How do you mange riding a Spyder and a motorcycle?

[broderp]

For you, for now, then maybe this might be the case!

But give it some F3 saddle time, maybe a little bit of effort on your behalf in order to learn how to ride the F3 'properly', such that you really start to take advantage of all of its exceptional and far greater riding features & capabilities, then even if it may not ever be quite so 'straight line fast', maybe, juuust maybe, like so many of the rest of us, you'll get good enough at it to start to learn to appreciate all the rest it offers and you might even start to change your mind?! :dontknow:

The term 'Miles of Smiles' isn't used around or referring to Spyders by as many people as much/often as it is for nothing! :lecturef_smilie:

Just Sayin'!

Of course I was referring to me. lol. I do appreciate the Spyder, but it serves a different purpose for me that the Z900. The f3 is far superior as a commuter, far superior in comfort and that's what I want on a leisurely ride home or with the wife. I can feel the F3's weight in every maneuver, but that's perfectly fine. The Z has no weight (I believe its under 470 lbs.), has more power, more torque and requires much more focus to ride safely and is an "ok" commuter.

They are very different in so many ways, but both fill a niche I am grateful I can indulge myself in. I look forward to what the F3 has to offer above and beyond my expectations (that have been met). I'm just concerned (and have been helped by the forum) that it may take a long time be proficient at both; as rideing one for period of time seems to make going back to the other a small step backwards. But that will get better! :2thumbs:

When I switch from riding my Honda to the Can Am I have to remember to upshift. The Honda is fully automatic.

When switching from the Can Am to the Honda I have to consciously remind myself to cancel the turn signals and to not use the thumb shifter because on the Honda the thumb shift is a downshift.

That's it except for in panic stops the Can Am's missing brake lever can be be startling.

Yup, me too. I almost forgot to down shift the other day on my motorcycle because the F3 does it automatically. I would have bought a manual F3 had they been available on the 2023 model.

 

[Bfromla]

Added bonus - for me anyway - both the Spyder & Roadstar now use the same full synthetic oil from Ron:



:firstplace: :2thumbs:

 

[Peacekeeper6]

Does anyone still ride a two wheel motorcycle and their Spyder regularly or semi-regularly? I haven't ridden my Z900 in several months since riding the Spyder. I took the Z out this past weekend, and it was like I was a beginner all over again.

The Z felt so small, my riding position made me feel like I was practically over the front tire. I was a little uncertain a few times going into some turns, and I had to tell myself how to lean as I felt very 'top heavy'.

Shifting and clutch was still second nature, and the Z was SO much more nimble and smooth when compared to the F3. Acceleration was scarier than I remember, but most of all I was uncomfortable riding, my neck position gave me a headache.

Does anyone deal with this on a regular basis, and will it go away? Not ready to leave two wheels behind yet, I have a few more years left in me. The practicality of the F3 for my work commute has me spoiled.

:cheers:

No issues switching back and forth for me.

It's really nice having choices, depending on my mood.

 

[vito1943]

When I traded in my Goldwing for my Spyder I didn't want to totally leave the 2 wheel community. So a year later I bought a little thumper, a single cylinder 350cc Royal Enfield Hunter 350. I probably rider the Hunter about 1/3rd as often as the Spyder. But on really hot days I prefer to take the Hunter out. With no windscreen or fairing, the rushing air is much more cooling than on the well protected from the elements Spyder. I find it comes automatically to switch between the two, with no hesitation or reaching for (or not reaching for) the different controls on each. Sitting on a 2 wheeler, my brain automatically understands that I have to use the clutch lever for shifting and the right front brake lever as my primary brake. Throttle action is the same, and the single brake pedal on the Spyder feels the same as the rear brake pedal when I am riding the Hunter.

For me, one of the major differences is that I try to remember to stand up on the pegs of the Hunter if I hit a big bump in the road, as the suspension is not nearly as forgiving as is the Spyder. But then again, a Spyder is a $30,000 machine and the Hunter, brand new, cost me $4,100 less than a year ago.

 

[ollicat]

When I switch from riding my Honda to the Can Am I have to remember to upshift. The Honda is fully automatic.

When switching from the Can Am to the Honda I have to consciously remind myself to cancel the turn signals and to not use the thumb shifter because on the Honda the thumb shift is a downshift.

That's it except for in panic stops the Can Am's missing brake lever can be be startling.

Same thing for me. My other bike is a Honda CTX700

 

[ff73148]

I bought a Spyder for long distance touring and for my wife's comfort. But I never stopped riding two wheels. I have downsized my two wheels to a new 2024 BMW R12 for day rides. Just yesterday I started out on my Spyder, came home and jumped onto my R12.

 

[old Timer]

Nice Beemer ff73148 :2thumbs:

 

[pedalyurassoff]

I used to have a cruiser bike with a removable sidecar. Once I rode it with, and without the sidecar, about 10 times, I got to where I knew which way to turn in either mode. When I sold that, and got my spyder, I found myself having a hard time keeping a smooth, straight line. Now I am used to it. That's all you have to do is ride both, switch back and forth often, for a while, and your muscle memory will adjust. At least i didn't have to learn 2 sets of handlebar controls.