Firefly
Active member
While I appreciate we all have our opinions, and the more the merrier, the *one* opinion I can't quite understand is the push by some to have the Nanny removed, "defeatable VSS", control over the electronics, etc.
I can count on one hand the number of times where I tripped the Nanny and I felt like it was unfair. Actually, I don't even think I can count those times-- I don't recall there being any, but surely there was one or another.
Again, once you upgrade your shocks, anti-sway bar, pump up your tires, you've expanded your envelope tremendously. I've also found that having a different seating position on the RS (with risers and floorboards) also allowed me to better posture myself in corners than the "sportbike" slope that comes with the stock RS.
Add all those changes and a few years of Spyder riding experience on crazy twisties at extra-legal speeds, and I *never* find the Nanny intrusive. It simply does not come on for me, unless I screw up. If I'm in a corner hot enough to trip the Nanny, I *need* the Nanny.
Honestly, the only time I recall the Nanny going nutzo on me was, wonderfully enough, was riding two-up down in Maggie Valley, especially on the Dragon. But hey, *I was on the Dragon*, and I was *two-up*, neither exactly normal operating conditions. And, again, every time the Nanny kicked in, it was because I needed it.
And, once it was predictable of *when* the Nanny would kick in, I just used it to my advantage-- you can do this, you know. I timed my corners better, and even used the Nanny like a "bumper" in some corners (i.e., once I knew when and where the traction control would kick in, I actually went out of my way to trip the Nanny in certain corners, knowing that I could ride it flat-out but the Nanny would help me steer around certain points).
Maybe I'm wrong in my impression, but I admit, I *do have* this impression: people who want the Nanny gone are mistaken in thinking that a Spyder without electronics will handle like a two-wheel motorcycle (hint: it won't-- it'll handle like a 700+ lb death-machine trike), or just aren't embracing the many, MANY ways there are to avoid being limited in any way by the electronics (mods, riding style, etc.).
Or, maybe, they just want to do burnouts. :dontknow: Oh well, sorry, you don't get to do burnouts on your $18,000++ bikes.
P.S. This may all be completely moot on the RS, BTW-- if the VSS was modified on the 2014 RS in a way that relaxes its stock intrusiveness, there may not be any issues at all, *especially* if/when/once you modify an RS with better shocks, sway bar, etc. I, for one, look forward to riding the 2014 model to see if the handling is improved in that regard.
I generally think the nanny works pretty well and can actually 'teach' you how to ride better.... BUT.... it ticks me off turning out of a driveway going like 10-15 mph and you hammer it and there is hesitation.... I'd love for the nanny to not be so sensitive until like 40 mph.. adjustable like they've done with some of the off-road vehicles. It's just a bit embarrassing to not be able to drop some rubber when turning a slow corner.....;-)
