Hate to be a party pooper but...

[Woodaddict]

have you ever rode a off road 4 wheeler?? or the really old 3 wheeler?? I have when you make a turn, they want to throw you opposite way of the turn. kinda same way as spyder. best way to ride, is keep torso / body upright, let the spyder follow pitch / roll of road by flexing elbows / wrist. this will keep you from getting seasick!!

i still have 2 wheeler, i much like the spyder better for wind blasts. on 2 wheeler you'd be leaning into the wind blast and maybe more swaying back and forth. following a semi with wind whipping around sides of trailer, can get you scared in a hurry on 2 wheeler, more stable for me on spyder.

JUST MORE SEAT TIME NEEDED................. lately, been alot of these same new spyder rider comments, "I don't like my ride", that this forum are helping these new riders get acquainted with 3 wheels

 

[MonPaul]

A lot of great advice here. I just wanted to add that if you are feeling like you made a mistake purchasing the Spyder, I think those of us who came from 2 wheels all felt that way at some time. Just give it more time, it took me like 1500 miles to feel comfortable! But I still remember that day - it was like riding a different bike and I was wondering why I had so many problems before.:thumbup:

 

[Piratezz]

Agree with all the advice given, Ride your spyder, go to a parkinglot, or large slab of asfalt, look for the limits( while being comfortable), and you'll see, that the spyder, is more than capable, of fullfilling all your needs.
I tried many manouvres, and still not close on the limit, with the spyder, but don't backup at high speed (ask me how I know), that's terrifying.... :2thumbs:

Furthermore, it's a blast to drive, when you get the hang of it, I ride in a group, with all kind of motorcycles, Ducati's, Honda's etc. even a few quad's, mostly the racers have commented, wow, your spyder does corner....
Have a Laser aligment, swaybar, and upgrades shocks, on my spyder f3s, even a custom tune, but do your upgrades, one at the time, so you feel the difference, Myself did it in this order, swaybar, aligment, tyres( that makes the most difference), and then shocks front and back, Now the machine is ready to tackle anything.

So drive, enjoy, It will grow on you

 

[Patt]

After riding 2 wheels for 55 years,had a crash,6 weeks in hospital,time for 3 wheels,took to the Spider like a Duck to water,maybe being a Plant Operator helped,Diggers in particular require soft hand operating,probably can get through the twistis quicker than when I was on 2 wheels ,ride 2 up with the wife,after 18 months she is still not liking it as much as my bikes,not leaning in the corners is her problem ,but does enjoy the comfort & smooth ride, good comments from other riders you will master it in time,my F3 Limited is Stock Standard,it does get a little body roll 2 up , might look at a sway bar in the future but only because I ride 2 up regularly.
John

 

[fredgal]

after riding atv's all my life, it was a piece of cake when i first rode my F3L, almost 1000 miles and i love it, spyders have a fun factor, fun to ride, i also came from a 1500 vulcan classic, sold it and will never own another 2 wheeler.... hang in there, nice roads are your friend ,

 

[ThreeWheels]

This is already a long thread, so I apologize if one, more or ALL the posters have made these same comments.
Get a laser alignment. Probably not your issue because the later (2014 and up) Spyders generally ( I say generally, not all) were aligned at the factory much better than the earlier models.
A properly aligned Spyder will track like it's on rails.
Check your front tire pressures. Is the pressure much over 20 PSI ? If the pressure in the tires is too high, the contact patch is rounded off. The bike sort of sits up on the balls of it's feet and can be very twitchy.
Be careful, the reverse is also true. If you lower the pressure too much, the bike becomes difficult to steer.
Most people find between 16 and 20 PSI as the right pressure for the front tires. Also make sure the pressure in both tires is the same. They should be plus minus 1/4 psi from your set pressure, so that the tires won't be more than 1/2 PSI different from each other.
As a new bike, I'm assuming there aren't any component failures such as tie rod ends and such.
The RonBar is an excellent upgrade to the suspension, but you'll mostly feel that when making turns.
And, make sure you're not gripping the handlebars too tightly.
I hope this helps. Keep us posted so we know how you make out.

As always, my free advice comes with a double your money back guarantee.

 

[Little Blue]

All Good Tips

Remembering back, I had the same problems as you are having. I read a lot of the Tips on this Forum. Just take it easy and in steps, that works for you.
The 1000 miles is general time for most people to be in the comfortable zone with ryding your Spyder. Ryde Safe and enjoy some Spyder time.

It came to me and I know it will come to you.
Good Luck on Your Mission. ....:thumbup:

 

[Snoking1127]

Having many years of riding TWO wheelers is IMHO a detriment to riding a Spyder .... If you just drive it like a CAR you will do much better .... The Spyder feels much better if you ONLY " guide it " around. As others haver said it is going to take about 1000 mi. before you start to feel comfortable. Mike :thumbup:

Guide it! That is my term, on the open road set the cruse control and rest your hands on the bars. For course corrections or turns only a slight pressure pushing forward on the outside(off side) hand grip makes it turn smoothly. I have a Ford Edge ST (Ford's "Sports Technology" chassis with the twin turbo V6) and it drives the same way, and is all over the road if you over steer it.

I did my upgrades in steps:

1. Federal Formoza AZ01 car tires on the front
2. BajaRon's HD Sway Bar
3. BajaRon's Shock Adjusters
4. General Altimax RT43 out back.

Each step weeks apart with rides in between was an improvement in handling and overall stability.

I think that LED highlights up front our a great safety addition day or night. In day light I run high beams. I also put LED turn indicators on the rear with the resisters to prevent hyper flashing. I put on a third brake light that strobes of 6-7 seconds and then goes steady on.

 

[Snoking1127]

Also two+ year tires that just sat may that loss something, as tires like to be used! Lots of reading here on tires. Motorcycle vs Car! The Spyder does not have motorcycle rims, it has car like rims with J style bead area, just like 99.99 percent of automotive rims.

 

[Southpaw58]

Hey GregQ,
I didn't see where anyone mentioned any solutions to the cramped feeling. Did you dealer set the foot pegs and handlebars up for you? A lot don't. I believe all new Spyder come with the foot pegs in position 3. The pegs can be moved closer (2 positions) or further out (also 2 positions). If this needs to be adjusted you will need to purchase the appropriate brake rod. My dealer didn't even offer to check it. I'm 6'4" and I needed to move mine from position 3 to position 5 to get the comfort I wanted. As far as handlebars go, the stock bar worked for me so I can't say much other than there are a couple other options that will get your arm position correct. One last thing. I have added several mods to my Spyder (sway bar, taller windshield, backrest, etc.), but in my opinion the best mod I have done was add the Ultimate Floorboards from Can-Am Spyder Accessories. It allows me to stretch my legs all the way out, bring my feet more under my body, or even stand up while riding to alleviate cramps and sore muscles.

Anyway, just my 2 Cents
Bill

 

[old Timer]

Greg, with all due respect, and I mean it, at 65 years old 5'10" tall and 242 lbs you should loose at least 50 lbs. That alone will solve a lot of issues.

 

[GregQ]

Actually, I need to lose at least 75 pounds. But point taken and I agree.

 

[JayBros]

I've been to Extreme Propulsion and talked to them about Lazer Alignment. Really good folks. Based on that conversation, my plan is to get the Sway Bar installed, see what difference it makes, then get Lazer Aligned and see what difference THAT makes....

Personally and as a frugal thinker (wife calls it world class cheap) I would have the alignment checked first. Why? First, because BRP does not do the best job aligning Spyders on the assembly line. Second, many shops that do laser alignments will not charge for the service if the Spyder is within spec. Third, if the Spyder is out of spec and it is properly laser aligned it will make the biggest difference in handling because all three wheels will be aimed in the proper direction. Fourth, having Ron's sway bar installed after the alignment will have no impact on the alignment; i.e., it will not have to be realigned. The sway bar will have the most impact on cornering and in crosswinds and passing semis at interstate speeds. Installing the sway bar first won't help if the Spyder is out of alignment spec. You'll have a better performing Spyder sway bar-wise but the alignment will still be lousy.

 

[old Timer]

Good luck Greg, it's not an easy thing to do.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I tried many manouvres, and still not close on the limit, with the spyder, but don't backup at high speed (ask me how I know), that's terrifying.... :2thumbs:

Nanny limits you to 9 mph in reverse! Avoid quick turns in reverse and you'll be quite OK!

 

[vito1943]

As a new Spyder rider I found this thread very valuable and interesting. I come from 35 years of 2 wheeling, but at 78 the big Goldwing was just too heavy for me. A garage tipover that I could not get back on the sidestand without help convinced me t was time for something different. I've had the 2021 RT for about 6 weeks now and have put 1,500 miles on the odometer. Maybe its just the new bike, or maybe its me, but I have not found ANY twitchiness at all in the handling. I've always kept tires a bit higher than what was recommended, so I did the same with the Spyder, keeping 22 in front and 30 in the rear and it rides just fine in my opinion. My "learning curve" was pretty short. I took a 40 mile ride home from the dealer (I live about 10 miles from the dealer) and by the time I pulled into my garage I felt comfortable enough to take my wife for a ride with me (she absolutely loves the Spyder and is SOOOO glad that I got rid of the Goldwing). As to wind blast, I have felt that the Spyder is much more resistant to wind blast from passing 18 wheelers, or when those big trucks come down the opposite side of the two lane road than was about any motorcycle that I ever owned.

At this stage I have very few negatives regarding the Spyder. I'm not impressed with the BRP Connect, at all. I would have preferred if the shift button was designed for more comfortable downshifting. I find it awkward to get my finger behind the button and so rarely downshift. I'm not a big fan of the loud clunk when I put it into Reverse. And while I am accepting of it, steering and feeling my body want to move to the opposite direction is not nearly as satisfying as leaning into a curve on a two wheeler. On the other hand, I have no concern over tipovers, and riding on gravelly or dirt roads is no longer a concern as it was on the Goldwing.

I almost feel guilty saying that I have not felt a need for either a sway bar nor for seeking a laser alignment of this new Spyder. Maybe I just don't know what I am missing but right now I'm happy as can be with the way this 3 wheeler has been. My only major mod was to add a passenger backrest (I have the RT, not the Limited). I am having risers installed next week and a phone mount attached so that I can use Waze on my Iphone rather than the Genius Maps in the BRP app. I probably should figure out how to pair the phone with the speakers in my helmet but haven't done that yet either.

And I am not impressed with the mpg that I am getting, even being pretty good at upshifting in the Eco mode as soon as the indicator tells me to do so. Getting 34 mpg with Premium grade gas is even less than what I had been getting with the big 6 cylinder Goldwing engine, and that was with regular gas. Since I'm listing negatives, I will end with wishing the electric adjustable windscreen was more adjustable. I like the few inches I can move it but wish it would have been adjustable a bit more down and a bit more up as well.

 

[BajaRon]

I've been to Extreme Propulsion and talked to them about Lazer Alignment. Really good folks. Based on that conversation, my plan is to get the Sway Bar installed, see what difference it makes, then get Lazer Aligned and see what difference THAT makes.

Regarding tire pressure, after much tweaking, I've settled on 18.5 PSI* up front and 20 PSI rear. Again, all comments welcomed and encouraged.

I've read the "Do's and Don'ts" sticky 50 times. And as was stated by Bill W. and JayBros, loosening my handlebar grip made a LARGE positive difference.

As far as flaming goes, I spent a lot of time lurking and reading before I posted about "Party Pooper". It seemed most folks were just friendly and happy to help. So I knew there was a risk, but based on my observations, went ahead with the post. And so far, it turns out I was right. Look at the helpful replies I've gotten already. You folks are fabulous and should be proud to be on this forum. I know I'm proud of it.

My "Being passed on the expressway" refers to the wind blast that seems to adversely affect the Spyder more than any of my other large bikes.

I put the thousand miles on the Spyder since April this year. So I'm also hoping that continuing to ride will will settle some of my qualms.

Thank you all so very much. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!:bowdown:

A sway bar upgrade will make a big difference in how much you get tossed around at freeway speeds.

 

[jerrydonna]

ok IM just like all the others in this group talking about 2 wheel to 3 wheel mind set. I have a 2012 RTL I picked some years ago, at the time I had a BMW1600gtl and a Vulcan 900. The BMW was for travel and the Vulcan was just about my 1/2 time daily ride to work 25 miles.
My wife and I looked at the Spyder back in 2010 and have been watching them grow up thru the years.
I think I was able to speed up my MIND SET a little fast due to working many OVER NIGHT shifts. Meaning I had to leave in the dark and most times drive home in the dark as well. This made me TRUST the bike more. And than even with in a month I was asked to drive down to see my bother (200 miles) making that trip all thru dark of night on roads I knew where to turn but not the road surface. Once again learning to trust the spyder,
I have trust enough like most of the above memebers to set my cruise on 75 when possible, put one hand and my my knee, with other hand just the finger tips laying on ONE grip. Once you can relax (not in traffic) let go of the fingers and see the spyder travel more stable without any help from you.

 

[GregQ]

Personally and as a frugal thinker (wife calls it world class cheap) I would have the alignment checked first. Why? First, because BRP does not do the best job aligning Spyders on the assembly line. Second, many shops that do laser alignments will not charge for the service if the Spyder is within spec. Third, if the Spyder is out of spec and it is properly laser aligned it will make the biggest difference in handling because all three wheels will be aimed in the proper direction. Fourth, having Ron's sway bar installed after the alignment will have no impact on the alignment; i.e., it will not have to be realigned. The sway bar will have the most impact on cornering and in crosswinds and passing semis at interstate speeds. Installing the sway bar first won't help if the Spyder is out of alignment spec. You'll have a better performing Spyder sway bar-wise but the alignment will still be lousy.

JayBros, after reading all of the replies, I have decided to do exactly as you suggest. Alignment first, sway bar second.

Are there people with Spyders that are not members of this forum? How do they do that? You folks are essential to Spyder ownership and invaluable.

Thank you!!!

 

[RayBJ]

"Are there people with Spyders that are not members of this forum?"

Based on my personal observation here in NJ, I'd guess the percentage of Spyder owners that frequent this forum is quite low. Maybe 10% at best. I rode with a group of 9 other Spyders recently and I only know of 1 other member of SL. Either they are lurkers or they are unaware of the wealth of knowledge they're missing.