Looking at an RT

[Spin]

My wife and I are looking at a new RT. I am new to Spyders but I have ridden bikes for years and also have a Rennegade 800. Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

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[Bob Denman]

:welcome:
If you have ATVing experience: the Spyder will feel pretty comfortable for you! :thumbup:
The cornering process is most similar to ATVs and snowmobiles; not to motorcycles.
Which model RT has caught your attention? Are you looking at an SM-6 bike, or one with the paddle shifters (SE-6)?

 

[Spin]

I'm looking at a 2016 SE6. It is the base RT, not the RT S.

 

[larryd]

Riding with a PASSENGER???

If your going to be riding with a passenger you may want to think about the RTS because of the adjustable air ride feature...larryd

 

[Spin]

That was something I didn't think I needed. My wife and I with gear will be less than 400 lbs. and the bike is good for 500?

 

[Zgore]

I am about to pull the trigger on a new RTS and have some questions about the belt system problems. I had an electraglide Harley with belt drive and no problems and a goldwing with shaft drive. Are the belt problems over exaggerated to sell belt tension devices or are they all suffering from the bad vibrations and short belt life. I know forums can bring out and exaggerated minor problems so I thought I would talk to the RT riders themselves before spending 25 grand. I have to switch to a trike because of my short legs and the problems I have moving a 1000# bike around in parking lots and dirt driveways. Thanks

 

[DC1]

Amenities not an issue on my RT SM6...

That was something I didn't think I needed. My wife and I with gear will be less than 400 lbs. and the bike is good for 500?

If you ride it continuously 2 up it won't be an issue on the BASIC RT you still have a nozzle under the seat to add air and provided the air bladder on the shock don't leak it will maintain it for days...The issue comes at night with headlight adjustment if you constantly switch from 1 to 2up and vise versa....even small air pumps blow the fuse for the 12v accessory in the trunk and I am not brave enough to go to a larger fuse and chance it...So.....Before a trip I air mine up to the right pressure and we just ride it 2up everywhere if it is dark out especially....And it works...

I kinda wish I had the rider floorboards and fog lights of he more expensive model, but can live without it for the $ savings....Wife and I don't need all the Bluetooth helmet crap and connectivity, We have been yelling over each others shoulders for so many years that I'm not sure we could even get used to that fancy stuff. For a simple kinda guy/gal the radio, cruise control, and rest of the stuff the stock RT has is adequate....If we had come from a Wing To a Spyder I might have opted for a SE instead, but coming from standard cruisers the amenities are abundant , to us anyhow...

Besides, If you are lacking something you find you can't life without, just get it installed....

Be patient at first, coming from 2 wheels the handling will drive you crazy if you let it, you have to learn to hold the grips loosely and gently guide the handlebars the direction you want it to go....Grip them tightly and you will be riding a rattlesnake...Takes a few hunnert miles to get used to it, and a little longer to find its sweet spot in the twisties, then you have it made....Enjoy your new experience and best of luck to ya! DC1....

 

[Hendo]

Started out with a base 2012, great bike but with how much we ride we needed more. So we upgraded to a Limited last year. Love the gps with speaker volume. Also, bought the trailer so the adjustable air shock is a must. Whatever model you get.....you will enjoy.

 

[blacklightning]

If you ride it continuously 2 up it won't be an issue on the BASIC RT you still have a nozzle under the seat to add air and provided the shock don't leak it will maintain it for days...The issue comes at night with headlight adjustment if you constantly switch from 1 to 2up and vise versa....even small air pumps blow the fuse for the 12v accessory in the trunk and I am not brave enough to go to a larger fuse and chance it...So.....Before a trip I air mine up to the right pressure and we just ride it 2up everywhere if it is dark out especially....And it works...

I kinda wish I had the rider floorboards and fog lights of he more expensive model, but can live without it for the $ savings....Wife and I don't need all the Bluetooth helmet crap and connectivity, We have been yelling over each others shoulders for so many years that I'm not sure we could even get used to that fancy stuff. For a simple kinda guy/gal the radio, cruise control, and rest of the stuff the stock RT has is adequate....If we had come from a Wing To a Spyder I might have opted for a SE instead, but coming from standard cruisers the amenities are abundant , to us anyhow...

Besides, If you are lacking something you find you can't life without, just get it installed....

Be patient at first, coming from 2 wheels the handling will drive you crazy if you let it, you have to learn to hold the grips loosely and gently guide the handlebars the direction you want it to go....Grip them tightly and you will be riding a rattlesnake...Takes a few hunnert miles to get used to it, and a little longer to find its sweet spot in the twisties, then you have it made....Enjoy your new experience and best of luck to ya! DC1....

I agree with the above statements. I ride 95% of the time 1 up. But when going 2 up on long trips, I may add a little pressure to the shock. It has never been a problem. The additions that I wanted on my base RT, I added and still came out cheaper, and like them better. I added the fog lights for the look. Then I added things like Web floor boards (best looking and functioning around IMHO), drivers backrest, 3rd. brake light, etc. As you can tell, with any model you get, you will still be adding things to make it your own. But don't shy away from the base model, it just allows you more money to do your own customizing.

