1st ride

[Fabricater]

I took a 1st ride on a spyder.I am not sure what to think.I did not hate it,but it was not like I have to have this.If I pushed it in a turn I found I over steered some.when I relaxed and took my time I found I could get the suspension to set and roll through the turn much better.Out on the Interstate I run it up to 80mph then backed it down to 70 mph.It got up to speed well and cruised along good with a good ride.The quality of the ride I really liked.Very smooth,I would say it rides better than my glowing on the interstate .Wind protection seemed about the same as the goldwing,and I like the electric windshield .This was a 2011 with 9000 miles on it.The engine seemed to come alive around 4000 rpm and start pulling hard.The higher rpm was easy to get used to,the goldwing red lines just over 6000 rpm and cruises at lower rpm on the interstate.The spyder was in the zone at 6000rpm.I liked stopping without putting my feet down,and the ease of handling in the the gravel and grass.This would be a great benefit when pulling the camper.On the 2 lane twisty road I like the 2 wheels of the goldwing,not that the spyder is bad,I am just use to 2 wheels.

 

[ARtraveler]

You seem to have figured most of it out. The Spyder you tested likes high revs, has lots of power, and tracks nicely if you don't overcontrol it.

It takes about 500 miles or so for you to get over some of the differences between two wheels and the Spyder.

 

[Highwayman2013]

Took me a while to get the hang of the spyder with the higher rpms but once I did I can now switch back and forth pretty easily.

 

[cuznjohn]

takes time to get used to

 

[BikerDoc]

The Spyder felt funny to me at first after years of two wheels but more i rode the more comfortable I got and the more I wanted to ride. This year my goal is 30000 miles (at 12500 already). I could never do that in my wildest dreams on two wheels

 

[spydaman60]

agreed, 500 mile learning curve and you have about summed up the differences. :thumbup: i'd say about 90% of the people that first drive a spyder feel the same!

 

[Bob Denman]

My first two miles on my first one; I SWORE that I had just made the biggest mistake of my life... :shocked:
It takes some miles; but most folks find that it's worth it! :2thumbs:

 

[Fabricater]

I was just thinking ,it would be nice to have this thing for a weekend to put some miles on it,so I could get a real good feel for it.I would know for sure this is what I want to do.The steering is different than a trike also.The side to side movement at the seat that the rider feels is about the same as a trike.What to do? Hard for me to decide.

 

[Bob Denman]

Pull your knees in against the tank; it'll help keep you planted in the seat! :thumbup:

 

[Fabricater]

I guess I failed to mention the one I road was a 2011 RTS.They are asking Around 17500 for it.The owner traded it for a new 2014 and bought a trailer to match.They priced me a new 2013 limited ,that is a left over,but the price was to close to the 2014 for me to think about that.

 

[Fabricater]

Pull your knees in against the tank; it'll help keep you planted in the seat! :thumbup:

I did ok with it ,My wife said she noticed it a lot.Its been 10 years since she has been on a trike ,and she drove it most of the time,and one of my boys road behind her.

 

[Tanshanomi]

My first two miles on my first one; I SWORE that I had just made the biggest mistake of my life.

My wife traded in a V-Star 950 and said the exact same thing. By the time she arrived home from the dealer some 20 miles later she was convinced it was the best decision she ever made. And she's never looked back. Neither did I when I joined her on 3 wheels a year later.

 

[Bob Denman]

It's an :shocked:... Adjustment; for sure!
Had she test-ridden one first? I hadn't even SAT on one; before I strapped my helmet on, and pointed it toward home.

 

[jthornton]

I guess I failed to mention the one I road was a 2011 RTS.They are asking Around 17500 for it.The owner traded it for a new 2014 and bought a trailer to match.They priced me a new 2013 limited ,that is a left over,but the price was to close to the 2014 for me to think about that.

I have a GL1800 and ride my 2012 RT and the GoldWing. Ask if the RT has a BajaRon sway bar. If not you will feel too much body roll when double up. My wife did not like the ride till I swapped the OEM sway bar for the BajaRon sway bar. The difference is like night and day.

JT

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: BajaRon has some pretty neat stuff for these bikes! :2thumbs:

 

[Silvervette05]

It takes a little to get to know the spyder, did you watch the cd that came with the bike? That. Is a big help to learn the ins and outs of the spyder. Oh by the way welcome to the spyder world. I have had 2 Hondas, and
2 Harleys, I can say this nothing beats the spyder.. :thumbup:

 

[Fabricater]

It takes a little to get to know the spyder, did you watch the cd that came with the bike? That. Is a big help to learn the ins and outs of the spyder. Oh by the way welcome to the spyder world. I have had 2 Hondas, and
2 Harleys, I can say this nothing beats the spyder.. :thumbup:

I have not bought a spyder yet.This was just a test ride.It was way to short,for me to decide if this is what I want to do.

Has anyone had a flat tire at speed on a spyder?How did that go?I would think it would be better than having a flat with only 2 wheels.

 

[ARtraveler]

I have not bought a spyder yet.This was just a test ride.It was way to short,for me to decide if this is what I want to do.

Has anyone had a flat tire at speed on a spyder?How did that go?I would think it would be better than having a flat with only 2 wheels.

Happy to say that at almost 100,000 :spyder2: miles, no flat tires period. The good thing about :ani29:, with three wheels the bike is not going to go out from under. The nanny also kicks in to keep the :spyder2: under control.

 

[Chupaca]

Gotta say..!!

it's hard to let go.. And from the sounds of it your struggling but not giving up. You may want to try the 2014 may be less of a leap..!! :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

Happy to say that at almost 100,000 :spyder2: miles, no flat tires period. The good thing about :ani29:, with three wheels the bike is not going to go out from under. The nanny also kicks in to keep the :spyder2: under control.

:agree: Flat tires are never fun... but they're less of an ":yikes: moment"; on a Spyder! :thumbup: