I guess I'm just not a Twisties guy!

[racoon]

So here I am at the Spyder Adventures Rally in Maggie Valley, North Carolina, surrounded by a ton of Spyders, mostly RTs and F3s, and a fair number of Harley Davidson's too. I did see one Canyon, but I'm pretty sure it was parked in front a vendor's tent in order to draw people in, as it's been in the same place the entire time.

I took a nice ride with a friend who rides two up with his wife. He suggested the route, and we did The Rattler Loop trail. I had some trouble keeping up, even with two of them on his 2025 Spyder RT vs just me on my 2024 Spyder RT.

And of course I've already posted about a forced detour that had me riding about 18 miles on the Blue Ridge Parkway at night.

And I just got back from a side trip for something I needed but forgot to pack. Not long, less than 50 miles round trip. Saw a few groups out riding from the same event I'm attending.

And tomorrow I'll be heading home, which is about 200 miles of state highways, with a few twisty sections.


And the bad news is that unless the Baja Ron swayback and end links _really_ changes how my Spyder handles, I won't be seeking out any twisty roads in the future, as I just don't find them to be a fun ride. So I guess I'm more of a cruiser guy, than a twisties guy.

 

[Snoking1127]

...
And the bad news is that unless the Baja Ron swayback and end links _really_ changes how my Spyder handles, I won't be seeking out any twisty roads in the future, as I just don't find them to be a fun ride. So I guess I'm more of a cruiser guy, than a twisties guy.

The sway bar and some Vredesteins on the front will really change things to the better.

 

[racoon]

The sway bar and some Vredesteins on the front will really change things to the better.

Changing how it is able to take the turns is not the same as enjoying driving through twisty roads.
At this point I'm not ready to throw more money into making my Spyder do something I don't enjoy.

 

[jzeiler]

FWIW I really enjoyed the twisties on two wheels and not so much on the Spyder. However after 1400 miles and the Baja Ron Ultimate and his JRI shocks I now really enjoy the twisties on the Spyder.

 

[Bfromla]

Enjoy more views than the “carving “

 

[troop]

Changing how it is able to take the turns is not the same as enjoying driving through twisty roads.
At this point I'm not ready to throw more money into making my Spyder do something I don't enjoy.

Here's my input based upon my experience with my 2022 RT S2S.

1.) Car tires make a world of difference! I have generic/no longer available Achilles Economist 165/55R15 tires on my OEM wheels and Kenda Kanines on my PPA wheels. Three years ago, the Achilles cost $55/each thru Walmart. I LOVE these tires! The ride/steering/smoothness are so much better than the softer Kanines. I will soon be ditching the Kanines, and putting car tires on the PPA wheels.​

2.) You should notice an immediate improvement with the BR Ultra sway bar and end links. Steering should be tighter and more controlled.​

3.) While I didn't upgrade the shocks on my RT (unlike my past F3S), I did install MTV H&R springs. Vast improvement and scraping "has been" a thing of the past.​

One thing on my RT S2S NOT conducive to twisty riding is my Russel Day Long seat. Built to my height (6'3")/weight (235#) specs, this seat is a solid 2.5" taller when including seat compression. You sit up even more, and while still capable, twisty riding is less enjoyable. It just doesn't feel as fun. The RT can still be a competent cornering machine, but you have to enjoy it. For some, the F3L may be the better option

 

[weeneil]

Changing how it is able to take the turns is not the same as enjoying driving through twisty roads.
At this point I'm not ready to throw more money into making my Spyder do something I don't enjoy.

I have already posted I want to drive/ride the the trike as it is an see it as a challenge to a point, I love my Spyder and hope to keep it "standard".

 

[blacklightning]

I love the twisties on my F3 and my RT series! I actually feel more confident at going fast on the Spyder than I do on my 2 wheeler. It all comes down to practice. Yes, upgraded sway bar and shocks might help, but nothing is better than practice. As for the Canyon, a buddy of mine, Patrick, is there on his. He actually works at the dealership in Winston Salem and is very knowledgeable about all things Spyder related. He had an RSS and a F3T prior to the Canyon.

 

[Columbia]

I loved twisties when on two wheels. I didn't mind them on my Spyder nor did I enjoy them. Until.

Here on SpyderLovers are a number of threads about best practices for handling curves without dropping speed to 30 MPH (or even to the recommended speed on the yellow signs.)

A recent long trip involving many nicely twisty roads and sections of roads gave me time to practice. Not perfect. Never will achieve perfection. But my skill improved and as it did my enjoyment increased.

Main point among many is to move your body on the seat. Slide a butt cheek off the seat in the direction of your turn. The Spyder responds nicely to that weight shift. Twisties suddenly feel safe, in control, not nervous and wondering if things will stick.

Trust the tires is another bit of wisdom. I knew that when I was on two wheels. Forgot it on the Spyder. Of course, that piece of wisdom only applies if you have decent tires, i.e. not Kendas. I now have Vredesteins all around and my trust level has sky rocketed.

There's lots of forth and backing about should one PULL on the handlebars to make a turn or PUSH. Or both? I tried just pushing for an entire day's ride. The next day I tried pulling. For me, and, of course, your mileage probably will vary, pulling turned out to be my preference. I have no data as to why. Just felt better. Felt more in control. One hundred per cent subjective. But pulling seemed to result in greater confidence which seemed to result in more relaxed and more rapid transit through corners. For me, it's smoother and smooth is always faster.

Around the Western part of the continent, roads don't come as "straight" or "curvy." Oh, they might lean (pardon me!) more one or the other for a mile or two (a friend reads with a book propped on the wheel when he travels on Interstate 90 in Eastern Washington. There are only two significant turns between the Cascades and Spokane. A left at the Vantage Bridge over the Columbia, and a right at George, a few miles North. The rest of 90 is read-a-book straight. Nb: I do not do this myself.)

But just about every road around here has a curve or three with some regularity. I've never met anyone who found only straight roads to travel. I guess it's theoretically possible.

I prefer taking the road as it is, straight, curvy, very twisty, whatever, and sharpening my skills and tweaking my ride so that I can handle and enjoy whatever the road throws at me. I did that pretty well on two wheels. I'm learning to do it well on three.

Need a rider LOVE twisties? Of course not. But there are twisties out there, sometimes when we don't expect them. Seems wise to me to practice and adjust so that I can ride them well, even if I never do reach the point where I enjoy, or desire, or feel positive about them.

I just gave you my best, a whole $.02 worth of my thoughts, to ponder, ignore, delete, or block. No pressure for anyone to pick up those two-cent pieces. As the MSF instructor said far too many times when I took the beginner course years ago: Ride your own ride. D'oh.

 

[racoon]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

As a former 2-wheel rider I am very aware that I can't lean into turns on my Spyder, but have learned about weight shifting into the turn, which is about as much as you can do on a 3-wheeler. And the new BajaRon sway bar and end links are going to help in how my Spyder handles.

But even if she handles better that does not mean I will ever enjoy twisty roads.
They are just not my "thing" or to my liking.

But thank you all for your feedback!


Final Note: Baja Ron is an amazing guy, and it was one of the highlights of this trip to finally meet him face to face and meet his "team".

 

[bikerbillone]

Racoon, I feel your thoughts about mountain carving and the twisties. I never got real excited about that type of riding either but I did some of it anyway. My problem, I like to enjoy some scenery and flower sniffing along the way, lots of curves, twisties and mountain carving just don't allow much of that.

 

[RayBJ]

I've been riding the twisties with my BMW friends for 15 yrs (Love the Smokies). Me on a Triumph Trophy up until switching to the 2020 RT (w/upgrades). I found the 'fun' from leaning into the curves exciting at speed. I have the same 'fun' on the RT doing the same thing and (mostly) keeping up with the Beemers. The difference now is I get an upper-body workout by ME doing the leaning.

 

[racoon]

Well, I'm home, and despite planning a fairly boring ride without any twisties, my plans only lasted about an hour.

On the way to the event I got side-tracked by an accident that closed the road I was planning to use, and ended up on 18 miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway at 8pm or so at night. It was not fun for me.

