Another Connecticut Ryder !

[mindman]

My wife and I are picking up our new RT-S on Friday ! Can't wait to take her for a spin (the RT that is) I still have a two wheeler so the transition from one to the other and back all the time should be real interesting. I'm also looking forward to being an active part of Spyderlovers.com

 

[Big Arm]

:clap: welcome :clap: :congrats: on your new purchase :2thumbs:

 

[Capt John]

welcome:yes::yes::congrats:

 

[Sarge707]

:2thumbs::congrats:welcome
Check the tire pressure before you ride. Check the oil level the 1st day also!! Enjoy the ride~!!!!!

 

[NancysToy]

welcome I switch hit all the time, and I have not had a problem...beyond occasionally grabbing a handful of air where my front brake handle should be. My best advice is to switch often. It helps not to get too rusty. My other piece of advice is to take time, whenever you switch, to dodge a few manhole covers, and make a few quick stops before you hit the road in earnest. You don't have time to think about what to do when a problem arises.

 

[northramp]

:agree:welcomewelcome

 

[LDFIREWORKS]

:clap:welcomehyea:

 

[Spydeb]

Congrats and WELCOME!:2thumbs:

 

[canam9]

welcome I switch hit all the time, and I have not had a problem...beyond occasionally grabbing a handful of air where my front brake handle should be. My best advice is to switch often. It helps not to get too rusty. My other piece of advice is to take time, whenever you switch, to dodge a few manhole covers, and make a few quick stops before you hit the road in earnest. You don't have time to think about what to do when a problem arises.

:agree:welcome:congrats::ani29:

 

[NancysToy]

One thing I forgot to mention. The Owners Guide has an excellent Spyder safety course in it, and you should also receive a DVD with the course and safety tips. If you take some time to set up some soccer cones or half tennis balls in a parking lot somewhere, and run through the drills until you are comfortable, your first road experience will be much better...and your adjustment time will be considerably shorter.

 

[TicketBait]

One thing I forgot to mention. The Owners Guide has an excellent Spyder safety course in it, and you should also receive a DVD with the course and safety tips. If you take some time to set up some soccer cones or half tennis balls in a parking lot somewhere, and run through the drills until you are comfortable, your first road experience will be much better...and your adjustment time will be considerably shorter.

Scotty is correct, there are 10 pages (pg 61-78 owners manual) each devoted to if you have the automatic
or the manual transmission. I practiced on the dealers demo that was manual and it was an easier transition
going to the paddle shift. This bike has no counter steer like a motorcycle, so it might take you longer
than I to feel comfortable. I had no prior experience. To me the bike is way logical. Foot brake like a car. Enjoy your ryde, and :congrats: on your new ryde.

I even used this same parking lot to practice backing up the trailer I just got.

please share your experience, and take lots of photos!welcome

 

[mindman]

Everyone - thanks for the great reception and the advice. My dealer had no demo models so the ride home tomorrow (about 40 miles) will be my first experience so I'll be getting total immersion therapy rather than easing into it. That's probably the best way anyway. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

[fastfraser]

welcome:congrats::spyder2:ON.

 

[NancysToy]

Everyone - thanks for the great reception and the advice. My dealer had no demo models so the ride home tomorrow (about 40 miles) will be my first experience so I'll be getting total immersion therapy rather than easing into it. That's probably the best way anyway. I'll let you know how it works out.

That was my experience, also...and it is why I advocate another approach. The first mile I just wanted to get off and leave it beside the road. The next five miles I thought we had made the biggest mistakes of our lives. It took 15 miles before I felt the least bit comfortable...and I was still far too tentantive to react properly in an emergency. Takes a couple of hundred miles before you get comfortable with it...or more. Be sure to remind yourself constantly to relax your grip and not fight it.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have stopped at the first big, empty parking lot I could find, and played around for 15-20 minutes before I hit the road for home. If I had been real smart, I would have downloaded the manual from the SpyderLovers home page or from the BRP Spyder Owners Center, and I would have studied it up front, especially the skills section. I would also have watched the safety videos on YouTube. Then I would have known better what to expect.

 

[dancogan]

Everyone - thanks for the great reception and the advice. My dealer had no demo models so the ride home tomorrow (about 40 miles) will be my first experience so I'll be getting total immersion therapy rather than easing into it. That's probably the best way anyway. I'll let you know how it works out.

First, welcome to the site from another newbie. If your ride home will be your first ride, then select some nice quiet roads where you won't feel pressured by traffic. The best advice I read was on this forum, which was to keep a light grip on the handlebars and lean with your upper body into turns. By the time you get home you'll be feeling much more comfortable. Scotty's advice, above, is right on.

Our new RT will be in W. Hartford in a few weeks for a short stop with family on our way to VT. Wave at a blue one!

 

[retired1]

:congrats: and welcome. One riding tip, DON'T straddle ripe road kill. Don't ask!:roflblack:

 

[mindman]

That was my experience, also...and it is why I advocate another approach. The first mile I just wanted to get off and leave it beside the road. The next five miles I thought we had made the biggest mistakes of our lives. It took 15 miles before I felt the least bit comfortable...and I was still far too tentantive to react properly in an emergency. Takes a couple of hundred miles before you get comfortable with it...or more. Be sure to remind yourself constantly to relax your grip and not fight it.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have stopped at the first big, empty parking lot I could find, and played around for 15-20 minutes before I hit the road for home. If I had been real smart, I would have downloaded the manual from the SpyderLovers home page or from the BRP Spyder Owners Center, and I would have studied it up front, especially the skills section. I would also have watched the safety videos on YouTube. Then I would have known better what to expect.

I actually DID download the manual on Monday and started reading it since it was so Hot here in CT - so looks like I'm intuitively off to the right start (one of the reasons my kids started calling me Mindman). I will be sure to putt-putt around in the dealer lot before getting on the road, and will absolutely look for a nice vacant parking lot on the trip home. I also mapped out and pre-rode a non-highway route home from the dealer so good to go on that score too.

 

[mindman]

First, welcome to the site from another newbie. If your ride home will be your first ride, then select some nice quiet roads where you won't feel pressured by traffic. The best advice I read was on this forum, which was to keep a light grip on the handlebars and lean with your upper body into turns. By the time you get home you'll be feeling much more comfortable. Scotty's advice, above, is right on.

Our new RT will be in W. Hartford in a few weeks for a short stop with family on our way to VT. Wave at a blue one!

We bought a blue one too. I'll keep my eyes peeled for you!

 

[mindman]

OK! picked it up this afternoon ! :clap: 40 mile ride home....took the scenic route and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT !!!
I practiced in the dealer lot for a little while, then hit the road. Thanks to all the great advice you gave, and what I learned from other posts, I had very little difficulty adjusting.
Definitely lean into the turns and DEFINITELY do not OVER STEER the thing! That power steering is SENSITIVE ! :yikes:
It seems to love running in the 5k rpm range the most.
Only negative.....and this is a qualified negative...my arse got damn hot !!! I qualify this because the temp gauge read 98 degrees!

I am SOOOO looking forward to miles and miles and hours and hours of touring on this baby, and am PRAYING that I don't have any of the problems that I've read about in the forums.....but if I do, I will persist. Thanks again for all the advice, and for the great welcome !

 

[NancysToy]

OK! picked it up this afternoon ! :clap: 40 mile ride home....took the scenic route and LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT !!!
I practiced in the dealer lot for a little while, then hit the road. Thanks to all the great advice you gave, and what I learned from other posts, I had very little difficulty adjusting.
Definitely lean into the turns and DEFINITELY do not OVER STEER the thing! That power steering is SENSITIVE ! :yikes:
It seems to love running in the 5k rpm range the most.
Only negative.....and this is a qualified negative...my arse got damn hot !!! I qualify this because the temp gauge read 98 degrees!

I am SOOOO looking forward to miles and miles and hours and hours of touring on this baby, and am PRAYING that I don't have any of the problems that I've read about in the forums.....but if I do, I will persist. Thanks again for all the advice, and for the great welcome !

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup: