Interesting conversation at the gas pump - asked why I chose to ride a Spyder rather than 'a real motorcycle'?!

[Calimusjohn]

Gas station and parking lot encounters are perfect locations for educating persons about our machines. I use myself as an example - I bought my first Harley-Davidson in 1949 when I was 10 years old. I rode two-wheelers for the next 71 years. When I discovered I couldn't pick my BMW R1200RT up when it took a dirt nap, I switched to Honda Goldwing trikes. I rode them for 50,000 miles.

When I saw my first Spyder, I thought it looked dumb.
It was like seeing an aircraft with canard controls for the first time. I took a second look at the Spyder and applied what I had learned in the previous years. The Spyder had advantages and disadvantages, like all modes of transportation. It has a big footprint. It can be seen at a distance from a caged vehicle. It doesn't take dirt naps when I don't put a foot down. It allows me, with my physical restrictions, to continue to ride,

The cons: Spyders are expensive. BRP support is less than ideal. Riding requires a new mindset. Lane splitting is a no-no. Most speed limits are set too low. AND not enough time to ride everywhere I want.

At 84 years old, my Spyder carried me through 48 states in 27 days. The 2022 Sea to Sky is completely stock with the exception of an added GPS. Many days of 500-plus miles let me stop and visit friends.

I love leading hard-core Harley riders down The Tail of the Dragon. They pay for the drinks at Deal's Gap!

My point, we don't have to be defensive or get upset at another person's opinion. When people ask me what my machine is, I say, "It's my street-legal motorized wheelchair that allows me the freedom to go anywhere there is a road."

For kicks, I have a Ryker Rallye, too. Ask me why.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Right On, John!!

My High Speed Mobilty Scooter (a 2013 RT that's had Jase from Rotax Racing's magic wand waved over the ECU & IKON Shock enhanced suspension) has scared the pants off soo many 2-wheel riders who were sooo convinced that this thing with three wheels couldn't possibly out perform them here in the Hills & Gorges of the Adelaide Hills, thru all the tight, twisty stuff with short straights and unpredictable surfaces, that it's almost becoming boring showing them the errors of their ways! Not only can I catch up with them and often even easily overtake them when they're pushing their absolute limits (only if it's safe to do so, if course!) but I'm usually well into my second coffee by the time they eventually reach the scheduled break at the far end! But I am realistic enough to share with them that their machines definitely have the legs on mine once the straights get longer and the sweepers start opening out, largely because of the dirty great barn door of air that mine's gotta push outta the way &/or ahead of it!! But then again, that's where me'n the Child Bride can cruise in comfort at the legal(-ish) limit for hours on end without being troubled overly much by wind & rain or buffeted around when passing B-doubles and Road Trains, so 1000km days aren't all that uncommon. And we can back that up for days on end in a way we couldn't possibly any longer on any 2 wheeled machine! So while I might still punt a little 2 wheeler around the fire trails & bush tracks every now & then, the Child Bride'n I spend waaay more time on the Spyder than most of our peers would even dream of driving (and 'our peers' are all pretty much ALL motor heads!) and we're still out there doing things that many 2 wheeler riders are still just dreaming of, and we look like keeping on keeping on doing this for years to come!

 

[Jeffrider]

Back in the 1960s and 1970s it was fairly common, in some areas of the country to call any motorcycle a scooter or a scoot. It had noting to do with it being a trike or any particular brand. It was just a commonly used term for motorcycle.

I have been riding motorcycles for 50+ years and recently got a Spyder RT mainly because at 77 I can't trust my legs to hold up a heavy bike.
When I bought my first bike in 1969, the shop guy called it a scooter. I said "It's a motorcycle and he replied "They're all called scooters." I heard hardcore Harley riders calling their bikes scooters. Bikers were sometimes called Scooter Trash" So for decades that's what I've called my bikes. So now when go for a ride on 3 wheels I tell my wife "I'm going for a scooter ride".

 

[Dusterdude]

^^^^^^^
Exactly

 

[PistonBlown]

I was at a motorbike rally a while back and I saw this guy wobbling into the gravel parking lot with both feet down on the ground and obviously a brand new bike. A little while later he came wandering over to the group I was chatting with and I could see all his leather gear was brand new as well, to the point it was still creaking as he moved.

Anyway he ends up talking to me about stuff and suddenly he grins and comes out and says "So when are you going to get a proper bike?". So deadpan I reach out and gently rub the lapel of his jacket and say "Nice Jacket...did you get it with your first bike?". He smiles at first then twigs what I've said and stomps off.

Needless to say my jacket is very well worn