The Forty-Eight is a great looking bike. It attracted a lot of attention at the H-D exhibit during Daytona Bike Week. I also missed the lean factor and traded my Spyder for a new H-D Fatboy Low. Love it!
But I still lurk around this site as there are a LOT of great folks here!
and there cool unless you are 6'6" tall 300lbs cop
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I understand how you feel. I too miss the lean factor. I tell my friends that the Spyder is 85 percent as much fun to ride as a Harley. For the first year of Spyder riding I had both the Spyder and a Fat Boy. I used the Spyder for touring and the Harley for cruising. At first, I could not accept the thought of cruising on a "trike". Now it seem normal. If I were a little bit younger I would still have both motorcycles.
Maybe HDXBones would be willing to trade his Harley in on a new Forty-Eight. This way you could chose which one you wanted to ride on a particular day and he could take the other one. You would have the best of both worlds.:2thumbs:
I bought an Iron 883 last year and love it. When I saw the 48 I wish I had waited a little longer.
but I agree the peanut tank needs to go.
Yep, nothin wrong with 2 wheels and a nice looking machine too boot. Unfortunately I have learned my spyder is not a daily driver. Broken down going on 3-months now. My plans are to pick up a used bike in the near future so the next time the spyder is broke down for 3 months, i am at least out enjoying the nice weather on something. I'll keep my ears open for anyone looking for a used spyder for you. Jerry
try out the Harley vrscd nite rod, better balanced,no vibration,twice the horsepower, than the sportster, I got both, & perfer the rod.Thinking about it. Researching it. I just miss the "lean factor". I fell in love with the Sporster Forty-Eight - perfect for someone my size. I loved my Deluxe but it was a big bike for me even though I rode it all over the East Coast. There is a Forty Eight down at our local HD dealer. It's a good price 10K - not expensive. I'd have to add some saddlebags, a windshield and a luggage rack but other than that, everything would remain stock on it. Wish I could keep my Spyder too - it's been trouble free since the new DPS but I can't afford both. So if anyone is interested in an '08 but I'm going to try and trade it in - they know my Spyder well over there at HD. Going to contact our friend who is a sales guy there tomorrow. He's ridden my Spyder and loves it. But I really miss the 2 wheel experience. So we'll see - not pulling the trigger tomorrow but starting to research it.
A 2 wheel bike takes the curves like poetry in motion. The Spyder takes them like a fat lady trying to run an obstacle course. As far as safety goes...I feel safer on a 2 wheel bike that takes up about 1/2 as much road space as the trike. Much easier to avoid hitting whatever gets "in the way".
A 2 wheel bike takes the curves like poetry in motion. The Spyder takes them like a fat lady trying to run an obstacle course. As far as safety goes...I feel safer on a 2 wheel bike that takes up about 1/2 as much road space as the trike. Much easier to avoid hitting whatever gets "in the way".
Firefly said:
We realize you sold your Spyder, but please understand most of us out here have not and still like them very much - and consider them anything but a 'fat lady on an obstacle course'.
Certainly the Spyder won't corner the same as a 2-wheeler, especially the rocket-bikes, but it does corner better than a conventional trike and can hold up pretty good against many 2-wheelers. I had no problems keeping up with the HD guys on the dragon. With wet road conditions the tables just may be turned in the Spyders favor.
You may feel safer on 2-wheels, but most of us feel safer on 3. Perhaps you can avoid obstacles better on 2 wheels, but the larger footprint of the Spyder is easier for cagers to see, and we don't have the concern of the bike slipping out from under us on gravel or wet road conditions. Then the other well-known safety systems on the Spyder also come into play which put it in a class by itself for bike safety (in my opinion).
Many out here have moved on to other 2-wheeled bikes and are still active out here and have a respect and interest in the Spyder.
Good idea to have the best of both worlds - two and three wheels! Wish I could do that but not just yet. Who knows, maybe someday they'll come out with a "mini RT" and I'll get that and keep 2 wheels .... maybe by then I could afford two bikes.
That almighty $$$ does make it easier to support our need to enjoy what we want in life doesn't it? I'm sure you will enjoy the new HD if you do get it. You and HDX will have to come up to northern Vermont to show it off. There is this bar and grill not far from where I live that is called " Harley D's" This place is kind of neat with a harley theme on the inside. The food there is great! Many bikers stop there, but you don't have to own a harley. They will cator to everyone. I go there once in while myself with the spyder and stop in for a cold beer every now and then.