Looking at an RT

[RedRTS]

Agree

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.

Rode Goldwings since '84... Took me about 500 miles of riding to get used to that third wheel...(im either slow or used to dragging the pegs just a bit too much..lol)... but sure loving it now. And I can certainly identify with the short seams and the GW. I had to stand on my tiptoes on the GW... just got to where it was a bit heavy for that to keep working for me.

The other thing... the wife rides a LOT more than she did on the GW. Feels much more comfortable and confident that the bike wont get 'dropped'.. so there's plusses all the way around. Do you research and join our crazy club!

 

[rutger]

Fog lights

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.

Just speaking for myself.

We've had 3 RT's and all came with stock Fog Lights. And again speaking just for myself, but if the last 2 hadn't come stock on the bikes, I'd NEVER have added them after that first bike. They are a waste of money.

You can't see them when they're on at all during the day. They're aimed too low and they aren't adjustable.

They are the main reason I added Custom Dynamics Driving Lights to all 3 RT's. Because the Fog lights are visible only at night and even then not that much.

Again speaking ONLY for myself. Because they aren't cheap! Do they look good on the bike? Whether turned on or off? Yes. But you might as well leave them off 100% of the time since in the day light, you can't see them when they're on.

Because if you're riding in front of an RT that has them and you look in the mirror back at it, unless that bike is cresting a hill behind you, you can't tell if they are on or not.

And that's why I'd never add them.

PS. don't know how much of an upgrade Lamonster's LED fog lights are?

As far as the belt vibration. We've been riding RT's for 4 years now and personally I think it's a bit over blown but to each his own. And I rode a Valkyrie with shaft drive (a bike my daughter referred to as a rolling lounge it was so smooth) for 19 years before buying the first RT.

Road a Wing for 1 year and traded it in for another Valk because the Valkyrie was actually a smoother ride.

But if the amount of vibration at certain speeds bothers you, it doesn't appear to be that much of a job to install one of belt vibration smootheners. I just rotate the throttle up a little and it seems to go away.

Take one for a test ride for at least 50 miles. We test road one back in '10 or '11 on an 8-10 mile ride and didn't like it at all. I mean NOT at all.

Then after talking to people about them for the next couple of years. We gave it another try after someone said: "You need to take it out for at least 50 miles and learn how to ride it before you decide to hate it." Wow were they were correct!!


Good Luck!

 

[DGoebel]

:agree: Been riding for 46 years, most types of bikes (except Harley's), my used 2013 RTL is the best bike I've ridden 2 up with ever. I concur with the above about how comfortable my wife has been riding on the back.

Test Ride, test ride, test ride together to make your decision. I did test rides on Harley and Honda conversion Trikes first, then left running for the Spyders.
My wife did two different Spyder test rides before purchase and was convinced she'd be more comfortable on it. We've even done a test ride on F-3 models and she prefers the RT due to seating positions and angles. We rode further together in the fall of last year than the previous 27 years of marital bliss.

 

[Spin]

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

I have 2 bikes and 2 quads on the policy. I'll probably take one of the quads off.

 

[Navydad]

We bought a 2015...

base model RT and are very happy with it. Anything we wanted extra we have added ourselves, lots of great vendors here. I have 50 pounds of air pressure in the rear and it rides quite well with wife and I on board. I very rarely ride it solo as I still have two motorcycles in the stable and enjoy them. I have read about belt vibration being an issue for some, but we have had ours up to 90 mph and smooth as silk so I think I will leave it alone for now. Buy it, ride it, add goodies as needed or wanted.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

:welcome:

 

[Zgore]

Thanks for the comments you have my my decision to buy the RTS a little easier. I loved my big touring bikes but dreaded the hassle of turning them around or hitting the occasional dirt road or parking lot. Getting use to the handling will be easy because of my Can Am Outlander 800 with power steering. I really love the 41gal of storage space on the RTS and now have to get down to dealer and take one for a ride.

 

[HayRog]

Before we decided to buy the RT-L we rented one for a day from the dealership. Rode about a hundred miles or so and confirmed our decision.
The dealer deducted the rental price from the cost of the bike

We also bought a "leftover" 2015 model cause the 2016's were arriving. That saved us $4,000.00.

Great deal all around :2thumbs:

Or as my friend Ray says -- "we bought a $24,000 GPS and got a free Spyder with it"

 

[ricford]

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:

I agree FULLY with Chupaca and add my vote to buying the basic RT. If you get the super duper delux model with all the stuff they offer, it's STILL not enough. You're going to want to improve the handling which means changing that not very good factory anti-sway bar with a Bajaron bar, you'll want to replace all three shocks with Elka + shocks, you'll want to replace the tires with decent quality performance tires, ....well, there are very many after market products that improve the performance of the bike. And they're needed if you ride more that on Sunday for a couple of hours. If you tour, you'll definitely NEED to do these multiple things to make your bike perform better, be safer and more comfortable. This means that if you buy the RTS at say $32K (I think that's about right, not sure) and then spend another $6 K upgrading the bike to where it should be... Or buy the RT, do nothing and not ride very much. Or fast around any curves. But, that's me. I've managed to upgrade my RT to the tune of about $6K and not one farkle. All performance stuff. I ride hard. Don't speed, just don't putter down the road only on sunny Sunday afternoons. And what I've gathered from reading many posts, some folks manage a dozen Iron Butt rides a month. Or so. This Spring I have n 8K mile trip planned. Just waiting for the cold to simmer down up North.

 

[Mr. Pickels]

AHHHH

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

Very good Point!:firstplace:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

WELLLLLLL NOW THAT YOU MENTION IT

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

ALL - RT's have adjustable air ride ........ for those who are extremely lazy the " S " and " LTD " model's are automatic :dontknow: :roflblack: :roflblack: :roflblack: .............. Mike :thumbup:

 

[DC1]

Pressures....

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?

I kinda worked it bass ackwards...
260 lbs 1-up = 40 psi
520 lbs 2-up = 65 psi

Since the dealer had the headlights so out of whack to start with that the high beams were like low beams.....

1, I found the perfect 2-up pressure for us....

2, Then popped the side covers off and adjusted headlights accordingly....Just a turn of a knob on each side and easy to line up using low beam...

3, Then experimented with how much to drop the pressure for 1up....

We are big folks, lighter folks will need less pressure....Just experiment with it till you get the ride you like..(not sitting too high in the rear but not bottoming out on bumps either) and if needed the headlights can be adjusted to match easy....

Not sure if that was the right way, but it's what I did! LOL!

 

[ARtraveler]

I have only had two base models--a 2008 GS SM5 and a 2009 SE5.

I then went to RT's. Had a 2010 RTS Premier--which was pretty much loaded with everything. Also a 2011 A & C which had cruise control and radio. No adjusting shocks on that one. The 2014 is a RT-S with radio, cruise, and the push button adjustable shocks.

They are all good--depending on the level of amenities you want. A test drive is advised. :thumbup:

 

[SpyderDriver]

Go for it!

Today I finally bit the bullet and bought a barely used 2015 RT Ltd. I shopped around a lot and got a great deal! I hope you find yours soon!

 

[Deanna777]

:welcome:

My first spyder was a 2012RTS-SE5, I did not put on any farkles, had my first spyder for 1year 1/2, then took a demo ride on a 2014RTS-SE6 in Springfield, MO( during Spyderfest) WOW what a difference, like night/day.


So when I got back home( Vermont) I bought a brand new 2014RTS-SE6 Cognac. So, I am not turning back, I have added a lot of farkles, (look @ my Albums to see the farkles that I have done ) The 2014RTS-SE6 is my current :spyder2:, and I have 16,000 miles on it. I have added LED'S,( on fenders, side markers, trunk, below trunk lock, decals, spyder pockets, painted dashboard( mike-blueknight911 painted), short antenna, etc. Here is a picture of my spyder: The LED'S, DECAL'S I bought from the venders on this site( TRIC-LED, WRAPMYSPDYER.COM, SPYDERPOPS).


I love my 2014RTS-SE6.

Deanna

 

[LateLifeCrisis]

HAHAHAHAHA

Before we decided to buy the RT-L we rented one for a day from the dealership. Rode about a hundred miles or so and confirmed our decision.
The dealer deducted the rental price from the cost of the bike

We also bought a "leftover" 2015 model cause the 2016's were arriving. That saved us $4,000.00.

Great deal all around :2thumbs:

Or as my friend Ray says -- "we bought a $24,000 GPS and got a free Spyder with it"

"Or as my friend Ray says -- "we bought a $24,000 GPS and got a free Spyder with it" :roflblack:

 

[Bob Denman]

Today I finally bit the bullet and bought a barely used 2015 RT Ltd. I shopped around a lot and got a great deal! I hope you find yours soon!

:clap::congrats: :nopic: :2thumbs:

 

[DSSpyder]

Go for the RT S, the upgrades are worth the price. I love my 2014 RTS


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bensonoid]

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?

I run 40 lb in mine 1 and 2 up. We total about 350 lb. I started out with 50 lb but experimented and settled on 40.

 

[Deanna777]

Go for the RT S, the upgrades are worth the price. I love my 2014 RTS


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

:agree: Deanna