First I come from riding on two wheels. Second, I read the whole Do's and Don'ts thread which was a big help on the test ride. My first thought as I pulled out onto the road was I am either going to run off the side or over the center line. That first left turn on to the road was like "why the hell is this thing trying to go right? I want to go left!". Being used to counter steer really threw me. For the first few hundred feet down the road I sure I looked like a drunk driver. Then I remembered the thread and relaxed my grip. This was a semi automatic so at the first stop light I had this feeling of "where the hell are my controls?" No front brake, no clutch level, no shift lever. Two things I should have done. First sit on the bike and visualize starting and going up through the gears. Braking with just one foot and no hands. Second, I should have done some slow driving around the lot before going out on the road which was two lanes each way separated by a double yellow. When I got back to the lot and relayed my feelings about the ride he said he usually has people take it around t he lot first but since I was an experienced rider he just let me go. I told him everyone should go around the lot first. Especially bike riders.
I thought I would feel more comfortable with my wife one a Spyder rather than her bike. She just doesn't get enough seat time to get really good at the slow speed stuff and tends to drop the bike occasionally. Five minutes in to this ride I was convinced that she would run this off the road or over the center line and kill herself.
So, how many miles does it take to get real comfortable with the Spyder steering and finger paddle shifter? How long before it becomes second nature?
The steering just seems so sensitive I would be afraid to make a quick correction if needed. I can see why the heavier sway bar is a favored update. This bike just had an alignment at the dealer. It was a used 2010 or 2011 silver RS.
Thanks
John
I thought I would feel more comfortable with my wife one a Spyder rather than her bike. She just doesn't get enough seat time to get really good at the slow speed stuff and tends to drop the bike occasionally. Five minutes in to this ride I was convinced that she would run this off the road or over the center line and kill herself.
So, how many miles does it take to get real comfortable with the Spyder steering and finger paddle shifter? How long before it becomes second nature?
The steering just seems so sensitive I would be afraid to make a quick correction if needed. I can see why the heavier sway bar is a favored update. This bike just had an alignment at the dealer. It was a used 2010 or 2011 silver RS.
Thanks
John