So on the way home I ended up in a traffic jam which again appeared to be a road closure. It was where two roads came together, and both the road I was on and the other road were at a complete standstill. I eventually ended up following a couple of other motorcycles by using the shoulder of the road I was on up to the junction, then using the shoulder of the other road to back track even more, until I found a fairly clear road.
After that, I let the GPS lead me home.

From looking at Google maps, and remembering a few signs and a couple of HUGE landmarks, I know I went West from Maggie Valley and ended up going through Tellico Plains (I remember seeing a sign), and then went through Spring City, TN where the Watts Barr Nuclear Power Plant is located (I recognized the two huge cooling towers). I know I was on State Road 68 when I stopped in Crossville for lunch and to get gasoline, and then headed West on US Route 70N back to the Cookeville, TN area.

State Road 68 definitely has some twisties, although not like the Blue Ridge Parkway.

 

[Columbia]

I enjoy twisties AND I enjoy scenery, smelling flowers, listening to streams and waterfalls, ignoring fast-food restaurants and tourist traps.
So I end up stopping a lot, and getting off the bike. Increasingly, as my body intensifies its rebellion, stopping and getting off is ever-more frequent and mandatory.
"Twisty roads" and "enjoying scenery/flowers" are not mutually exclusive. Rarely do I have to go very far to find a safe place to pull over, whether it's the Sierras, the Rockies, the Cascades, or all the flatter places in between.
Again: I in no way insist that anyone agree with me! I admit to having a lousy sense of humor and enjoying peculiar things. This post might not pass the "my two cent's worth" criterion. Might be termed $.01? YMMV

 

[blacklightning]

I see the speed limit signs for curves as a challenge. First goal was 10 over, then 20 over. Now if I am on the F3 I see how close I can get to doubling that number. The biggest difference in the twisties vs a 2 wheeler is that it seems to be more of an upper body workout when riding the Spyder over the 2 wheeler.

 

[Kromm]

I enjoy twisties AND I enjoy scenery, smelling flowers, listening to streams and waterfalls, ignoring fast-food restaurants and tourist traps.
So I end up stopping a lot, and getting off the bike. Increasingly, as my body intensifies its rebellion, stopping and getting off is ever-more frequent and mandatory.
"Twisty roads" and "enjoying scenery/flowers" are not mutually exclusive. Rarely do I have to go very far to find a safe place to pull over, whether it's the Sierras, the Rockies, the Cascades, or all the flatter places in between.
Again: I in no way insist that anyone agree with me! I admit to having a lousy sense of humor and enjoying peculiar things. This post might not pass the "my two cent's worth" criterion. Might be termed $.01? YMMV

I agree 100%. When I'm on 2 wheels my favorite thing is carving through corners. It's taken me a bit to relearn how to do the same on my Spyder. But it's not just the twisties, it's the feel of being in the wind, the smell of the Forest, Ocean, or what ever area you are in. It's definitely not the smell of riding in a city with all the exhaust fumes. I just had this discussion at an event I went to (motorcycle ministry) with the pastor. It's not something you can explain to anyone with words, it's a spiritual thing. I just got back from a week on the Coast riding up and back down Hwy 1 (North Coast) here in Cali. Some of the best scenery you can find, from the Ocean views to Giant Redwoods.

 

[Snoking1127]

I agree 100%. When I'm on 2 wheels my favorite thing is carving through corners. It's taken me a bit to relearn how to do the same on my Spyder. But it's not just the twisties, it's the feel of being in the wind, the smell of the Forest, Ocean, or what ever area you are in. It's definitely not the smell of riding in a city with all the exhaust fumes. I just had this discussion at an event I went to (motorcycle ministry) with the pastor. It's not something you can explain to anyone with words, it's a spiritual thing. I just got back from a week on the Coast riding up and back down Hwy 1 (North Coast) here in Cali. Some of the best scenery you can find, from the Ocean views to Giant Redwoods.

The segment from Fort Bragg to Leggett is a workout. I did a bucket list ride on the coast in May of 2024, Highway North of San Francisco and 101 into Washington before turning inland. I spent my last year and a half in the USCG Loran Station at Point Arena, so I have a lot of miles logged on Highway 1 in government vehicles, a 1960 El Camino and a 1967 SS/RS 360 Camaro.