MRH
Active member
...at least unless you want to buy one!
I had a great chance at a local dealership to ride a 2020 RTL with my wife on the back. I own a 2014 RT-S SE6, and here are my impressions:
1 - Yes, I can put my shocks I got for my 2014 on a 2020. Since the shocks I have can be rebuilt by the manufacturer, they ought to be as good as new. My anti-sway bar, lid locks, and windshield can also come with me.
(now that that's out of the way)
2 - When you put the two Spyders side-by-side it really becomes much more apparent just how much the body and design has been updated. It take a lot its heart from the F3, and to me just looks a lot better. If you ride with two wheelers, like I do, taking off the back really makes it fit in better visually with conventional motorcycles. With or without it, the back is just so much better looking (as is the entire body). The flakes in the metallic paint are also striking, and really elevate the bike.
3 - Based on my limited experience on an F3, I would say that the ride and the feel of the engine is between the previous RT and the F3, and the handling is tighter. There weren't any canyons in the area, so I didn't get to test that out, but my impression is that the handling will be improved.
4 - I'm short, and that is worth addressing. I either need something to push me about two inches forward in my seat, or I'll need the short reach handlebars and some kind of extension for the break pedal. We discussed it, and it seems that I should be able to insert some kind of extension between the pedal and where it attaches, preserving the look and bringing the break forward 2-3 inches.
5 - The rear seat is larger, heated, more comfortable, and I think a bit higher. That heated seat really sold my wife, although even she was struck by seeing it in person.
6 - I know we've talked here about that misfitting bit of plastic near the passenger handles, but knowing it will eventually be fixed I can't see that it would bug me at all.
7 - Trade in value. Never mind, I can a lot better selling my 2014 myself, even if I lowball it to move it quickly.
8 - Timing. I can wait until the rebates hit and the dealers want to clear inventory. I'd rather save what might a $6K difference over six months of waiting.
9 - Chrome vs Black. I kept going back and forth on the BRP website and couldn't decide. In person, the chrome really did look a lot better with the design of this Spyder, but to each his own.
10 - They made so many very good choices in this update. While the 2010/2014 really fixed a lot of problems (engine power, dependability, etc), this update is more about taking it to the next level. It is more of a motorcycle, and less of a curiosity, which I really like.
11 - Yep, I'll get one.
12 - Do I really have to wait until September, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.....
I had a great chance at a local dealership to ride a 2020 RTL with my wife on the back. I own a 2014 RT-S SE6, and here are my impressions:
1 - Yes, I can put my shocks I got for my 2014 on a 2020. Since the shocks I have can be rebuilt by the manufacturer, they ought to be as good as new. My anti-sway bar, lid locks, and windshield can also come with me.
(now that that's out of the way)
2 - When you put the two Spyders side-by-side it really becomes much more apparent just how much the body and design has been updated. It take a lot its heart from the F3, and to me just looks a lot better. If you ride with two wheelers, like I do, taking off the back really makes it fit in better visually with conventional motorcycles. With or without it, the back is just so much better looking (as is the entire body). The flakes in the metallic paint are also striking, and really elevate the bike.
3 - Based on my limited experience on an F3, I would say that the ride and the feel of the engine is between the previous RT and the F3, and the handling is tighter. There weren't any canyons in the area, so I didn't get to test that out, but my impression is that the handling will be improved.
4 - I'm short, and that is worth addressing. I either need something to push me about two inches forward in my seat, or I'll need the short reach handlebars and some kind of extension for the break pedal. We discussed it, and it seems that I should be able to insert some kind of extension between the pedal and where it attaches, preserving the look and bringing the break forward 2-3 inches.
5 - The rear seat is larger, heated, more comfortable, and I think a bit higher. That heated seat really sold my wife, although even she was struck by seeing it in person.
6 - I know we've talked here about that misfitting bit of plastic near the passenger handles, but knowing it will eventually be fixed I can't see that it would bug me at all.
7 - Trade in value. Never mind, I can a lot better selling my 2014 myself, even if I lowball it to move it quickly.
8 - Timing. I can wait until the rebates hit and the dealers want to clear inventory. I'd rather save what might a $6K difference over six months of waiting.
9 - Chrome vs Black. I kept going back and forth on the BRP website and couldn't decide. In person, the chrome really did look a lot better with the design of this Spyder, but to each his own.
10 - They made so many very good choices in this update. While the 2010/2014 really fixed a lot of problems (engine power, dependability, etc), this update is more about taking it to the next level. It is more of a motorcycle, and less of a curiosity, which I really like.
11 - Yep, I'll get one.
12 - Do I really have to wait until September, tick-tock, tick-tock, tick-tock.....
