Having A Tuff Time Deciding

[MikeT]

I currently am a GL1800 Hannigan trike rider. I've been keeping an eye on this forum for awhile. I even went so far as to:
1. Have my wife take a passenger demo ride with a sales manager on a '14 RTL while I was healing up from hand surgery, and
2. After I got "well" enough to ride, we both demoed the RTL.
My wife commented that I was not as "smooth" with operating the bike as the service manager was. The quickness of the steering caught me off-guard. This all took place toward the end of the riding season here in the mid-west, so no deal was struck for a number of reasons.
There are three "nagging" issues that keep cropping up:
1. "I miss the power of the GL1800" is a comment in many post by former 2 wheel GL1800 riders, and
2. The well documented issues with the lack of an integrated comm/radio/nav setup on the RTL
3. On-board storage.
As far as #1 goes, in our hour demo, I thought I had plenty of oomph. Maybe I was not riding in the most economical way????
#2 represents the potential deal breaker. I want nav and radio in my helmet, or speakers, and I want to talk with my passenger. I read nothing but bad about the BRP CB unit and it is an expensive option. Add an XM radio and the combo adds 10-15% to the cost of the RTL. People have all manner of solutions. Is there a more economical solution to this issue? I hate to loose the XM because I have a lifetime subscription on my GL1800.
3. I understand that the storage on a RT can be = or > than on a 2-wheeler. I'm not sure the same holds true on a trike to trike comparison.
I don't know how many Wing trike to RTL riders may be here. I put this out to see if I get some reply.
Thanks. Happy Holidays
Mike

 

[oldgoat]

I currently am a GL1800 Hannigan trike rider. I've been keeping an eye on this forum for awhile. I even went so far as to:
1. Have my wife take a passenger demo ride with a sales manager on a '14 RTL while I was healing up from hand surgery, and
2. After I got "well" enough to ride, we both demoed the RTL.
My wife commented that I was not as "smooth" with operating the bike as the service manager was. The quickness of the steering caught me off-guard. This all took place toward the end of the riding season here in the mid-west, so no deal was struck for a number of reasons.
There are three "nagging" issues that keep cropping up:
1. "I miss the power of the GL1800" is a comment in many post by former 2 wheel GL1800 riders, and
2. The well documented issues with the lack of an integrated comm/radio/nav setup on the RTL
3. On-board storage.
As far as #1 goes, in our hour demo, I thought I had plenty of oomph. Maybe I was not riding in the most economical way????
#2 represents the potential deal breaker. I want nav and radio in my helmet, or speakers, and I want to talk with my passenger. I read nothing but bad about the BRP CB unit and it is an expensive option. Add an XM radio and the combo adds 10-15% to the cost of the RTL. People have all manner of solutions. Is there a more economical solution to this issue? I hate to loose the XM because I have a lifetime subscription on my GL1800.
3. I understand that the storage on a RT can be = or > than on a 2-wheeler. I'm not sure the same holds true on a trike to trike comparison.
I don't know how many Wing trike to RTL riders may be here. I put this out to see if I get some reply.
Thanks. Happy Holidays
Mike

I recently saw a video where luggage was loaded onto a Spyder RT & a Goldwing trike. As I remember it they were equal in carrying capacity.

 

[Bob Denman]

XM radio; put a receiver in the top trunk, and patch it into the factory system... :thumbup:

 

[ARtraveler]

Unfortunately, we are comparing apples and oranges.

RE: Power: The new 1330 ACE is a big jump up from the Rotax version. There is enough power to get a ticket on either the GW or the :ani29:. I would have liked even bigger cc's, but that is currently not an option. I used to own a Vulcan 2000 cc (the biggest factory two cylinder) made.

RE: Radio: Can't help you there. I listen to mine, but not a lot. Communications--I use Sena helmet communicators for bike to bike.

RE: Technology. The :spyder2: is ahead of most, but now equal to a couple brands. I am thinking a (little) ahead of the GW.

Hard decision for you folks. Let us know what you end up deciding.

 

[Highwayman2013]

We also use the Sena headsets for bike to bike and stream music from our phones. Bluetooth seems to be the way to go. I have a friend that switched from a Goldwing trike, and he is having a hard time getting used to the handling. The RT is NOT a Goldwing, it is a different animal.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

COMPARISION

:agree:....with what has been already said , and this is not meant to demean you or the GW........But me & my 2014 RT will blow you and your GW Trike away in the twisties ....I guarantee it......I don't know about Drag Races , but how much of that do you do anyway.....................Merry Christmas from a 20 year GW owner ....Mike :thumbup:

 

[Deanna777]

I agree with mike( Blueknight911) that the 2014RTS-SE6 has got a lot of power to pass anything in sight.

Sorry I can not help you about the GW.

I bought a 2014RTS-SE6 at the end of July this year, I am having a fun with my :spyder2:. Deanna

 

[Chupaca]

Choices choices..!!

seems clear even to you..thing is when. It will grow on you and you will soon forget the wing...:thumbup:

 

[Orange Spyder Man]

I just sold my 2005 GoldWing & bought a 2014 Spyder limited... roll on power at 50MPH the GoldWing will blow a Spyder away & top speed is more also... as far as storage the GoldWing rear trunk will accommodate 2 full face helmets... no where on a Spyder can you store 2 full face helmets inside any Spyder storage together or separate.. Maintenance on a Spyder is much more complicated that maintenance on a GoldWing... (changing oil & oil filter .. replacing rear tire.. replacing spark plugs) .. and the with the BRP "built-in $300 first service" that you have to pay owning a Spyder will be more expensive than a GoldWing .. I was quoted for a regular oil & filter change runs $160.00.....these are the things I have found out in the short 2 months I have owned a Spyder..

this is my findings... others may vary..

osm

 

[BajaRon]

Unfortunately, we are comparing apples and oranges.

RE: Power: The new 1330 ACE is a big jump up from the Rotax version. There is enough power to get a ticket on either the GW or the :ani29:. I would have liked even bigger cc's, but that is currently not an option. I used to own a Vulcan 2000 cc (the biggest factory two cylinder) made.

RE: Radio: Can't help you there. I listen to mine, but not a lot. Communications--I use Sena helmet communicators for bike to bike.

RE: Technology. The :spyder2: is ahead of most, but now equal to a couple brands. I am thinking a (little) ahead of the GW.

Hard decision for you folks. Let us know what you end up deciding.

I think you mean the V-Twin Rotax engine as the 1330 Ace is also a Rotax product.

 

[ARtraveler]

I think you mean the V-Twin Rotax engine as the 1330 Ace is also a Rotax product.

Was pretty sure most people knew what I was speaking about. I should have differentiated between two cylinder/three cylinder and that would have sealed the deal.

 

[BajaRon]

I am Surprised...

That the Spyder was quicker than the Goldwing Trike in the 1/4 mile. I know the Wing is heavier and pays a price for running an automotive type axle for the drive train. But I assumed the Wing would be quicker in the 1/4 mile.

I'm wondering how a roll-on from say 45 would go. That is a more realistic test as most are not drag racing their trike.

 

[BajaRon]

Was pretty sure most people knew what I was speaking about. I should have differentiated between two cylinder/three cylinder and that would have sealed the deal.

Sorry, didn't mean to nit-pick...

 

[kep-up]

I went from 50 years of riding single track vehicles, the most recent being a ST1300, directly to a Spyder RS-S and that with the SE5 tranny. BIG CHANGE!! No, the RS ain't as quick; no it doesn't have as much wind protection, yes it's more comfortable, yes it's just as much fun, and I think that with a bit more suspension work I'll be able to give the knee draggers I used to ride with a good run for their money.

What caused me to make the decision to get the Spyder? Tossing the ST1300 down the side of a mountain in WV the end of Sept. My 4th serious wreck over all and the 2nd total loss in 6 years, all without serious injury to my person. I decided that, closing in on 70years, I should probably listen to what my guardian angel is trying to tell me.

My motto: RIDE FAST, RIDE SAFE

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

GW VS. RT SPYDER WITH 1330 ACE ENGINE

....It's simple physics, 97 %of what you do with any vehicle on just about any road is STEER AND OR TURN it ..........so two tires are better than one ........especially if you have to Panic stop...........Spyder has GW beat by a mile ............JMHO.......:thumbup:

 

[bmccaffrey]

Sounds like you have made your decision .

Follow your heart:thumbup:

 

[robmorg]

2. The well documented issues with the lack of an integrated comm/radio/nav setup on the RTL
2 represents the potential deal breaker. I want nav and radio in my helmet, or speakers, and I want to talk with my passenger. I read nothing but bad about the BRP CB unit and it is an expensive option. Add an XM radio and the combo adds 10-15% to the cost of the RTL. People have all manner of solutions. Is there a more economical solution to this issue? I hate to loose the XM because I have a lifetime subscription on my GL1800.
Mike

You've been given several opinions about the power, and I cannot speak to the GW trike comparison, but I CAN assure you that the Spyder has absolutely no communications/connectivity issues with Bluetooth. I believe the only problem is that the Spyder does not seem to be able to handle both XM radio and CB due to a cable conflict (I think).

You can add the entertainment package to the audio system, which will give you a Sena Bluetooth Dongle and I believe you can add the XM module to the same harness. (Somebody please correct me about XM if that's wrong - I don't have that on my Spyder.) From there, you just add any number of Sena Bluetooth headsets to your helmets and with that setup, BOTH the driver and the passenger have full capability of interfacing with, the radio, an iPod (with integrated controls), an MP3 player, XM radio, GPS Nav system, two cell phones, intercom, and bike-to-bike communication (if other bikes are using the Sena system). There is a little cost associated with giving you all that capability, but it should be about a grand, including two Bluetooth headsets - not 10-15% of the cost of an RTL. It all works flawlessly together. I can tell you from first hand experience that once you try bluetooth on a bike, you'll never want to go back to a wired system.

On my RTL, I have all the capability I just mentioned above except for the XM radio - I just didn't want that. I also didn't buy the BRP Bluetooth Dongle, opting instead for a Sena dongle with a homemade harness. But again, I could be mistaken, but I believe you could add the BRP XM receiver to the Bluetooth Dongle harness that BRP sells. That way you can control both the XM radio and an iPod with the built-in handle bar multi-function control.

 

[Dragonrider]

I've ridden GWs, Valkyries, and K12s for two decades, before buying my first spyder - now I have my third. I have also ridden all of those bikes in a trike conversion, and two of them as hacks.

1. The Spyder has as much storage as the best of them.
2. The Spyder is - by far - the safest of them. It is very difficult to raise a wheel on a Spyder.
3. The Spyder handles better anywhere off the freeway/turnpike - which I avoid like the plague.
4. The Spyder is the most comfortable of them all, for both driver & passenger.
5. I never use a full helmet, and don't feel the need to on a Spyder. The frunk holds two half helmets and more.
6. I only use my iPod for music - never use the radio, don't have or want communications or telephones ringing while I ride.
7. The Spyder has all the comparable bell & whistles that I want/need.
8. You can't touch any of those other bikes for the price of a new 2014 Spyder.

But, if coms, comfort, and helmets mean more, and you have all the money you need - perhaps the Spyder isn't for you.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

As far as the radio, XM, nav, and iPod the only restricition you face with the Spyder is you cannot have the factory CB and Bluetooth helmet communication. The most practical solution, if you want BT to the helmet is to use the Sena stuff including their handheld CB interface. The only downside to that is you have to use their add on PTT button for the CB. Contrary to Robmorg's thought, you can have XM and factory CB both.

With an all wired system you have to use the BRP CB because the intercom is integral to the CB radio. And yes, there have been a lot of issues reported with the BRP CBs. I have a 2010 era CB in my 2013 RT and the few times I've been with the 'wing group they've complained about poor quality transmission. I hear them quite OK. I haven't been with others enough to figure out what the problems are with my CB, if it is anything more than just needing to tweak the settings or not.

GPS units integrate into the Spyder audio much, much, better than on a wing. IPod integration is hands down much better on the Spyder. The single most aggravating difference I have encountered with the Spyder compared to the '05 GW I had, as far as audio, is the single set of buttons to control the audio is not quite as handy as the variety of buttons on the 'wing, and switching back and forth between headset and speakers is a PITA on the Spyder compared to the 'wing.

As far as power and speed I can't speak to the 2014 since I have a 2013 RT. But even on the 2013 the only time I miss the power of the Goldwing is passing semis at 65+ mph. I also can't speak to trike to trike comparison since my 'wing was 2 wheels, but I will say I feel a whole lot safer and comfortable at 80 mph on the Spyder than I ever did on the 'wing at 70+ mph.

 

[viperryder]

BRP CB System

I currently am a GL1800 Hannigan trike rider. I've been keeping an eye on this forum for awhile. I even went so far as to:
1. Have my wife take a passenger demo ride with a sales manager on a '14 RTL while I was healing up from hand surgery, and
2. After I got "well" enough to ride, we both demoed the RTL.
My wife commented that I was not as "smooth" with operating the bike as the service manager was. The quickness of the steering caught me off-guard. This all took place toward the end of the riding season here in the mid-west, so no deal was struck for a number of reasons.
There are three "nagging" issues that keep cropping up:
1. "I miss the power of the GL1800" is a comment in many post by former 2 wheel GL1800 riders, and
2. The well documented issues with the lack of an integrated comm/radio/nav setup on the RTL
3. On-board storage.
As far as #1 goes, in our hour demo, I thought I had plenty of oomph. Maybe I was not riding in the most economical way????
#2 represents the potential deal breaker. I want nav and radio in my helmet, or speakers, and I want to talk with my passenger. I read nothing but bad about the BRP CB unit and it is an expensive option. Add an XM radio and the combo adds 10-15% to the cost of the RTL. People have all manner of solutions. Is there a more economical solution to this issue? I hate to loose the XM because I have a lifetime subscription on my GL1800.
3. I understand that the storage on a RT can be = or > than on a 2-wheeler. I'm not sure the same holds true on a trike to trike comparison.
I don't know how many Wing trike to RTL riders may be here. I put this out to see if I get some reply.
Thanks. Happy Holidays
Mike

I came from 13 years a Gold Wing rider. Had a BRP CB installed so we could still ride with GW friends and we have no problem. Storage is no problem either. You will not go wrong with s RTS or RTL. We have a RT-S with CB. Good Luck:yes::yes: