• There were many reasons for the change of the site software, the biggest was security. The age of the old software also meant no server updates for certain programs. There are many benefits to the new software, one of the biggest is the mobile functionality. Ill fix up some stuff in the coming days, we'll also try to get some of the old addons back or the data imported back into the site like the garage. To create a thread or to reply with a post is basically the same as it was in the prior software. The default style of the site is light colored, but i temporarily added a darker colored style, to change you can find a link at the bottom of the site.

Bumpshid

Before getting a bumpskid, make sure you have your front suspension sorted out to resolve the weak oem springs on the front suspension. Depending on what you weigh/or you ride 2 up, you can easily overwhelm the front suspension and easily bottom out. When you bottom out, the underside of the front gets dangerously close to the ground and depending on the road surface, your front end can scrape on the ground. If you mount a bumpskid without addressing the weak front suspension [springs], you are adding additional thickness on the underside and scrape much easier now.

They look great on the bike and the led version adds extra safety. They also give some extra frontal impact protection... but they don't do anything to protect the bottom if you have not addressed the front suspension problems.

Jerry
 
Bumpskid

Now you all are frightening me; have bottomed a few times on rough roads, but so far have managed to avoid road debris. With pulling a trailer this is going to get much more difficult to do. Will have to seriously consider this update.:yikes::yikes::yikes:

Al in Kalamazoo
 
Forgetting the lights for a minute, does the stock plate not protect the vital components the same? I know the bumpskid protects a larger area but I would have though the factory plate would protect the engine or critical components of the road hazards as mentioned? Even if its thinner would it not still hold up and protect?

No. When I got my GS OEM bumpskid replaced, some bits were missing. SpyderPops bumpskid is thicker, more robust and covers more areas fore and aft. My F3 had one installed before it got home.

Poor GS's first bumpskid...

attachment.php
 
The Ppyderpops bump skid was my second farkle after the KOTTS Grilles on my Spyder. As others have said it's inexpensive insurance. In my case the angle of the road to my driveway, which I have to take at an angle both coming and going, dictated the bump skid and parking lot speed bumps have put a few marks on it.
 
I have the Stealth unlighted Bumpskid. (I don't want my wife to find me:D) I would have purchased the lighted one if it were available when I bought mine.

On the other hand the less extra electrical pieces you splice into your electrical system the less problems you will have. I do like all the extra lighting

people put on but seldom ever ride at night and don't need any more electrical problems than necessary. Seems like those who have gone overboard

with the lighting have the most problems. Not saying having a lighted bumpskid is going overboard.

Jack
 
Good Mods BUT

I'm not saying that a bump skid is not a good idea, but I will likely be the only "dissenting vote" here. Everybody that has one seems to like it. What I did, for about the same money or perhaps a little less, was install BajaRon's shock adjusters to lift my front end and give me a better ride; and a set of TricLED's high density daytime running lights for the forward visibility. I really like them both. :thumbup:

Those are are really good mods, but the primary reason to purchase a Bumpskid is bike front end protection. Let's just hope good size raccoon or other critter doesn't run in front of you because the nose of your Spyder will be toast. I've seen it happen with and without a Bumpskid and it's not pretty. Everything below the frunk lid collapses if you don't have the Bumpskid. The lights are cool, and the Bumpskid looks good but the real reason is for protection of your investment.
 
No It Doesn't

Forgetting the lights for a minute, does the stock plate not protect the vital components the same? I know the bumpskid protects a larger area but I would have though the factory plate would protect the engine or critical components of the road hazards as mentioned? Even if its thinner would it not still hold up and protect?

its not just thin, it's also very weak. When I removed my stock plate on my ST, there was a hole in it the size of a softball and I know for a fact, it had never had more than a slight nose rub coming out of my driveway. BTW, the 2015 F3 has NO stock belly plate leaving the bottom of the bucket completely exposed if you don't install a Bumpskid.
 
Lighted -- It gets quite a few comments, which means that people are seeing it.

And that's a very, very good thing.

-Fratz
 
I'made with you...

I have the Stealth unlighted Bumpskid. (I don't want my wife to find me:D) I would have purchased the lighted one if it were available when I bought mine.

On the other hand the less extra electrical pieces you splice into your electrical system the less problems you will have. I do like all the extra lighting

people put on but seldom ever ride at night and don't need any more electrical problems than necessary. Seems like those who have gone overboard

with the lighting have the most problems. Not saying having a lighted bumpskid is going overboard.

Jack


:agree: what helped me also was the shock relocations and the podium Fox shocks. Lifted the front end but still have scrape marks on the bumpskid as well..:banghead:
 
No. When I got my GS OEM bumpskid replaced, some bits were missing. SpyderPops bumpskid is thicker, more robust and covers more areas fore and aft. My F3 had one installed before it got home.

Poor GS's first bumpskid...

attachment.php

Excellent post with pic so all can see what happens to the bottom of a skid plate when you do not fix the front suspension. You might think a thicker plate (without fixing the suspension) is going to be better... maybe, but for sure it will bottom out more often because it is thicker, so it will have as many scratches (just deeper).

Jerry
 
Excellent post with pic so all can see what happens to the bottom of a skid plate when you do not fix the front suspension. You might think a thicker plate (without fixing the suspension) is going to be better... maybe, but for sure it will bottom out more often because it is thicker, so it will have as many scratches (just deeper).

Jerry
What can be done to fix the front suspension? I have a 2014 STL - I believe that comes with Fox shocks. Can they be adjusted?

I could really use the extra height as well. I have a bumpskid and do scrape periodically, especially on gravel / dirt roads.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
 
Excellent post with pic so all can see what happens to the bottom of a skid plate when you do not fix the front suspension. You might think a thicker plate (without fixing the suspension) is going to be better... maybe, but for sure it will bottom out more often because it is thicker, so it will have as many scratches (just deeper).

Jerry

The purpose of the bumpskid is not to prevent scrapes, but to minimize the damage they cause to the rest of the machine. Think of it as a "re-entry shield" on a space capsule, designed to burn away in order to protect the capsule - or, in this case, designed to absorb the scrapes and protect your Spyder.
 
What can be done to fix the front suspension? I have a 2014 STL - I believe that comes with Fox shocks. Can they be adjusted?
If they have some preload adjustment available for the preload; try stiffening things up a bit... :thumbup:
Take some measurements first... add some preload, and then measure it again.
I added BajaRon's adjustable preload pieces to my RT's OEM shocks. Two turns, and I gained .25"
 
If they have some preload adjustment available for the preload; try stiffening things up a bit... [emoji106]
Take some measurements first... add some preload, and then measure it again.
I added BajaRon's adjustable preload pieces to my RT's OEM shocks. Two turns, and I gained .25"
I see - I will look into that. That would help out a lot -even an extra .25" would definitely go a long way.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk
 
I had one on my 2011 RT and loved it. I now have a 2015 and based on the recommendation of my Spyder mechanic, I am forgoing it on this bike. He has told me that the 14/15/16 are quite a bit lower than the earlier models and the bump skid will make it low enough that it will bottom out on the smallest speed bump etc.. It is better to scrape the bottom plastic a bit and maybe get a scratch than having the undercarriage take a big hit from a speed bump at speed!

Just me thinking and its just my opinion.
 
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