Does it really take 300 miles?

[Warlock]

Took me several thousand miles to really appreciate the Spyder. After having both knees replaced I gave up 2 wheels. Still miss 2 wheels, but have come to realize that I need to stay off 2 wheels. I like the bigger bikes like the Goldwings and Valkyrie. So it took a while before I really got warmed up on the Spyder. And now the more I ride it the better I like it. No plans in the future to change bikes.
David

 

[gnorthern]

City driving

I only have about 250 miles on mine, but over 100 in town. I test rode an RT and was terrified. Long explanation why but I went back and test drove an F3-T, loved cruising with it, and bought it. I initially began to second guess myself at 200 miles since I found myself getting much more sore riding it than even my road bicycle for the same amount of time (2-3 hours). But after some thought I am now 100% convinced that a backrest (I constantly assumed different positions on the Spyder) and repositioning the handlebars will solve the soreness when I do a lot of turning.

 

[missouriboy]

Having ridden 3 and 4 wheel atv's at speed ------- the :spyder2: was an easy ryde right out of the box. Only got better with techniques like pressing the outside foot, shifting body to the inside ( one buttock off the seat when I'm really hoofin' it) , no death grip on the bars and proper wheel alignment/ tire pressure..Anti-sway bar and spring stiffeners do make a big difference.

Lew L

That's real close to my story too. No 2-wheelers since I was a teenager, then about 10 years before getting a Spyder I began hundreds of miles on 4-wheel ATVs, on rough trails in the woods, high-speed tight turns through the trees, etc. This experience made the Spyder easy for me; I was proficient with it in a couple hundred miles, at most. Now I'm on track to hit 80,000 miles in 5 years, and looking forward to the next 5 years. Then 5 more. Then... hyea: (Whoa, boy! I was 73 when I got the first one!)

PS... I did do the MSF course, in a parking lot, on a 125cc rice-burner, though. No great performance, but I did pass OK. From that experience, I knew I'd never again do 2 wheelers in traffic.

 

[4 MARIE]

I obviously "liked it" before I bought it. I was reasonably comfortable on it after about 500 miles.
I still learn, and maybe get more of the nuance of riding it. I think it will be like that for a long time.
I expect to never hit the edge of it's performance envelope, and that's okay with me.
I would rather be old, slow and alive, than young, dumb, and dead....which is where I nearly was at one point in my life.

 

[sandeejs]

A day or so

It took me a day or so to get used to the Spyder (RT). Really freaked out the first stop and couldn't put a foot down!! Now, I'm good. Mostly.

Tryke was totalled out after a crash in October. New Spyder coming soon. First ryde will be a trip, I think. Eh, we will see.

~Sandee~

 

[WilderThomas]

Rydes

I've heard someone say it takes 300 miles to get used to the Spyder and fall in love with it if you only used to riding 2-wheelers. Before that mark you might hate it and regret the purchase.
I wasn't victim to this, since I haven't owned a proper motorcycle and the only substantial experience I've had on 2 wheels was during my MSF course years ago.

So, how long did it take you to start liking your ryde?

At 65 years of age, it's been my pleasure to have been riding for 49 years. And have during those years have owned, and ridden, 16 two wheeled vehicles, from a 1957 Lambretta 150cc scooter, to a 2005 Harley Davidson FLHTCUI, with five Gold Wings intermixed. Now, its the pleasure of my wife and I to own and ride, a 2012 Can Am Spyder RT-SE5. How long did it take to fall in love with it? About 5 miles. Every motorcycle had its pros and cons as does every motorcycle, but we have no regrets on the purchase of the Spyder. And now its unlikely that we'll return to two wheels.

 

[Biscuit]

Imy case I have been riding two wheels for forty-five years plus, so I found therewas more of a learning curve then I expected. The muscle memory with hand brakes, clutch and counter steering took mea couple hundred miles to really feel comfortable but it is great. My bike is my daily driver :riding:to down town Atlanta. :yikes: If I have any complaints it would be the wimpystock horn (which has been replaced).

Rod

 

[frigmall]

We bought my wife's F3-T from a dealer that is 85 miles from our house last October. When we picked it up she did not want to ride it back that distance so I did. I have been riding 2 wheels for many years so when I first got on the bike it felt weird. Got on the highway and rode it for around 45 miles getting used to it. Decided to get on a twisty road for the remainder and by the time I got off that road I was having a blast. Probably not as proficient as putting some miles on it would make me, but I could see what the bike can do.
Albeit my wife has logged many miles on the back of my bikes she has never piloted a two wheeled bike so she did not have any preconceived ideas of what the difference is. She was able to log 600 miles on her bike before we put it up for the winter. At first I rode in front of her to show her the lines to take on curves and to run interference for her. I found myself spending too much time looking in the mirrors worrying about whether I was going too fast for her, so I put her up front so she could ride at the pace she is comfortable with. By the time we put the bikes up for the winter she was riding at a pace that made me concentrate!
The Spyder's are a very forgiving ride. Lot's of neat safety features that are good for new riders and appreciated by veterans. My wife is pretty conservative so if you ask her she will probably tell you she has a few more miles to put on the bike before she is proficient with it, but we do have some pretty long rides planned this year and she is chomping at the bit to go!

