After advice on used Spyders - F3-S vs F3-T

[delkhouri]

I sold my Ryker a few months ago with hopes to upgrade to a Spyder. I have a couple options in front of me, an F3-S and an F3-T, both from 2016.

The F3-S is an SE6 Triple Black, the F3-T is an SM6 and red. I much prefer the black color and honesty really kinda hate the red/silver color. I also live in Buckeye Country so every stoplight I come to someone is going to roll down their window and yell "O-H" ...... I do, however, prefer a manual transmission. I have ridden Spyders with the semi-automatic and they always felt a little clunky to me. I haven't ridden a two wheeled motorcycle with a manual in 20 years, so using a real clutch would be a learning curve.

Color and Transmission aside, the big thing will be the shocks and storage on them. I'd be fine getting Shad Saddlebags for the F3-S because they are bigger than the F3-T bags and you can just take them off, using them as luggage (I did this with my Ryker). I don't care about the radio/speakers as I stream through my helmet. But I do plan on riding 2-up sometimes, so the air suspension on the F3-T would be nice for added comfort. And I would love to take some trips on it.

By the time I added a rear shock and the Shad Saddlebags, the F3-S would still be a little cheaper and I am honestly leaning that way, but I just don't want to regret not getting a better Spyder with a transmission I prefer just because I don't like the color.

For reference, my biggest complaint and dislike of the Ryker was that I HATED the CV Transmission that was loud/buzzy and always at 7k+ rpm.

Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[Peter Aawen]

If you think the Semi-Automatic was clunky, the manual will likely be a bunch worse!! :lecturef_smilie: nojoke

That's simply because they are basically exactly the same gearbox, only the SE version has a sexy electro-solenoid activated hydraulic clutch teamed with much quicker/smoother computer shifts triggered by your finger/thumb on the flappy paddles; while the SM relies on you doing all the Rev matching, clutch controlling, moving clunky levers with your foot stuff, and there's absolutely NO WAY you can do all that 'better, quicker, & smoother' than all the electro-solenoids & computers etc working together to make it all happen smoothly, quickly, & seamlessly! There are some who might THINK they can do better than all of the computers etc acting in concert, but the only people they're really fooling are themselves! :roflblack: :banghead:

Now if you'd said you just preferred the more direct control the SM would allow, despite the increased clunkiness & slower shifting that manually operating the SM shifting would entail....

 

[blacklightning]

Sounds to me like the F3S fits more of your needs, except for the semi auto transmission that you dislike. My first spyder was a 2014 RT SM6 and I loved it. Right up until I picked up my first semi auto. Now I am a true convert and love it. Only you can decide what you like, but keep in mind that the semi auto transmission is approx. a $1500 dollar option. And off all the extras that you can add to your bike, the semi auto option is the only one that actually holds it's value. Typically you can look at a 8 year old bike, and the semi auto will be $1000-$1500 more than manual. But on the good side, since a manual transmission isn't an option (when purchasing new) people are tending to appreciate them more, and their values are going up. Only you can decide.

 

[Dasmoetorhead]

Black F3S for the Win!
You'll love the SE6. The Shad bags are great also.

 

[Pikester]

I sold my Ryker a few months ago with hopes to upgrade to a Spyder. I have a couple options in front of me, an F3-S and an F3-T, both from 2016.

The F3-S is an SE6 Triple Black, the F3-T is an SM6 and red. I much prefer the black color and honesty really kinda hate the red/silver color. I also live in Buckeye Country so every stoplight I come to someone is going to roll down their window and yell "O-H" ...... I do, however, prefer a manual transmission. I have ridden Spyders with the semi-automatic and they always felt a little clunky to me. I haven't ridden a two wheeled motorcycle with a manual in 20 years, so using a real clutch would be a learning curve.

Color and Transmission aside, the big thing will be the shocks and storage on them. I'd be fine getting Shad Saddlebags for the F3-S because they are bigger than the F3-T bags and you can just take them off, using them as luggage (I did this with my Ryker). I don't care about the radio/speakers as I stream through my helmet. But I do plan on riding 2-up sometimes, so the air suspension on the F3-T would be nice for added comfort. And I would love to take some trips on it.

By the time I added a rear shock and the Shad Saddlebags, the F3-S would still be a little cheaper and I am honestly leaning that way, but I just don't want to regret not getting a better Spyder with a transmission I prefer just because I don't like the color.

For reference, my biggest complaint and dislike of the Ryker was that I HATED the CV Transmission that was loud/buzzy and always at 7k+ rpm.

Thanks for the help and advice.

If the color is holding you back on the T, you can always get a custom wrap.