 

[Chupaca]

Suggestions....?

STOP LOOKING....!! Test ryde them and go for it...You can go for the base model and with all the cool products out there now and the money you save you can build exactly what your looking for.

:welcome:

 

[Spin]

If you ride it continuously 2 up it won't be an issue on the BASIC RT you still have a nozzle under the seat to add air and provided the shock don't leak it will maintain it for days...The issue comes at night with headlight adjustment if you constantly switch from 1 to 2up and vise versa....even small air pumps blow the fuse for the 12v accessory in the trunk and I am not brave enough to go to a larger fuse and chance it...So.....Before a trip I air mine up to the right pressure and we just ride it 2up everywhere if it is dark out especially....And it works...

I kinda wish I had the rider floorboards and fog lights of he more expensive model, but can live without it for the $ savings....Wife and I don't need all the Bluetooth helmet crap and connectivity, We have been yelling over each others shoulders for so many years that I'm not sure we could even get used to that fancy stuff. For a simple kinda guy/gal the radio, cruise control, and rest of the stuff the stock RT has is adequate....If we had come from a Wing To a Spyder I might have opted for a SE instead, but coming from standard cruisers the amenities are abundant , to us anyhow...

Besides, If you are lacking something you find you can't life without, just get it installed....

Be patient at first, coming from 2 wheels the handling will drive you crazy if you let it, you have to learn to hold the grips loosely and gently guide the handlebars the direction you want it to go....Grip them tightly and you will be riding a rattlesnake...Takes a few hunnert miles to get used to it, and a little longer to find its sweet spot in the twisties, then you have it made....Enjoy your new experience and best of luck to ya! DC1....

Switching from 1 to 2 up won't be an issue so I'll probably stay with the RT. What pressures do you use for 1 or 2 up?

 

[Highwayman2013]

The auto air leveling is a nice feature, but as has been stated there is nothing wrong with the base model. To set the record strait it does not have an air shock. It has a shock and a separate air bag.

 

[Spin]

I agree with the above statements. I ride 95% of the time 1 up. But when going 2 up on long trips, I may add a little pressure to the shock. It has never been a problem. The additions that I wanted on my base RT, I added and still came out cheaper, and like them better. I added the fog lights for the look. Then I added things like Web floor boards (best looking and functioning around IMHO), drivers backrest, 3rd. brake light, etc. As you can tell, with any model you get, you will still be adding things to make it your own. But don't shy away from the base model, it just allows you more money to do your own customizing.

Ha! I've been looking at upgrades already and I don't even own it yet!! I also like the look of the fog lights so I might get them.

 

[Twilldous]

My wife and I are looking at a new RT. I am new to Spyders but I have ridden bikes for years and also have a Rennegade 800. Any comments or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

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We have the 2015 RT limited and the only thing I need to make this ride perfect is a driver back rest.
We are former Goldwing riders one summer on the Spider and there's no turning back.

 

[Spin]

Judging from all the comments it looks like we will go for it. We have been talking ourselves into it already anyway. Now I have to decide which bike or quad to take off the insurance policy because only 4 are allowed.

 

[Bob Denman]

Ha! I've been looking at upgrades already and I don't even own it yet!! I also like the look of the fog lights so I might get them.

This is how it starts...
Back in 2010; I bought an RT Audio and convenience model. It was sort of a step up from the base RT (Which was REALLY basic back then...)

But then... I discovered farkling!
And the bike looked like this!



I ended up turning into a full-blown RT-S... and THEN SOME! :2thumbs:
But it would have been a whole lot cheaper to just have bought the RT-S in the first place...

Just sayin'...

 

[rcturner]

I am about to pull the trigger on a new RTS and have some questions about the belt system problems. I had an electraglide Harley with belt drive and no problems and a goldwing with shaft drive. Are the belt problems over exaggerated to sell belt tension devices or are they all suffering from the bad vibrations and short belt life. I know forums can bring out and exaggerated minor problems so I thought I would talk to the RT riders themselves before spending 25 grand. I have to switch to a trike because of my short legs and the problems I have moving a 1000# bike around in parking lots and dirt driveways. Thanks

For all practical purposes, the is no belt problem on an RT. About the only thing that shows up on this forum is when they get damaged or if someone messes up the alignment. This belt system is much more friendly than the one that was on my 2008 Harley Ultra. No worries.

 

[JP58]

Judging from all the comments it looks like we will go for it. We have been talking ourselves into it already anyway. Now I have to decide which bike or quad to take off the insurance policy because only 4 are allowed.

Sell one of your two wheel bikes. You will probably never ride it after riding/owning the Spyder.

 

[Bob Denman]

"For all practical purposes, the is no belt problem on an RT. About the only thing that shows up on this forum is when they get damaged or if someone messes up the alignment. This belt system is much more friendly than the one that was on my 2008 Harley Ultra. No worries."


:agree: No problem exists with the drive-belt... :thumbup:

 

[UCLA F3S]

We bought wifey a '16 RT-S SE6. She absolutely LOVES it. She was coming from ZERO motorcycle riding experience, but she picked it up within 30 minutes of noodling around on it. Great ride!:thumbup: