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Cruising on two wheels and now three, adjustment period?

The wife and I both ride two wheelers but got the Spyder for doing long distance touring 2 up. It did take a little bit to get used to it, but I ride a Venture so was used to shifting at higher RPMs. There was a guy trading in a Spyder on the day I was buying ours. He complained greatly about how the bike would not shift properly - he had been a Harley rider and couldn't be convinced that you need to shift at higher RPMs on the bike.

I guess I look at it like the difference between driving a truck with heavy load and a race car. Shift points will be different and if you insist on trying to drive one like the other you will be very frustrated.

As far as the issue of a man riding behind a woman, I have ridden behind my wife and still have my man card. Have gotten some weird looks, and more than a few thumbs up. For touring it was important to us that we have a bike that both of us could control with the other riding pillion. It would be tragic if something were to happen to one of us on a ride and the other not be able to take over the driving duties.
 
WELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Jen, I think you already know the problem here is Testosterone. I wish you a lot of luck you are going to need the patience of Jobe.........When I went to test my first Spyder in 09, the manager gave me GREAT advice ( I was on my Gold Wing )....He said forget everything about driving this like a Motorcycle you will go into a ditch......Drive it just like a car with power brakes ....gentle gentle gentle...........As someone already said, driving it at LOW revs is going to effect the Clutch life.......but that will take awhile.......Hopefully He will get that part of it........All the best to you and yours :pray: :pray: :pray:........Mike :bbq:
 
This may not be a viable option but maybe he'd be better off with a different model Spyder, something with the 1330 engine that works OK at lower Rev's. Or one with a manual trans. Just tossing this out for thought.
 
Interesting thing in the OP is that he just has a permit, no license yet and has only been riding for two years.

It might not be a case of preferring years of 2 wheel experience as he doesn't appear to have that. It may just be that he doesn't have enough experience at all yet.

In NJ if he still just has a permit you're not legally permitted to ride as a passenger. Not sure about PA or NY.
 
Over steering

Sounds like he is still timid and gripping too hard which results in over steering. Then maybe he has just decided to not like the Spyder. I know I don't but wife likes back seat on Spyder so I am stuck.
 
Trbayth said:
Interesting thing in the OP is that he just has a permit, no license yet and has only been riding for two years.

It might not be a case of preferring years of 2 wheel experience as he doesn't appear to have that. It may just be that he doesn't have enough experience at all yet.

In NJ if he still just has a permit you're not legally permitted to ride as a passenger. Not sure about PA or NY.
Click to expand...

That's a good point. I'm not sure. I'll go check. Yes, your "supervising rider" can go with you as a passenger.

He hopefully will take BRC to get his license in NY in April.

We went out. I got him to shift higher and today was much better than yesterday. I think we will be okay!
 
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RE: Learning curve. Most people do start to feel comfortable after 500 miles or so. This will vary depending on how much two wheeled stuff you have to "unlearn."

Me personally, riding two wheels since the 60's, it took me about 1500 miles before I was comfortable with my 2008 GS spyder.

My friend Linda, it took her about 250 miles to get comfortable. No experience whatsoever. She did have almost 10K of passenger riding on my :ani29: the first summer. I got her to try driving on the last two rides of the season and gave her an additional three months into the next season. We bought her her very own :ani29: in July. She put 750 miles on it the first weekend we picked it up.

Shift Points: The 998 likes to be revved and driven in the 5000 - 5500 range. This is where the power band kicks in on the 998. Riding in the 3000 range on the 998 can cause issues. It takes a while to get used to driving in the 5000 rpm range. It may mean first gear only in 30 mph speed limit areas. We drove the Hana Highway in Maui, HI (50 miles +, one way--speeds usually under 20 mph.) using first gear all the way. I never use 5th gear on the 998 unless I am exceeding 60 mph.
 
:clap: BRAVO!! :clap: :2thumbs:

I just heard that Jeep is supposed to come out with a Grand Cherokee that's got the 707 horsepower engine stuffed under the hood: the "Track-Hawk" :D
 
Cwboy1963 said:
I have to tell you I have been catching hell from a lot of my buds for riding a "backwards tricycle".....but I just smile and know the ride is my dream and safer than two wheels ever could be. Man card be damned, I like my bike and don't care what others think. Usually I get asked many questions in parking lots because they just have never seen one up close.......they think its awesome or weird. I tell them its the best thing I have ever bought and a blast to ride. I hope your guy comes around one day......but if he wants to ride two wheels then let him and you ride the Spyder till the wheels fall off and enjoy!
Click to expand...


:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

:ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::ohyea:Real men ryde Spyders!!!!! :ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::ohyea::ohyea:
 
Jenfz09 said:
Oh no!!! That's hysterical though!!

Bob asked about our Challenger. The Challenger is an R/T model that has about 425 HP. I just realized I'm on an "RT" forum.

:)
Click to expand...

Okay: what about the Camaro that has to sit outside??? :dontknow:
As I said: REALLY neat toys! :bowdown:
 
What they said

I just came off my Harley Ultra Classic and got the Spyder 10 months ago. My best find was this forum. After reading the do and don't info I learned fast! I was all over the place until I relaxed my grip more and made sure the front tires were both at the same psi and within .25 psi of each other. Then getting used to leaning my body properly and not steering like a motorcycle it all came together. If the disc from BRP was with the bike it definitely answers a lot of riding style questions. If you can get him to go through this he should be about 300-500 miles from enjoying it. Good luck.
 
Maybe you need a new boy toy to go along with the spyder. Tell him to but on the big boy boxers and deal with it.;)
 
Bob Denman said:
Okay: what about the Camaro that has to sit outside??? :dontknow:
As I said: REALLY neat toys! :bowdown:
Click to expand...

'87 Grand National, '78 Trans Am, '86 Corvette, '87 Porsche, '98 Jaguar XJ8 (my old "lawyer car" for when I practiced), 2010 Challenger, '72 Road Runner, 2014 Camaro, 2016 WRX

I came into the marriage with eight cars. Yeah, I'm really into motorized things! I'm loving the Spyder. The rest of the cars are in NY, the Camaro was living in PA with the Challenger.
 
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fjray said:
Maybe you need a new boy toy to go along with the spyder. Tell him to but on the big boy boxers and deal with it.;)
Click to expand...

I think he's getting adjusted to it. We went on a ride from Lancaster to the Spyder dealer in Hallam and back, probably 50 miles round trip. He listened to me about the shift points and we were pretty good, no twisting roads like yesterday (which was all of six miles). These roads were two way 30-45 mph roads, with no real turns.
 
Jenfz09 said:
'87 Grand National, '78 Trans Am, '86 Corvette, '87 Porsche, '98 Jaguar XJ8 (my old "lawyer car" for when I practiced), 2010 Challenger, '72 Road Runner, 2014 Camaro, 2016 WRX

I came into the marriage with eight cars. Yeah, I'm really into motorized things! I'm loving the Spyder. The rest of the cars are in NY, the Camaro was living in PA with the Challenger.
Click to expand...

Did you bump the Grand National up to GNX specs? :2thumbs:
We've got a guy in the next Town over; he's got one with less than 2,500 miles on it!
V-6 in the Camaro? Or did you get the BIG engine?? :bowdown:
The 87 "Porch"; a 911 I hope! :D
I'm a big "Car-A-holic"... I watch all of the Barrett-Jackson and Mecum auctions that I can!
 
Jen, one thing to be aware of, keep in mind, and tell hubby. There is no keeping secret your shifting habits. The time the engine spends in the various RPM ranges is recorded by Nanny and she tattles to the technician when he hooks up BUDS. One of the bits of info that is shown is a histogram of the time the engine is run in the ranges of 0-2000, 2000-4000, 4000-6000, 6000-8000, and over 8000. If the graph shows a lot of time in the 2000-4000 rpm range, and not much above that, you, or hubby, very likely will get an :cus: chewing! :yikes: So, don't shift until you are above 3600 - 4000 rpm. Below 2000 rpm will most certainly be just idling time. But here again, if the 0-2000 graph is high be ready to be chewed out.
 
It took about 100 miles for me to adjust, coming off a Honda ST1300. I actually preferred the SM5 2010 RT....however, I haven't driven any other Spyder yet. I just like to shift with the clutch and shift lever at my left toe. It did take a while to get used to no right hand brake, but I got over that too. I think it's funny the way you describe his willingness, or lack thereof to ride on the back...made me chuckle a bit. Let him ride his two wheeler on longer rides if he wants to. You know the Spyder and how it rides...enjoy it and let him lead the way
 
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