Is training really needed to ride a Spyder?

[Adventurer]

150 miles isn't much better. I'd be willing to take a training class. But, that's too far away.

I hear you, although I drove 175 miles to attend the Three Wheel Basics class sponsored by BRP. I don’t regret one mile of the trip nor the cost of the motel. Plus I’ve been riding 2 wheels for many years and have been thru 3 safety classes on two wheels and have learned something useful at each and every class, including the Spyder class. I’d urge you and any one else to attend the class regardless of your prior experience, we’re never too old to learn until we’re dead

 

[Snoking1127]

Experience riding a snowmobile is the closest thing to driving a Spyder. I last rode a motorcycle in like 1984(Kawasaki 650 SR), however rode snowmobiles for years up until around 2006. In end of Oct 2020 I bought the used 2018 Spyder and took the $99 course here in Arizona in early November that year. Washington State would not except the Arizona course for my drivers license endorsement, so I just took the course again in Washington when I got home last spring. I do not regret either course.

The thing about the Spyder is DO NOT try to steer it on the open road, just guide it! That is to correct to the left, push forward lightly on the right handle bar and the other way around to correct the right. I run cruise control most of the time on the open roads and just rest my hands on the handle bars. Twisties, shift your weight to the inside on a corner like the snowmobile and look to where you want the trike to go.

 

[mecsw500]

I work on the basis that you might get to the same level as taking a course, but the course accelerates getting to that level of comfort and proficiency. This reduces the chance something bad might happen during the extended period of gaining the experience. Here in Utah you can ride a Spyder or Riker with a full motorcycle license, but I think as we now have a tiered scheme for motorcycles you might have to have the second tier bike license to ride an engine over 600 cc, but I’m not sure about that detail. If you however do not have a motorcycle endorsement you have to get a 3 wheeler endorsement, easily done through the training. However going this route does not cover you for motorcycle. Now 3 wheelers need a license depending of what kind of trike you have. 3 wheel vehicles with side by side seating and a steering wheel class as auto cycles so you only need car license. So Vanderhalls and Polaris vehicles are effectively classed as cars for licensing purposes in Utah. Complicated, but this has all happened piecemeal and nobody thought this out from a clean sheet of paper as these various generations of vehicles became type approved. I’ve no idea if there is a state testing ground that exists for trikes? Even for motorcycles it has a test for tier two motorcycles that is very difficult to pass unless you use a big bike with limited steering lock. I took my bike examiner had to tell me where to lose the minimum ate the Triumph Thunderbird Sport could not physically turn the tightest corners. It was just stupid. The course was set up for a moped or very small bike. I’ve no idea how they cope, if at all with trikes. I asked these questions of the licensing bureau and the person had absolutely no idea of how it all worked. How did the license tie ring apply to trikes, they had no clue and they said that would probably make up what they thought was sensible. Heaven help us in how that would all work in places like California or New Jersey?

 

[cravenfun]

Total newbies take the course. It will instill proper habits.
My wife got her M/C license at 50 by taking the MSF course. She only 2-wheel M/C'ed for a few years and took a break until she turned 65 and said I need a Spyder. Since we snowmobile the Spyder was an easy transition for her, ''it's like a sled on asphalt'' is her comparison.
For me when I take her Spyder for a spin it's the no hand brakes mental flag that has to be stuck in my old head since I'm still on my Road King.
The HD is getting heavier by the year now, no gold in those golden years for sure.
Hopefully the market will get better next year either new or used so I can transition over to a F3 for myself.
Nothing like being ''in the wind''.

 

[Ex-Rocket]

I had no trouble switching from 2 wheels to 3 wheels. Traded my 2 wheeler in and drove off with a 2012 RTS. Only two things took a little getting used to was, reaching for the clutch handle and secondly not putting my feet down when stopped. As far as driving & cornering with it I caught on pretty fast.

 

[EdMat]

I think the value of the course is way more than 50% defined by the instructor or maybe lack thereof.

 

[pegasus1300]

I was quite surprised to find that the owner's manual of my 2012 RTL contained a training course layout with several different exercises diagramed. I went to Walmart and bought a couple of packages of big red plastic drink cups to use as cones. I have found that many churches have large parking lots and they are mostly empty Monday thru Saturday, so I set up in one of those and had lots of fun with the practice. That was what helped me make the transition from 47 years on 2 wheels. As for a class, especially if you have not been a rider before, you could learn attitudes and awareness that you might not pick up except thru hard experience. It will also point out bad habits that have crept in over the years and remind you of things you should be doing but may have been neglecting. I've had my M/C license since they started issuing them in Utah in 1970. The course they used back then was the parking lot of the driver's license office on 5th West in Provo, very small. The only part that really unnerved me was when the examiner had me go to the far end and accelerate as hard as I could then stop on a line. And he stood behind the line. I made the stop. Oh I was on a Norton that could accelerate pretty hard.

 

[Quickdraw]

My wife was thinking about taking the course but it was a 2 day event and where it was being offered was a bit too far for her to go. I took her out to a parking lot a few times to get used to the trike but it didn't take long before she was riding highway speeds. The course may have helped but me taking her out and her having riding time, I think, was much more advantageous to her.

 

[Snoking1127]

Funny thing happened Wednesday. I offered to haul a friends golf cart from the East Valley up to Show Low where they summer out of the valley heat. We stopped at the bottom of the Salt River Canyon, and use the restroom and stretched our legs. There were two HD guys in the parking lot and I thought about saying I had a three wheeler as I was getting to old for a two wheeler. As I came out of the restroom I watched one of the guys drop his Harley!!!! Guest my thoughts jinxed him!

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I offered to haul a fried golf cart from .......

A fried golf cart??? :hun:

I know you meant "friend's golf cart" but some typos are just too good to ignore!! :roflblack:

 

[remus]

I offered to haul a fried golf cart from .......

A fried golf cart??? :hun:

I know you meant "friend's golf cart" but some typos are just too good to ignore!! :roflblack:

Does it taste like chicken? :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack:

 

[obiwanbill]

If someone has only ever driven a car, I'd recommend they take the Can-Am class. The value of the class isn't in how to drive one or feel comfortable because it's super easy to just twist and go--but the training has people learn and practice emergency maneuvers (braking, swerving, etc). Someone who's never been on two wheels and doesn't properly respect the dangers of being on a Spyder may one day find themselves in trouble. I don't think most people have the discipline to go to parking lots and practice emergency techniques unless they pay someone to force them in a class setting (plus that other person can show you what you're doing right and wrong).

Great idea if available reasonably. Closest class is one state away, bout 6 hours one way

 

[KSCRZR]

I guess your past experiences can count for a lot but I also think there is always something you can learn. If a class came nearby I would probably take it, also give me a chance to ride something different. Had been riding 2 wheels for about four years when we bought my wife's Spyder down in Austin, TX and drove it back up to Kansas. That was a long day and made me appreciate cruise on a bike. Sure it was different then my Concours 14 but it wasn't completely foreign. Biggest issue I had, for whatever reason but I assume it was because I could be lazy with my hand grips, I bumped the kill switch a couple times.

Interesting hearing about different license requirements in various states, here in Kansas there is just a motorcycle endorsement which covers the Spyder, but, you can't take the test on 3 wheels, has to be on 2.

 

[Hound]

I wouldn't mind taking the course from BRP but not with 4 1/2 hour drive to participate. :read: