First time ride on my Spyder today - I think I'm gonna like it!

[Snoking1127]

After having a stroke almost a year to the day. I had to find a way to get that bike feeling back that we all love. So bought my Spyder RT Ltd second hand from the the guy who invented the Magic Mirror Mounts. He was selling for a mate here in Tasmania. My experience adjusting to three wheels was to trust the machine, try riding with the loosest of grips or one handed. Build trust in your pride and joy and you will have many years of enjoyment.

Out on the open road, I run cruise control most of the time and use the increase or decrease button when changing speed zones. I just relax my hands on the handle bars, except for when the German Shepherd came out of the brush of the median on I-10 entering California right in front of me. I hung on tightly and steered through that, taking the hit from the center of the trike to the right front wheel that went over about the center of it's body. $5525 later for tupperware and the right hand radiator, it was like new. It cost more, as the 2018 Champaign panels had to be painted. They did a great job, you could not tell the difference between the new and old panels.

 

[SpyderEnzo]

While I have a zillion miles on 2 wheels, the three wheel part of my life is at the beginning. At 250 miles, I'm just starting to be comfortable with much more to learn. So far I'm loving it and so glad to be riding again.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

While I have a zillion miles on 2 wheels, the three wheel part of my life is at the beginning. At 250 miles, I'm just starting to be comfortable with much more to learn. So far I'm loving it and so glad to be riding again.

Its a fun learning curve.

 

[Steve W.]

Back in the late 90’s I was responsible for planning monthly rides for the Mid-Atlantic region members of the Concours Owners Group (motorcycles). One of the rides I came up with was the Crab Cake Ride in March. We’d meet at a Denny’s on the western side of the Chesapeake Bay for breakfast, then cross over the Bay Bridge to the Eastern Shore. After a jaunt around the various sites of interest I’d laid out, we’d head for a notable restaurant for a late lunch and of course, crab cakes. Little did I know, one member had to back out of crossing the bridge because of his fear of heights. In the following years, and with his blessing, we continued that March ride. He’d join us for breakfast, to enjoy the fellowship, ride his own ride then head for home. That CC ride continued each March under new leaders up until a couple of years ago.

FWIW – The State apparently has standby drivers on each side of the Bridge to take people across (in their cars) who have a similar fear of heights and can’t handle the stress of doing it themselves.

The State of Michigan has a similar service for drivers on the Mackinac Bridge.

Big Mac has the additional fear factor that the inner lanes in each direction are open steel grate, you can see the water below.

 

[mecsw500]

I did the Torrey, UT, to Escalante, UT, road a couple of weeks ago. Nobody told me about the Hogback, where the road literally runs along a 9,000 foot high mountain ridge with several thousand feet of drop on either side. There are no guard rails along the top. Going South we met a torrential storm about half way along; coming back North, it was gale force winds. I've never been so scared in all my life. Being Southern Utah, there's no other practical routes around it. Never ever again. I genuinely thought I was going to throw up in my helmet. My wife thought it was awesome.

As for a bridge that has open steel grates, that would give me nightmares for weeks. I've no idea what I'd do about 30 seconds into it.

 

[1Vetteman]

After 53 years on Harleys, most recently a Freewheeler trike that I traded for a 2022 RT, I now realize how much I disliked it after driving the Spyder. On Harley touring bikes, you sit on the bike, on a Harley softail, you sit in the bike, which I liked. On the way home with the Spyder, one of my thoughts was when I gave up 2 wheels for 3 originally, I wished I went for the Spyder. You sit in it and it rides so much smoother. Harley finally wised up and went to independent rear suspension and ditched the solid rear axle.

 

[gbyoung2]

The State of Michigan has a similar service for drivers on the Mackinac Bridge.

Big Mac has the additional fear factor that the inner lanes in each direction are open steel grate, you can see the water below.

LOL. Yeah. the Bay Bridge does too. I think it's cool and I intentionally ride on it.

 

[mecsw500]

The first and only time I crossed the Tacoma Narrows bridge it was a very windy day. I think I got up to 15 mph with a death grip on the steering wheel. I took the ferry back to Seattle and drove the long way around back to Olympia.

I was in an SUV, not even on a Spyder. If I have to go back to that part of Washington, it will be by ferry for sure. Boats are OK, even in moderately bad weather.

Bridges like the Tacoma Narrows, no. I've had my fill of bridges like the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate, the Verrazzano Narrows, the Tacoma Narrows, the Glenn Canyon Dam. I've done them all with extreme fear and reluctance. I have no desire to repeat the exercise if there is any possible way around them. It's like flying, despite having over a million air miles, it just terrifies me every time I get on a plane.

I got stuck one time at the visitor center in the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park. My son had to drive my truck the remainder of the way and I came down on the rear floor of a Park Ranger's car as she was going off duty.

I once threw up on the London Gatwick to London Heathrow helicopter shuttle back in the days when they ran one, to make a tight connection.

My brother did four decades in the RAF. My cousin two decades as a US Navy pilot. My nephews are pilots. My wife and kids love roller coasters, I can't even watch them. There is something truly wrong with me I'm sure.

 

[Snoking1127]

The first and only time I crossed the Tacoma Narrows bridge it was a very windy day. I think I got up to 15 mph with a death grip on the steering wheel. I took the ferry back to Seattle and drove the long way around back to Olympia.

I was in an SUV, not even on a Spyder. If I have to go back to that part of Washington, it will be by ferry for sure. Boats are OK, even in moderately bad weather.

Bridges like the Tacoma Narrows, no. I've had my fill of bridges like the Bay Bridge, the Golden Gate, the Verrazzano Narrows, the Tacoma Narrows, the Glenn Canyon Dam. I've done them all with extreme fear and reluctance. I have no desire to repeat the exercise if there is any possible way around them. It's like flying, despite having over a million air miles, it just terrifies me every time I get on a plane.

I got stuck one time at the visitor center in the middle of Rocky Mountain National Park. My son had to drive my truck the remainder of the way and I came down on the rear floor of a Park Ranger's car as she was going off duty.

I once threw up on the London Gatwick to London Heathrow helicopter shuttle back in the days when they ran one, to make a tight connection.

My brother did four decades in the RAF. My cousin two decades as a US Navy pilot. My nephews are pilots. My wife and kids love roller coasters, I can't even watch them. There is something truly wrong with me I'm sure.

Hey no Tacoma Narrow bridge has fallen down since Galloping Gertie in 1940!

 

[mecsw500]

Hey no Tacoma Narrow bridge has fallen down since Galloping Gertie in 1940!

Yet.