changing from two wheels to three

[Lew L]

Like skiing

To answer your question about "how to go around turns" on a :spyder2:?

Like skiing------when turning " with vigor", step hard on the outside peg or floorboard and bend the inside elbow a bit. Moves your CG to the inside and lower. A bit like hanging off a sport bike. 2 wheels for decades--and I feel more comfortable at speed in the twisties on the :spyder2: Than on 2 wheels for all the above reasons. My wife----even more so.


Gravel and oil on the road cause::::::::

Kaos

PS: Consider an RT--With a few mods they corner really well and can take all your stuff. Wind/rain protection. Heated grips:f_spider:.

 

[ARtraveler]

All good answers above.

There is a short "learning curve" since the :spyder2: handles differently from a two wheeler or a conventional trike.

:ani29:: Avoid over control. Grab the hand grips like there are eggs between your hands and the grip. Don't break the eggs. A light push, pull is recommended. White knuckle driving will make the :spyder2: seem like it has a mind of its own.

:ani29:: Accelerate as you make your turn. If you have to hit the brakes prior to entering a turn, you are going to fast.

:ani29:: Put your weight on the outside peg or footboard.

:ani29:: Lean slightly into the curve. This reduces the "g" forces.

:ani29:: Drive like the race car drivers do--always enter from the inside of the curve and cross over to the outside (keeping between the lines).

You will feel in control of the :f_spider: and can exceed posted speeds in curves by 20 mph and still be in control. Not recommended of course. :yes:

 

[DonST]

My biggest adjustment between two wheels ( still ride my ST1300 and Goldwing) to three wheels (2014 Spyder RT-S) was changing from the delayed apex technique on the 2 wheels to turning sooner on the Spyder. I could use the delayed apex with the Spyder, but I had to use more force to turn and there was more centrifugal force on me as well as my passenger than initiating the turn sooner with much lighter effort on the bars and less body lean-in needed. Rolling on the throttle in the turns seems to help the Spyder turn as well as it does for the 2 wheelers.


PS: For those who may not know, the delayed apex technique has you ride deeper into a corner before initiating your lean-in on a 2 wheeler. You turn sharper but spend less time leaned over. It also allows you to see farther through the turn.

 

[Mr. White]

:agree:... Or even a snowmobile! :thumbup:

Bob, what is a snowmobile? :roflblack: I did not start riding until 1947, loved my two wheelers but would not go beck to them. Mr. Cognac is great and Punkin' is a runner too. Love both....

:spyder2:

Bob, please don't move to south Texas, our roads are cluttered with motorcycle trash....12 months a year.... :yes:

 

[OverHillAndDale]

It took me 300 miles for the Spyder to go from my worst mistake to a wonderful choice

Much easier on the 60 year old knees, as much fun as two wheels after becoming acclimatized.

 

[cuznjohn]

i don't ride as much as everyone else, but i still have the urge to get another two wheeler. i rode my friends 2016 wing and wow did i enjoy it again. it takes a lil time to get used to the spyder but you will

 

[pegasus1300]

I have 50+ years on two wheels. In 2011 after two crashes in about 3 months I decided maybe it was time to go to three. I bought a Goldwing Trike from a friend of mine who was giving up riding( well he was 87,and his wife had passed and he didn't want to ride alone). I had ridden Spyders at a local dealer but was not convinced. I spent 4 years and 35000 miles on the Goldwing and decided I wanted to ride a Spyder to see if the fun would come back. I didn't like the GW trike even though I put a lot of miles on it. It did everything a GW trike should do. It was comfortable,had lots of amenities and was ultra reliable,but It never felt good to me,and for me,It was a hassle to ride. I know a lot of people get a lot of enjoyment out of their conventional 3 wheelers but I didn't. A 2012 RT Limited came along at a fire sale price last spring with low miles and I took the plunge. I have never been happier. I think I did most of my transitioning on the GW but there are somethings different about a Spyder. It responds better to weight shifting and throttle input in the turns. It really likes you to pay attention to your line like a fine sports bike or high performance car.On the other hand it is forgiving if you misjudge the turn. One thing I noticed about going to 3 wheels,I am not as tired at the end of the day. Though once moving a 2 wheeler tends to balance itself, some part of the brain apparently is monitoring the balance. 3 wheels frees you from that and the attendant muscle tension. At 69+ it also allows my aging brain to better handle the situational awareness we must all maintain to successfully ride on 2 wheels.

There is a transition period,some take longer then others,but based on my experience I think you'll do just fine and really enjoy the ride,its the most fun I've had since I left 2 wheels.:yes::yes:

 

[latony007]

like most have said safety is the biggest thing for me. i still have a 2 wheel crotch rocket and like to ride it when i am alone but for taking a passenger nothing like a spyder. You know that nervous feeling when you get when you start to push the 2 wheeler and lean farther and farther. Gone with a spyder. Rain on a spyder, no problem, patch of oil, patch of sand, no problem. I cant imagine there is any cruiser that can keep up with it through twisties although it does take more upper body effort.

 

[redrt]

After 46 years of two wheels the spider is a change, no it won't lean but it will corner as good or better than most touring bikes. Put it up against a sport bike and your screwed, same as my road king would not compare to my FZ1. Sad to say both got traded last spring, getting older and hip went out it was the best think I did. My wife has had a RT for four years and seeing what it would do sold me on the F3S. The thing to look out for when going to three wheels is watch your lane position, had the wife get on and let me know to stay in my own lane. And as some others have said the spider is much more stable on wet roads and lose gravel. I do miss changing lane with a slight but shift but you get on to it fast. good luck Jim.:doorag:

 

[bikeit02]

thanks everyone that replied to the post. The spider looks so different with its two front wheels its taking some time for me to get use to it.I have the bike for sale when it sells I will be going to pickup a spyder rtsse6 a special.I am doing this on my phone so I hope you can read this Dale.

 

[Myron Ah]

2 to 3 wheels is great to keep riding.

Tow years ago we went from a Yamaha Midnight Venture that was my favorite two wheeler but due to leg and balance issues I put a bolt on trike kit (training wheels really). We liked it but the fun factor was gone. Shoulder issues left me with giving up riding or Spyder. The power steering got me to try one and I was hooked. The literature tells you to lean alittle and the sales guy said relax your shoulders. Works great for me and it is more like the two wheel sensation. Not sure if having rode the conventional type Yamaha for 3-4 years makes the Spyder more fun but who cares! We are riding for fun again.:yes:

 

[Pampurrs]

I would like to hear from owners of trikes how do they go around corners can you be happy with one after riding two wheels for 40+ years. We like to ride the mountain curves and howis the wind rain and heat on the spider. I now ride a victory vision tour premium.

I sold my Victory Vision back in June because of back issues, and went to the Spyder . I've been riding on two wheels for 38 years, and being on three wheels is a major letdown in comparison. I will say that the Spyder handles the twisties much better than a conventional trike, but there's nothing like carving those twisties on two wheels and hearing the sound of the floorboards scraping. I miss two wheels immensely, but at least I'm still riding. Given the choice of trading your riding boots for a rocking chair, or switching to the Spyder, I'd say the Spyder is a great choice.

Pam

 

[Deanna777]

I was a passenger for 16 years on the 2 wheeled motorcycles ( Honda's Yamaha's, Suzuki's, Kawasaki's, HD) I did not want to deal with the clutch/brake/throttle all at the same time.

Also, a friend of mine suggested to me try out a spyder, so I went and bought a spyder( my first was a 2012RTS-SE5, I upgraded to my current Spyder 2014RTS-SE6) and I am happy that I upgraded. I am having a blast.

I am in my early 50's, and I am not looking back. I get a lot of waves, HIGH 5's and thumbs up, and people asking me questions about the spyder. Deanna

 

[southjerseyrider]

Victory Vision to 2014 RT Limited

I also went from a Victory Vision to the Spyder. I still have my Vision and I still love riding it, however for long, over night traveling with my wife, we use the Spyder RTL: safer, more storage, easier to drive & don't have to worry about soft shoulders, loose stone, etc. Two different machines. I love them both. Hardest thing to get use to for me going from 2 to 3 was the lateral g's in a turn. When in a turn on the Spyder the g force wants to pull you sideways off the bike instead of down into the seat on a MC.

I can go just as fast and take turns just as fast with the Spyder but the lateral g's do feel "weird"

Hope this helps.

 

[MouthPiece]

You can be happy if YOU allow yourself to be.

Chris

 

[motoswami]

changing to three (wheels)

I sold my Victory Vision back in June because of back issues, and went to the Spyder . I've been riding on two wheels for 38 years, and being on three wheels is a major letdown in comparison. I will say that the Spyder handles the twisties much better than a conventional trike, but there's nothing like carving those twisties on two wheels and hearing the sound of the floorboards scraping. I miss two wheels immensely, but at least I'm still riding. Given the choice of trading your riding boots for a rocking chair, or switching to the Spyder, I'd say the Spyder is a great choice.

Pam

You've summed up my impressions so far quite well, and I'm glad to read I'm not the only one who genuinely misses the feel of dissecting a technical (twisty) road on a motorcycle, hitting each apex just right with only the slightest counter-steering input at the bars and maybe a little body steering to complement, perhaps scraping a peg, duplicating the feel of skiing or soaring.

After more than 57 years on motorcycles, with only one sidecar outfit and a triked scooter in the mix of more bikes than I can recall,
surgery for a titanium ankle persuaded me that my bionic leg was more important than leaning in the turns. While there have been a few times when being on the CanAm was more enjoyable than a bike (crawling through bumper-to-bumper traffic during a Street Rod show in Pigeon Forge, TN comes to mind), it's been a tough switch.

BajaRon's swaybar and some modified spring rubbers, laser alignment, arm rests for my favorite second rider, a Corbin seat, an F4 windshield.............all of these have made incremental improvements, and after 5,000 miles I've learned to smile smugly when loose gravel or sand appears in the middle of a blind curve. It IS better not having to balance a fully loaded bike when the footing is compromised. Being able to pull forward into a downward-sloping parking space and then just click it into reverse to back out is pretty civilized. Farkling up a few additional LED's is fun. Not having to lubricate a chain is nice (but I miss going down any long gravel road that calls my name; got a water crossing? extra fun).

We'll be pulling a Time Out pop-up camper trailer occasionally -- a completely new experience. Definitely more comfort than tent camping, so we'll embrace that.

Do we wish we were 20 years younger and riding an ADV bike to all corners of the boondocks? You bet your backside!
Are we going to make the most of switching to a Y-Axis machine? We'll try our best. Just very thankful there's an option for us. Having an active, informed forum like SpiderLovers certainly has made the transition easier.

If we had never ridden before, it would be easier still.

Pete

 

[ricford]

This thread is getting quite long. Sorry, can't help adding to it. I've enjoyed reading stories from others who have converted from two wheels to the Spyder after decades (and decades) on two wheels. I joined the crowd last Summer after 47 years on two wheels of many varieties. Many thousands of miles in Europe, North Africa, Japan and the US. I wasn't forced to go with the Spyder but considered it was safer. No problems, I'm physically fit and active, just trying to get smart (not to worry, there's no danger of that happening) as the years roll past. I was scared sh--less the first time I rode the Spyder. But I knew it was for the best. Bought a vanilla '14 RT. Put Elka shocks, performance auto tires front and rear, laser front end alignment, Bajaron anti sway bar and a couple of other performance enhancing devices. And best of all, I took a Motorcycle Safety Foundation course to teach me to ryde the Spyder. It was the smartest thing I did of all the things I did to improve the bike's handling. I ryde through the twisties on the Spyder as quickly as I did with the other two wheel bikes. If you're wondering about whether you should get one, do not wonder. Just do it. My personal advice and from experience, buy the RT and then spend the money you saved on performance enhancing equipment. And MSF class. (My Foremost insurance company gives a discount.) Don't want to give up those speeding fine rides? Not to worry. I'm just sayin', I 'believe' it's quite stable at 114. But again, that's just a guess. And probably because you would not have any throttle left. In short, buy the Spyder and hit the road. I'm leaving in the morning for another 12 hour day ride, the third this month. I have Gerbing heated gear with Pilot overs. Don't especially go anywhere, maybe Dallas for lunch or New Orleans for coffee and beignets. Or Little Rock for a coffee and ryde the new (not yet google map marked) 530 Freeway and head home. Just ryde. You might not be able to tomorrow and would forever regret it. Dave Garnder once said, imitating the voice of a really old person sitting in a rocker on the front porch, "Well, I could've if I'd a wanted to." Don't be that guy who 'could of". Hope to see you on the road, maybe in Springfield at Spyderfest 2016. One final 'gotta say it', because the Ultimate seat has really been THE key to long rydes. Never once in the last 14,000 miles have I ever had any butt ache, pressure point, whatever. It is like sitting on the sofa at home. Assuming the sofa was uh... at speed. Ryde safe!

 

[Big Will 51]

I just got my spyder in October 2015. Had been on 2 wheels till my knees started going on me. Road with a voyager on my Nomad, but felt out of control in corners and could not tell if the back wheels were crossing the center line. Test road a traditional trike and a spyder on the same roads. I felt the spyder was more stable and with the width in front I can see how close I am to the line and the gas pump island. I still have much to learn about the differences, but so far I love the choice I made. Going crazy waiting for the snow and cold to leave New England so I can get on the road. Hope this helps you, I know I spent many an hour wondering what I should do.
By the way, my wife and all of her family are hard core bikers. They might say they will never give up 2 wheels, but they all have been over to take it for a test ride. The brotherhood of bikers carries over to the spyder. Right after getting my spyder, I was on my way home from work and had to pull over to the side of the road for a minute. Two bikes stopped to see if I was alright, some may think they are better. But most I think see us comrades on the open road.

 

[flaggerphil]

I rode two wheelers off and on from 1968 to 2012, when I bought my RT due to leg and hip problems. I love riding it and every time I think i'd like to go back to two wheels I go for another ride on the RT and the feeling goes away.