2 wheel GL1800 Goldwing vs Spyder fun factor question?

[Dan_Ashley]

Thanks for the response. I posted the video to show maximum performance in the hands of a very skilled rider. I know that road well and the pass on that curve is not as bad as it seems. In addition, the bike in front probably is radioing back reports of traffic so even if the curve was totally blind, the rider knows what is coming up. I understand that it is on the edge, and but no where near as bad as people are making it out to be.

please never ride a bike...riders like you give us all a bad name and cause fatalities.

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for the response. I posted the video to show maximum performance in the hands of a very skilled rider. I know that road well and the pass on that curve is not as bad as it seems. In addition, the bike in front probably is radioing back reports of traffic so even if the curve was totally blind, the rider knows what is coming up. I understand that it is on the edge, and but no where near as bad as people are making it out to be.

Actually; he's NOT very skilled... he's hanging it out over the double-yellow because he's overcooked the turn, and is busy trying to save his butt :yikes:...
I don't know what type of rider you are; I'd still like to meet you!:thumbup:

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Sorry this post has turned so negative, normally Spyder owners are pretty open minded. The video just pushed the wrong buttons as Pirate stated.

One up the stock RT will lean to the outside of the turn and feel unstable even if it is just fine. Remember this if you rent one. Adding the Baja Ron anti-sway bar works wonders at correcting this. Two up the lean returns just a little but is still OK. Additional upgrades like Elka shocks and shock re-locators just keep improving the sure footedness.

The Spyder does not push your butt into the seat in turns like a leaning two wheeler does. The flat turn tends to want to slide you off the seat and you need to use your legs to hold on. This is most noticeable to the passenger.

One thing to consider is the width of the Spyder. The Spyder takes up most of the lane width leaving little room to straighten out the corners without going over the center line. This alone cuts the speed down some. This also adds a little time when passing because you have to move over further and turn in a little later.

The Spyder is a very fun and relaxing ride in its own right. Compare it to other flat turning machines and it will blow them away but IMO the RT would not keep up with a GW riding this aggressively. The GS/RS would but not the RT.

 

[FaranH]

The motorcycle will out perform the Spyder in every category. The Spyder can hang in the higher speed turns, but will get eaten alive in the slower turns. The nanny is just plain horrible and kicks in all the time. I do have enough miles now where I've learned how to ride around it as best as I can, but I can still get it to kick in at will and it shuts you down. I do have the BajaRon sway bar installed which has helped tremendously, but I am still running the stock suspension.

I'm going to offer a different opinion as I disagree that a motorcycle outperforms in every category. I ride with guys on Harleys and Victories primarily in the twisty Ozarks. I'm the one slowing down for them on curves - any curve. If a rider has problems on slower turns, then it may be riding style or lack or downshifting or something else. (Unless I'm with sportbikers in which case I get out of their way!)

Same on downhill curves. Someone else posted that they thought the Spyder got a little squirrelly in downhill curves. For sure, Bajaron's sway bar and Pitbull's shock relocators for the pre-2013 models helped a bunch, but I've had no problem maintaining whatever speed/safety I wanted. The nanny can get annoying at times, but has never been a significant interference to my riding style. In fact, I tend to use her as my brakes on occasion.:doorag:

I'm also on an RSS as a solo rider so factor that into my observations, but I wanted to chime in as I thought it was still relevant. Best of luck in your searching and decision making! :thumbup:

p.s. your wife will LOVE it!

 

[ARtraveler]

I am thinking that the reason the video went South so fast is that last week or so, someone posted a video of another rider on a sport bike doing the same kind of things. That video showed the "SPLATT" as he hit an oncoming motorcycle after botching a pass. That of course was the end of the riders story. The driver killed actually filmed his own demise.

 

[stewartj239]

I'm going to offer a different opinion as I disagree that a motorcycle outperforms in every category. I ride with guys on Harleys and Victories primarily in the twisty Ozarks. I'm the one slowing down for them on curves - any curve. If a rider has problems on slower turns, then it may be riding style or lack or downshifting or something else. (Unless I'm with sportbikers in which case I get out of their way!)

My statement is based on my own riding experience. The VFR800 is a sport touring bike with a very heavy slant to the sport side. When Honda sold this bike, it was in the same category as the Gold Wing, so I was trying to relate the VFR experience to the Gold Wing experience and as you can see from the video, you can scrape the pegs on a GW. I do love the Spyder, but the VFR would eat it up in every category, but again we are not comparing apples to apples.

 

[stewartj239]

The main reason we ride is to be together is to be together and have fun.

And that is the reason why I gave up the 2 wheels. My wife feels safer and is much more comfortable on the Spyder.

 

[bug's zedi]

I'm going to offer a different opinion as I disagree that a motorcycle outperforms in every category. I ride with guys on Harleys and Victories primarily in the twisty Ozarks. I'm the one slowing down for them on curves - any curve. If a rider has problems on slower turns, then it may be riding style or lack or downshifting or something else. (Unless I'm with sportbikers in which case I get out of their way!)

Same on downhill curves. Someone else posted that they thought the Spyder got a little squirrelly in downhill curves. For sure, Bajaron's sway bar and Pitbull's shock relocators for the pre-2013 models helped a bunch, but I've had no problem maintaining whatever speed/safety I wanted. The nanny can get annoying at times, but has never been a significant interference to my riding style. In fact, I tend to use her as my brakes on occasion.:doorag:

I'm also on an RSS as a solo rider so factor that into my observations, but I wanted to chime in as I thought it was still relevant. Best of luck in your searching and decision making! :thumbup:

p.s. your wife will LOVE it!

Thanks for the feedback I appreciate positive posts with good information.
However one thing to keep in mind is that comparing the capabilities of a wing with Harleys and Victorys is like comparing a Coupe Deville with a Lexus. They are built with two different people in mind, but each do what their owners expect and want out of their ride

 

[bug's zedi]

I would like to see a video, SHOWING THE SPEEDOMETER - of a Spyder taking curves anywhere near as fast as the Gold Wing in the video, road antics notwithstanding.
I mean, really. And a BMW/Concours/FJR1300 etc is much faster than a Wing. And lets never mind sport bikes.

Thanks for a good observation. My question has never been about what is faster, only how a wing and :f_spider:compare. I fully understand that their are many bikes out there that in the hands of equal riders are much faster. I only wanted to know if I would be giving any fun up moving to a spyder. Those kind enough to give me useful information, I sincerely thank, those who say, without knowing me that they would not ride with me are probably correct in that I do not ride with anyone who is not compatible with my style. Everyone needs to learn to ride their own ride and not get so uptight if others don't ride like they do. I apologize if my posted video offended your sensitivities, so please, if you have useful information to help me in my decision I look forward to reading it. If you just want to complain more about my choice of videos I get it and have apologized. What amazes me the most is that I posted a short video of me actually riding, yet everyone criticized my riding based on someone else, and ignored how I actually ride.

 

[bug's zedi]

Actually; he's NOT very skilled... he's hanging it out over the double-yellow because he's overcooked the turn, and is busy trying to save his butt :yikes:...
I don't know what type of rider you are; I'd still like to meet you!:thumbup:

same here, thanks would like to meet you though I may disagree with your analysis

 

[Oldmanzues]

same here, thanks

I feel you should stay/or get on a track. I do not care how fast you are going, but to ride very close to the outside line on a turn, over the yellow line in total, head and shoulders over the line is ????.
The people in the car you passed are remember that s**** motorycyle that passed over the line and scared them. Are they going to nice to the next rider they see, I doubt it.
But then, I am kind of new of new at this, 500,00 road miles and lots of track miles. Oh yeah, I have buried some riders that rode this way.
Ent of raant.
Oldmanzues

 

[HuckFin]

As far as a Goldwing being way faster than a Spyder in the corners.....Back in my autocross days when someone would brag how much better handling their car was over mine, I would challenge them to a autocross. (A safe and sane way to see how fast you can negotiate a series of corners), anyway I think it would be a fun event.....Say maybe at Spyderfest?

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I feel you should stay/or get on a track. I do not care how fast you are going, but to ride very close to the outside line on a turn, over the yellow line in total, head and shoulders over the line is ????.
The people in the car you passed are remember that s**** motorycyle that passed over the line and scared them. Are they going to nice to the next rider they see, I doubt it.
But then, I am kind of new of new at this, 500,00 road miles and lots of track miles. Oh yeah, I have buried some riders that rode this way.
Ent of raant.
Oldmanzues

it shows a true lack of skills and a true lack of respect for those who could teach those skills. It also shows a lack of understanding of both roadway and traffic engineering.

Some people shouldn't sing.. Some people shouldn't cook. Some people shouldn't ride motors. It can be hard for those with those limitations to admit it.

 

[cuznjohn]

riding

when i had my wing and BMW k bikes i would ride like that when i was with my friends who love to ride like that, they will hear about twisties and travel to them just to ride like it was the end. since i got my RT i have slowed down considerably and for the people that say they could do the same on a spyder all i can say is bless ya because i could never do it. when i ride now i let the friends go ahead of me and i tell them i will meet you there. i'm not saying i don't believe that some spyder riders can ride like that i am just saying that i can't.

 

[jthornton]

:agree: It is wise to ride within the capabilities of the bike and the skill level of the driver.

JT

 

[bug's zedi]

I feel you should stay/or get on a track. I do not care how fast you are going, but to ride very close to the outside line on a turn, over the yellow line in total, head and shoulders over the line is ????.
The people in the car you passed are remember that s**** motorycyle that passed over the line and scared them. Are they going to nice to the next rider they see, I doubt it.
But then, I am kind of new of new at this, 500,00 road miles and lots of track miles. Oh yeah, I have buried some riders that rode this way.
Ent of raant.
Oldmanzues

READ THE POST!!!!!!!!! THAT IS NOT ME BUT AS I CLEARLY STATED SOMEONE I HAVE RIDDEN WITH!!!!!!! I HOPE YOUR RIDING SKILLS ARE BETTER THAN YOUR READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS. end of my rant

 

[Dan_Ashley]

READ THE POST!!!!!!!!! THAT IS NOT ME BUT AS I CLEARLY STATED SOMEONE I HAVE RIDDEN WITH!!!!!!! I HOPE YOUR RIDING SKILLS ARE BETTER THAN YOUR READING COMPREHENSION SKILLS. end of my rant

Do you see the problems with that person's riding skills?
Did you cross into the opposing lane in attempts to keep up with the bike in front of you?
Did you fail to establish an outside-inside-outside line during cornering?
Did you brake after starting to negotiate a turn?
Do you know why doing those things can kill you?
Do you practice proper driving habits all the time?


Do you actually believe that the more experienced riders here do not know what your skills are? That is, that they are judging your riding companion's driving, and not judging your driving? (After all you filmed your skills for all to see.)

Really, do you believe these things?

 

[bug's zedi]

Do you see the problems with that person's riding skills? Skills, no Judgement, since I was not actually there I cannot say.
Did you cross into the opposing lane in attempts to keep up with the bike in front of you? I WAS NOT THERE
Did you fail to establish an outside-inside-outside line during cornering? I WAS NOT THERE
Did you brake after starting to negotiate a turn? I WAS NOT THERE
Do you know why doing those things can kill you? Yes when done improperly.
Do you practice proper driving habits all the time? As much as possible, but no one is 100%


Do you actually believe that the more experienced riders here do not know what your skills are? That is, that they are judging your riding companion's driving, and not judging your driving? (After all you filmed your skills for all to see.) I WAS NOT THERE.

Really, do you believe these things?

Do you believe that I was in that group riding? if so then your riding skills are definitely better than your reading comprehension skills otherwise you would crash before you got out of the driveway. I really wish I had been there because I know that I could ride my own ride and still have a great time with those riders.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Do you believe that I was in that group riding? if so then your riding skills are definitely better than your reading comprehension skills otherwise you would crash before you got out of the driveway. I really wish I had been there because I know that I could ride my own ride and still have a great time with those riders.

Then why did you post that as an example of the kind of riding you like to do?

 

[bug's zedi]

Thank you for not answering my question, but your analysis is incorrect. If the speed differential is 20 MPH 45 v 65, then the overtaking speed is 29fps. If you allow 58 feet or two seconds for the pass, which would not squeeze the typical car, then the total distance traveled at 65 MPH is just under 200 feet to complete the pass. that still leaves 1120 feet of clearance, or over 11 seconds of additional time. I do not know where you drive, but there are many actual passing zones in WV than are shorter than 1/4 mile Please see here for passing zone minimum recommended legths:http://www.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=13947&page=25 If you read it you will see that they range from as little as 400 ft to 1,000 ft. I understand that does not include the sight distance, but it shows that there are many states that recognize 400 feet as a safe distance for a car let alone a much quicker motorcycle to safely overtake another vehicle. this leaves 920 feet in the 1/4 mile. Even at a converging speed of 130 (2x65) it leaves 5 seconds of time for contingencies.

Then why did you post that as an example of the kind of riding you like to do?

I posted it because it became apparent from their responses that people on this board were not familiar with the capabilities of a wing. Regardless of what you think of the rider's style or actions, it does show what a wing is possible of. If you want to see me riding I posted a small portion of it in post#29.