar1300 that I had. I too have problems with old knees. Congrats on your new ryde.
Cheers.

 

[Mikey]

You shocks all have adjustments some aren't great but you can adjust it for the weight your hauling and your riding style! The front of that rt's like a sail and you will get some buffering going on at that speed, and if you don't relax you may over steer the thing and have a rotten time! For you coming off two wheels it;s going to take you some seat time to be comfortable on it.

 

[Mikey]

On your other motorcycles did you take it out off the box and like the ride?

 

[GlenCreek]

Actually the RT Limited has air adjustable suspension and it will adjust accordingly. I have mine for almost 3 months now and have not had to mess around with suspension either solo or two up. Cruising 70-80 is no problem at all. Gradually I like the Spyder better than the Vstar1300 that I had. I too have problems with old knees. Congrats on your new ryde.
Cheers.

Thank you!

 

[NightStalker]

I haven't had any problems doing 70 on the highway. Most of the problems I've encountered are of the 4 wheel kind.

 

[GlenCreek]

On your other motorcycles did you take it out off the box and like the ride?

On the road glide. No adjustments needed. But my previous older ultra classic I did change the shocks out for burley shortys. I’m short legged

 

[GlenCreek]

I haven't had any problems doing 70 on the highway. Most of the problems I've encountered are of the 4 wheel kind.

Ain’t that the truth

 

[CopperSpyder]

Hey guys I just purchased a 2013 RT Limited. I was wondering how they do cruising at say 75-80 riding two up? I’m coming from a Harley road glide 107. Bad ankles and knees needed to get on three wheels.

:congrats: on the new to you Spyder RTL. Ride a little and give it some time to get use too. It's way different then 2 wheels. Stop reaching for the hand brake its not there. and don't forget to put the kickstand down when you park it. :joke: It will take sometime to get use to but once you get it down pat going 75 80 will not be a problem. Live to Ride, Ride to Live. :2thumbs: Welcome to the forum.

 

[JayBros]

Welcome! Do yourself a huge favor and read the operator's guide thoroughly, at least twice. Also read the "Do's and Do Nots" sticky on the Spyder General Discussion Forum. Give yourself time to get accustomed to the way a Spyder handles and behaves. Don't worry about how many miles it takes YOU to get accustomed to it; we're all different.

While the Spyder will do fine at 75-80 once you get accustomed to it, IMO, blowing down the road at that speed is only for getting from point A to point B as quickly as possible; otherwise you're just wasting gas, oil and rubber and,
at that speed you're going to go through gas like crap through a goose. The real fun is on the back roads. Be safe!

 

[SportsterDoc]

I haven't had any problems doing 70 on the highway. Most of the problems I've encountered are of the 4 wheel kind.

In 3,000 miles I only had one situation of having to flash high beams for an oncoming car starting to pass when there was not enough room.

Compared to a one headlight M/C, 2 headlights and 2 running lights (LEDs are a BRIGHT white) get much more attention.

More exciting on the Moto Guzzi (see post one)

http://xlforum.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2010629&page=3

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome: and :congrats:

 

[dpetrick]

Welcome to the world of Spyders. Enjoy the ride’

 

[jiffy]

Relax and Enjoy the Ride. Bad knees here also.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Hey guys I just purchased a 2013 RT Limited. I was wondering how they do cruising at say 75-80 riding two up? I’m coming from a Harley road glide 107. Bad ankles and knees needed to get on three wheels.

At 75 to 80 you don't have much available torque for passing trucks. Be ready to downshift in those cases. Your gas mileage goes down the tube with two up (or pulling a trailer) at any speed above 65. In strong head winds you may find yourself having to run in 4th, or be satisfied to not go over 60 - 65. The 998 engine doesn't have much reserve top end torque above 70.

 

[Peter Aawen]

At 75 to 80 you don't have much available torque for passing trucks. Be ready to downshift in those cases. Your gas mileage goes down the tube with two up (or pulling a trailer) at any speed above 65. In strong head winds you may find yourself having to run in 4th, or be satisfied to not go over 60 - 65. The 998 engine doesn't have much reserve top end torque above 70.

Well, not until you've had the 'ECU Xtreme' ECU Upgrade done, anyway!! Then you get stonking torque pretty much all the way out to the new (raised) red line! hyea: :yes:

And even better Glen, it's still within the 'safe & reliable' revs used by BRP & Others for this very same engine in other applications, so it's quite unlikely to be stressing the motor anything much more than saaay.... the Aprilia's that also ran them; only they got the higher revs, more torque, and more horsepower straight outta the box; while BRP went the 'overly cautious' route with the Spyders & to a lesser extent, the Rykers too! I guess they thought us 'old farts' wouldn't have the strength of will to resist using any extra torque on tap if they gave it to us, so we got the 'radically de-tuned' power-plants instead of something closer to the full bottle! So for my two bob's worth, and as one 2013 RT Ryder to another; once you are reasonably comfortable with the differences in riding a Spyder vs the Harley, get the ECU Upgrade done - I really doubt you'll ever regret it! Better gas milage for pottering around and at cruise; but still with stonking torque on demand, just waiting for you to twist the throttle! :thumbup:.

 

[GlenCreek]

Well, not until you've had the 'ECU Xtreme' ECU Upgrade done, anyway!! Then you get stonking torque pretty much all the way out to the new (raised) red line! hyea: :yes:

And even better Glen, it's still within the 'safe & reliable' revs used by BRP & Others for this very same engine in other applications, so it's quite unlikely to be stressing the motor anything much more than saaay.... the Aprilia's that also ran them; only they got the higher revs, more torque, and more horsepower straight outta the box; while BRP went the 'overly cautious' route with the Spyders & to a lesser extent, the Rykers too! I guess they thought us 'old farts' wouldn't have the strength of will to resist using any extra torque on tap if they gave it to us, so we got the 'radically de-tuned' power-plants instead of something closer to the full bottle! So for my two bob's worth, and as one 2013 RT Ryder to another; once you are reasonably comfortable with the differences in riding a Spyder vs the Harley, get the ECU Upgrade done - I really doubt you'll ever regret it! Better gas milage for pottering around and at cruise; but still with stonking torque on demand, just waiting for you to twist the throttle! :thumbup:.

Thank you for the info. How/where do I get an ECU upgrade?

 

[Peter Aawen]

There's Monster & Wick-it in North America, or the bloke I & many others have gone to (who is located in Aus but who does them for Can-Am's & others all around the World) for upgrades etc on competition & general use machines too, Jase from ECU Xtreme (on facebook etc & [email protected]) & I believe there's also a Power Commander upgrade available now too. :thumbup:

There's more discussion & info here:

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?113297-ECU-Flash&p=1532714#post1532714