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F3 Limited or RT Limited for 2up Riding, Newbie here with questions

Don has helped many here. Twice for me. Ron for a swaybar. As far as comfort goes. That's up to you and the wife. Ride both Spyders. We have had both. First the RT, now the F3. Wife actually likes the F3 better. The seat and CanAm armrests fit her to her liking. She also likes the huge trunk, and backrest on the back. Much more usable than the RT trunk. :thumbup: Tom :spyder:
 
Like pretty much everyone here has already said: you owe it to yourself, and even more so to your 'better half', to go and seriously test ride both the RT Ltd and the F3 Ltd. Just be sure to compare the RT to the new 2017 F3 Ltd. for the truest comparison overall. The newest F3 has both the integrated backrest/topcase as well as automated rear suspension; that makes it more truly comparable than other F3 variations. The real difference, then, is between the ergonomics of the two bikes.

We recently went through the exact same mental wrestling match trying to choose. In our case, I first thought we would likely opt for an RT when we went to look. How wrong that turned out to be. The seating on the RT was painful for my hips; much less so on the F3. But, we did the RT test ride anyway, and enjoyed it enough to want to try more. The dealer pulled a brand new 2017 F3 Ltd out of a box and put it together; two days later we tested it. I felt much better in the driver's seat of the F3 Ltd than the RT Ltd. My wife enjoyed the ride on the F3 Ltd passenger seat somewhat more, as well, in spite of the breeziness. She loves the open air and sporty feel. Her opinion was that the RT felt "too big", and that the F3 Ltd was more what we would be happier with. I didn't argue.

In the end, it really is a personal choice, and should depend on how both of you feel, physically and emotionally. On the F3 Ltd, I can change the position of the driver floorboards, and likely will soon try a switch from position 3 to position 4. The passenger floorboards are not adjustable that I am aware of. I'm also going to do something about the F3 stock driver's seat. While my hips feel better than on the RT, the stock F3 Ltd driver's seat is uncomfortable for me after 60-90 minutes. I will look at a Day-Long or Ultimate as a swap. My wife, though, is quite happy with the stock passenger seat on the F3 Ltd. She even feels secure enough that she wants me to remove the arm rests that I had installed for her added safety. Probably also will opt for a larger windshield, possibly an F4, to cut down on the breeze. She doesn't mind the wind, nor do I, but my senses tell me we would be better off with slightly less buffeting. However, I don't want to entirely lose the 'sporty' feel of the F3 Ltd, either.

We bought our F3 Ltd to basically do two-up riding; shorter day trips, maybe an overnight or two. We won't likely do long distance touring. We've so far done 7-8 hours (300 miles round trip) in a day, and several 3-4 hour day trips (with a couple of breaks). That's also a factor in your decision-making. There's no need to rush; plenty of Spyders available. Do your homework; keep testing. Listen to what your bodies and your instincts tell you. Then choose one, and have yourselves a lot of fun.

Your money; your decision. Choose what suits YOU and YOUR NEEDS, not because of what others have done. If any of our experience is helpful as a 'guide', it is freely offered, but very much subject to whatever value (or not) that YOU wish to give it.

What is the difference in the F3T and the F3 limited, the F3T is a new 2016 model? Can you 2 up ride on this model?
 
Difference is

The F3T does not have the trunk. The F3 Limited has the trunk. If you find a 2016 F3T for a good price you can always add the trunk for about $2,000. Other than the trunk nothing different.
 
To answer your question, Take5:

For me, the biggest incentive to pay more and get a 2017 F3 Ltd was that it had electronic rear suspension rather than manually adjusted, which is the situation with the F3T and earlier (2016) versions of the Ltd. I just didn't want to have to bother with adjusting; let the bike do it. And, it had the back rest/ top case. These features, to my mind, more completely balanced the choice between an RT Ltd and an F3 Ltd as far as desirable equipment went, with the exception of a GPS, which was remedied by adding that option. Our goal was to do two-up riding 95% of the time; in that, we are absolutely delighted with our decision.
 
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To answer your question, Take5:

For me, the biggest incentive to pay more and get a 2017 F3 Ltd was that it had electronic rear suspension rather than manually adjusted, which is the situation with the F3T and earlier (2016) versions of the Ltd. I just didn't want to have to bother with adjusting; let the bike do it. And, it had the back rest/ top case. These features, to my mind, more completely balanced the choice between an RT Ltd and an F3 Ltd as far as desirable equipment went, with the exception of a GPS, which was remedied by adding that option. Our goal was to do two-up riding 95% of the time; in that, we are absolutely delighted with our decision.[/QUOT
I had a 2016 F3T - loved the ride much better than the 2016 RTLTD, which we now own - but we opted for the RT because of the much larger luggage capacity. My wife never complained about the F3T passenger comfort, however.
My biggest complaint about the '16 F3T was that the rear sprocket was 89tooth, whereas the RT has 79tooth on the rear - much better for high speed cruising.
GUESS WHAT - the 2017 F3LTD now has the same 79tooth gearing as the RT models.
Some Spyder dealers do not even know this - trust me - I had to point that out to my dealer.
We are thoroughly enjoying our RT, especially with our new Ultimate seat, but I am convinced you will be thrilled with your choice of the '17 F3LTD.
 
To answer your question, Take5:

For me, the biggest incentive to pay more and get a 2017 F3 Ltd was that it had electronic rear suspension rather than manually adjusted, which is the situation with the F3T and earlier (2016) versions of the Ltd. I just didn't want to have to bother with adjusting; let the bike do it. And, it had the back rest/ top case. These features, to my mind, more completely balanced the choice between an RT Ltd and an F3 Ltd as far as desirable equipment went, with the exception of a GPS, which was remedied by adding that option. Our goal was to do two-up riding 95% of the time; in that, we are absolutely delighted with our decision.[/QUOT
I had a 2016 F3T - loved the ride much better than the 2016 RTLTD, which we now own - but we opted for the RT because of the much larger luggage capacity. My wife never complained about the F3T passenger comfort, however.
My biggest complaint about the '16 F3T was that the rear sprocket was 89tooth, whereas the RT has 79tooth on the rear - much better for high speed cruising.
GUESS WHAT - the 2017 F3LTD now has the same 79tooth gearing as the RT models.
Some Spyder dealers do not even know this - trust me - I had to point that out to my dealer.
We are thoroughly enjoying our RT, especially with our new Ultimate seat, but I am convinced you will be thrilled with your choice of the '17 F3LTD.

Add the factory armrests and BAM!
 
The F3T does not have the trunk. The F3 Limited has the trunk. If you find a 2016 F3T for a good price you can always add the trunk for about $2,000. Other than the trunk nothing different.

Incorrect - a 2016 or 2017F3T with an added trunk is not the same as a 2017 F3 Ltd with standard trunk. Biggest difference is in the gearing. The F3Ts have 89tooth rear sprockets, whereas the 2017 F3 Ltd has a 79tooth sprocket(like the RT models). Thus, lower rpms at 70mph cruising. This is new for U.S. versions, as Europe and Australia have always had this gearing on the F3T and F3Ltd - not the F3 or F3S.

















 
Our "personal" opinion.....driver comfort=F3Ltd, passenger comfort=RT.
i have a 2017 F3 Ltd, wife has an RT.
RT has more luggage space, more comfortable passenger back rest and better seat.
That said, I like my F3 Ltd, but the wife is riding her own bike the RT. She would have no other!
The RT Ltd is a loaded "touring" bike, the F3 Ltd is a loaded "cruised" bike.
Our opinion from riding the two styles....
 
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