Handling

[Bob Denman]

Have you ridden an ATV or snowmobile? The Spyder handles much more like those than a two wheeler. In fact, you will need to forget all about your two wheel cornering experience and expertise and relearn cornering techniques completely. There is no counter steering with a Spyder. Contrary to two wheel cornering steering a Spyder is pretty much a full time job, especially during cornering. The only time you can completely relax your hold on the handlebars is when you are going straight.

:agree:
No matter what you do, or what you call it: it'll NEVER handle like a "leaner". It just takes a while to get used to the new sensations. Give it 500 miles, and then tell us how it feels.
Good luck! :thumbup:

 

[Waynebang i]

I went for the helpful/friendly version but Can't help wondering...

Is this an I would like some help thread,

or

Is this a lets complain about the brand thread?

:dontknow::dontknow:

I love my Spyder, I am just looking for help

 

[Waynebang i]

:agree:
No matter what you do, or what you call it: it'll NEVER handle like a "leaner". It just takes a while to get used to the new sensations. Give it 500 miles, and then tell us how it feels.
Good luck! :thumbup:

I bought it in Florida and rode it home to Georgia 500 miles on my first outing. Long straight Florida roads were great north Georgia mountains it really works your hard. It just seems to me that it should handle a little better than it does so I wonder if something was wrong with it

 

[Easy Rider]

I love my Spyder, I am just looking for help

The best advice is a few posts back:

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.

Of course this needs to be quality practice; you need to re-learn some old principles, like LOOK where you want to go. That includes looking THROUGH a turn and not concentrating on the pavement lines immediately in front of you.

And I think that you need to get OFF two wheels completely because going back and forth just confuses matters.

 

[robhowen]

Ride it for a 1-3 months

Assuming you are really new (week or two) I suggest you simply ride the bike for 1 to 3 months before you do anything UNLESS you have obvious alignment issue signs or your tire pressure is off.

It takes a while for a 2-wheeler to get used to 3. I tell people that curves are just like a 2-wheeled bike BUT OPPOSITE. On 2-wheels you use just a bit of counter steer to take a curve. On 3-wheels you use just a bit of steer to take the curves. Both are about slight amounts of push (just opposite). You'll learn to relax your upper body and ride with subtle adjustments.

By the way I hated the steering of my RT for the first month. Now two years later I've put on more miles with more enjoyment than I ever got from my many 2-wheeled bikes.

Rob

 

[Easy Rider]

It just seems to me that it should handle a little better than it does so I wonder if something was wrong with it

No probably not.

I strongly suspect that many of the new owners who report good positive results from changing: tires, springs, shocks, alignment, sway bars, etc. are not factoring in the TIME and MILES that have pass during the time all of that was done.

I think EXPERIENCE is the best thing you can add to increase the comfort level.

Here's a little test:
On a mostly straight road that is in good condition with light traffic......at a reasonable speed..........set the cruise control and take your hands OFF of the grips and grab the bars on both sides INSIDE the grips. That is, about 10 inches closer to the center on both sides. That will somewhat "desensitize" the reaction of the steering input. See if you can't negotiate simple steering actions much more comfortably like that.

IF......it feels much better like that, then the "problem" likely isn't with the hardware but with the rider and lack of experience.
I do NOT recommend that you ride that way all the time.

 

[RinconRyder]

I bought it in Florida and rode it home to Georgia 500 miles on my first outing. Long straight Florida roads were great north Georgia mountains it really works your hard. It just seems to me that it should handle a little better than it does so I wonder if something was wrong with it

If your trike is twitchy or tends to follow tar strips on the highway I would strongly recommend getting a laser alignment first chance you have. I almost sold my RTL over it's terrible handling until I got it aligned and it made all the difference in the world. Would highly recommend Squared Away if they are convenient to you. They attend most of the Spyder gatherings.

 

[Waynebang i]

I went for the helpful/friendly version but Can't help wondering...

Is this an I would like some help thread,

or

Is this a lets complain about the brand thread?

:dontknow::dontknow:

I was strictly looking for help, I love riding my Spyder and only want to make it better.

 

[DGoebel]

Waynebang i, I too grew up riding two wheelers from MotoX to Sportbikes, to Crotch Rockets, to cruisers, to the Spyder '13 RTL i have now. I thought sportbikes and crotchrockets cornered terribly compared to my original TM's and Yz's, until I rode enough miles on them to adjust to their cornering. Same when I had kids, got OOOOLder an switched to cruisers, and finally the Spyder. Though about 2000 miles after getting my Spyder, before most of my mods even, I was carving corners smoothly and fast. I've taken my spyder with wife on back through Wisconsin twisties along the river, corners marked 15 and never got below 45. Bruises on the back of my shoulders, monster grin on my face.
I too love my Spyder, even better now.

 

[UtahPete]

I am new to the Can Am, 2013 RT SE5. It has 20000 miles. I have been riding 2 wheels for several years so it feels strange on the RT. I don’t know if they all handle this way or if I have a problem. When you enter a turn the nose will dip to the outside which tightens up the radius. You must then relax the turn and it will rebound causing you to have to turn in tighter again. You basically go around the turn in a bump steer. What are others experiences. I love riding it but when people say it handles great I must disagree.

If you check, you will find MANY threads on the forum from newbies on exactly this phenomenon. What you will hear, and learn, is that with experience turns will become much more natural and controlled. Coming from a 2-wheeler in particular, you will have to reprogram your brain to positive steer instead of counter-steering. Once you're used to it, it will become a non-issue and you will love the amount of control and comfort when taking curves.

 

[UtahPete]

I bought it in Florida and rode it home to Georgia 500 miles on my first outing. Long straight Florida roads were great north Georgia mountains it really works your hard. It just seems to me that it should handle a little better than it does so I wonder if something was wrong with it

As a used bike, it's possible there is something about it that needs fixing, such as alignment or tires. But, before you spend big bucks on those, do one of these;

• Join a local club and ask experienced ryders to check out your bike on the road in real conditions
• Go to a rally that has a respected alignment specialist (e.g. Squared-Away) and have your front end checked out
• Ask others on this forum what dealer in your reasonable area can be trusted to tell you the truth about your bike's condition.

 

[mark4Jesus]

I'm sorry but it is absolutely ludicrous to have to re-engineer a product with this supposed high level of engineering and cost. I would compare my Spyder to an AMF Harley.

Tire pressures are a given and part of normal maintenance.

My RTL is 18 months old and was way out of alignment when I took it to Squared Away today (over 1" on one side and over half an inch on the other). This trike was toed out so bad it would almost toss you off when grabbing a tar strip on the freeway. This is a trike with approximately 2,500 miles and no history of damage or repair. Unbelievable! I might add that the laser alignment did correct the problem and now it handles without the constant twitching and snatching.

The stock swaybar should be engineered at the design stage and not have to be replaced on otherwise new trikes. Also unbelievable.

I have been very disappointed with the supposed "engineering" of my '16 RTL. It is very unsatisfactory and borders on the dangerous. And I didn't even get into the other dozen or so common complaints such as piss poor OEM tires or lack of an effective drive belt guard.

Victory riders have similar complaints. There are things that most folks upgrade, or plan on upgrading, that causes everyone to ask, "Why didn't Victory build it this way to begin with?" Much depends on riding style and what one wants out of their ride.

 

[Richardv]

Maybe an idea for you.

I was strictly looking for help, I love riding my Spyder and only want to make it better.

Have you checked if your sway bar links are in good condition..... your description makes me think of the occasion when I broke one in a curve.... (original links are made of plastic)

It is a 2 minutes check, and could be the solution....

 

[Jccjr50]

Power coming out of corner

When I bought my 2013 back in May I was easy into the turns but have found out that if crack the throttle into the turn the left tire hugs the painted lines perfectly but good judgement must be used on how much power to use

Completely agree. Rear squats down and digs in when you power out of corner.