Can't figure out which way the wheels should go?

[Capt. Bob]

I posted this originally on the Triketalk forum as I have been playing with a Harley Tri Glide Ultra but felt like I was only experiencing half the fun factor in the trike equation.
OK, I am blaming all of this nonsense on Trikermutha! Sorry but somebody has to be the fall guy

Here I started this crazy post on TriGlides vs. everyone else and an itch developed so bad that there was another kind of trike that would round out my beloved Tri Glide Ultra. Well, as I said earlier, it is all Tikermutha's fault and I don't even know his first name. Go figure. Brought home a slightly used 2015 Can-Am F3-S with a 6-speed manual transmission from a Central Florida dealer on June 30th during a blowout month-end factory sponsored sale. Had to ride about 130 miles out of 280 miles through some pretty heavy rain to get her home. The picture below is of us stopped at a Clermont hotel after a late afternoon purchase where they have the 500 foot tall Citrus Tower that was one of Florida's biggest attractions when it was built in the mid 1950's. The hotel was on a hill overlooking that famous but eclipsed tourist destination. The day before I bought the trike, I had taken a brief test ride on a RS-S and decided that strafing twisties at sport bike speeds was in my rear view mirror. However, I get a sense that this F3-S is going to provide a very nice balance to my TGU with a completely different powerplant and ride setup.

One thing I forgot to mention is how my common sense had left my body for a brief period. Here I had all of 20 minutes of riding time on the RS-S the day before pickup of the F3-S and two miles from the point where I was given a brief but thorough explanation of the controls and startup procedure, I was on the Florida Turnpike rolling at 70 mph behind my wife who wanted to get as far from Orlando as possible and all of its rush hour traffic. Soooo, no ride time on the F3 and away I go on the Interstate. Kind of reminds me of the handoff of my first bike at age 15.5 in Southern California where I was shown the controls and then rode off onto mean Southern Cal streets as a young teenager. I guess some things don't change some 50 years later.

Now, if I can only modify the "UFIT" Can-Am features to place the controls facing the rear tire and turn the seat around, it will be an easier transition to this modern trike and the wheels will all be in the right place like my Geezer Glide.:joke:

 

[trikermutha]

Welcome to the dark side! :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[Richardv]

Ya, ..... but...

View attachment 133300I posted this originally on the Triketalk forum as I have been playing with a Harley Tri Glide Ultra but felt like I was only experiencing half the fun factor in the trike equation.
OK, I am blaming all of this nonsense on Trikermutha! Sorry but somebody has to be the fall guy

Here I started this crazy post on TriGlides vs. everyone else and an itch developed so bad that there was another kind of trike that would round out my beloved Tri Glide Ultra. Well, as I said earlier, it is all Tikermutha's fault and I don't even know his first name. Go figure. Brought home a slightly used 2015 Can-Am F3-S with a 6-speed manual transmission from a Central Florida dealer on June 30th during a blowout month-end factory sponsored sale. Had to ride about 130 miles out of 280 miles through some pretty heavy rain to get her home. The picture below is of us stopped at a Clermont hotel after a late afternoon purchase where they have the 500 foot tall Citrus Tower that was one of Florida's biggest attractions when it was built in the mid 1950's. The hotel was on a hill overlooking that famous but eclipsed tourist destination. The day before I bought the trike, I had taken a brief test ride on a RS-S and decided that strafing twisties at sport bike speeds was in my rear view mirror. However, I get a sense that this F3-S is going to provide a very nice balance to my TGU with a completely different powerplant and ride setup.

One thing I forgot to mention is how my common sense had left my body for a brief period. Here I had all of 20 minutes of riding time on the RS-S the day before pickup of the F3-S and two miles from the point where I was given a brief but thorough explanation of the controls and startup procedure, I was on the Florida Turnpike rolling at 70 mph behind my wife who wanted to get as far from Orlando as possible and all of its rush hour traffic. Soooo, no ride time on the F3 and away I go on the Interstate. Kind of reminds me of the handoff of my first bike at age 15.5 in Southern California where I was shown the controls and then rode off onto mean Southern Cal streets as a young teenager. I guess some things don't change some 50 years later.

Now, if I can only modify the "UFIT" Can-Am features to place the controls facing the rear tire and turn the seat around, it will be an easier transition to this modern trike and the wheels will all be in the right place like my Geezer Glide.:joke:
View attachment 133299

.....but then, you would only have a forward speed...!!!!! ;-)

 

[PrairieSpyder]

:welcome: & :congrats:

 

[Chupaca]

Welcome. ..

It will all work out and you will find that special spot...may take a moment after ryding backward all that time....:roflblack:

 

[monkeyboymorton]

Your story reminds me of when i bought my F3. Had only done a 30 min test ride on an F3 a few months before and then bought one from Germany. So after flying over form the UK I then had a 500 mile ride back, a fair bit of which was on the other side of the road!! (we drive on the left).

I also had some torrential rain and snow to drive through. Like you, it was worth it to get a good deal though.

I presume you bought from Central Florida Powersports? Great guys there, bought some parts off them while on holiday there this summer. Brian in sales and Manny in parts both very nice.

 

[Tango]

:welcome::congrats:hyea:

 

[Capt. Bob]

Your story reminds me of when i bought my F3. Had only done a 30 min test ride on an F3 a few months before and then bought one from Germany. So after flying over form the UK I then had a 500 mile ride back, a fair bit of which was on the other side of the road!! (we drive on the left).

I also had some torrential rain and snow to drive through. Like you, it was worth it to get a good deal though.

I presume you bought from Central Florida Powersports? Great guys there, bought some parts off them while on holiday there this summer. Brian in sales and Manny in parts both very nice.

That's a funny similar story. I did purchase the F3 from Central Florida Powersports. What a great group of people. My wife commented that everyone seemed genuinely helpful and friendly. They have a very funny tradition that when you walk out of the F&I guy's office who is tasked with completing the paperwork, there is a bell that he asks you to ring. When you ring the bell, they then set off a siren and the whole staff pauses for a moment with clapping and cheers. A very funny tradition.

Wow, your story about having to negotiate riding on the completely opposite side of the road with as limited a time as I had sounds like an even wilder first owner ride than I had. It must have taken an enormous amount of concentration to operate the Spyder, be mindful of the road rules and also have to deal with other road conditions. Good job!!!

 

[monkeyboymorton]

LOL!!! I like the bell and applause!! Didn't get that but maybe a $300 parts purchase doesn't count?!! I'll have to have words with Manny next time we're in Orlando.

As you say they are really nice people. My wife commented on the service so it must be good as she's very picky having worked in retail. If we ever buy a house in Florida I would buy a spyder from them with some faith that I'd get good after sales.

The ride through Germany and Holland was interesting to say the least, but good fun. Trying to learn the bike, listen to sat nav directions in my ear and not get wiped out by the trucks was a challenge. But it's what life is all about after all. The snow when I came off the ferry in England was not so welcome!! I did have a leaning three wheel scooter previously (piaggio MP3) so I did already have some 'bike sense' and that helped.

Glad you got yours home safe - I know how bad those rain storms can get in Florida. Hope you enjoy it, loving mine.

If you're planning on any upgrades have a good read on here - fantastic resource full of really helpful people. I've already got the bug and done a fair bit to improve mine.

 

[DJFaninTN]

welcome to the dark side :thumbup:

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome: and :congrats: on your new F3. :yes:

 

[JayBros]

Although I've never owned a Tri Glide, or any other Harley, I think that once you've learned the ins and outs of your F3 you will find that trying the same things you can easily do with the F3, maybe with the VSS light flashing occasionally, on a Tri Glide would land you in a ditch or worse.

 

[Capt. Bob]

Although I've never owned a Tri Glide, or any other Harley, I think that once you've learned the ins and outs of your F3 you will find that trying the same things you can easily do with the F3, maybe with the VSS light flashing occasionally, on a Tri Glide would land you in a ditch or worse.

JayBros, I suspect you are very correct! That is why I think the Spyder was the other half of the trike experience/equation. I must tell you that I have gotten fairly proficient on my 2016 Tri Glide and on a 6k mile trip in early June out West, I was taking sweepers at 70+ mph and even tried staying at the posted speed limit of 80 mph on some very tame/long sweepers. I suppose that the F3-S wouldn't even have kicked in the VSS light but I have no experience in this area...yet!

Fortunately, I have owned almost 100 different bikes over 50 years and now two trikes and a bunch of them were high-performance sport bikes so I fundamentally understand what it means to be "riding on rails" around the tight stuff. OTOH, I am 15 years out of my sport bike days and realize that trying to relive those days would be short and either deadly or calamitous:yikes:

I call my TriGlide my Geezer Glide but I am not sure what I am going to call my F3? A buddy of mine suggested I change my handle from Capt. Bob to 2x3 Bob and it kind of intrigues me because I have decided that two wheeled motorcycles are in my past. Fortunately, I have hundreds of miles of undulating/twisty country roads near my home and think I will have a lot of fun getting to know the handling characteristics of the Can-Am. I just have to remember to NOT reach for the non-existent front brake lever. Old habits are very hard to brake (pun intended).

 

[trikermutha]

JayBros, I suspect you are very correct! That is why I think the Spyder was the other half of the trike experience/equation. I must tell you that I have gotten fairly proficient on my 2016 Tri Glide and on a 6k mile trip in early June out West, I was taking sweepers at 70+ mph and even tried staying at the posted speed limit of 80 mph on some very tame/long sweepers. I suppose that the F3-S wouldn't even have kicked in the VSS light but I have no experience in this area...yet!

