Long Distance Rides

[Homeslice]

First off, let me say that this forum rocks. I do not own a Spyder YET, but have just sold my motorcycle in order to make the move to 3 wheels. I plan on doing alot of longer rides that will take me through many different states. My question is this: Those that have traveled through many states, have you had any issues finding service centers for the occasional hiccups away from home? I sold an '07 meanstreak and there always seemed to be a Kawasaki dealer within 30 miles no matter where I went. The dealer/service network scares me a little. Any insight would be great. Thanks in advance.

 

[Smylinacha]

First off, let me say that this forum rocks. I do not own a Spyder YET, but have just sold my motorcycle in order to make the move to 3 wheels. I plan on doing alot of longer rides that will take me through many different states. My question is this: Those that have traveled through many states, have you had any issues finding service centers for the occasional hiccups away from home? I sold an '07 meanstreak and there always seemed to be a Kawasaki dealer within 30 miles no matter where I went. The dealer/service network scares me a little. Any insight would be great. Thanks in advance.

I don't think there are dealers every 30 miles like when you had your Meanstreak but you might wanna get roadside assistance just in case there's a hiccup you can't fix on your own. Most people I know haven't had anything seriously bad happen on traveling. But you never know - that goes for any bike - roadside assistance would be a good idea.welcome

 

[BRPjunkie]

Rode 2,300 miles from Michigan down to Mississippi through eight states. Plotted the location of Spyder dealers along the route and I was never more than 100 miles from a dealer. That may sound like a long way compared to Honda or Harley. I have BEST with road service and wanted to know where I might have to go for service. Never needed it, but I would recommend having the dealer list for any states you travel through so you have some idea where dealers might be if needed.

 

[Dudley]

Wife and I rode from CA to FL to Cape Cod to Nova Scotia to WA to home this summer. 13,624 miles in 7.5 weeks, rode into 34 states and 3 Canadian Providences. We rode everyday but 4. Where were the dealers along the way??? Have no clue. Life is too short to worry. We rode in faith and the Spyder never let us down. If one worries about where each dealer is on any route...it may be best to stay where it's safe.

 

[bjt]

Wife and I rode from CA to FL to Cape Cod to Nova Scotia to WA to home this summer. 13,624 miles in 7.5 weeks, rode into 34 states and 3 Canadian Providences. We rode everyday but 4. Where were the dealers along the way??? Have no clue. Life is too short to worry. We rode in faith and the Spyder never let us down. If one worries about where each dealer is on any route...it may be best to stay where it's safe.

I agree. dltang and I have taken six longer trips on our Spyders so far and never encountered any mechanical problems on the road. We didn't really worry too much about being stranded or where dealers were.

 

[Bersquack]

The dealer network is thin, but i never had any hiccups while on the road (knock on wood!)

welcome

 

[Homeslice]

Thanks for the replies. The reliability of the Spyder on long trips sounds quite good. I have the dealer list but wasn't sure how current it was. I do have a good roadside assistance plan but it is great to hear that it is not often required. Thanks everyone.

 

[BajaRon]

Thanks for the replies. The reliability of the Spyder on long trips sounds quite good. I have the dealer list but wasn't sure how current it was. I do have a good roadside assistance plan but it is great to hear that it is not often required. Thanks everyone.

There are many different riding styles and one component is bredth and scope of preparation.

Some people enjoy having everything scoped out before they leave and others just enjoy the challange of dealing with whatever comes along.

Lamont has around 40k on his Spyder (I think). He's been to California and back to east Tennessee twice, Sturgis, Florida, Valcort Canada and who knows where else and he probably doesn't know the location of more than 3 or 4 Spyder dealers (if I'm wrong about this I'm sure Lamont will set me straight).

Though I don't have that many miles I pretty much travel the same way. If my Spyder were to have issues beyond my ability to fix (which it never has, nor has Lamont's) I would just take stock of the situation, assess my options and go from there.

There are no guarantees except that riding the Spyder is a great deal of fun! The rest is up to the individual and how they want to approach it.

 

[BillGargan]

Wife and I rode from CA to FL to Cape Cod to Nova Scotia to WA to home this summer. 13,624 miles in 7.5 weeks, rode into 34 states and 3 Canadian Providences. We rode everyday but 4. Where were the dealers along the way??? Have no clue. Life is too short to worry. We rode in faith and the Spyder never let us down. If one worries about where each dealer is on any route...it may be best to stay where it's safe.

Just curious . . . Your map shows you in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Did you deliberately avoid the Carolina's as you headed north from Florida to Cape Cod?

 

[BajaRon]

Just curious . . . Your map shows you in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Did you deliberately avoid the Carolina's as you headed north from Florida to Cape Cod?

Just a guess but I'd say they went north on I-75 through Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

I've got some missing states on my travel map too, none were avoided delibertely. I hope to get them all someday.

One thing about the travel maps that I always wonder about is the criteria everyone is using.

My map shows only those states I've visited while riding my Spyder. It does not show states visited on my Suzuki M109R, Honda Valkyrie, Honda 750, Kawasaki 750, Kawasaki 500, etc.

 

[dltang]

Just a guess but I'd say they went north on I-75 through Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

I've got some missing states on my travel map too, none were avoided delibertely. I hope to get them all someday.

One thing about the travel maps that I always wonder about is the criteria everyone is using.

My map shows only those states I've visited while riding my Spyder. It does not show states visited on my Suzuki M109R, Honda Valkyrie, Honda 750, Kawasaki 750, Kawasaki 500, etc.

My map is spyder visits only as well. If it was just places I've been, it would have a lot more states filled in.

Oops I forgot I changed my sig. and my map doesn't show any more.

 

[BajaRon]

My map is spyder visits only as well. If it was just places I've been, it would have a lot more states filled in.

Oops I forgot I changed my sig. and my map doesn't show any more.

I kind of like the MPG SIG and have been thinking of going that way. Since the update I haven't ridden that much but I'm averaging around 36 mpg so far on 3 tanks.

 

[Dudley]

Just curious . . . Your map shows you in Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. Did you deliberately avoid the Carolina's as you headed north from Florida to Cape Cod?

Yes we did. If we had to do that part over again we would have gotten both of them and NJ and DE. But, then that's another ride! If we get to the BBQ next year we will complete the last 14 states.

 

[Dudley]

Just a guess but I'd say they went north on I-75 through Atlanta to Chattanooga, Tennessee.

I've got some missing states on my travel map too, none were avoided delibertely. I hope to get them all someday.

One thing about the travel maps that I always wonder about is the criteria everyone is using.

My map shows only those states I've visited while riding my Spyder. It does not show states visited on my Suzuki M109R, Honda Valkyrie, Honda 750, Kawasaki 750, Kawasaki 500, etc.

We went north from Pensacola to I-65 to I-59. Missed Atlanta like a plague. We went through the NW section of GA.