 

[Road-Kill]

I've heard someone say it takes 300 miles to get used to the Spyder and fall in love with it if you only used to riding 2-wheelers. Before that mark you might hate it and regret the purchase.
I wasn't victim to this, since I haven't owned a proper motorcycle and the only substantial experience I've had on 2 wheels was during my MSF course years ago.

So, how long did it take you to start liking your ryde?

It took me 10,000 miles (6 months) to love the Spyder.
Unlike many who bought a Spyder I didn't switch from 2 wheels to 3 because of a disability.
I still miss leaning though.

 

[Easy Rider]

I still miss leaning though.

I don't think I will EVER get as much satisfaction out of the Spyder.
It is, after all, not a "real" motorcycle.

It likely will help a bit to get the Vulcan sold........because every time I get on it I am reminded how different it really is.

 

[RinconRyder]

I don't think I will EVER get as much satisfaction out of the Spyder.
It is, after all, not a "real" motorcycle.

Yup. I feel the same way. I have owned dozens of motorcycles over my 60 years of riding. I would use every excuse to hop on and ride them: cross-city, cross-state or cross-country. I doubt the Spyder will ever see the city limits while I own it. I bought it so the wifey would have something to ride and that is what it will remain. Lately though, she doesn't seem to be interested either.

 

[Easy Rider]

I doubt the Spyder will ever see the city limits while I own it.

Well that wasn't exactly what I meant.

I WILL ride the crap out of mine.......because it will be all that I have......and it was becoming obvious that I couldn't adequately handle a bike at low speeds anymore. Getting it on and off the trailer for going to races was becoming a problem too.

One needs to be constantly aware of your declining abilities and adjust accordingly.

Dirty Harry: A man needs to understand his own limitations.

 

[CA Railwhale]

agree

I had a little experience in the early '70s riding dirt bikes. I bought my F3 in 2016. It probably took 500 or so miles to get comfortable. I had no "bad" 2 wheel habits to unlearn. I took to the Spyder right away. Although I was a little intimidated by it, I soon got over it. What it took was a joy ride through some mountains by myself. I was being passed by couples riding touring bikes, so I decided to see if I could keep up with them since they weren't pushing. I found that the F3 could easily keep up. One couple started picking up speed on their BMW and I was easily capable of matching their speed on the straights as well as the corners. I really got confident about the Spyder when the BMW rider told me that he was pushing his bike as fast as he had ever done and we were going faster than where he usually ran away from Harleys and Goldwings. Since it didn't feel like I was even pushing the F3, I started to trust it and feel pretty confident for my low experience level. I usually don't push hard, but it's nice to know there is that much performance and handling in reserve.

 

[CA Railwhale]

agree

I had a little experience in the early '70s riding dirt bikes. I bought my F3 in 2016. It probably took 500 or so miles to get comfortable. I had no "bad" 2 wheel habits to unlearn. I took to the Spyder right away. Although I was a little intimidated by it, I soon got over it. What it took was a joy ride through some mountains by myself. I was being passed by couples riding touring bikes, so I decided to see if I could keep up with them since they weren't pushing. I found that the F3 could easily keep up. One couple started picking up speed on their BMW and I was easily capable of matching their speed on the straights as well as the corners. I really got confident about the Spyder when the BMW rider told me that he was pushing his bike as fast as he had ever done and we were going faster than where he usually ran away from Harleys and Goldwings. Since it didn't feel like I was even pushing the F3, I started to trust it and feel pretty confident for my low experience level. I usually don't push hard, but it's nice to know there is that much performance and handling in reserve. I'm probably never going to amass the tens of thousands of miles in a year that some of you do since most of my rides are just a couple of hundred miles around home, but I love the Spyder.

 

[RinconRyder]

One needs to be constantly aware of your declining abilities and adjust accordingly.

I really didn't have any declining abilities. The wife wanted something to ride and two wheels for her isn't practical.

My last bikes were: '97 Valkyrie, '99 Valkyrie Interstate and two later model Goldwings (GL1800's). Every one of those bikes made at least one cross-country trip. Additionally, I rode the Interstate non-stop from the middle of Nebraska to Phoenix and one of the Wings from Seattle to Phoenix, also non-stop. I cannot imagine doing either trip on the Spyder - it is that uncomfortable. I can't imagine riding long distance with my junk in the glove box for instance.

All four bikes had tons of quiet power, came from the factory properly put together and the CB-equipped Wing actually had range and worked. Maintenance was a snap for any competent owner and could be accomplished in a fraction of the time compared to the Spyder. Oh, and I could ride on gravel or dirt roads without worrying that I might split the damn drive belt. The foot brake was easy to operate and without the need to raise one's leg and the hand brake was a two-finger operation instead of a fist full. I could raise and lower the windshield fully without worrying that I might break the brackets. And, I could park any of the bikes for months without the need for a battery maintainer.

There are Honda shops, both official and independent all over the place, and none charge $300 for an oil change. None of the bikes needed a proprietary diagnostic tool for simple troubleshooting and I could install aftermarket lighting without disabling the factory lights. The bikes were faster in a straight line (accelleration was also a good deal quicker) and through corners and there was no nanny deciding what my riding limits were.

You didn't need an instruction manual and two hands to start the engine or shift into reverse and you could put the key on a standard ring without buying an accessory. And did I mention the bikes were substantially less expensive?

 

[Triple B]

I think that sums it up pretty good for me too.

But I'm having some long breaks from riding and don't consider myself "good at it" yet.
Might take a couple of thousand miles for me........after riding 2 wheels for about 50 years.

I totally agree. I’ve ridden 2 wheels for 50 years also, and when I took the RT-S for a test ride I liked it, but thought it was a bit squirrelly but that I could “grow into it” in a short while, so I bought it. Took me close to 2,000 km’s before I felt totally at ease and really enjoying it for what it is. It’s NOT a motorcycle as we know it, it’s a great ride of it’s own. Just my .02 worth.

 

[jaherbst]

Well I have to disagree with some of the latest posts here. There is know such thing as a non stop to

Seattle or Middle of Nebraska to Phoenix. Potty stops unless you have a relief tube would be one. Another

would be Gas, remember. This is not non stop. Over my vast experience of over 65 years of riding (66 in

April) and 125+ motorcycles, scooters, trikes, S&S four wheels, ATV's, UTV's and yes even a Mustang

Thoroughbred (B-17 GPU engine on a scooter frame) I have never been able to ride any further than the

gas in the tank would take me. Then I had to stop. I did ride 340 miles on one tank of gas with my BMW

RT1200. It was not an Iron Butt ride but my butt still felt like Iron.

Of all these various wonderful machines I would say the Spyder is probably to me the most comfortable.

Sure we would all like to be bombing around on our Harley Ultra Classics and about to turn 78 I still can

but its moving it around in the garage and no reverse that made me rethink my riding habits and start to

"downsize". After some artificial body parts the Spyder came along at my wife urgings and I hate to admit

it, yep she was right!

We men suffer from this macho thing about trikes and what other (may or may not) people think. Easy

Rider said it right. We need to adjust to our declining abilities with age. Some on here will not admit to

that which to me indicates that there mind is deteriorating maybe faster than there bodies!

Lesson for the day is: stop fighting it and buy that Spyder. Stop telling everyone you bought it for you wife

and would never admit to touching it. :joke:

These are great experiences to ride and a wonderful machine to give your Heart to.

Jack

 

[RinconRyder]

Well I have to disagree with some of the latest posts here. There is know such thing as a non stop to Seattle or Middle of Nebraska to Phoenix. Potty stops unless you have a relief tube would be one. Another would be Gas, remember. This is not non stop.

Gas stops and potty breaks are permitted in Iron Butt events and they are considered non-stop.

Of all these various wonderful machines I would say the Spyder is probably to me the most comfortable.

Then you are a lucky, lucky man. Personally, I was more comfy on my Suzuki Bandit.

 

[jaherbst]

[/SIZE]
Gas stops and potty breaks are permitted in Iron Butt events and they are considered non-stop.

That's cheating! :joke:
Never been able to understand why someone would want to ride a thousand miles in a 24 hr period so I tried one. I still don't understand. I guess it's a Macho thing or a small Libido." It's always more fun at the finish line than the actual race". (Mario Andretti) or "I don't know how I survived that". Malcolm Smith.

Jack

 

[PapaHotel]

Took me closer to 3000 miles before I figured out to go right turn the bars right and to go left turn the bars left. The longer you rode two wheeler, the longer the transition is my cry. I really wish my RT had a brake lever on the handlebar....

I am selling my two wheelers...