finless
New member
OK for some of you that have been following my purchasing of a RT, This coming Friday I go to Palm Springs to look at and if all goes well ride home a 2011 RT-S SM5. That's a 114 mile ride for a trike n00b. I have been nervous about it.
So I decided to go take a test driver at the Whittier Fun Center.
They did not have a manual trans model so I took a 2012 RTS SE5 out for a ride. And just for my wife to understand, she went with me.
I really do my research and studied the manual on all the buttons switches etc, how to start it, kill it, stop, shift, downshift, etc.. The Dealer manager was impressed I knew everything and thus basically said you ready to go?
The course they take you on is mostly residential but one area has some good curves so you get a feel of turning at speed (rather than just turning from a stop light). He starts you out with a little U-turn kind of "get a feel" in a small perking lot. I followed the dealer on another RTS. Last leg is out onto Whittier blvd where you can do 40.
Now per my previous posts I have ridden motorcycles before. On vacations like Key West, my wife and I would even rent Honda scooters that could go on the freeway. So while I don't claim to be a cycle expert by any means. I am not a total n00b either.
First impressions.
1) Up the first residential street I want to feel the steering so I wiggled the steering wheel left and right a few times to feel what the bike would do. WIERD to say the least. If felt like it was fighting me and wanted to go back to a straight course. My wife also freaked because she was not expecting the feeling she got on the back doing that! She thought something was wrong... Sorry dear! I told her to relax as I was just feeling it out.
2) First right turn at a stop and all was OK. Seems a little hard to turn compared to a bike though. I forgot to signal.
3) Next street was 30 MPH but had 3 stop signs. Dealer had me speed a little so I could get out of 1st gear. I got it up to 35.. From each stop I goosed it a little more and more to feel the power from take off. Also I watched the RPM on when to shift (above 4000! I know
). From reading I always wondered if 4000 would sound like it is screaming or something. Honestly piece of cake. I cant see why anyone would baby it more than that.
4) The next section was through a curvy residential area. But the curves are a little sharp. I know most of you would laugh and say "those arent curves!" But it was the first time taking a corner at speed. First corner I freaked! So did my wife. The feeling is ODD has hell! Nothing like a motorcycle! I also did everything wrong! When I went into the corner and felt the feeling of tipping over (or falling off) or whatever you want to call it, I hit the breaks to try and slow down a little... Bad move as that made the feeling worse! Both my wife and I were like... what the hell? I also did not lean into the turn as I have read here on how to ride it. That's when my wife got nervous for the rest of the ride.
However, there were about 4 more left and right curves in this stretch. My reading and sticking it in my head of how to ride this thing then kicked in... I have to say the information on this site for those that will do the research is INVALUABLE if you commit it to memory and study up! I told my wife to also lean like I do and use the hand rails. Next curve was better and I leaned in on the curve. Took at apex in and out better and stayed off the breaks. Next curve was even better and so on. My wife was still very nervous though after that first failed curve.
My only wish was if there could have been more curves to learn on in the test drive! I believe I still have a lot of learning/tuning to do to best get the feel for curves at speed.
5) Next was a right turn at a light. For safety the dealer waited for the light to turn green. There was also a cop car across the intersection which worried me a little as we were speeding a bit through the residential area. Nothing happened though. The stretch on this road was 35 mph with 2 lights which we hit both of them on a red. I tried downshifting manually... I obviously did it as the wrong speed or something because the first downshift was a good jerk. Wife freaked out a little again asking what I was doing wrong. Up to the next light was a longer stretch and dealer had me get it up to 40. Got it into 3rd and this time let it downshift coming up to the next light. I thought it was weird myself. When I went to stop at the light, it kind of waited and it downshifted 2 gears almost one right after the other. Not sure what to make of that.
6) Next right was onto Whittier blvd which speed limit is 40. Now I have to say another lessons learned that I did not do but read about. Since the start I had the so called "death grip" on the handle bars! My hands were feeling it and at the turn I realized I was doing the other thing everyone said to learn to not do! So I made the turn and quickly got it up to 40 following the dealer. I think he really was trying to push so I could feel the bike better. I released my death grip and once at 40, man did the thing feel real good! We were in the right lane and there was a slower car. He signaled and went around jumping up the speed and then waited next to the car to see if I would follow. I went for it... speed it up to 45, he went faster to pass and so did I.. We go almost up to 50. When I went to go around the car I then realized I had NOT adjusted the mirrors. Had to turn the head around to make sure I was safely past the car. Little father and we turned back into the dealer.
He had gotten there ahead of me and when I pulled into the parking lot he was already backed in and parked. He said just leave it there. I ignored him and I wanted to see what reverse was like and how to back into a slot. Loved it! Glad they put reverse on these things.
Anyway test drive was over and I almost asked if we could go around again but other were in line waiting so no go on that.
Thoughts in the end?
A) I got lots to learn about riding these.
B) Straights at speed is just wonderful! Smooth ride and once you release the death grip, a pleasure to control.
C) First curves at some speed scare the hell out of you! Be ready for it your first time and STUDY how to ride one of these. Commit it to memory! Otherwise I think learning on one would be harder and possibly even cause you to not want one! Seriously the first sensation is just weird and unexpected!
Finally, I still am very nervous about riding one 110 miles home on highways without more experience. But I take it as a opportunity to learn too. We will be leaving Palm Springs at least by 10:00 AM to avoid Friday afternoon traffic. I have made a plan B just in case. When I get it on the highway at 55 and if I find I am not comfortable, we are going to stop and rent a U-Haul flatbed trailer. My SUV will have no problem pulling it and my buddy that is coming with me has tied downs. I have read the manual about how to tie it down. But I really do want to try and ride it home but safety and risk are #1 for me so there is plan B.
Anyway, my friend was with us and took this picture right after we got back from the ride. Wife doesn't look nervous
Bob
So I decided to go take a test driver at the Whittier Fun Center.
They did not have a manual trans model so I took a 2012 RTS SE5 out for a ride. And just for my wife to understand, she went with me.
I really do my research and studied the manual on all the buttons switches etc, how to start it, kill it, stop, shift, downshift, etc.. The Dealer manager was impressed I knew everything and thus basically said you ready to go?
The course they take you on is mostly residential but one area has some good curves so you get a feel of turning at speed (rather than just turning from a stop light). He starts you out with a little U-turn kind of "get a feel" in a small perking lot. I followed the dealer on another RTS. Last leg is out onto Whittier blvd where you can do 40.
Now per my previous posts I have ridden motorcycles before. On vacations like Key West, my wife and I would even rent Honda scooters that could go on the freeway. So while I don't claim to be a cycle expert by any means. I am not a total n00b either.
First impressions.
1) Up the first residential street I want to feel the steering so I wiggled the steering wheel left and right a few times to feel what the bike would do. WIERD to say the least. If felt like it was fighting me and wanted to go back to a straight course. My wife also freaked because she was not expecting the feeling she got on the back doing that! She thought something was wrong... Sorry dear! I told her to relax as I was just feeling it out.
2) First right turn at a stop and all was OK. Seems a little hard to turn compared to a bike though. I forgot to signal.
3) Next street was 30 MPH but had 3 stop signs. Dealer had me speed a little so I could get out of 1st gear. I got it up to 35.. From each stop I goosed it a little more and more to feel the power from take off. Also I watched the RPM on when to shift (above 4000! I know
). From reading I always wondered if 4000 would sound like it is screaming or something. Honestly piece of cake. I cant see why anyone would baby it more than that.4) The next section was through a curvy residential area. But the curves are a little sharp. I know most of you would laugh and say "those arent curves!" But it was the first time taking a corner at speed. First corner I freaked! So did my wife. The feeling is ODD has hell! Nothing like a motorcycle! I also did everything wrong! When I went into the corner and felt the feeling of tipping over (or falling off) or whatever you want to call it, I hit the breaks to try and slow down a little... Bad move as that made the feeling worse! Both my wife and I were like... what the hell? I also did not lean into the turn as I have read here on how to ride it. That's when my wife got nervous for the rest of the ride.
However, there were about 4 more left and right curves in this stretch. My reading and sticking it in my head of how to ride this thing then kicked in... I have to say the information on this site for those that will do the research is INVALUABLE if you commit it to memory and study up! I told my wife to also lean like I do and use the hand rails. Next curve was better and I leaned in on the curve. Took at apex in and out better and stayed off the breaks. Next curve was even better and so on. My wife was still very nervous though after that first failed curve.
My only wish was if there could have been more curves to learn on in the test drive! I believe I still have a lot of learning/tuning to do to best get the feel for curves at speed.
5) Next was a right turn at a light. For safety the dealer waited for the light to turn green. There was also a cop car across the intersection which worried me a little as we were speeding a bit through the residential area. Nothing happened though. The stretch on this road was 35 mph with 2 lights which we hit both of them on a red. I tried downshifting manually... I obviously did it as the wrong speed or something because the first downshift was a good jerk. Wife freaked out a little again asking what I was doing wrong
. Up to the next light was a longer stretch and dealer had me get it up to 40. Got it into 3rd and this time let it downshift coming up to the next light. I thought it was weird myself. When I went to stop at the light, it kind of waited and it downshifted 2 gears almost one right after the other. Not sure what to make of that.6) Next right was onto Whittier blvd which speed limit is 40. Now I have to say another lessons learned that I did not do but read about. Since the start I had the so called "death grip" on the handle bars! My hands were feeling it and at the turn I realized I was doing the other thing everyone said to learn to not do! So I made the turn and quickly got it up to 40 following the dealer. I think he really was trying to push so I could feel the bike better. I released my death grip and once at 40, man did the thing feel real good! We were in the right lane and there was a slower car. He signaled and went around jumping up the speed and then waited next to the car to see if I would follow. I went for it... speed it up to 45, he went faster to pass and so did I.. We go almost up to 50. When I went to go around the car I then realized I had NOT adjusted the mirrors. Had to turn the head around to make sure I was safely past the car. Little father and we turned back into the dealer.
He had gotten there ahead of me and when I pulled into the parking lot he was already backed in and parked. He said just leave it there. I ignored him and I wanted to see what reverse was like and how to back into a slot. Loved it! Glad they put reverse on these things.
Anyway test drive was over and I almost asked if we could go around again but other were in line waiting so no go on that.
Thoughts in the end?
A) I got lots to learn about riding these.
B) Straights at speed is just wonderful! Smooth ride and once you release the death grip, a pleasure to control.
C) First curves at some speed scare the hell out of you! Be ready for it your first time and STUDY how to ride one of these. Commit it to memory! Otherwise I think learning on one would be harder and possibly even cause you to not want one! Seriously the first sensation is just weird and unexpected!
Finally, I still am very nervous about riding one 110 miles home on highways without more experience. But I take it as a opportunity to learn too. We will be leaving Palm Springs at least by 10:00 AM to avoid Friday afternoon traffic. I have made a plan B just in case. When I get it on the highway at 55 and if I find I am not comfortable, we are going to stop and rent a U-Haul flatbed trailer. My SUV will have no problem pulling it and my buddy that is coming with me has tied downs. I have read the manual about how to tie it down. But I really do want to try and ride it home but safety and risk are #1 for me so there is plan B.
Anyway, my friend was with us and took this picture right after we got back from the ride. Wife doesn't look nervous
Bob
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