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2 wheel GL1800 Goldwing vs Spyder fun factor question?

All I got to say is who cares which is faster.Man you must have a death wish or late for your judgement day meeting. My only hope is you don't take a innocent person or worse a whole family with you when you go. I think you belong in a circus act or somewhere where you are away from other people who care about life. Just my two cents!!!
I never asked which one was faster, only how they compared. It was only when arntufun said the :spyder2: was faster did I post the video showing what a wing could do. I did not think that the he fully understood the capabilities of the wing particularly when he equated it to Harleys. What in the second video (where you can see me riding) did you see that would prompt you to say such unkind things? If I wanted to ride something around to sniff the flowers, I would ride a bicycle.
 
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My wife and I are coming off a VFR800 that we had set up for touring. I have 25 years of 2 wheel experience and when riding solo, I use all of the tire - there are no "chicken strips". We recently bought a 2013 RT-S and have about 2500 miles on it right now. Here is my unbiased opinions of the two.

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.

Now the fun factor is a completely different issue. I find the Spyder to be way more fun than the bike. It is slower, but more exhilarating. Especially when you get it to rail through the turns. Like everyone has said, it took me about 1500 miles to get it down, but once I figured out how to ride it, my enjoyment level went way up.

With that said, we also bought the Spyder to get off 2 wheels for the added safety and passenger comfort. My wife loves the Spyder and will not go back. I have learned that life is a balance and for us, the Spyder is a great balance. You can't compare it to a bike, you have to evaluate it for what it is and decide whether it is right for you.
 
If I was a betting man, I'm betting this guy doesn't even own a motorcycle.
I come here to get an idea whether or not a :spyder2: is something I would be interested in replacing my wing with, and my honesty is questioned? What kind of proof do you want? or is it you just want to be a troll? You can go to gl1800riders.com and check on me if you want. It is a board for wing riders that has the same sponsor as this board. My screen name is the same
 
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My wife and I are coming off a VFR800 that we had set up for touring. I have 25 years of 2 wheel experience and when riding solo, I use all of the tire - there are no "chicken strips". We recently bought a 2013 RT-S and have about 2500 miles on it right now. Here is my unbiased opinions of the two.

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.

Now the fun factor is a completely different issue. I find the Spyder to be way more fun than the bike. It is slower, but more exhilarating. Especially when you get it to rail through the turns. Like everyone has said, it took me about 1500 miles to get it down, but once I figured out how to ride it, my enjoyment level went way up.

With that said, we also bought the Spyder to get off 2 wheels for the added safety and passenger comfort. My wife loves the Spyder and will not go back. I have learned that life is a balance and for us, the Spyder is a great balance. You can't compare it to a bike, you have to evaluate it for what it is and decide whether it is right for you.
Thank you very much. :thumbup: This is just the type of comparison I was looking for. I am willing to give up speed for fun and additional stability. How big of a difference do you see when two up. My wife is an excellent passenger on the wing, and is a great help in the curves.
 
I'm just a rooky, bought my 2013 RS-S last may, so for what its worth..... After looking at your video I believe I can keep up with you through the corners. Never rode a RT though so don't know about those.
 
I am not impressed with either the speed or the skills of the driver. Some people should stay in their cages. This is one. Sell that GW. Do not buy a Spyder. Please take a driving class-- for your cage.
 
wife can drive the spider

One thing that we really enjoy on a real long trip is that my wife( who wanted and bought our first spyder )
can drive just as well as I can ( well almost ) all kidding aside she is a real good and safe driver and it is really nice to be able to trade off driving and take turns enjoying the view. I have only test ridden a gold wing that was brand new off the showroom floor the dealer didn't have a demo and it was quite nice but i would never trade my spyder for a two wheel it is just too much fun and really really safe to ryde.
 
Not safe

This guy said he ignores the double yellow stipes in a roadway, that if he can see 1/4 mile he knows he is safe.

So, I calculated it.
stopping distance for a GW, given the guy and wife weigh 500 pounds is about 200 feet. Reaction time is no less than 1.8 seconds. Assuming he is going 50 MPH, and an as yet undetected oncomming car is going 50 MPH: He has less than 19 seconds to go that 1/4 mile. He is traveling 4,400 feet per minute, as is the on comming car. He has 18 seconds to travel that 1/4 mile. His stopping distance is 200 feet, his reaction time is 150 feet. So, he has 4,050 feet to react to a stationary object, and only 1,850 feet to react to the oncomming car. At the rate the two vehicles are approaching each other, if the other vehicle enters his field of view after only 6 seconds, then he WILL crash. He will not have enough time to react and stop if the other vehicle enters his view later than 6 seconds after he starts his pasding manuver. If the other driver does not see him at the same exact second that he sees the other car, the available time to react is cut in half. In this case, he will probably die.

This guy should refrain from driving any sort of bike, or trike. He probably shouldn't drive a car either. He really should stick to mass transit.
 
Thank you very much. :thumbup: This is just the type of comparison I was looking for. I am willing to give up speed for fun and additional stability. How big of a difference do you see when two up. My wife is an excellent passenger on the wing, and is a great help in the curves.

When riding 2-up on the Spyder, my speeds are definitely reduced. On the bike, my wife was never a good passenger as she was scared to death with the leaning into the curves - which is the biggest reason why we moved to the Spyder. With the Spyder, she doesn't have to do anything other than enjoy the ride and she now loves riding. It has elevated her interest in touring two fold. She now has no worries or concerns where on the motorcycle, she was always a little hesitant and apprehensive.

Like I said, the Spyder is not a bike so you can't compare performance. It is it's own animal. You can push the RT, but to do it, you need to learn how to ride it and once you've done that, the fun factor is definitely there. On top of that, the Spyder is so much more safer than a bike in regards to stability and visibility. We bought the Spyder because I went with what my wife felt more comfortable with. We were also looking at a Gold Wing and the GW is what I wanted, but now that I have put some real miles in on the Spyder, I am a convert and would not go back to 2 wheels. Like others have suggested, you need to ride one and put some good miles in and see what your wife thinks of it too. Good luck with your decision.
 
This guy said he ignores the double yellow stipes in a roadway, that if he can see 1/4 mile he knows he is safe.

So, I calculated it.
stopping distance for a GW, given the guy and wife weigh 500 pounds is about 200 feet. Reaction time is no less than 1.8 seconds. Assuming he is going 50 MPH, and an as yet undetected oncomming car is going 50 MPH: He has less than 19 seconds to go that 1/4 mile. He is traveling 4,400 feet per minute, as is the on comming car. He has 18 seconds to travel that 1/4 mile. His stopping distance is 200 feet, his reaction time is 150 feet. So, he has 4,050 feet to react to a stationary object, and only 1,850 feet to react to the oncomming car. At the rate the two vehicles are approaching each other, if the other vehicle enters his field of view after only 6 seconds, then he WILL crash. He will not have enough time to react and stop if the other vehicle enters his view later than 6 seconds after he starts his pasding manuver. If the other driver does not see him at the same exact second that he sees the other car, the available time to react is cut in half. In this case, he will probably die.

This guy should refrain from driving any sort of bike, or trike. He probably shouldn't drive a car either. He really should stick to mass transit.
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.
 
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When riding 2-up on the Spyder, my speeds are definitely reduced. On the bike, my wife was never a good passenger as she was scared to death with the leaning into the curves - which is the biggest reason why we moved to the Spyder. With the Spyder, she doesn't have to do anything other than enjoy the ride and she now loves riding. It has elevated her interest in touring two fold. She now has no worries or concerns where on the motorcycle, she was always a little hesitant and apprehensive.

Like I said, the Spyder is not a bike so you can't compare performance. It is it's own animal. You can push the RT, but to do it, you need to learn how to ride it and once you've done that, the fun factor is definitely there. On top of that, the Spyder is so much more safer than a bike in regards to stability and visibility. We bought the Spyder because I went with what my wife felt more comfortable with. We were also looking at a Gold Wing and the GW is what I wanted, but now that I have put some real miles in on the Spyder, I am a convert and would not go back to 2 wheels. Like others have suggested, you need to ride one and put some good miles in and see what your wife thinks of it too. Good luck with your decision.

Thanks again. Your responses have been helpful to me to see that a spyder may be a reasonable, though different alternative. The main reason we ride is to be together is to be together and have fun.
 
The you will Love it

With that reason in mind you will love the Spyder. It gets you out in the wind, it gets you together, and the changes of your having the unintentional get off will be rare. I think you need to understand that the people on this board are about enjoying the ryde and having fun while maintaining safe ryding habits. It was unfortunate that you posted the video that you did. The actions of the rider in that video were in direct opposition to how the people on this board feel that we want to conduct themselves on the road. I am sure that you can post many videos of you and you Wing buddies havin some good "Clean" fun. With your riding skills, I am sure you will master the Spyder in no time, and you and the wife will be out in the wind together, having a blast.
 
One thing that we really enjoy on a real long trip is that my wife( who wanted and bought our first spyder )
can drive just as well as I can ( well almost ) all kidding aside she is a real good and safe driver and it is really nice to be able to trade off driving and take turns enjoying the view. I have only test ridden a gold wing that was brand new off the showroom floor the dealer didn't have a demo and it was quite nice but i would never trade my spyder for a two wheel it is just too much fun and really really safe to ryde.
This is definitely one of the things we like about the :ani29:. My wife has both knees replaced and cannot hold up a 2 wheel.
 
Same Here

One thing that we really enjoy on a real long trip is that my wife( who wanted and bought our first spyder )
can drive just as well as I can ( well almost ) all kidding aside she is a real good and safe driver and it is really nice to be able to trade off driving and take turns enjoying the view. I have only test ridden a gold wing that was brand new off the showroom floor the dealer didn't have a demo and it was quite nice but i would never trade my spyder for a two wheel it is just too much fun and really really safe to ryde.
When we bought the Spyder, I told my girlfriend that we weren't buying it unless she was going to drive at least 50% of the time. And that's exactly what we do. I really enjoy the ryde on the back, my biggest problem is that I relax too much and start falling asleep.
 
With that reason in mind you will love the Spyder. It gets you out in the wind, it gets you together, and the changes of your having the unintentional get off will be rare. I think you need to understand that the people on this board are about enjoying the ryde and having fun while maintaining safe ryding habits. It was unfortunate that you posted the video that you did. The actions of the rider in that video were in direct opposition to how the people on this board feel that we want to conduct themselves on the road. I am sure that you can post many videos of you and you Wing buddies havin some good "Clean" fun. With your riding skills, I am sure you will master the Spyder in no time, and you and the wife will be out in the wind together, having a blast.
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.
 
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