How quickly I forgot

[den1953]

Clutch or Clutchless??

I've had my motorcycle endorsement for over 43 years (will be 44 in July) and every bike I've ever owned has had a clutch. Not a big deal except in lots of stop & go traffic or riding in a parade (the worst). I demoed a 2013 RT-S SE5 last October and it's very nice to have, but in the purchase price of a new 2014 it costs an additional $1500. On my fixed retirement income that could make a big difference in the size of a montly payment on a new ride. I understand how electric shift could be beneficial if arthritus or something else should get the best of me later on, but for now I can handle a clutch just fine.

 

[napper39]

ive been riding since 1953 all kinds of bikes and still like to shift,but its all fun so just ride like the wind and stay young.i was 75 on the 23 of this month and ride ever day its 40 or better.:thumbup:

 

[gswife]

I also had a bit of trouble with the reverse at first but since I had the same problem with the '11 I had so just thought ok if you got to push it in last on the '11 to get it into reverse then try it the other way push the Reverse button first then the down shift and Wa....La....

 

[SpyderAnn01]

Today I couldn't get the 2011 to start. I forgot to pull in the clutch. :banghead:

 

[Bob Denman]

:2thumbs: Was this an official, "Blonde Moment"???

 

[SpyderAnn01]

:2thumbs: Was this an official, "Blonde Moment"???

I've gone more red on the hair so you can't use the blonde moments on me anymore. But it was a moment. On the SE I would be trying to change gears with my foot and on the SM I can't figure out how to shift.

 

[NancysToy]

Today I couldn't get the 2011 to start. I forgot to pull in the clutch. :banghead:

.....or put it in neutral. :roflblack:

 

[effgjamis]

49??? (Damn Kids) :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:


Cruzr Joe

Yepper......

 

[daveinva]

SE all the way. If it didn't work so well, i.e. if it wasn't faster than the SM, I *might* feel differently.

On two wheels? I feel weird not having a manual, as I was taught from the beginning to use my clutch as an extra safety device. And slipping a clutch makes slow-speed parking lot maneuvers a piece of cake (for some reason, I've always wobbled like crazy on a scooter CVT but give me a clutch and I'm doing gymkhana around the cones).

But on three wheels? There's no point to the SM in my opinion. It shifts slower, it's extra work, it gives me TWO things I must always do with my feet, and most significantly of all I can't drop the Spyder in slow-speed maneuvers so why would I ever need to slip a clutch?

I find a manual to be fun on two wheels. I love my manual with four wheels. With three wheels? I'm an SE addict, it's one of the unique things that sold me on the Spyder, it's just too much fun for me. :yes:

P.S. I've noticed more bikes at the motorcycle show with SE transmissions-- the new Hondas have them as options. I'm curious how they ride, I might take one for a spin, but again, in THAT case, on *two* wheels, I'd fear not having a clutch. Maybe I shouldn't... :dontknow:

 

[stewartj239]

And I know I'm in the minority on this but I still prefer to shift the old fashioned way.

You're not in as much of a minority as you think. The clutching and shifting is what makes the Spyder feel like a motorcycle to me. Without it, it is a snowmbile with a paddle shifter.

On the SM you can shift even faster without using the clutch.

Absolutely. The clutch is only needed to get going from a stop. I still ride MX and you can just pop it in gear with as much throttle as you want - no clutch going up through the gears.

SE all the way. If it didn't work so well, i.e. if it wasn't faster than the SM, I *might* feel differently.

I might be missing something, but where is it stated that the SE is quicker? My neighbor has an SE and you can't slam it through the gears like an SM. There is a distinct delay between shifts and the throttle is rolled back if you don't let off. With the SM, you have total control. The throttle, clutch and shifting can all be done simultaneously. I think it depends on rider experience.

 

[hotglue]

SE or SM... what ever blows yer skirt up!!!! glad they have both.
I'm just glad I'm not as old as Y'all!!!!!:bowdown:
only been riding street bikes for 53 years...hyea:.

 

[ThreeWheels]

I've always felt like a fish out of water on a semi auto Spyder, in fact when I picked up the 2014 RT I had to push it out of a parking place because I couldn't figure out how to get it into reverse. Well today I took the 2014 to the dealer for service and they let me take the 2011 RTS SM that I was riding before the test Spyder I got onto it and started laughing because I couldn't remember how to put it into reverse. :roflblack:

I appreciate the 2014 even more now that I've put over 4,000 miles on one and I have the opportunity to go back to a 2011. The handling is far superior on the 2014 and the ride is so smooth. I felt every bump on the 2011 today. At first I didn't care for the sound of the 2014 but now I find that I like it better than the 2011.

And I know I'm in the minority on this but I still prefer to shift the old fashioned way.

Not at all. I prefer manual shift on a motorcycle all the time.

The 2011........did it have the RonBar on it ? I've found that's the biggest upgrade to my 2010 suspension.
It might be of interest to have a side by side comparison of a 2014 and a 2012 or earlier with the RonBar.
I always knew that BRP was going to make some modifications to the suspension. That's why I got my sway bar as soon as I could.
Another few years and there won't be much market for suspension upgrades to the 2010-2012 machines.

 

[NancysToy]

SE or SM... what ever blows yer skirt up!!!! glad they have both.
I'm just glad I'm not as old as Y'all!!!!!:bowdown:
only been riding street bikes for 53 years...hyea:.

It's not the age, it's the mileage! :roflblack:

 

[hotglue]

It's not the age, it's the mileage! :roflblack:

It's not the mileage.... it's the roads you've been down...:thumbup:

 

[spydaman60]

Agree!! I wouldn't have it any other way.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:agree: i'm with you on this one!!!!:agree:

 

[bertmc]

No Right Foots?

You may be in the minority, but you are not alone. Nancy and I prefer the old fashioned way, too. For me it's really more a matter of less confusion. I still ride a lot of other bikes. My left hand and left foot understand that very well after 55 years of riding, and they don't like to learn new things.

So, you didn't keep any of those old right-foot shifters?

 

[Bob Denman]

I've gone more red on the hair so you can't use the blonde moments on me anymore. But it was a moment. On the SE I would be trying to change gears with my foot and on the SM I can't figure out how to shift.

Really? ?
That is the ONE hair color that I'm powerless against...

Tell Joe that I'm sorry...

 

[MidTNDawg]

Well I sorta agree

It's not the age, it's the mileage! :roflblack:

with this too. But with over 600,000 miles on two wheels I feel I qualify here as well. My riding started with a Cushman, but no cvt (centrifugal) to us older folk. The shift lever was under the seat on the left side. Now it was in '47 I believe, and it belonged to someone else, but he was nice enough (or dumb enough) to let me ride. Then came my HD 125 and the miles some how just kept rolling on. My heart attack along with my wife put me on three wheels, and that is now my choice. As I mentioned one other time, I am blessed to be able to ride practically anything I want to ride at any time I want to ride. At the moment I just want the weather to be just a little decent to get on my 1330.

 

[NancysToy]

So, you didn't keep any of those old right-foot shifters?

I still have a couple of them. I love the darned things. I actually seem to have less trouble switching to them than switching back. Too many left hand brakes in my youth, I guess. The one I have never mastered is my wife's Honda Trail 90. It has a centrifugal clutch, but has a lever on the left handlebar that works the rear brake. I'm always trying to grab that darned thing when I shift.

 

[ulflyer]

Me too. My initial reaction was that I wasn't crazy about the sound but with just a few hundred on mine, I like the sound more each time.