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First long ride coming, 2015 RTS - any advice?
- Thread starter Schuttler
- Start date
Don't use a death grip on the hand grips. Leave your hands kinda loose. Makes them steer & handle a lot better. A real Tight grip transfers any movement of your body down to the grips and steering; and you will be trying to correct the steering all the time. A looser grip and the Spyder will stay on a straight course without you having to always correct the steering. Below 70mph your milage will be better. Over 70mph and you'll use lot more gas - it seems to be that way on my RTL anyway.
Well, have fun on your trip, enjoy the air and smells you will run through. In a car, you miss a lot of the smells of different flowers, farms, trees, etc - go by grape farms and smell the grapes.
Well, have fun on your trip, enjoy the air and smells you will run through. In a car, you miss a lot of the smells of different flowers, farms, trees, etc - go by grape farms and smell the grapes.
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shakin_jake
Member
Check fluids, tire pressure (18 psi all around), get on and ride. Learn as you go. Never really understood some people’s apprehension. It’s a motorcycle with 3 wheels. No balance necessary. Have fun.
YMMV
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood
YMMV
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood
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Bfromla
Well-known member
:welcome: 
hyea:
Check out:
https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums...S-amp-DO-NOTS-quot-for-NEW-SPYDER-OWNERS-****
3 weeks in & doing a long trip :dontknow: It's not really a bad thing, just a steep learning curve. More miles under your belt & time with the machine would be good, but that you will be getting, so the Do's & Do Not's thread covers all the basics & a lot of general broad-spectrum stuff. :firstplace: :b2b:
Other lil' things to check & know about your Spyder:
Test to see if you have the fork & glove box lock (not sure what years came with that?) You should be able to turn the wheels far Left (or Right); push in on the key; turn it counterclockwise; and be able to remove the key with everything secured. Then test to see if the forks & glove box are locked.
When traveling, I personally like to attempt to take a list of accessible dealer's phone #'s & addresses along the way (Some just to visit; all for back up if needed!) I also sometimes get meet other Spyder Ryders there. :riding: :riding:
For roadside assistance: https://join.americanmotorcyclist.c...e=1&gbraid=0AAAAADOfFr3f-bcJQN-BF48-PrrQRSJmf
ENJOY! :doorag:
hyea: Check out:
https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums...S-amp-DO-NOTS-quot-for-NEW-SPYDER-OWNERS-****
3 weeks in & doing a long trip :dontknow: It's not really a bad thing, just a steep learning curve. More miles under your belt & time with the machine would be good, but that you will be getting, so the Do's & Do Not's thread covers all the basics & a lot of general broad-spectrum stuff. :firstplace: :b2b:
Other lil' things to check & know about your Spyder:
Test to see if you have the fork & glove box lock (not sure what years came with that?) You should be able to turn the wheels far Left (or Right); push in on the key; turn it counterclockwise; and be able to remove the key with everything secured. Then test to see if the forks & glove box are locked.
When traveling, I personally like to attempt to take a list of accessible dealer's phone #'s & addresses along the way (Some just to visit; all for back up if needed!) I also sometimes get meet other Spyder Ryders there. :riding: :riding:
For roadside assistance: https://join.americanmotorcyclist.c...e=1&gbraid=0AAAAADOfFr3f-bcJQN-BF48-PrrQRSJmf
ENJOY! :doorag:
Last edited by a moderator:
Snoking1127
Well-known member
Go ride in big city freeway traffic and be comfortable there, as you will most likely pass through some city with rush hour and other heavy traffic. I made an 1850-mile ride from Az to Wa via Northern California last May. I did a few 300ish days before making the trip as practice.
As stated, out on the road you just guide it, not steer it. If you want to correct to the left a bit, put a little pressure forward on the right handlebar and vice versa.
Relax and enjoy!
As stated, out on the road you just guide it, not steer it. If you want to correct to the left a bit, put a little pressure forward on the right handlebar and vice versa.
Relax and enjoy!
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carbonation
New member
Has the Spyder been vetted for safety and operation? Tires, lights, belt, brakes? If you don't know or aren't familiar, have a dealer check it over. No sense in starting a trip and having it go boink on day 2 because of something simple.
GPS up to date, or using your phone? I have both; there's been more than once I had no cell signal and GPS wins with directions.
Take a tire repair kit. You can get these simple plug kits at WM and some rubber cement for about $7.00. Yeah, I know, lots of people don't like plugs. Given an option of being able to plug it and get somewhere vs. waiting for roadside assistance for a couple hours, I'm plugging, airing up, and dealing with it on my terms.
You do have AMA membership with roadside, or AAA, or even Flo from Progressive covering you, right?
A few basic tools go a long way.
Extra gloves, including waterproof for rain.
Rainsuit. If you don't use it, it's because you brought it, and it warded off the cloud spirits.
Go ride, have fun. Light grip, eyes where you want to go, scan way ahead, and position yourself in traffic to be seen.
Marine rules, yield to the larger vessel.
Credit cards for emergencies. That can get you out of a lot of messes.
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Calimusjohn
Member
Riding 400 miles to Texas is not like a trip to the moon. Relax and enjoy the adventure. If you worry too much about the "What if's . . ." , you should hunker down in your recliner and watch Leave it to Beaver reruns. Or, get out of Dodge and enjoy the freedom of traveling on a Spyder. It's just a matter of common sense. Do what feels right to you. When all else fails . . . Keep it simple!
opcorn:
shakin_jake
Member
~~~hi Fatboy! I’ve been running 18 psi in my OEM Kenda rear (2021 RTL) for over 3 years/8K miles. She’s (Kenda rear tire) been run at 90 MPH on the interstate (passing situations) then checked for air pressure some time later (all 3 tires including the Vredstein fronts) & have found only 14 psi (cold tires) on the rear before airing back up to 18 psi. IOW, I have not had any problems w/my rear tire running the aforementioned pressures. I’ve never bothered to notice how many here (SpyderLovers) run 18 psi in the Spyder Kenda rear tire yet some of us do and, I’ll go out on a limb & say, some of us feel as long as there is any air pressure (no matter how low) in the rear Spyder Kenda, it will do just fine. There are exceptions of course. For instance, in my case- I ride solo 100% (no pillion) I don’t pull a trailer. Perhaps we could get Peter to go back to my original statement here (post #3) and add YMMV, so as not to upset the sensibilities of some members. I’m not having a go at you Fatboy or anyone else here for sure (seriously) but that rear Kenda on the Spyder in my experience does just fine at 18 >psi. Feel free to air up to whatever psi you feel is substantial
Best,
Jake
Reddick Fla.
All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream- Poe
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