Spyder Tony
New member
Charlotte, my '08 Premiere Edition GS was getting the 50K service (Yup, the $1,400 one!) and my local dealer threw me the keys (well, the key) to a white F3-S and told me to keep it until my service was done. No sooner did he say it, than did I peel out of the parking lot on my way home with this animal wrapped in a Spyder shell. The service Manager knows, due to the mods on my Spyder (as well as the B.U.D.S.) that I ryde fast...and the F3 was more than happy to oblige! I had test ridden the F3 twice, so knew what it could do...but this was the 1st time someone told me to take it home and keep it for a bit.
Having ridden the local Sport Bike road filled with switchbacks & hairpins (Salmon Falls Road) on my '08 GS several times, I did the same on the F3 at night. I saw the headlights of a sport bike approaching me...let him get about 4 car lengths close, and went W.O.T. (wide open throttle). at the end of the 8 mile stretch of turns & twists, I pulled up to a Chevron & was gassing up. 3-4 mins later, the sport bike pulls up.
"Dude, what is that?", he says. Then asks, "What's the displacement?"...followed by a final "I've never seen anything like that".
I have since received my GS back (which I am more than happy about!), and have taken her for several high-paced rydes since the service (valve adjustment made a difference)...but the F3 has made a lasting impression on me. Ironically, one of the residual effects of having it in my stable briefly, is that I now keep trying to throw my GS into 6th gear when I ryde her!!!
Personally, I think the Service Manager knew exactly what he was doing by giving me the loaner. I could see this little adventure costing me about $26K in the upcoming year(s). Well played Elk Grove Powersports. Well played...
Having ridden the local Sport Bike road filled with switchbacks & hairpins (Salmon Falls Road) on my '08 GS several times, I did the same on the F3 at night. I saw the headlights of a sport bike approaching me...let him get about 4 car lengths close, and went W.O.T. (wide open throttle). at the end of the 8 mile stretch of turns & twists, I pulled up to a Chevron & was gassing up. 3-4 mins later, the sport bike pulls up.
"Dude, what is that?", he says. Then asks, "What's the displacement?"...followed by a final "I've never seen anything like that".
I have since received my GS back (which I am more than happy about!), and have taken her for several high-paced rydes since the service (valve adjustment made a difference)...but the F3 has made a lasting impression on me. Ironically, one of the residual effects of having it in my stable briefly, is that I now keep trying to throw my GS into 6th gear when I ryde her!!!
Personally, I think the Service Manager knew exactly what he was doing by giving me the loaner. I could see this little adventure costing me about $26K in the upcoming year(s). Well played Elk Grove Powersports. Well played...
