About time Spring makes a slow arrival

[thunor]

Going to break the bike out of storage finally today. Early for most in Upstate but I don't mind cold as long as
white stuff isn't present. Ordered new tires finally for the front; VREDESTEIN QUATRAC 5 175/55R15. Previous stocks
have made it to 30k+ since 07/15 but started having cupping/wobbles last fall so time to go.

Wife wanted me to replace the seat...until I gave her price tags north of $700 so that upgrade will be skipped.
Wife also wants me to look at some decals/vinyl...figure the white color makes for a good backdrop to anything
so I am shopping again today. Any recommendations/tips? I know I won't be doing the install so probably a good
body shop or such. Familial tremors says it is not something I should try. Lol.

Next step is to see if the dealership that had replaced my rear tire(Altimax) will do the same for me on my fronts.
Hate the dealership but others would NOT do it with not motorcycle tires...
Will probably get them to do it...ride it for 100 miles to see if vibration/alignment is ok and then go to my preferred
dealership for oil change and laser(again) if needed.

 

[Chupaca]

Good to hear...

Glad things are clearing up some and the fair weather ryders are coming out of hibernation....:clap: hope it will be a steady climb back to ideal rydin weather for you all....:thumbup:

 

[PW2013STL]

Going to break the bike out of storage finally today. Early for most in Upstate but I don't mind cold as long as
white stuff isn't present. Ordered new tires finally for the front; VREDESTEIN QUATRAC 5 175/55R15. Previous stocks
have made it to 30k+ since 07/15 but started having cupping/wobbles last fall so time to go.

Wife wanted me to replace the seat...until I gave her price tags north of $700 so that upgrade will be skipped.
Wife also wants me to look at some decals/vinyl...figure the white color makes for a good backdrop to anything
so I am shopping again today. Any recommendations/tips? I know I won't be doing the install so probably a good
body shop or such. Familial tremors says it is not something I should try. Lol.

Next step is to see if the dealership that had replaced my rear tire(Altimax) will do the same for me on my fronts.
Hate the dealership but others would NOT do it with not motorcycle tires...
Will probably get them to do it...ride it for 100 miles to see if vibration/alignment is ok and then go to my preferred
dealership for oil change and laser(again) if needed.

Since the fronts are so easy to do you maybe able to find a car shop to do it. All they need to do is raise the front of the Spyder high enough to clear the tires and remove three lug nuts on each. The rims will fit almost every tire changer. I take my wheels and tires to Costco and they do the changing for $15 each.

 

[thunor]

Since the fronts are so easy to do you maybe able to find a car shop to do it. All they need to do is raise the front of the Spyder high
enough to clear the tires and remove three lug nuts on each. The rims will fit almost every tire changer. I take my wheels and tires to Costco and they do the changing
for $15 each.

I may just do that. First quote to do tires was $59/each...awaiting next one from place that I will probably get the oil changed anyways. If reasonable then I will
have it done in one place.

 

[ARtraveler]

:congrats: on the early breakout.

Still waiting here. :yes:

 

[thunor]

Lol...I enjoyed riding the Richardson Highway between Eielson AFB and Fairbanks back in 85/86. You probably have a little while yet to wait.

 

[ARtraveler]

Lol...I enjoyed riding the Richardson Highway between Eielson AFB and Fairbanks back in 85/86. You probably have a little while yet to wait.

Surprisingly, we have not had a harsh winter, compared to the lower 48. We are experiencing days in the 40's and nights in the low 30's. The melt is complete except for the side roads in the country...where I live.

Last year...first ride was April 13 when the snow left my driveway. I am looking at a couple more weeks...so it may be a March opening for me. I hope I am right. :yes:

 

[michrick]

Hey thunor Filers Powersports in Macedon, NY will do non BRP OEM tires for your Spyder they have done work on both my 16 RTL and wife’s 14 ST. They did a rear Yokohama S Drive on her bike. Fired mine up today but didn’t take them out roads are still pretty salty here in Syracuse. Good luck, safe riding

 

[ricford]

I bought Continental Procontact for the front about two weeks after I got the '14 RT. I've got about 40 K on them and still a lot of tread. My Altimax rear didn't fare so well. While standing behind one day when the sun was full on the rear wheel, I read the words 'replace tire' IN the tire. That was cool. However the Altimax got about 28K miles. I changed to a Kumho but now wish I had heard of the Vredestein tires. I would have tried them. But the Continental tires I bought at a tire shop, I learned, had not been balanced. It seems they don't have the right size 'spindle' so I rode a whole bunch of miles with unbalanced tires. Then went to my dealer. He charged $85 to balance the tires. They are now out of business. Otherwise, they were reasonable guys...So, bottom line here, if you buy from a tire shop make CERTAIN they can balance the spyder tires. Don't forget laser alignment. That's the best part.

As for the seat, buy it. Pay the money. Your butt and your back will thank you. However, if you don't go more than a couple hundred miles on a trip. You're OK with the old seat. Just sayin'

 

[thunor]

Hey thunor Filers Powersports in Macedon, NY will do non BRP OEM tires for your Spyder they have done work on both my 16 RTL and wife’s 14 ST. They did a rear Yokohama S Drive on her bike. Fired mine up today but didn’t take them out roads are still pretty salty here in Syracuse. Good luck, safe riding

Yeah, Filers had previously mounted my Altimax for me. They just quoted me $59/tire so I may just get a local car repair(have had excellent svc) mount the front ones for a lot less.
Will see what Bibbens in Weedsport comes back with for oil change comparison price.

Rode around yesterday quite a bit...lol, just cause I could. Back to cold again tomorrow I think...with white stuff. Hopefully end is soon.

Safe riding to you too.

 

[Deanna777]

I bought Continental Procontact for the front about two weeks after I got the '14 RT. I've got about 40 K on them and still a lot of tread. My Altimax rear didn't fare so well. While standing behind one day when the sun was full on the rear wheel, I read the words 'replace tire' IN the tire. That was cool. However the Altimax got about 28K miles. I changed to a Kumho but now wish I had heard of the Vredestein tires. I would have tried them. But the Continental tires I bought at a tire shop, I learned, had not been balanced. It seems they don't have the right size 'spindle' so I rode a whole bunch of miles with unbalanced tires. Then went to my dealer. He charged $85 to balance the tires. They are now out of business. Otherwise, they were reasonable guys...So, bottom line here, if you buy from a tire shop make CERTAIN they can balance the spyder tires. Don't forget laser alignment. That's the best part.

As for the seat, buy it. Pay the money. Your butt and your back will thank you. However, if you don't go more than a couple hundred miles on a trip. You're OK with the old seat. Just sayin'

I also are running the continental procontacts on the front and the General Altimax RT43 on the rear, and I have the same year of spyder as u do.
Mileage on the Continental Procontacts are 9,593, these tire were installed on 6/24/2016. I have not had any problems.

Miles on the General Altimax RT43 ( rear tire) is 16,576. I am going to replace the rear tire with an other General Altimax RT 43.
Total miles on the spyder is roughly 22,400 miles.

My spyder is still in hibernation, we still have snow here in Vermont. I am hoping to take the spyder out of hibernation in April.

**** We are having a Winter Storm Warning out from late tonight until Saturday, higher elevations 6-10 inches of snow. I also hope the Winter ends soon! ***

Deanna

 

[michrick]

Thunor Bibbens in Weedsport can do the alignment to I’m told. Ours are still resting all I’ve done was fire them up yesterday. Then I cleaned them up and covered them back up. Hopefully in a week or so we will let them loose. Safe riding Michrick

 

[starrider60]

Almost time for a long ride. Lately I've only done few meal runs. Plan to ride to a campout in Kentucky (about 500 miles) that will start my season. Usually get around 16,000 miles a year. Love the Spyder :doorag:

 

[kamper]

I also did the alaska run in the 80s and need to go back cause I was too young to really apreciate.
Suposed to be 60 here on Wednesday so off withe the covers check tires and go!!!!!!

 

[ricford]

I'm curious about the VREDESTEIN QUATRAC 5 175/55R15. How does it feel in turns? Does the tire completely fill the wheel well? My Continental Pro Contact 175/55R15 FILL the wheel well. I cannot run a finger between tire and fender. IRT balance, I bought the set at an auto dealership. Turns out they didn't balance the tires. They said their 'spindle' wasn't small enough to put the tires in the spin machine...I had it done at a local CanAm dealership before they just went out of business one day for $85 for the pair. So, a GOOD question to ask is, CAN you balance the tires. A Firestone dealership across town CAN.