Fortunately, I have owned almost 100 different bikes over 50 years and now two trikes and a bunch of them were high-performance sport bikes so I fundamentally understand what it means to be "riding on rails" around the tight stuff. OTOH, I am 15 years out of my sport bike days and realize that trying to relive those days would be short and either deadly or calamitous:yikes:

I call my TriGlide my Geezer Glide but I am not sure what I am going to call my F3? A buddy of mine suggested I change my handle from Capt. Bob to 2x3 Bob and it kind of intrigues me because I have decided that two wheeled motorcycles are in my past. Fortunately, I have hundreds of miles of undulating/twisty country roads near my home and think I will have a lot of fun getting to know the handling characteristics of the Can-Am. I just have to remember to NOT reach for the non-existent front brake lever. Old habits are very hard to brake (pun intended).

I will agree not having the clutch and the hand brake takes some time to deprogram yourself from grabbing for them. :shocked:

The Spyder has great braking power compared to the TRIGLIDE.

Anyway have fun.. :thumbup:

 

[Ron2andia]

:congrats::welcome:

 

[capt.jim]

Your smile looks bigger on the F3, enjoy.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree:
It's funny how two completely different bikes, can perform the exact same tasks... but in completely different ways!
And they both end up making you feel the same way! :welcome: :congrats:

 

[JayBros]

Bob, in retrospect it would have been great to have your years of experience, not to mention all those bikes, but after a few years of racing my family and career had to come first and by the time things were settled down and retirement was comfortable the old bones and the hip replacements dictated three wheels vice two. Absent the artificial hips I'd have at least returned to two wheels on a trial basis but don't regret for a minute choosing the Spyder way of life.

 

[Capt. Bob]

Wow, Wow and more Wow! I just got back from my first spirited ride around some canopy roads and undulating hills out in the countryside with the F3-S. All I can say is that this trike is soooooooo much fun! The linear power of the 1330 and the low-end torque combined with the Spyder suspension and layout made for an incredibly fun and thrilling ride. What I noticed almost immediately is that I was not used to how light the handle bars are in the twisties and I was tending to make minute over corrections and compensations that made for less smooth curves at first. I got a bit better as time went on but am still not even close to understanding the whole setup and developing the finesse to smoothly transition around tight curves most of the time.

A long time ago, I used to be a flight instructor and charter pilot and the handlebar inputs feel more like a plane's controls than a motorcycle given the power assist steering. If I think of it more as an airplane than a trike, I think I will "fly" around the curves much more smoothly? Another thing that really surprised me is how peppy this machine is. It has been a few years since I had a heavy peppy bike with lots of grunt (Kawasaki Concours 14) and the F3-S aims to please in that category with the wonderfully smooth 1330 Rotax.

I am still a bit challenged with the somewhat laid back seat/leg position and know for sure that I will be needing a backrest to take some of the strain off of my back and funky left hip. I think the back rest will allow me to more lightly hold the handlebars in my hands and therefore achieve the smoothness I am looking for.

I am not sure about a windshield at this point. This is the first naked bike I have owned in a long time and I like some of those aspects but the wind blast is somewhat tiring and I ride with an Arai RX-Q full face helmet. Maybe a backrest will solve this issue? I don't plan on doing anything about a windshield until I have had some ride time with the back rest that I will need to get next week.

The only other thing I plan to do next week is likely take it to one of those Laser Align shops where they use the geometry of the tires rather than the frame to get a full alignment. It seems intuitively correct but any input on that would be appreciated. There are places in Gainesville, Ocala and Jax where they have those machines.

Any and all suggestions for becoming more proficient with this hod rod will be greatly appreciated. I appreciate "cheap wisdom" which is wisdom that you do not have to pay dearly for and is based on others real world experiences.

The F3-S is so different than the TriGlide that they are "Hardley" in the same conversation. I like both of them very much for what they can do and as Bob D. mentioned, they are so different yet bring smiles to our faces in the different ways that they accomplish the same or similar tasks.

One last thing is that I would like to give a shout out to Orion, the owner of Orion's Motorsports, the Can-Am dealer here in TLH. I talked with him on the phone yesterday and advised that I had found this trike elsewhere and he was beyond gracious and said that he never faulted someone for finding a deal somewhere else and he did not have this particular year left-over trike in stock. He had been very accommodating in letting me test ride a used Can-Am the day before I bought this F3-S. He said that he was delighted to have another Spyder rider in the area. I look forward to trading with him locally as he is a very pleasant individual to work with.

 

[JayBros]

Do's and Do Nots

Bob, strongly suggest you take the time to read this sticky from the General Spyder Discussion forum. There's lots of very good information in it although you can skip most of the V-twin info. http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...t-Do-s-and-Do-Nots-quot-for-new-Spyder-owners