Having a blast, but have you noticed these Spyders Take an Effort To Ride?!

[crna59]

After every 3-wheel class, I need 2 days of rest. I have to overexaggerate my movements for the students and especially hanging off the rig during drifting and flying the side-car, you would think I would be used to it by now!

 

[Mikey]

After every 3-wheel class, I need 2 days of rest. I have to overexaggerate my movements for the students and especially hanging off the rig during drifting and flying the side-car, you would think I would be used to it by now!

Getting old isn't for sissies!!!

 

[mecsw500]

Have you ever ridden a Ryker or snowmobile? I don't know why you would need such a thing, the CVT setup is as close as you can get to an auto trans without the cost! If well maintained, they are smooth and reliable.

Except the Ryker has seemingly a relatively frequent requirement for a CVT belt change as opposed to the Spyder/Canyon's "life of the motor" transmission. If the Spyder had a CVT one would hope it was a steel belt like on a car CVT transmission. I must admit I prefer auto transmissions with 6+ gears as I can use the paddle shifters to knock it down a gear and have some engine braking going into corners. Not so necessary in my SUV, but on the Spyder knocking it down a gear settles the front suspension a bit which makes it handle better in tighter corners and gives it a better pull out of the corner.

 

[Mikey]

Except the Ryker has seemingly a relatively frequent requirement for a CVT belt change as opposed to the Spyder/Canyon's "life of the motor" transmission. If the Spyder had a CVT one would hope it was a steel belt like on a car CVT transmission. I must admit I prefer auto transmissions with 6+ gears as I can use the paddle shifters to knock it down a gear and have some engine braking going into corners. Not so necessary in my SUV, but on the Spyder knocking it down a gear settles the front suspension a bit which makes it handle better in tighter corners and gives it a better pull out of the corner.

I totally agree, but a belt change is really not a big deal and the poster was saying he wished they had a CVT! I was tiring to say that they did in a way!!!!

 

[Snoking1127]

Getting old isn't for sissies!!!

Every Spyder ride puts off the grim reaper a week or so, infusion life into an old aging body!

 

[mecsw500]

I totally agree, but a belt change is really not a big deal and the poster was saying he wished they had a CVT! I was tiring to say that they did in a way!!!!

I saw a belt change video on a Ryker and I thought it was quite involved with basically hinging the Ryker in the middle, but doable for sure. I think that same activity on a Spyder would require a fundamental change in the design. The belt would have to go inline with the crankshaft as the belt drive rotates in a different plane than the Ryker's shaft drive. It would probably have to last long enough to justify taking the engine out to do a CVT rebuild.

 

[LisaMal]

I haven’t read all of the posts in this thread, but my one comment is there are specific techniques for riding the Spyder that differ from riding a two wheel motorcycle, most of which require a significant amount of upper body strength and coordination (differently to riding a two wheel motorcycle). Since I run tours on Spyders, and we tend to do a lot of twisties, I recommend upper body exercises and experience with lots of turns before going on a tour. Additionally, if you’ve not taken any training or watched any of the YouTube videos referenced here, I suggest you do so.

 

[Mikey]

I saw a belt change video on a Ryker and I thought it was quite involved with basically hinging the Ryker in the middle, but doable for sure. I think that same activity on a Spyder would require a fundamental change in the design. The belt would have to go inline with the crankshaft as the belt drive rotates in a different plane than the Ryker's shaft drive. It would probably have to last long enough to justify taking the engine out to do a CVT rebuild.

You see you don't have to take the engine out to replace the belt or take the clutches out for rebuilds or mod's. It's not that hard all you got to do is get your feet wet! Heck, I thought ripping the nose off a RT was going to be a big deal, and ripping the air box out of a 2012 was the same, till I jumped in and pulled my shirt up!

 

[Snoking1127]

You see you don't have to take the engine out to replace the belt or take the clutches out for rebuilds or mod's. It's not that hard all you got to do is get your feet wet! Heck, I thought ripping the nose off a RT was going to be a big deal, and ripping the air box out of a 2012 was the same, till I jumped in and pulled my shirt up!

You sure that wasn't skirt?