General ryding question

[dlby]

2 wheels for 45 years

Took me 2k to learn the Spyder to full comfort level
Pretty strange at first

Glad I stuck with it
Never going back!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[Vader]

Well

..how did it go??!!opcorn:

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: :shocked:
How was your trip??
:bbq::bbq::bbq:

 

[Jenfz09]

The biggest threat you will face are gawkers who are fascinated by your steed. Many will wave or give you a thumbs up, others will creep uncomfortably close to take a picture (unfortunately some of these will be drivers). Forgive the cagers, they are rightfully jealous of your Ryde! When you stop for gas you will have to explain your beast to at least one other person. When you mount up at a restaurant you will attract. Welcome to the Spyder!
SpyderWalter

You are 100% correct.
1) got gas, had three people come over, 20 minutes
2) got gas, had to explain again.
3) stopped at Chic fil a- people were surrounding it and taking pictures. I went outside and explained what it was.
I told them they could put their little girl on it if they wanted and I went back inside. I saw them put the girl on, fine, then the dad started to BOUNCE THE SPYDER!! The whole thing compressed. I was beside myself and losing my mind. They were gone before I got outside. I'm done with anyone touching it.
4) my husband told me that people were pulling up and looking at the Spyder when I was riding it
5) I had to explain what it was to my neighbors in PA. More little kids pointing and smiling.

I really wasn't expecting any of this!

 

[Jenfz09]

:agree: :shocked:
How was your trip??
:bbq::bbq::bbq:

I love the Spyder!
- pot holes didn't matter
-rough roads and bad pavement didn't matter
-dead animal in the road wasn't an issue
-sitting in traffic was great, no clutch or front brake to hold
-hills were a non issue and we had some steep hills with stop signs at the top, stopping on a hill on a motorcycle requires lots of coordination and skill, especially turning on a steep hill from a stop
-the Spyder has a radio, feels like a rolling couch, has cruise control, keeps the wind off of you, keeps your hand warm, and can hold tons of stuff

I love this thing! I should have gotten one eight years ago. Yes, it's absolutely addicting. I'm moving my Camaro out of the garage and am putting the Spyder in there tonight. That says something.

 

[Jenfz09]

Here's the most ridiculous thing from today-

We had to turn around on a side street after realizing a gas station was in the other direction. So I'm ready to back up, tried to do what I had remembered, and nothing. I couldn't get the Spyder into reverse. We were in the middle of the country so there were no cars at least. We literally were in the middle of a road reading the manual, trying to figure out how to put this thing in reverse!

The other thing I can't figure out is how to turn it off without the beeping. If someone could explain the shut off procedure for an SE5 RT Spyder, I would appetite it. Thands.

 

[Deanna777]

Two wheels for 16 years ( as a passenger).

It took me 2.5 miles to get use to driving my first spyder( first :spyder2: was a 2012RTS-SE5), and I am glad I did, and have not looked back since. I got my motorcycle license with the first :spyder2:. Every chance I got I would ride the my first Spyder.

My current :spyder2: is a 2014RTS-SE6 Cognac, and having a fun. Deanna

 

[Lew L]

Try this

Hi Jen,

Try this, Foot brake must be stepped on( lightly as it dosen't take much) to shift into Reverse.Its a MUST ...

To shift into reverse with the semi-auto trans ( SE ) :
Step on brake, press R on the left handle bar pod w/ thumb and hold then , Touch the shift paddle with index finger.

To shut down: I put in neutral, engauge the parking brake, shut off motor. No beeping.

I have a SE 6 but I think it's the same.

Been riding for over 50 years but it took a few hundred miles to get the :spyder2: right. Gotta relax that grip.

Kaos

 

[Deanna777]

Hi Jen,

Try this, Foot brake must be stepped on( lightly as it dosen't take much) to shift. Its a MUST ...

To shift into reverse with the semi-auto trans ( SE ) :
Step on brake, press R on the left handle bar pod w/ thumb and hold then , Touch the shift paddle with index finger.

I have a SE 6 but I think it's the same.

Been riding for over 50 years but it took a few hundred miles to get the :spyder2: right. Gotta relax that grip.

Kaos

You are right about the shifting into "Reverse". Deanna

 

[Kwalsh]

As a truck driver who frequents those roads you described all I can say is, I am glad it worked out and you enjoyed it so much. I hope you never have to go back that way and can finally ride it on back country mountain roads where the spyder is right at home.

I also will be curious how long it takes for you guys to buy a 2nd spyder, 1 for each of you


good luck with new ride!!!!

 

[Jenfz09]

As a truck driver who frequents those roads you described all I can say is, I am glad it worked out and you enjoyed it so much. I hope you never have to go back that way and can finally ride it on back country mountain roads where the spyder is right at home.

I also will be curious how long it takes for you guys to buy a 2nd spyder, 1 for each of you


good luck with new ride!!!!

Funny you say that. I told my husband at the PA rest stop, 100 miles from our start, that we need two of these! He's more interested in riding his cruiser anyway though. I'm curious as to what he will think after riding the Spyder though.

Thanks to all of you for the advice!

 

[Sarge707]

Buy and Install The "BajaRon Anti-SwayBar for about $200 and its easy to install on the 2012 RT. It will corner Like its on rails with Very Little Sway !!
BEST Mod you can do!!!!

 

[Kwalsh]

If you ever ride to the real upstate ny let me know, glad to get together for a ride, 2 or 3 wheels we have it all above the catskills

 

[PistonBlown]

For some reason people seem to think it's fine to sit or let their kids sit on the Spyder. No idea why when they wouldn't do it with any other vehicle. On one ride here a group of us stopped at a café at a local lookout. As we were going into the café these two Asian tourists got onto one of the Spyders to have their photo taken (without asking permission). One of them managed to put their foot on the parking brake and release it at which point it started rolling back towards the cliff edge. Both girls sat on it started screaming but had no idea how to stop it - we all ran towards the Spyder and two of the guys managed to hold on to it.

After that I made up the following replacement for the safety card:

 

[Lew L]

Same Card

For some reason people seem to think it's fine to sit or let their kids sit on the Spyder. No idea why when they wouldn't do it with any other vehicle. On one ride here a group of us stopped at a café at a local lookout. As we were going into the café these two Asian tourists got onto one of the Spyders to have their photo taken (without asking permission). One of them managed to put their foot on the parking brake and release it at which point it started rolling back towards the cliff edge. Both girls sat on it started screaming but had no idea how to stop it - we all ran towards the Spyder and two of the guys managed to hold on to it.

After that I made up the following replacement for the safety card:

\\

I have the exact same card on my Spyder. Seems to work as I have never had anybody touch my Spyder( that I know of???)

Someone sitting on my spyder would cause::::::yikes:

 

[Jenfz09]

If you ever ride to the real upstate ny let me know, glad to get together for a ride, 2 or 3 wheels we have it all above the catskills

Will do

 

[Jenfz09]

\\

I have the exact same card on my Spyder. Seems to work as I have never had anybody touch my Spyder( that I know of???)

Someone sitting on my spyder would cause::::::yikes:

I gave them permission to sit the little kid on it. Now, the BOUNCING up and down, yeah, that was my problem. And, there are a few scratches that weren't there before, I'm done.

As far as it rolling, wow. I wonder what the liability is. I'm a physics teacher now, but I used to practice law. There's a thing called an "attractive nuisance" where if you can reasonably believe that kids would access an area and hurt themselves, that you could be liable. I wonder if someone sat on the Spyder without permission and accessed the brake if you could be liable if they hurt themselves?!?

 

[PistonBlown]

I gave them permission to sit the little kid on it. Now, the BOUNCING up and down, yeah, that was my problem. And, there are a few scratches that weren't there before, I'm done.

As far as it rolling, wow. I wonder what the liability is. I'm a physics teacher now, but I used to practice law. There's a thing called an "attractive nuisance" where if you can reasonably believe that kids would access an area and hurt themselves, that you could be liable. I wonder if someone sat on the Spyder without permission and accessed the brake if you could be liable if they hurt themselves?!?

Fortunately liability doesn't enter into it in New Zealand as this would come under ACC. If you have an accident (e.g. get on someone else's bike without permission, take the brake off and sailing backwards over a cliff) then this covered by the government Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC). You can't sue the owners of the bike, cliff etc. ACC will cover your medical costs and will even cover 80% of your salary while you recuperate. If you end up with permanent injury then you may be entitled to compensation paid by ACC (but the amounts are based on standard rates and small). However the whole aim of ACC is to get people back to work again.

For example a friend recently broke their arm while out mountain biking. ACC covered the medical costs and paid 80% of his salary for the first few days while he was off work. The doctor said he could return to work but he wasn't able to drive so ACC paid for taxi's to allow him to get to work and back.

It's not a perfect system but is beats any others I've come across in other countries and get's around the whole sue culture rubbish.

 

[PistonBlown]

\\

I have the exact same card on my Spyder. Seems to work as I have never had anybody touch my Spyder( that I know of???)

Someone sitting on my spyder would cause::::::yikes:

Yep after I did this I watched people walk up to the Spyder glance at the card and take a sharp step backwards looking around guiltily

If any one else want's a 'print out and keep' version I've got my original drawing file for this somewhere which I'll post here again.

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad to hear that it was a successful trip! :thumbup:
I don't think that anyone addressed the issue of the bike beeping at you after it's been turned off:
Engage your parking brake, and all will be silent.
The bikes with "ESSIE" transmissions, have an engagement clutch that is free when the engine isn't spinning.
If you parked on an incline with the parking brake off (even in gear!), it would roll away! nojoke