Considering a Spyder - Can I Ask You Some Questions?

[Peter Aawen]

Here, I'll fix that bit for you...

We found a 2023 RT Limited with 15,600 miles for $18,000.

They got (ONLY) that mileage in two years? Is that a reliability concern for this one?

Also have a bead on 2020 RT Limited with 4500 miles for $16000

Any reason to go with one over the other?

You might want to be a little concerned about how much time that 2023 has spent sitting around doing nothing, after all, it's not even really run in yet!! But if it's had it's scheduled (first) service done and been looked after, and you keep that maintenance up to it, it'll very likely be good for the next few years &/or 100,000+ miles.

I wouldn't think the 2020 with only 4500 miles on it is anywhere really even near as good of a deal, not unless you can get it for something less than what they're asking, ie. pretty cheap!! Only 4500 miles in about 4 years?? That's barely 1000 a year, so it's probably been sitting on it's already known to be crappy tires for all that time, cracking and deteriorating them, and stewing the engine insides in all that now contaminated oil with lotsa condensation added in cos the engine never got hot enough to boil it off outta the oil, and all the grease in the bearings & bushes has probably clagged up and clumped into the lower extremities if whatever it's meant to protect, then every (short) run it got didn't even warm that up enough to re-spread it all evenly into the necessary places!!

So yeah, check out the 2023 Spyder with the minimal miles for its age, but unless you really like gambling or you can get it bloody cheap, I wouldn't even look at the 2020 with only 4500 miles on it!! It's been a garage queen, barely run, waaay too risky!

Just my opinion, of course.

 

[RogerC60]

I agree with @Peter Aawen. And you yourself have averaged 6000 miles per year on your motorcycle(s), right in line with the usage on that 2023 Spyder.

 

[jarrett]

This is a screenshot of the 2023 dash. Is that red '!' a fault alarm of some sort?

 

[Peter Aawen]

Admittedly, my Spyder's a 2013 and there have been some changes to the dash since, so it could be different, but that looks like the bike's stopped & the g/box's been put into Neutral, but not yet had the Park Brake put on; or maybe it's been started and the Park Brake's not turned off yet?? Did it beep at you?

 

[jarrett]

Admittedly, my Spyder's a 2013 and there have been some changes to the dash since, so it could be different, but that looks like the bike's stopped & the g/box's been put into Neutral, but not yet had the Park Brake put on; or maybe it's been started and the Park Brake's not turned off yet?? Did it beep at you?

That's in the for sale ad lol

 

[RogerC60]

Yeah, the seller took a picture with the parking brake on.

 

[racoon]

Yeah, the seller took a picture with the parking brake on.

The Parking Brake light is red on a 2024, but it's a "P" in a circle with parens around it.

I did find that image in an earlier Operators Guide and it indicates a "Brake Failure". And says to check brake fluid level, adjust the brake pedal, or check fuse #3.

 

[Lady HardlyRider]

Hi, I'm not new to the forum. Apparently, I joined 16 years ago when I was looking at a Spyder back then. I did a test ride that scared me off.

Since then I got my motorcycle license back in 2018 and have done 65,000+ miles on motorcycles now including multi-day/state trips and such. So not scared of being on the road with cars on 2 (or 3) wheels anymore.

My GF and I want to start doing some two up riding. My first thought was a Gold Wing, but she really wants three wheels for stability. So we are looking into used Spyders and wondered if I could ask you some questions. We'd like to get something reliable that we can hop on and ride on the weekends. And possibly some multi-day trips at some point when the moons align.

Is RT Limited the right model to go for long 2 up rides?

I'd like to buy used, is there a year model/mileage cut off you'd suggest? Like say only 2020 and newer models with less than 6,000 miles on them, something like that? I see a ton of them for sale near me, which concerns me a little, but they are like 2013 models with 10's of thousands of miles on them usually. Newer ones seem to be for sale used less.

Any other tips to consider before purchasing one?

Any tips for 2 wheel riders making the jump to 3? Like how do you go around a corner without leaning?

We're going to do a test ride on Thursday to make sure I enjoy driving and she enjoys riding on the back. Thanks in advance!

Bought a fun, cool MP3 500 Trike in 2012 but it's always breaking down. Looked at Honda Trike but fell in love with the Spyder RT. Hardly have had any issues with it since 2016. Enjoy your new ride. They are all fun with little to worry about..while driving!

 

[Deanna777]

Is there a single person Spyder model that has enough storage and features to go on a multi day tour? She's considering getting one for her to ride solo

Hi Jarrett,

I ride solo all the time, I had a 2012 RTS-SE 5 (since sold/traded) & a 2014 RTS SE 6 (since Sold/traded). I now have a 2023 F3 LTD SS. I packed my previous Spyders (strapped luggage on the back of the passenger seats with bungie cords) and had no problems when I travelled long distance. On my current Spyder, I also pack luggage on the back of my passenger seat.

It is do-able.

Deanna

 

[jarrett]

The Parking Brake light is red on a 2024, but it's a "P" in a circle with parens around it.

I did find that image in an earlier Operators Guide and it indicates a "Brake Failure". And says to check brake fluid level, adjust the brake pedal, or check fuse #3.

Oh wow, thank you!

Ok going to go with the 2020 with 4500 miles then. They came down to $15k. Picking it up in the morning.

By the end of the weekend, it will have 500 more miles on it

Thanks everyone for all of your help!

 

[greer]

We'll need an update, Jarret!

Sarah

 

[Belfurdd]

Get a 2020 or newer Spyder

 

[racoon]

We'll need an update, Jarret!

With pictures!

 

[Big Juice]

Hi, I'm not new to the forum. Apparently, I joined 16 years ago when I was looking at a Spyder back then. I did a test ride that scared me off.

Since then I got my motorcycle license back in 2018 and have done 65,000+ miles on motorcycles now including multi-day/state trips and such. So not scared of being on the road with cars on 2 (or 3) wheels anymore.

My GF and I want to start doing some two up riding. My first thought was a Gold Wing, but she really wants three wheels for stability. So we are looking into used Spyders and wondered if I could ask you some questions. We'd like to get something reliable that we can hop on and ride on the weekends. And possibly some multi-day trips at some point when the moons align.

Is RT Limited the right model to go for long 2 up rides?

I'd like to buy used, is there a year model/mileage cut off you'd suggest? Like say only 2020 and newer models with less than 6,000 miles on them, something like that? I see a ton of them for sale near me, which concerns me a little, but they are like 2013 models with 10's of thousands of miles on them usually. Newer ones seem to be for sale used less.

Any other tips to consider before purchasing one?

Any tips for 2 wheel riders making the jump to 3? Like how do you go around a corner without leaning?

We're going to do a test ride on Thursday to make sure I enjoy driving and she enjoys riding on the back. Thanks in advance!

I would recommend a 2014 or newer RT as the best 2-up ride on a Spyder.

 

[jarrett]

We'll need an update, Jarret!

Sarah

Picked it up around 10:30am and rode 230 miles on it today, riding it back to where we are staying. I felt like had a general sense of the bike in about twenty miles. I kept learning its idiosyncrasies throughout the day.

It's a very comfortable bike at slow speeds, but as I started pushing the speeds higher and higher, it started to dart around a bit, even when I wasn't putting pressure on the bars period. It seems to chase ruts on the road. This was a little unsettling at first, but by the end of the day, I just sort of let it dance around and do its thing.

I paid for the bike with the Zelle. It's the first time I had done that. At first, it didn't look like it was going to work, but we had to call our respective banks to get the amount to go through with that size.

My girlfriend rode on the back for maybe 35 of those miles and enjoyed it. I think we might get a lot of use out of it.

I have to ride it for about 370 miles tomorrow to get home. I'm a little sore from riding two hundred and thirty miles today, so it's gonna be an interesting day tomorrow.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Here's hoping it all goes well for you!

It might help a little if you extend that 'let it dance around and do its thing' into your back & arms too. If you haven't/don't already, let your shoulders and elbows drop, relax your grip on the handlebars, and look waaaaayyy out down the road at where you want to go, scan back down your chosen path every now & then, but mainly just gently guide it down the path you've chosen. Try not to react suddenly or jerkily to anything close in front, planning waaayy ahead and then keeping it smoooth while you're relaxed and feeding in gentle control well in advance is the key to getting used to these things.

Then once you've got all that down pat, you can start working out if any of the dancing is due to the notoriously common poor factory wheel alignment; the even more notoriously common dodgy Kenda tires, even if you happen to have some that are now labelled XPS! Altho I must admit the Kendas have got better than they were, there's still a noticeable percentage of tires coming direct from the factory that aren't round, or have odd radial run-out, poor tread finishing, dodgy tread wear from the set to, and more. But you've gotta get the 'smooth & relaxed' thing sorted first, or you'll be fighting yourself and the bike into utter frustration, exhaustion, pain, &/or enough despair to make you want to dump it before you've really given it a chance. Most take well over 1000 miles to truly become comfortable on them, but once they do...

 

[jarrett]

I just got done riding six hundred and two miles on the new Spyder over the last 36 hours. I learned a lot about it. Lots of pros and only a few cons.

Overall, I like it. Content with my purchase. Hoping we can make lots 2-up memories with it.

-

 

[greer]

Way to go, jarrett!

Sarah

 

[vito1943]

I think that some here are making things more complicated than they need to be. Elaborate explanations of how to take a turn on a Spyder will likely just scare off someone considering getting one of these trikes. If you can drive a car, you can immediately ride a Spyder. You steer around the curve, just as in a car, and the only diference really is that you are using handlebars rather than a steering wheel. I have no doubt that CanAm could have designed the Spyder with a steering wheel and it would have worked just fine, other than making it even less like a "tradtional" motorcycle, and then they would have had to figure out where to put all the controls that right now are on each of the handgrips.

FWIW, I think that someone who has never ridden a two wheel motorcycle will have a faster learning curve on a Spyder than an experienced motorcyclist. Coming off two wheels requires getting used to no clutch lever, no front brake lever, and absolutely nothing to do with the left foot. For me, the biggest obstacle to feeling comfortable on my RT was not automatically gravitating to the left third of the lane, but getting used to aiming right down the middle of the lane. The very reason that some bikers look down on riders of Spyders is that the Spyder riders do not have to master the unique skills of motorcycling, such as counter steering, using both hands and feet simultaneously in an emergency stop, etc, etc. But those very same reasons make it incredibly easy for a non-rider to be safely navigating a Spyder (or F3, or Ryker for that matter).

 

[Cobranut]

I think that some here are making things more complicated than they need to be. Elaborate explanations of how to take a turn on a Spyder will likely just scare off someone considering getting one of these trikes. If you can drive a car, you can immediately ride a Spyder. You steer around the curve, just as in a car, and the only diference really is that you are using handlebars rather than a steering wheel. I have no doubt that CanAm could have designed the Spyder with a steering wheel and it would have worked just fine, other than making it even less like a "tradtional" motorcycle, and then they would have had to figure out where to put all the controls that right now are on each of the handgrips.

FWIW, I think that someone who has never ridden a two wheel motorcycle will have a faster learning curve on a Spyder than an experienced motorcyclist. Coming off two wheels requires getting used to no clutch lever, no front brake lever, and absolutely nothing to do with the left foot. For me, the biggest obstacle to feeling comfortable on my RT was not automatically gravitating to the left third of the lane, but getting used to aiming right down the middle of the lane. The very reason that some bikers look down on riders of Spyders is that the Spyder riders do not have to master the unique skills of motorcycling, such as counter steering, using both hands and feet simultaneously in an emergency stop, etc, etc. But those very same reasons make it incredibly easy for a non-rider to be safely navigating a Spyder (or F3, or Ryker for that matter).

Some of us still have a proper clutch and shifter.