adapting to the Spyder and initial setup

[pitzerwm]

Where in Eastern WA? I'm in the TriCities. I was lucky, my 2 wheeler experience was a LONG time ago. I haven't had the opportunity to ride here much either, but I am getting use to how it handles. I trust you know that in WA you need a 3 wheel endorsement, which is a written test and a driving test, both are now given by private parties. Cost for those $75 plus $35 to the state.

Have fun, I plan to.

 

[daveinva]

As one of the few weirdos here who went from a Spyder's three-wheels to a motorcycle's two, I feel especially qualified to confirm that counter-steering is indeed VERY real, and I have no idea how ANY motorcycle rider in history could have ever failed to notice they were counter-steering instead of direct-steering the bike. :shocked:

In contrast to the longtime two-wheelers coming to the Spyder, my Spyder experience made my first days on two wheels feel unnatural and weird for demanding that I COUNTER-steer, heh. But once I got used to the bike, I've found my Spyder experience makes me a better two-wheel rider in the sense that instead of just "thinking about turning and I magically turn," I always consciously and deliberately *know* that I'm counter-steering on the bike, and thus make turn transitions quite well.

For if I ever tried direct-steering a bike like the Spyder, I'd end up in a ditch, and we can't possibly have that. :lecturef_smilie: :joke:

 

[robmorg]

Read the "Do's and Do Nots" Thread

You have received some very good advice so far - all of it useful. One person mentioned the "Do's and Do Not's" thread early in the discussion here, and that bears repeating. Here's a link to it. TONS of helpful information there to shorten your learning curve and help you feel more comfortable sooner.

Enjoy you Spyder. If you're anything like most of us - myself included - you'll absolutely love it after a few hundred hundred miles.

 

[robmorg]

As one of the few weirdos here who went from a Spyder's three-wheels to a motorcycle's two, I feel especially qualified to confirm that counter-steering is indeed VERY real, and I have no idea how ANY motorcycle rider in history could have ever failed to notice they were counter-steering instead of direct-steering the bike. :shocked:

Dave,

You were "forced" to learn how to counter-steer quickly. But I can tell you that, as baffling as it seems, there are literally hundreds of motorcyclists out there who have no idea what counter-steering is. I've met a lot of them over the years. These are folks who have never taken an MSF course, of course. Yes, they are doing it, but they have no idea that they are doing it. Somehow, they just "learned to ride" and mostly they make the bike go where they want it to.

 

[lwrydr]

Spyder vs 2 wheeler

Congrats on becoming a spyder owner. It took me a few miles to get use to the :spyder2:. I still have a Harley which I ride once in a while (when I need a 2 wheel fix). The bigest problem I have it remembering the turn signals are on both ends of the bars not just on the left......and there is a front brake lever...

 

[Oldmanzues]

You seem to have read a lot of the good advice on here, which I agree with. I also believe in he parking lot things. Tennis balls cut in half (free at a lot of tennis clubs) make great markers. Pratice your curves and so on. If you make a mistake, the tennis balls are small enought they will not hurt anything. At the same time remeber all the good things you did/do. think about mistakes, but do not dwell on them.
I guess i was lucky, I got a demo ride of 30 miles or so and I had little trouble adapting to the the Spyder 08 GS. Been riding two since the last century, but then a lot of people can say that. Actually over 60 years on road, legally. A few more otherwise.
Most of all, have fun and be safe
Oldmanzues

 

[OverHillAndDale]

One tip I didn't see posted

One a car you can straddle road kill and pot holes by centering your car over them. On a 2-wheeler, you can choose which side to go on.

On the Spyder, you've got about 16" between the outside of the rear wheel and inside of your front wheels. Try to keep road hazards just to the inside of a front wheel if you can't get around it. If you center the bike (like I did over my first dead 'possum!) your rear wheel will take it straight on.

 

[desertryder]

road hazards

One a car you can straddle road kill and pot holes by centering your car over them. On a 2-wheeler, you can choose which side to go on.

On the Spyder, you've got about 16" between the outside of the rear wheel and inside of your front wheels. Try to keep road hazards just to the inside of a front wheel if you can't get around it. If you center the bike (like I did over my first dead 'possum!) your rear wheel will take it straight on.

That's something new to think about! Years ago I had a collision with my K75 BMW with a 40 pound creature at about 70 mph. With a combination of luck and experience I was fine, the bike suffered minor damage. I think with three wheels and a more stable platform wildlife encounters will still be a hazard, but maybe a little less life threatening. Another plus for the Spyder platform...

 

[daveinva]

Dave,

You were "forced" to learn how to counter-steer quickly. But I can tell you that, as baffling as it seems, there are literally hundreds of motorcyclists out there who have no idea what counter-steering is. I've met a lot of them over the years. These are folks who have never taken an MSF course, of course. Yes, they are doing it, but they have no idea that they are doing it. Somehow, they just "learned to ride" and mostly they make the bike go where they want it to.

Oh yeah, I've met some of those folks in my time. It's just that intellectually understanding something and being "forced" (as you say) to USE it aren't always one and the same. The Spyder teaches you not only that you must direct steer the Spyder, but that you CAN'T direct steer a motorcycle at speed.