Ease my fears

[exwinger]

No problem

NO flaming; but still just one little :hun:...
I'd keep both hands on the bars, but try opening up the left hand so that input is minimalized.
I'm not diagreeing; but it's the first that i've heard of this one.
(Sorry!)

Believe it not Bob , that was the way I learned to control my old GWtrike. With both hands on the bars it was all over the road , had a 7 degree rake on the front and the steering was very touchy, moreso than the spyder. I did ride for awhile with the left hand on the bars but relaxed but still tended to grab and end up overcompensating .I'm not saying to take it out on the interstate in heavy traffic and high speeds and practice this right off the bat, sorry if I came across that way. I only used one hand when there was no traffic and on a straight or gentle curves until I got the hang of " light "control .I do however ride a lot using one hand , not to be bragging or appearing ( unsafe ? ) . I only do this when I ride using a backrest and find it very easy to ride this way and on a long trip it's relaxing . My hand is always on my knee and I try and be aware of any thing on the road that might cause a problem. If it's windy or there's a lot of traffic or bad road conditions it's def. two handed. I don't always use one hand ,I just brought this method up that it worked for me ( while learning ) and may help someone else to get over the fear of the bike going everywhere and to see how easy the bike can really be controlled .

 

[Questions]

I'm 67 and been riding bikes for 50 years and found the Spyder so different to ride, but when you get used to them they are a blast. You are never to old and as I always say "I'm not getting any older, just more experienced in life, and I'm exploring the way for all of the young ones."
Regards
Paul...Radar

 

[GeoffCee]

There's nothing like age to get people going...

I'm 75 and I know that some of my neighbours think I'm an old fool to leave my car garaged and take to the road wearing a helmet and an armoured set of Gore-Tex biking gear. As for our Spyder, those folks are completely at a loss, they've never seen anything like it!

I had a stroke in 09. It could have been 08, I forget. Post-stroke I was left with a balance problem. I can walk without a stick but without it passers-by can see that I'm old and they assume I'm inebriated, too, as I make my wobbly way around town. These days walking a straight line takes up a lot of pavement (sidewalk).

My wrecked sense of balance put an end to a lifetime of motorcycle touring. The problem was a feeling that if I leaned my bike into a corner I'd not be able to get it upright again. My brain would be asking, "Just where is upright?" I waited 2 years before selling my wonderful BeeEmm in the hope that my health would improve. Kept the oil fresh and the battery charged and polished it regularly mainly for theraputic reasons. Time is a great healer but unfortunately my sense of balance didn't pay heed to that.

My Spyder doesn't care about "upright". It has never heard about lean angles. Knee sliders do not appear in its vocabulary. It has a twist grip and a foot brake to make it go and stop. How very civilised. It's a total mystery to me why Queen Elizabeth doesn't have one. Philip would love it.

A few weeks ago I joined a bikers' touring group and spent some time ryding down through France and into Spain to explore the Picos Mountains. A thousand twisties taken by a bunch of bikes and one 3-wheeler. For Alice and I it was as close as we can get to our good old bike touring days, pre-stroke. Our biker friends were impressed with the RT and so were we. We are off to Germany on another tour shortly after the Olympics.

We bought our RT in March 11 and spent last year learning to ride it. There's a mountain of good advice on that same topic right here on SpyderLovers. My contribution is short and personal: stay with it, Radar, and in no time at all you'll learn to love your Spyder, as we did. :f_spider:

 

[78OldRide]

Young at heart

I have ridden 2 wheels since I was 12 the 3 takes some getting use to. My wife had not ridden untill she was around 55.
Now she wants to go for a ride every day if wether permits.
I say take it slow find a rode with little traffic some good straights and turns both left and right. When Ma rides make sure she hangs onto the handles and not you. Sometimes a quick movement will catch her off guard.
It's just like when you were first married take it slow learn the little quirks adjust and enjoy the rest of your life together.:thumbup:Gary

 

[Bob Denman]

Believe it not Bob , that was the way I learned to control my old GWtrike.

I know... I only was cautioning them since they're pretty new at this game.
I didn't mean it to come across as a critique of your riding style; I also keep my left hand real loose of the grip...
I just would suggest to somebody who's just starting out that keeping both hands in a wee bit better contact with the controls might serve them better if the unexpected happens... :shocked: :thumbup: