spacetiger
New member
I spent 6 hours today putting in last 3 mods to add to the 4 previous changes. I thought it was time to post the all changes and my impression on the change:
1. OEM Comfort seat: I'm only 5' 11" but the stock seat is too short, so the switch allows me to sit back almost 2". Padding is okay, cost is high (~$580), and it matches the backrest. The added comfort with increased leg reach (I have a 31" inseam) makes this a must do in my opinion. Passenger room is still adequate. Verdict: I would recommend this change if you tour.
2. OEM mirror in the back top case: Got it on sale (but still $57 delivered) because I needed a mirror to make sure the hair isn't too goofy at work. Mirror stows up zippered and has a small storage area above the mirror. The mirror is wide but narrow. I kept a small brush in the storage area only to have it fall out of the pouched area and land on the mirror. 4 hours of riding marred the mirror almost beyond use. I will have to buff the marks out. Verdict: there are better lower cost options.
3. OEM soft luggage: I got the side and front soft bags (front $89, side $52) for when I tour knowing they were sized for each respective cavity. I bit pricey but they fit, well made and much less than the semi-rigid option. Verdict: Not a lot of packing, but they fill the cavity completely so worth the cost and recommended if you tour.
4. Aftermarket handlebar center bracket for GPS via ram ball mounts: Why these are so pricey is beyond me. Its a simple bracket with 2 square ramball mounts, one on top and one on bottom. I can mount 2 items (GPS - Nuvi 255, iphone, or cup holder... I have other mounts for cameras, electronic pass, etc.) ~$100 for the bracket, bolts and 2 ramball mounts. I have not routed the GPS power cord, but still have used this many, many, many times. Verdict: must have, especially if you tour. Put a bag over the GPS unit if it rains.
-------- I did these mods below today ----------------------
5. OEM vented 25" windscreen: Surprisingly, it is same height but a little more narrow. Took 30 min to swap the windscreens. On sale for $260 so not too bad for the vented windscreen; it would have nice to get a tinted windscreen. Verdict: I think this is a nice upgrade but not mandatory.
6. Aftermarket drive belt tensioner: $266 from smoothspyder. A bit of a pain in the ass to put it on, the instructions did not deal with bike parts you had to take off; only with instructions on the tensioner itself. It probably took me 3.5 hours because I was going slow to not damage anything. I took it out for a spin after installation - almost all vibration at speed is gone. Verdict: I took a 4 hour trip without it riding at ~75 mph right in the vibration band... it was a dark mark on the design. This mod eliminates the vibration making this a must do if you tour. If you only ride 2hrs at a stretch you might be able to tolerate the vibration.
7. Aftermarket swaybar: $239 from Bajaron. Very good instructions, took ~2 hrs to put on - again going slow. Verdict: get one, the bike handles so much better.
I have a few other things to do before I start logging the miles to see how the design as modified holds up. The most important one is switching out the brake pads to semi-metallic. The OEM pads are awful, you have to really jam the pedal to get close to lock up. Even so, the rate of deceleration almost makes the bike a safety hazard in my opinion as there is enough HP to get you going, but not equivalent stopping potential. I have several other bikes, even my Aprilia SportCity 250 with semi-metallic pads stops better (and has better feel) than the Spyder!
Jerry
[edit: added pics]
1. OEM Comfort seat: I'm only 5' 11" but the stock seat is too short, so the switch allows me to sit back almost 2". Padding is okay, cost is high (~$580), and it matches the backrest. The added comfort with increased leg reach (I have a 31" inseam) makes this a must do in my opinion. Passenger room is still adequate. Verdict: I would recommend this change if you tour.
2. OEM mirror in the back top case: Got it on sale (but still $57 delivered) because I needed a mirror to make sure the hair isn't too goofy at work. Mirror stows up zippered and has a small storage area above the mirror. The mirror is wide but narrow. I kept a small brush in the storage area only to have it fall out of the pouched area and land on the mirror. 4 hours of riding marred the mirror almost beyond use. I will have to buff the marks out. Verdict: there are better lower cost options.
3. OEM soft luggage: I got the side and front soft bags (front $89, side $52) for when I tour knowing they were sized for each respective cavity. I bit pricey but they fit, well made and much less than the semi-rigid option. Verdict: Not a lot of packing, but they fill the cavity completely so worth the cost and recommended if you tour.
4. Aftermarket handlebar center bracket for GPS via ram ball mounts: Why these are so pricey is beyond me. Its a simple bracket with 2 square ramball mounts, one on top and one on bottom. I can mount 2 items (GPS - Nuvi 255, iphone, or cup holder... I have other mounts for cameras, electronic pass, etc.) ~$100 for the bracket, bolts and 2 ramball mounts. I have not routed the GPS power cord, but still have used this many, many, many times. Verdict: must have, especially if you tour. Put a bag over the GPS unit if it rains.
-------- I did these mods below today ----------------------
5. OEM vented 25" windscreen: Surprisingly, it is same height but a little more narrow. Took 30 min to swap the windscreens. On sale for $260 so not too bad for the vented windscreen; it would have nice to get a tinted windscreen. Verdict: I think this is a nice upgrade but not mandatory.
6. Aftermarket drive belt tensioner: $266 from smoothspyder. A bit of a pain in the ass to put it on, the instructions did not deal with bike parts you had to take off; only with instructions on the tensioner itself. It probably took me 3.5 hours because I was going slow to not damage anything. I took it out for a spin after installation - almost all vibration at speed is gone. Verdict: I took a 4 hour trip without it riding at ~75 mph right in the vibration band... it was a dark mark on the design. This mod eliminates the vibration making this a must do if you tour. If you only ride 2hrs at a stretch you might be able to tolerate the vibration.
7. Aftermarket swaybar: $239 from Bajaron. Very good instructions, took ~2 hrs to put on - again going slow. Verdict: get one, the bike handles so much better.
I have a few other things to do before I start logging the miles to see how the design as modified holds up. The most important one is switching out the brake pads to semi-metallic. The OEM pads are awful, you have to really jam the pedal to get close to lock up. Even so, the rate of deceleration almost makes the bike a safety hazard in my opinion as there is enough HP to get you going, but not equivalent stopping potential. I have several other bikes, even my Aprilia SportCity 250 with semi-metallic pads stops better (and has better feel) than the Spyder!
Jerry
[edit: added pics]
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on't put anything up there with it!
