My Wife does not like riding on the Spyder!

[jthornton]

I do not have a web site. I do have a page link to my

banner ad on the Home Page here at Spyderlovers.

You can always PM me here or email me at [email protected] Either works well.

A number of customers have told me that the passenger really appreciated the Sway Bar upgrade. I don't know if this is a universal reaction, but from those who commented it was very positive.

Order placed... would you like space on my hosting site for a web page? I have unlimited space and host a friends web site http://smokeandstuff.com/, might get more google hits... I assume a static web page would work for you.

John

 

[coachk]

If she's not willing to give it a second chance, you have no good options. Hopefully she will come around. I would suggest that you also look at the front spring preload. The Spyder will be more stable with two aboard at a setting of #4 or #5. The Spyder does apply more lateral force to the passenger than a motorcycle, trying to throw them to the outside on the curves. It can be unnerving until they get used to it. Aftermarket armrests, like those from Diamond R, can help with passenger comfort and confidence. Best of luck in finding a solution.

Man, I sure wish I had of known this before we took our first long ride on the Spyder this weekend. I sold my 1999 Goldwing after my wife had hip surgery. She loved riding but was told to go the trike route. Needless to say, I was intrigued with the Spyder & after test riding bought a 2011 RT LTD 3 wks ago. The weather was finally nice this weekend so I took my wife on a ride thru the twisties of the NC mountains. As I gained confidence in handling, I sped up thru the curves & lets just say scared my wife half to death (I had a blast) & we all know if momma ain't happy nobody ain't happy. Well, let's just say on the ride home today I took scenic roads at very moderate speeds and had us in the sight seeing mode. She loved the trip home and all is well again. I guess I really need to look into the sway bar. She did think I was going through the curves alot faster on the RT than we ever did on the Goldwing (which we didn't) but now I know why she feels that way. Thanks for the info. She wants me to order the sway bar and the armrests pronto.:yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

The passengers don't have the benefit of the feeling of control that we front-seaters enjoy! I'm a firm believer in letting them take the helm once in a while... (IF they are willing...) :thumbup:

 

[bruiser]

Bruisersbaby would not ride on a two wheeler and never drove a motorcycle. Hence the Spyder. She was a little uncomfortable the first couple of rides and her back hurt as well. Once I told her how to relax and to lean with me into the curves and don't put a death grip on the grips, she was fine. After the first year I made the mistake of asking her if she wanted to learn how to drive it. So now we have two Spyders.

 

[jthornton]

Hopefully at SpyderFest we can see and she can sit on some bikes with arm rests and test them out.

I'll install the BajaRon sway bar before we ride again and go slower on the curves.

On poker runs in the past the guys riding solo on RS Spyders take corners faster than I care to on the GW and I usually just flag them around. So I know the Spyder corners well when set up correctly.

Thanks
John

 

[StanProff]

rear shock

I haven't noticed anyone mention the rear shock setting. I have the corbin armrest that my wife wouldn't ride without, and I have to keep her floating over the bumps by softening up the ride with the rear shock. I drop it down a couple of bars and she said it makes a big difference for her. When I ride solo I put it back up to a stiffer ride. We came off of many years of two wheel riding, The spyder does take some getting used to.

 

[jthornton]

I haven't noticed anyone mention the rear shock setting. I have the corbin armrest that my wife wouldn't ride without, and I have to keep her floating over the bumps by softening up the ride with the rear shock. I drop it down a couple of bars and she said it makes a big difference for her. When I ride solo I put it back up to a stiffer ride. We came off of many years of two wheel riding, The spyder does take some getting used to.

Are you riding on the softest setting for the rear shock? When I rode the other day I could not tell any difference between middle and low setting... maybe it affects the passenger more than the driver due to location.

John

 

[jimmykjimmy]

Whoa glad I read this thread

:sour: Getting a new Spyder the 2009 is about due for a trade-in. My wife says she wants to ride this time, so now I'm undecided which model to get. I can see where passenger stability is an issue, going slow in the beginning will be important. So is it the RT or RS limited versions? Any suggestions. thanks

 

[otter28169]

Bruisersbaby would not ride on a two wheeler and never drove a motorcycle. Hence the Spyder. She was a little uncomfortable the first couple of rides and her back hurt as well. Once I told her how to relax and to lean with me into the curves and don't put a death grip on the grips, she was fine. After the first year I made the mistake of asking her if she wanted to learn how to drive it. So now we have two Spyders.

So if it caused you to end up having a second spyder in the driveway where was the mistake??:dontknow:

Just sayin'..........

 

[jthornton]

I set the preload on the front shocks to 4 and took a short ride and I could tell the difference in stiffness from side to side. I can't wait to get my BajaRon sway bar in and try that...

John

 

[Bob Denman]

That'll make a HUGE difference! :2thumbs:
Let us know when it shows up and you tackle it... :thumbup: :bbq:

 

[jthornton]

That'll make a HUGE difference! :2thumbs:
Let us know when it shows up and you tackle it... :thumbup: :bbq:

I just got email conformation that Ron shipped the bar so should be here by the weekend... the weather doesn't look good for riding here in the Bluff this weekend

Shouldn't take more than 5 hrs to install... right?

John

 

[Bob Denman]

Oh shoot... pps:
You'll be spinnin' and grinnin' in less than Two! :thumbup:

One word of advice...
When you remove the OEM bar; use it to locate those clamps that help to keep the RonBar from moving laterally...

 

[jthornton]

Oh shoot... pps:
You'll be spinnin' and grinnin' in less than Two! :thumbup:

One word of advice...
When you remove the OEM bar; use it to locate those clamps that help to keep the RonBar from moving laterally...

OK, thanks for the heads up on that.

John

 

[Bob Ledford]

Too much risk in changing wife at this point in my life... this one has me trained perfectly.

John

John

you are a smart man!

 

[jthornton]

John

you are a smart man!

Or lucky...

John

 

[ElZorroRides]

I had a similar problem when we got our RT. I'm 6'00" tall and she's 5'10". She didn't like riding in back at all. It didn't help that the first day we went out on it, it was a pretty windy day. So every time we were out there was one complaint or another so I put her in the drivers seat and in short order I found that she didn't want to ride with me anymore. She wanted to drive all the time. It has gotten to the point that for me to drive the Spyder, I had to get one of my own as I'm now basically band from "Her" bike....lol. There was only one solution.

Bottom line, I pick up my New 2013 Spyder ST Limited in Black Currant tomorrow morning. Now she's happy and so am I and we have our own Spyder to ride ti Spyderfest.
:yes:

 

[BajaRon]

Shouldn't take more than 5 hrs to install... right?

John

Thanks Bob! :banghead:

 

[Bob Denman]

Ron,
I keep telling folks that I am absolutely the worst case scenario, on steroids...:shocked:
NOBODY will take even half of the time that it took me. I actually thought that the installation was pretty straightforward, and really went well...
It just takes me longer; that's all... :thumbup: