How many came off a Goldwing, BMW or Harley dresser

[tompen]

Had 5 HD Electra Glide / Ultra Classics since 2003. 2008 was the last one I was comfortable on. 2005 was the last one that felt good 2 up. New tank and frame made them too tall and top heavy for me. So, 2011 I went to buy a HD Trike. Didn't really like it, but wanted my wife to ride with me again. Harley Dealer had me sit on a Softail. Whole different deal. Bought a new Softail Classic and a 2008 Spyder on the same day. Spent less than trading my Ultra for a Tri-Glide.
Put 2X the miles on the Spyder in the first year.
I am very happy with my decision.

 

[eddieshep999]

Being disabled from about 22months old with Poilo which left me with use of my Right leg only

Had been riding motorycles since 1976 inc Honda CB125J, CB400A - Automatic, GL500 Silverwing then moved on to BMW due to Shaft Drive
water cooling etc Had 3 BMW's K100RT - K75RT and finally a BMW K100LT
All converted so I could change gear using a Rod connected to the Gear Leaver (LHS)- I woud use my left hand to operate the clutch leaver and use my right hand to push/pull the leaver to change gear - Otherwise all other controls remained as standard

I have moved from the BMW K100LT - 1991 MODEL engine size 998cc - Owned since 1997 in Dec 2010 to a Spyder RT-S SE5 Auto
Now in my mid 50's the BMW was getting to heavy to hold up and I did not tend to use it much in the winter months - being only able to put just my right leg down it was becoming a confidence issue - I accident could be 1 accident to many

In all the years the only accident I had - was a slow speed spill when my right leg sliipped on diesiel at a M/way junction
About 5 yrs ago I fitted a Klicktronic push button Electronic Gear change systerm which was easy and gave me greater control

Having decided to look around I was thinking of getting the K100LT converted to a Trike or buy a motorcycle - Goldwing/Harley Davidson already converted into a Trike
I contacted several Trike builders and was quoted from £7,000 up to £14,000 for the conversion this did include the fitting of a reverse gear

The Spyder is perfect for me - No balance issues - Because I went for the SE5 Auto model no modifications were needed
The wife is happy to go on the back knowing I have no issues in trying to hold up the Bike on a steep hill with only my Right leg and fearing
I would drop it causing us both injuries

I use to miss 2 wheels until it was pouring with rain and I had to stop on a slippery road surface - There is no way I would consider going back
to 2 wheels now

I hope to get many more enjoyable years riding my Spyder and know I made the right decision in 2010

Eddie Sheppard
Reading UK

 

[ThreeFeet]

Got the RS-E5 cause it wouldn't fall over at the light!!! Then got the RT in2010 cause it was SOOOO much more comfortable!!! AND it doesn't fall over at the stop light and an added bonus it has a reverse AND i don't have to hop around on the ground to get on it. Works for me!!! I'm too short to go the big bikes can't pick em up either!!!:roflblack:

 

[Leslee]

We have a Gold Wing that my husband rides, and I've ridden as passenger for 22 years. I've had my own Kawasaki and Honda Pacific Coast, as well as a Gold Wing Trike. But I bought myself a 2011 RTS-SE for my 65th birthday last summer. Now we are trying to sell our house to buy a smaller house with a bigger garage.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

EDIESHIP999....YOU ROCK.............MIKE....:thumbup:

 

[Ken & Joyce]

had a 1600 Vulcan and loved it, but the new wife was a little leery of two wheels, and at 75 years old the balance was a little shacky we love the rt and it doesn''t fall over while I try to make up my mind where I was going when I turned into the parking lot at Safeway

 

[Chazzman]

Wow, great comments you all, makes me feel not so different...though different I always like to be, lol. Can't wait to meet some of you but unfortunately looks like it will be Lamont's barbecue for my first event. I am sure I will hook up for a ride with some local riders before that.

 

[GypsyBill]

Road my last HD (1990 FLH) until 2005 at which time I sold it to my brother with 80K miles on the clock... he still has it.. went 5 years without riding but after 50+ years of riding I couldn't stand it... bought my RT-S and haven't looked back... Totally different experience but a good experience none-the-less...

 

[Bootie]

How many

I am just curious how many RT owners came off a Goldwing, BMW touring, or HD touring. I went form HD's to BMW then kept a GL1800 for 7 years, while having other brands in the stable, now my Roadster is the only Ryde I have. I gave up two wheels, honestly because I just pushed the limits too much...

My GL1800 and HD friends just can't believe that I am on a Roadster... They just don't get it... It definitely isn't a motorcycle, but hey I am still in the wind and enjoy the safety, comfort and my wife is really happy to get me off 2 wheeled motorcycles.

If you came from these 2 wheeled touring brands then why did you buy 3 wheels? I hear of bad backs, knees, health reasons, disabilities, age, so what's your reason.

I came off of a BMW K1200GT. I was touring in Nova Scotia and dropped my Beemer 3 times.pps: Enough, I said. I bought my first Spyder when I got back home:thumbup:.

 

[glynnk]

Last ride before Spyder RS then RT-S was a HD Electra Glide Classic....

GK

 

[Smittystwo]

2 Wheels to 3

Switched from a 1992 Goldwing to the 2010 Spyder RT in 2011. Health issues caused the switch.
Still have the Goldwing with matching trailer for sale.
Smitty

 

[Chazzman]

EDIESHIP999....YOU ROCK.............MIKE....:thumbup:[/QUOTE



+1

 

[kevorama]

Chazzman, I had a really bad spill in 1987 at the age of 22. I had bikes all of my life. Started riding dirt in JR. High, moved to a Honda Night Hawk for my first street bike and then the Honda Hurricane in 87'. I loved that bike. It taught me a lot about riding and it also taught me that my skills weren't up to it's abilities. I slid out in a turn racing some friends. Missed the guard rails and the multitude of little yellow signs with the little black arrows showing a turn. We had a rule back then on sport bikes. Take the speed limit of the turn and double it. Needless to say I didn't make the 35 mph turn when I lost it at 70 mph. Of all the things that I missed when I slid out the one thing that I didn't miss was the woods. I was lucky to have survived that crash. It was rider error to say the least. It took me 20 years to get the desire to ride back. The movie 'Wild Hogs'. Went right and out purchased a Honda VTX 1300 and added a bunch of chrome and stuff. I didn't enjoy riding it at all. We thought about the Gold Wing and went to look at them. Beautiful bikes, I love em'. My wife wasn't that crazy about being on two wheels anymore, so I suggested that we go look at Spyders, but we'd leave the bike at home so that we wouldn't impulse buy on the spot. We impulse bought on the spot, LOL. After the test ride we were hooked. Made the deal and brought the Honda back as a trade in the following morning. That is one of the few large purchases that I have made that I didn't question my thinking or have buyer's remorse. For us, the Spyder is like flying. It's comfy, totally cool looking with or w/o mods and catches more eyes than anything else on the road. Another thing, the nicest people ride them. I can't say the same for some of the bikers I have known over the years collectively.

Ride on :thumbup:

​

 

[Chazzman]

That's a neat story Kevin...

 

[CMA Cowboy]

Was riding a Yamaha Royal Star and loved it. Bad knee was making it hard to back up though. Rode over to Cowtown and was sold on the first test ryde. Now ryding a 2011 RT with a total knee replacement last November. Love the reverse button.

 

[bikeguy]

It seemed like motorcycles just kept getting heavier and taller and my legs didn't get any longer. I was riding a BMW R1100RT sport tourer which was a fantastic ride until I had to stop. Actually, it wasn't that bad if I was solo but 2-up it was just a bear to handle at slow speeds and stopped. After dropping it once and almost a second time on one two day trip, my wife and I made up our minds that we would not take another 2-up trip on a two wheeler. I rode a BMW K1200 trike and it felt really uncomfortable, then rode a Spyder GS and liked it immediately. We started saving our money toward a Spyder and, fortunately, BRP brought the RT out. The RT is the best two-up touring machine I've been on. It handles well, rides well, has the power to run with traffic anywhere, is comfortable to ride all day long on superslabs or secondary roads and it don't fall over when we stop. It doesn't get much better than that.

Cotton

 

[oneway]

Drove Gold Wings for close to 20 years. A 1982 and a 2001 that I traded in for a 2009 rs. Wanted something different and fell in love with the Spyder. They came out with the RT and when I sat on it I felt like I was home. Had to have one and am now riding a red 2011 RTS. No going back to 2 wheels.:doorag:

 

[Chazzman]

As I read the comments here, there is one thing that I didn't mention that was the most important reason for me going to the Roadster. We were with another couple and stopped at a State Park for lunch. The parking lot went down hill at about a 45 degree, the parking spaces angled to the right, I was behind my nephew and his wife and followed them down to park beside their bike. There was no room so I did a 360 and proceeded back up the hill, now parking spaces to my left but it was a full steering lock in order to get into one. Once I made the transition fine the parking stop was made out of wood and there was a 20 ft. drop off in the front of the stop. With my attention focused on what was in front of me I had the front wheel very slightly turned and tapped the front brake.
Of course we were body slammed to the ground and the bike was not even moving...My wife had bruised ribs for about 3 months and I cut a nasty gash in my shin on top of the bone.

This was the only time in 40 years that I dropped a 2 wheeled street bike. I had told people hundreds of times to never touch the front brake with the ft wheel turned at low speed. It was only 3 weeks earlier that I told someone that I had never tipped over a bike and both my nephews that ride Goldwings laughed and said they had dropped theirs a few times.

I really felt bad for my wife's pain, knowing that one day probably sooner than later that for me to be totally comfortable with here two up, that I would need a solution for the two wheels. Not to mention deteriorated disc in my lower back, neck pain from motocross and all the stupid dirt riding we did.

 

[johnnyg]

We traded in a 2003 HD altra Classic full dresser with trailer for our RT SE5 with 622 trailer. Loved the HD but it didn't meet our expectation in the Mountains. We were planning on triking it out. But with a little comon sense and alot of $$$ we decided on the RT. And we loved it ever since. We loved it so much that we went out and got the wife 2011 RS SE5 for her. We are really enjoying our riding together. Here is the pics before and after.

 

[oldbaldguy]

I had a Harley Heritage Softail. But with a left shoulder replacement, and some loss of strength in right arm from degenerative disease in my neck, I began to really worry about how I would pick it up if I ever laid it down. Don't worry about that anymore. Never doubted my decision to move to the Spyder