Foundryrat
New member
I have a 2015 Freewheeler and I am looking at a 2023 RTL. How much different is the handling between the FW and the RTL?
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Contemplating buying a Spyder - any reliability, power, and buyer's remorse issues?
- Thread starter grampi
- Start date
I have a 2015 Freewheeler and I am looking at a 2023 RTL. How much different is the handling between the FW and the RTL?
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Night and Day ! The two wheels in front make for a much easier drive. You will not feel like you are wrestling with a semi truck fully loaded all day long.
troop
Well-known member
As stated, apples/oranges. You'll feel so much more secure cornering on the Spyder...
No, but I did take another one for a ride. Some guy is selling a '17 F3 Limited. It's had both the front sprocket, and output shaft recalls done, and it only has 5200 miles on it. It's still like brand new. It's black with the chrome package. Beautiful trike! I like the analog gauges on the pre-'20 models, as opposed to the more digital gauges on the newer models. Once again I experienced the same issues with the steering, feeling like I'm constantly zig zagging down the road. I'm told that's something I'll get used to, it just feels weird. I'm still in some sort of a purgatory where I can't seem to decide if I want to get rid of my Gold Wing and move to a trike. Physically I'm not at a point to where I have to move on to a trike. I can still handle the GW with no problem. I'm just getting bored with it. The Spyder has some pluses over the GW, like more storage space, and with a rider's backrest, the F3L is actually more comfortable than my GW. I think I could actually get my wife to ride with me on the Spyder, where she won't go on the Wing. I don't know what I want to do...
Aaargh!!
WARNING, WARNING!
Danger Will Robinson, Danger!
WARNING, WARNING!
A Spyder (or any machine) that's done ONLY 5200 miles in what, 7, 8 years or so has GOT to be a concern that warrants greater scrutiny!!
Only 5200 miles in 7 or 8 years is an average of somewhat less than 1000 miles a year, so either that Spyder has spent a WHOLE LOT of time in the shop for some reason; or more likely, it's spent a WHOLE LOT of time sitting around in some shed (maybe not even climate controlled, possibly not even in a shed!
) quietly but inevitably degrading tires; building up condensation in the oil and gas; rusting out the inside of the gas tank & the cylinders, maybe even rusting things inside the block; perishing bushes; drying out &/or destroying seals; degrading lubricants; probably getting chewed & defecated on by rodents; and the list goes on!! 
It might 'look' like it's still brand new, but don't kid yourself that it's anything even vaguely like brand new when it comes to condition!! Machines like Spyders that aren't regularly used and properly maintained can only deteriorate thru sitting, especially if they've ever been assembled and then run at all - EVER!! So unless it's 'New, Old Stock' that's been sitting around in a crate for that long and it's only just been assembled, then that 2017 F3 which only 'Looks like it's brand new' is most likely MUCH MORE of a risk than one that's been well ridden & maintained with 40,000 miles or so on the odometer; and even if it HAS been sitting in a crate and only just been assembled, you hafta question the likely deterioration of wiring, bushes, lubricants, and more!!
Just cos it's got low milage doesn't mean it's good - in fact, milage that low in a machine that age probably means it's NOT GOOD! Be warned; don't be sucked in by the 'any low milage is good' myth!! Milage that's anything much less than about 5000 miles per year is generally NOT GOOD, and should be seen as a Warning sign! Check it out VERY carefully before committing, IF you commit at all!
That said, while that '...issues with the steering, feeling like I'm constantly zig zagging down the road' thing IS quite common, it is definitely NOT 'normal', but it can usually be fixed very easily simply by getting a proper wheel alignment done!
The factory wheel alignment is, quite simply put, generally crap; and most dealers either ignore it completely, or thru the lack of skill/the incompetence of their 'assemblers' &/or techs, make it worse! A good wheel alignment to give you maybe a millimetre or two of toe-in at laden weight will generally resolve that steering issue you describe; and if it doesn't, then usually installing a Sway bar upgrade &/or tossing the OEM tires (or both!) and fitting quality car tires instead, then running them at appropriate (lower) pressures (about 18 psi) for the lighter load/weight of the Spyder will fix that feeling in a very high percentage of cases! So don't let the steering issue sway you, it's NOT NORMAL, and for the vast majority, it can be fixed fairly easily, altho rarely by the dealer &/or at the dealer's expense! And doing the wheel alignment, sway bar upgrade, and quality tires running at an appropriate pressure thing will also significantly improve the Spyder's ride, handling, cornering, stability, traction, tire life, rider/passenger comfort, and more!! All to your advantage and greater enjoyment!
Just Sayin!
Thanks for the input. That's the kind of info I need. FWIW, I've experienced the zig zagging down the road on every Spyder I've ridden. I don't think there's anything wrong with this one's steering/alignment... it's just that I'm oversteering it...Aaargh!!
WARNING, WARNING!
Danger Will Robinson, Danger!
WARNING, WARNING!
A Spyder (or any machine) that's done ONLY 5200 miles in what, 7, 8 years or so has GOT to be a concern that warrants greater scrutiny!!
Only 5200 miles in 7 or 8 years is an average of somewhat less than 1000 miles a year, so either that Spyder has spent a WHOLE LOT of time in the shop for some reason; or more likely, it's spent a WHOLE LOT of time sitting around in some shed (maybe not even climate controlled, possibly not even in a shed!
It might 'look' like it's still brand new, but don't kid yourself that it's anything even vaguely like brand new when it comes to condition!! Machines like Spyders that aren't regularly used and properly maintained can only deteriorate thru sitting, especially if they've ever been assembled and then run at all - EVER!! So unless it's 'New, Old Stock' that's been sitting around in a crate for that long and it's only just been assembled, then that 2017 F3 which only 'Looks like it's brand new' is most likely MUCH MORE of a risk than one that's been well ridden & maintained with 40,000 miles or so on the odometer; and even if it HAS been sitting in a crate and only just been assembled, you hafta question the likely deterioration of wiring, bushes, lubricants, and more!!
Just cos it's got low milage doesn't mean it's good - in fact, milage that low in a machine that age probably means it's NOT GOOD! Be warned; don't be sucked in by the 'any low milage is good' myth!! Milage that's anything much less than about 5000 miles per year is generally NOT GOOD, and should be seen as a Warning sign!
That said, while that '...issues with the steering, feeling like I'm constantly zig zagging down the road' thing IS quite common, it is definitely NOT 'normal', but it can usually be fixed very easily simply by getting a proper wheel alignment done!
The factory wheel alignment is, quite simply put, generally crap; and most dealers either ignore it completely, or thru the lack of skill/the incompetence of their 'assemblers' &/or techs, make it worse! A good wheel alignment to give you maybe a millimetre or two of toe-in at laden weight will generally resolve that steering issue you describe; and if it doesn't, then usually installing a Sway bar upgrade &/or tossing the OEM tires (or both!) and fitting quality car tires instead, then running them at appropriate (lower) pressures (about 18 psi) for the lighter load/weight of the Spyder will fix that feeling in a very high percentage of cases! So don't let the steering issue sway you, it's NOT NORMAL, and for the vast majority, it can be fixed fairly easily, altho rarely by the dealer &/or at the dealer's expense! And doing the wheel alignment, sway bar upgrade, and quality tires running at an appropriate pressure thing will also significantly improve the Spyder's ride, handling, cornering, stability, traction, tire life, rider/passenger comfort, and more!! All to your advantage and greater enjoyment!
Just Sayin!
That does happen too, but generally is resolved by the rider learning to relax and rather than 'steering' the Spyder, instead 'gently guiding' it down a path chosen by looking well ahead.
On a Spyder, your tires have more than THREE TIMES the contact patch of most 2 wheel motorcycles, and that total contact patch is spread out over a much wider frontal area too, so you ARE going to contact pretty much every little (or big!) ripple/bump/hazard you can see ahead, on one wheel or another, so watching those ripples/bumps/hazards close in as you approach and then trying to avoid them with all of your wheels will make most riders tense up, even if unconsciously &/or inadvertently, so you need to learn to overcome that, which takes saddle time. But there are very few who don't overcome it!
So don't be put off by that initial feel - it's likely going to take you 1000 miles or more to truly come to grips with all the idiosyncrasies of any Spyder, so if you even vaguely think you might like it now, without having done those miles, imagine how great you'll feel after you have done them! Those of us who have don't call them 'Miles of Smiles' for nothing!
Go On, DO IT!! You Know You Want to!
Deanna777
Well-known member
Good question. I don't know. I'll ask...
KX5062
Well-known member
Yeah, most likely oversteering the machine. It's super common when coming from 2 wheels to 3. Some long-time riders have a steeper learning curve than novice riders who don't really know any different. As was stated, Spyders only require a very light touch on straight roads. If you grip the bars like a 2-wheeled motorcycle, you'll oversteer it.
Me, personally, I wouldn't be concerned about buying a garage queen. You just have to be a little more diligent in shopping, but that really applies to purchasing any used machine.
I've read many times where people recommend staying away from super low mileage vehicles. I don't think that automatically disqualifies a vehicle. If the owner can produce the maintenance records, and those appear to have kept the vehicle in good shape mechanically, and the vehicle doesn't appear like it was stored outside in the weather, I would certainly consider it if the price was right. There are things that can be wrong with these low mileage vehicles, but there are also pluses, like parts that would've worn out, or needed to be replaced due to mileage, will still be almost new. The one I rode the other day seemed perfect both mechanically and cosmetically. The owner also passes the test. The seller can absolutely make or break a deal... I can tell within 5 minutes if the seller is someone I'd buy from or not... this guy seemed legit...
I saw a red and chrome '21 F3L on FB Marketplace today. Mileage 7373. Asking $18.5K. It has the more digital dash screen (I actually prefer the analog gauges on the earlier models), but the red is gorgeous. The price seems okay, though I'm not gonna get that much out of my GW. I might get $16K...I can afford to cough up extra if the machine's worth it, but not having to would be preferable...
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Deanna777
Well-known member
Hi grampi,
If you decide to get the 2017 F3 LTD have the dealership run the VIN to see if there are other recalls on the Spyder.
Also, ask for a any service records, Do a "Title inspection", and run the VIN through a service like CARFAX or Auto Check.
Also, check the "For Sale" section on this site.
Deanna
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