Minutes away from owning a Spyder RT but I have questions

[spyderjim]

Hello Spyder owners. I have been looking at them for a couple years, and decided now is the time to take action. I have been riding motorcycles for 45 years. Currently, I own a Harley Road Glide CVO. But, it is getting to be a bit of a struggle moving it around. Anyway, my Harley dealer has a 2012 Spyder RT with 2600 miles on it. I intend to trade my Harley. They are giving me big money for it (it is one in great demand) and I walk away with a few grand in cash!

I have several questions that I hope you can answer for me.

How is the heat off the motor in hot weather. Harley's had that issue, but have been making changes and adding accessories to help control it.

For those of you who moved from a motorcycle, what did you find to be the biggest change?

Steering......I rode one last year, and it felt that the front end kept "dancing", constant movement. A dealer recently told me that a Laser Alignment will smooth that out.......comments??

Any recommended additions? Anyone with regrets??

Thanks,

 

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the Party!! :2thumbs: :yes:hyea::yes:

The 2012s were the ones with the fewest reported problems; you can't go wrong on one of them! :thumbup:
HEAT :shocked:
You'll get some on your right foot... The radiator outlet is right down there. Proper footwear should make it a non-issue.
Steering...
Laser alignment seems to make all of the difference in thw World! :2thumbs:
Still; DON'T overgrip the bars, and don't try to make a million little minor course corrections...
A light and relaxed grip goes a long way to insuring a relaxed and fun ride! :welcome:

 

[spyderbirds]

:welcome: I think the single biggest adjustment you will face is keeping the RPM up on the 2012 Spyder. The engine is happiest when above 5000 RPM.
If you were to go with a 2014 RT its a whole different story with the new powerplant inside. No longer need the high RPM with the 1300 triple.

 

[Topshotta]

Realize it is not a motorcycle. It will take a few miles to get use to it and the way it handles. I like the roadster way more than my motorcycle......I still have my vstar but ride the spyder 98% of the time.

No regrets for me.........go for it

 

[Magdave]

I assume you had ridden ATV's? The Spyder drives more like those than a bike. Some of the dartiness you reported can be alignment, shock adjustment or a need for Baharon's sway bar. Have fun and be safe.

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: ATV or snowmobile experience is VERY useful! :2thumbs:

 

[Don in E Texas]

Spyder ownership

Heart and soul of happy Spyder ownership (IMHO) is the relationship between owner and a Spyder dealer/service dept. See what other owners in your area recommend for service for your new Spyder (of course you will make the trade!!). What model RT (Limited Ed or S or ??) makes a difference. Some have great lights for night riding - some models have built in air compressor for the rear end suspension - some have luggage and GPS units. What option/s might be on your new ride? I'd recommend floorboards - once you have used them (like your current ride) you will want them on your new ride - I have Seal floorboards on my Spyder. You mentioned heat - there is heat from the right side (radiator) but the large Seal floor boards deflect a lot of that so it is a non issue for me. Steering - have a more relaxed hold on the grips. Also the Spyder Owners Manual has a lot of tips on riding and safety - and a DVD should be part of the Manual - shows how all the electronics and safety features work. This web site also has a FAQ for new owners that should not be missed. And of course send photo's of your new ride when you can. We are a three RT family - my brother, daughter and me!

 

[Chupaca]

Just go for it..!!

you will not regret it. The unit they have sounds like a winner and the issues you are worring about were not on this year and model. Getting used to it will take a few hundred fun filled miles and the love affair starts when you leave the lot. We ryde with many Harley riders and pass many along the way and I find they are starting to find these are not old folks walkers but rather a hard machine to keep up with. You can keep your ryding groups and will find new one....hope to see you on the road soon..!! hyea:hyea:

 

[Highwayman2013]

I got a 2012 RT Limited for my wife but I ride it too. We have installed many aftermarket accessories like swaybar,footboards, bumpskid, etc. The biggest improvement in handling improvement was the laser alignment. The biggest thing for me was keeping the RPMs up, but after a few hundred miles I got the hang of it. Thinking of getting an RT for myself when my wife's is paid off. Welcome!

 

[DrewNJ]

If you haven't spent any time on an ATV or snowmobile the handling will feel really odd. A good friend of mine bought a Spyder and called me that same evening and thought he just made a $20k mistake. After some reassurance and some seat time he is now really happy. Give yourself a good 1000 miles of real riding with some twisties before you feel totally comfortable.

2012 is known as the year that they had most of the bugs worked out and is about as bulletproof as it gets.

It will feel odd running higher rpms compared to your Harley. The SE is more finiky about the rpms than the SM.

Good Luck and enjoy the ride!

Sent from my Venue 8 3830 using Tapatalk

 

[Bob Ledford]

Hello Spyder owners. I have been looking at them for a couple years, and decided now is the time to take action. I have been riding motorcycles for 45 years. Currently, I own a Harley Road Glide CVO. But, it is getting to be a bit of a struggle moving it around. Anyway, my Harley dealer has a 2012 Spyder RT with 2600 miles on it. I intend to trade my Harley. They are giving me big money for it (it is one in great demand) and I walk away with a few grand in cash!

I have several questions that I hope you can answer for me.

How is the heat off the motor in hot weather. Harley's had that issue, but have been making changes and adding accessories to help control it.

For those of you who moved from a motorcycle, what did you find to be the biggest change?

Steering......I rode one last year, and it felt that the front end kept "dancing", constant movement. A dealer recently told me that a Laser Alignment will smooth that out.......comments??

Any recommended additions? Anyone with regrets??

Thanks,

The biggest problem I experienced was keeping my face from locking into a big smile. One thing no one previously mentioned that is better called "a inconvience" then a problem is the starting drill. Insert ignition key, turn on, wait for computer to contact NASA for permission to start engine, depress brake, press's MODE button, push Start. During the wait period is a good time to zip up, helmet up, glove up, release parking brake, that is what I do.

The heat coming out the radiator vent gets hot but it will probably not be a bothersome point since you are used to the heat of the Evo Twin between your knees.

You will notice your fuel consumption

 

[Bob Ledford]

Hello Spyder owners. I have been looking at them for a couple years, and decided now is the time to take action. I have been riding motorcycles for 45 years. Currently, I own a Harley Road Glide CVO. But, it is getting to be a bit of a struggle moving it around. Anyway, my Harley dealer has a 2012 Spyder RT with 2600 miles on it. I intend to trade my Harley. They are giving me big money for it (it is one in great demand) and I walk away with a few grand in cash!

I have several questions that I hope you can answer for me.

How is the heat off the motor in hot weather. Harley's had that issue, but have been making changes and adding accessories to help control it.

For those of you who moved from a motorcycle, what did you find to be the biggest change?

Steering......I rode one last year, and it felt that the front end kept "dancing", constant movement. A dealer recently told me that a Laser Alignment will smooth that out.......comments??

Any recommended additions? Anyone with regrets??

Thanks,

The biggest problem I experienced was keeping my face from locking into a big smile. One thing no one previously mentioned that is better called "a inconvience" then a problem is the starting drill. Insert ignition key, turn on, wait for computer to contact NASA for permission to start engine, depress brake, press's MODE button, push Start. During the wait period is a good time to zip up, helmet up, glove up, release parking brake, that is what I do.

The heat coming out the radiator vent gets hot but it will probably not be a bothersome point since you are used to the heat of the Evo Twin between your knees.

You will notice your fuel consumption Also the lack of saddle bag space.

The only regret is I wish they had been built in 1996 when I had to give up my GW!

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

too much air pressure will make a Spyder dance, try 16 1/2 - 17 Lbs, be sure both tires are inflated equally and a lot of that dance will go away.

Cruzr Joe

 

[Bob Denman]

The 2013s didn't like as much air pressure as the previous model years... this one is a 2012...
I tried 20psi, and got the bouncing effect :shocked:; dropeed it back to 18, and was good to go! :thumbup:

 

[Sarge707]

I take my 2012 RT out on the Very Hot and Humid days because it is cooler than my RS.
You should really get BajaRons sway bar and their not very hard to install on the 2012 RT and you will corner with the best of them BUT it will demand more muscle through the turns than leaning does.
A shorter or Cut windshield is really nice in the summer heat.
The heated grips a SUPER in cold weather!!!
Its Fun reving 2nd gear past 65 MPH then shifting to 3rd?:yes:

 

[Benggolf]

Spyderjim, you got a lot of valuable and great advice. I say, go for it!:thumbup:
You will never look back and will be wearing that big grin for miles and miles to come.
Welcome to the club. :clap:

 

[rcturner]

I don't see that anyone here has mentioned to adjust the front suspension to the 4th (next to the highest) setting. If you do that, you will probably not need to mess with alignment. My 2012 RT has almost 12000 miles and the tires still look even and have many miles left in them. My neighbor did't adjust his and his tires wore badly. Many old threads have suggested the need to set the suspension up and it really seems to help.

 

[belowme29]

If you want to keep riding, and feel like you want to try something new and will not give up too quickly, then go for it.

I purchased one because my wife said "OK - that is something that you can have". She was totally against a motorcycle (not like I was pushing for one), but the Spyder looked safer. And I believe that it has features on it that make it safer from a riders standpoint - but you still have the caged drivers that do not see you because you do not have 4 wheels and a cage over you.

Pick up the 2012, put some cash in your pocket and get out there and ryde.

 

[Sarge707]

I don't see that anyone here has mentioned to adjust the front suspension to the 4th (next to the highest) setting. If you do that, you will probably not need to mess with alignment. My 2012 RT has almost 12000 miles and the tires still look even and have many miles left in them. My neighbor did't adjust his and his tires wore badly. Many old threads have suggested the need to set the suspension up and it really seems to help.

:agree: The suspension normally is set on #3! Move it to #4 or #5 really helps if you ,don,t have the sway bar.
I had mine at #5 before the sway bar and then Backed it off to #4 once I got the sway bar.
Front tires after 8,500 Miles perfectly even wear!!!