NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
I am impressed with your determination to stick with it, and adjust as you need to. Great attitude! One of the hardest tings for me, as a motorcycle rider, is to adjust to the wind influence when I switch to the Spyder. The vastly different machines react much differently to wind and road conditions. I am a natural-born "tank hugger", but as you have discovered, gripping with your knees does seem to help keep your body under control. The biggest difference between Spyders and bikes, to me, is that the Spyder is actually not corrected for the wind, like a bike, at least not as much. I know that sounds strange, but I will try to explain.
On a motorcycle, when the wind hits, it causes the machine and rider to lean slightly. This immediately initiates a turn, although the gyroscopic effect of the wheels fights the tendency to turn, somewhat. The rider subconsciously (or consciously in a strong wind) makes tiny corrections, leaning back toward the wind, and/or countersteering ever so slightly to maintain his/her course. I find that on the Spyder, I want to make the same sort of corrections. Big mistake! The Spyder has no gyroscopic stability, and has very sensitive steering. It also tends to be less influenced by the wind...merely "rocking instead of turning". The natural (learned?) tendency to steer against the wind results in unneeded turning, then the rider has to correct that, and the result is wandering all over like a drunken sailor. I have found that by "divorcing" my upper body from my arms, I can let the wind move my body around, while the Spyder travels happily down the road. I keep hearing my flight instructor telling me, "Keep a light hand on the controls, and let the plane fly itself". I know this sounds silly, but try real hard to make as few steering corrections as possible for the wind, letting your body move around without your hands following suit. You may be surprised at the results.
BTW, if they do need to make some toe-in adjustments, be prepared for a whole new Spyder. They do get bad manners with too little toe-in.
On a motorcycle, when the wind hits, it causes the machine and rider to lean slightly. This immediately initiates a turn, although the gyroscopic effect of the wheels fights the tendency to turn, somewhat. The rider subconsciously (or consciously in a strong wind) makes tiny corrections, leaning back toward the wind, and/or countersteering ever so slightly to maintain his/her course. I find that on the Spyder, I want to make the same sort of corrections. Big mistake! The Spyder has no gyroscopic stability, and has very sensitive steering. It also tends to be less influenced by the wind...merely "rocking instead of turning". The natural (learned?) tendency to steer against the wind results in unneeded turning, then the rider has to correct that, and the result is wandering all over like a drunken sailor. I have found that by "divorcing" my upper body from my arms, I can let the wind move my body around, while the Spyder travels happily down the road. I keep hearing my flight instructor telling me, "Keep a light hand on the controls, and let the plane fly itself". I know this sounds silly, but try real hard to make as few steering corrections as possible for the wind, letting your body move around without your hands following suit. You may be surprised at the results.
BTW, if they do need to make some toe-in adjustments, be prepared for a whole new Spyder. They do get bad manners with too little toe-in.
