Its hard to get off 2 two wheels and onto three.

[BigLenny]

Brian,

You're gonna do fine with a Spyder. I too had to transition from 2 wheels to 3 back in 2020. Bought our Spyder RTL on October 7th, 2020, and 2 days later my wife and I took off on a 1500 mile ride through Northern Arizona, Utah, Nevada. The first 2 days I literally thought I had made a big mistake by purchasing it. I was worn out. I had fought it like a bear. The evening of that 2nd day of the trip, I called CRuiserJoe from here on the Forum, and explained how I was worn out. He instructed me to get very light with my grip on the bars, and let the bike track where it wants to. He assured me it wasn't going to randomly make a hard right or left like I was feeling it would. The advice changed everything. The rest of the trip i worked on being easy with the grips, and by the end of the 1500 miles I loved the dang thing, and have ever since.
You're gonna most likely experience that too. But you'll do fine.
As far as feeling like less of a man by being on 3 wheels, well, I can't help you with that one. I'm not a guy that lets my toys dictate whether i feel like a real man or not. Being self sufficient, being a good husband, father, and patriarch for my family is usually what ties into the real man feeling stuff for me.

So, I say, dive into it!! Life is lived best when trying new experiences!!

Welcome to forum.

Big Lenny

 

[brian10x]

Brian,

You're gonna do fine with a Spyder. I too had to transition from 2 wheels to 3 back in 2020. Bought our Spyder RTL on October 7th, 2020, and 2 days later my wife and I took off on a 1500 mile ride through Northern Arizona, Utah, Nevada. The first 2 days I literally thought I had made a big mistake by purchasing it. I was worn out. I had fought it like a bear. The evening of that 2nd day of the trip, I called CRuiserJoe from here on the Forum, and explained how I was worn out. He instructed me to get very light with my grip on the bars, and let the bike track where it wants to. He assured me it wasn't going to randomly make a hard right or left like I was feeling it would. The advice changed everything. The rest of the trip i worked on being easy with the grips, and by the end of the 1500 miles I loved the dang thing, and have ever since.
You're gonna most likely experience that too. But you'll do fine.
As far as feeling like less of a man by being on 3 wheels, well, I can't help you with that one. I'm not a guy that lets my toys dictate whether i feel like a real man or not. Being self sufficient, being a good husband, father, and patriarch for my family is usually what ties into the real man feeling stuff for me.

So, I say, dive into it!! Life is lived best when trying new experiences!!

Welcome to forum.

Big Lenny

Thanks for the encouragement. Maybe if I strap on my side arm.

 

[Peter Aawen]

I dont call my F3 my Mobility Scooter for nothing.

I'm old with a beaten up body and carry some permanent injuries, had licenses and bikes right through since the 70's.

A bit cranky if anything.

My RT frequently gets referred to as "My High-Speed Mobility Scooter!" :roflblack: hyea:

 

[chipveres]

Brutal (?) Honesty

Chip, you said it. I think you nailed it, and I appreciate the brutal honesty. I'll be joining you on three wheels, brother!

U R very welcome. I really didn't mean to be brutal. Emails often come out harsher than intended.
Chip
2020 Spyder RTL
"Stella by Starlight"

 

[Raven]

I rode for over 55 years.
Issues with my left hand and a low speed balance problem caused me to park my almost two years ago. ( plus misspent youth)
A friend suggested to try a Spyder.
Took a two hour introductory last year and had a blast.
Sold my two wheeler this year.
Get my new Ryker in July.
When I was two or three, my first bike had three wheels, looks like my last will too.

 

[Raven]

I see I can't type or spell today, need more coffee.:gaah:

 

[brian10x]

Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.
We come into this world bald and can't walk. As I get older, I get closer to where I started.

 

[wmjweber45]

Went through the same thing. Had to give up my CTX700 when even that got too heavy for my legs. You may not enjoy riding the Spyder as much as the two-wheeler. I certainly don't. But its way better than not riding at all.

 

[brian10x]

.....But its way better than not riding at all.

And one hell of a lot more fun than falling off and dropping a bike on my leg, and not being able get out from under it, let alone pick it it! (again)

 

[linguine]

Been there. Never fun. Last time it took two people to get the bike off my leg. That was my sign that the time had come to make a real shift in my thinking.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I think the reason I changed is different from most of the members here. I had an on-again, off-again, m/c riding history. About 12 years after I sold my GL1100 I bought a 2005 Goldwing 1800 as a retirement present for myself. I really enjoyed it. But in 2012 I started to rethink things. I dropped the 'wing 6 times in 2 years. All were while I was moving quite slow or stopped. That bothered me some, but by itself did not push me to go a Spyder.

What really did it for me was traveling on the Interstate in Utah. I was going around a long gentle curve at about 80 mph when all of a sudden I got to thinking that if anything went wrong, like a rabbit crossing the road, or a rock rolling across, and I were to hit it, I was a GONER! The vulnerability of being on two wheels, even with careful driving, began to eat at me. I decided I needed to go to three wheels. I was going to convert my 'wing to a trike but the economics and the lack of computerized stability controls, it didn't make sense when compared to a Spyder. I test rode my nephew's RT and that confirmed for me that from the standpoint of safety offered by the stability of the Spyder, that was the way to go.

Near the end of my first long trip of about 4000 miles I stopped for gas. As I was walking into the truck stop store I suddenly realized I was feeling a WHOLE LOT SAFER AT 80 MPH on the Spyder than I ever did at 70 mph on the Goldwing. For me, ryding the Spyder has REINSTALLED THE JOY OF RIDING!

 

[brian10x]

.....Near the end of my first long trip of about 4000 miles I stopped for gas. As I was walking into the truck stop store I suddenly realized I was feeling a WHOLE LOT SAFER AT 80 MPH on the Spyder than I ever did at 70 mph on the Goldwing. For me, ryding the Spyder has REINSTALLED THE JOY OF RIDING!

I think you nailed it. I can never truly relax on my bike for more than 2-3 seconds at a time, because I'm always worried that the tiniest error, or the smallest road imperfection, could land me on the pavement at 75-80 MPH. Its still fun, but I'm so tense about the possibility of permanent injury, that it really fatigues me. This old body don't heal as quickly as it used to!

 

[vito1943]

There sure are a lot of us former 2 wheelers now on Spyders! I don't think its weakness at all, just a realization of the changes we go through as we age. For me, what caused me to make the change from a Goldwing to a Spyder was having two tip overs in a short time two summers ago when I was 78. My wife, who was/is my frequent riding companion, was getting increasingly nervous about riding with me. The riding wasn't the problem, it was the stopping. Between the Goldwing and the two of us it was close to 1,300 pounds relying on my left foot being firmly on the ground, and both of those tip overs happened when my foot slipped just a bit (fortunately with me riding solo at the time). I've known many riders who gave up riding completely at an age much younger than 78, but I was unwilling to even consider giving up riding. I knew the choice was a much lighter bike or go to 3 wheels. I looked at a Triumph T120 but knew that my wife would never be comfortable on that little pillion seat even if I added a backrest. So I grudgingly took a demo ride on a Spyder and found that it took all of 5 minutes for me to decide that this was the way to go.

The Spyder is certainly a different experience, and I do miss the leaning, but the comfort and stability of the Spyder, especially when riding two up, more than makes up for it. And when I feel the need for the 2 wheel experience I still have my Honda scooter to ride. With its 149cc engine I can still do 65 mph so some spirited riding is still possible, and I can enjoy leaning into the curves.

I'm hoping the Spyder is what keeps me riding for years to come.

 

[brian10x]

....The riding wasn't the problem, it was the stopping. ....

I hear you loud and clear. Dropping my bike doesn't worry me, its hitting the ground with a hot motorcycle on top of me that keeps me up at night.

I'm pricing out Spyders as we speak. I'm planning on making my move in September at the latest.

The only thing is, I'm sure going to miss Honda reliability. My research shows Can Am has a less than stellar reputation. I wish they had real competition is this market segment. If they made a Goldwing with two front wheels I'd sell a kidney for one.

 

[tntnj]

I bought a 2017 F3 LDT, because of back issues (70 years old) , I sold it because I wanted to back to a Harley . Well I did not even keep for 4 months , I sold it and went back to a Can Am, I did not like the gear shifting and the Ride. I was used to the quiet ride and easy shifting and the safety of the Can Am. Once you get used to riding the Can Am, you will not want to go back. Now I can go on 400 + mile rides with ease.

 

[brian10x]

"Now I can go on 400 + mile rides with ease."

That kind of mileage is just a dream right now. My bad back likes the forward lean angle, and my wrists handle it fine, but my legs cramp up and my neck hurts. Right now, a 250 mile day is an Olympic marathon to me! Now I don't want to go full "lazyboy" , so I'm looking at buying a base model F3, with foot pegs and no windshield, and more of a bare bones sporty persona.

As you can see, I like things a bit sporty!

 

[Bartender]

I rode on two wheels for the better part of 60 years. (I'm 81 years old) Two years ago I caught Covid and was in the hospital for five days. When I was discharged I had lost much of my leg strength and could not handle the top heavy Kawasaki Concour 1400 that was my ride. Loved that bike and it's extreme performance but had to accept that I would not likely ever be able to operate it safely. Sold it and bought a 2019 RTL and thought this isn't so bad. Took a lot of ribbing from my riding buddies but what the hell I was still riding. Last fall took the 2019 in to have a rear tire mounted and they were uncrating a 2022 Sea to Sky and made me an offer too good to refuse so I traded. The 2019 was great but the 2022 is fantastic. Riding buddies still give me a lot of grief but what the H.. This year one of my riding buddies who is my age dropped his bike and couldn't get out from under it without help for several of us. Last year he drove off road into a ditch at a corner because he lost control. I told him he needed to look at a Can Am and he said never it's two wheels or nothing. I suggested it might be three wheels or dead if he wasn't lucky. I love my Spyder and although I wish I still had the Kawasaki I'm still riding so I won't complain.

 

[brian10x]

I just found a bike locally. 2018 Spyder F3-S with 1,571 miles for $$16,992.

What do you guys think?

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I just found a bike locally. 2018 Spyder F3-S with 1,571 miles for $$16,992.

What do you guys think?

Worth taking a good hard look at. Take the VIN to a dealer to see if there are any outstanding recalls or tech service notices on it. Plan on changing the fluids. Check NADA Guides about the pricing. If all checks out and you like the price I would say you have a winner! The bike is 5 years old so the battery could well be on it's last legs.

 

[brian10x]

They couldn't sell it to me anyway. Parts are on order for the sprocket recall. Just as well, it has a chunk of paint missing on the nose, about the size of a quarter. I doubt they would fix it, but if they call me back after the recall is done, I'll try.