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My Wife does not like riding on the Spyder!
- Thread starter jthornton
- Start date
jthornton
New member
Too much risk in changing wife at this point in my life... this one has me trained perfectly.
John
gnirtsnod
New member
PM sent
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
It sounds a bit like you got off to a bad start with the wrong air pressures and the semi jostling.
I ran into the same problem when I worked with akspyderlady. She was not going to ride on a motorcycle--period!
I talked her into an introductory ride and we went around the blocks in my neighborhood. I never got out of first gear. Made sure the stops were smooth, the turns included no g's, and the starts were also smooth.
After about a half hour, she was willing to go further. I live on a road that skirts the neighborhood. Six miles or so of twisty, turning road, with some 15 mph curves. Once again, made sure I did not exceed speed limits, and followed all the stuff in the paragraph above. A couple times through the loop in both directions, and her confidence was up.
Bravery test time, enter the Glen Highway (65 mph-two lanes each way) for the 5 miles back to the next turnoff ramp. Other than the acceleration to get up to speed on the ramp, all went well.
After that, it was no problem to get her to ride with me. She put 5000 seat miles on that first summer. At the end of the season I started teaching her how to drive the Spyder. She put a couple hundred driving miles on it--using the same techniques I used above.
The 2012 season began with her puttiing almost 1000 miles on my :spyder2: driving it. In July, I bought her a new 2011 for her very own. She put 5000 miles on it before we parked it for the season at the end of September.
Give it another try with your wife, but make sure the :ani29: is set up and driving the way it should first.
I ran into the same problem when I worked with akspyderlady. She was not going to ride on a motorcycle--period!
I talked her into an introductory ride and we went around the blocks in my neighborhood. I never got out of first gear. Made sure the stops were smooth, the turns included no g's, and the starts were also smooth.
After about a half hour, she was willing to go further. I live on a road that skirts the neighborhood. Six miles or so of twisty, turning road, with some 15 mph curves. Once again, made sure I did not exceed speed limits, and followed all the stuff in the paragraph above. A couple times through the loop in both directions, and her confidence was up.
Bravery test time, enter the Glen Highway (65 mph-two lanes each way) for the 5 miles back to the next turnoff ramp. Other than the acceleration to get up to speed on the ramp, all went well.
After that, it was no problem to get her to ride with me. She put 5000 seat miles on that first summer. At the end of the season I started teaching her how to drive the Spyder. She put a couple hundred driving miles on it--using the same techniques I used above.
The 2012 season began with her puttiing almost 1000 miles on my :spyder2: driving it. In July, I bought her a new 2011 for her very own. She put 5000 miles on it before we parked it for the season at the end of September.
Give it another try with your wife, but make sure the :ani29: is set up and driving the way it should first.
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spydaman60
New member
:agree:
I agree with all of the above, but specifically the last line. the big mistake was the improper set-up! IMHO
rcturner
New member
We went from a 2009 Wing to a 2012 Spyder RT. My wife likes it as much or more than I do. The ride is better, the wind protection for the passenger is far better, etc. We would not go back to two wheels. Some of your wife's problems might be you as a new rider. My first 500 miles was a bit if a challenge. I did not take her along until I got the riding and control figured out. It takes a while.
El Dorado Bob
New member
Traveling with spouse
My wife and I over the past ten years have visited 29 states on our Harley, attended Laughlin for years and made it to Sturgis. I have been very lucky. Well here it comes, I to purchased a 2012 RT Limited. I'll be honest, I bought the Spyder over the Harley Trike and saved myself $8000.00. But man the grief, it is not a Harley, it does not have passenger arm rest, Kuryakyn passenger adjustable pegs, Harley has a great clothing line etc. But for me it is a blast to ride right. So now I have a new Corbin heated seat with armrest on the Spyder, we have Elka shocks and Baja Rons sway bar that took care of handling issues. But we have not solved the passenger adjustable pegs and the Corbin seat needs some tweaking for her. She is coming around, just continue to listen to what the issues might be and try to mitigate. The one biggie that helped, she is getting addicted to this Web Site, is really impressed with the Spyder crowd.
My wife and I over the past ten years have visited 29 states on our Harley, attended Laughlin for years and made it to Sturgis. I have been very lucky. Well here it comes, I to purchased a 2012 RT Limited. I'll be honest, I bought the Spyder over the Harley Trike and saved myself $8000.00. But man the grief, it is not a Harley, it does not have passenger arm rest, Kuryakyn passenger adjustable pegs, Harley has a great clothing line etc. But for me it is a blast to ride right. So now I have a new Corbin heated seat with armrest on the Spyder, we have Elka shocks and Baja Rons sway bar that took care of handling issues. But we have not solved the passenger adjustable pegs and the Corbin seat needs some tweaking for her. She is coming around, just continue to listen to what the issues might be and try to mitigate. The one biggie that helped, she is getting addicted to this Web Site, is really impressed with the Spyder crowd.
hyea:
NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
????? The RT has adjustable passenger footboards.
Bob Denman
New member
JOhn,
Heere's a pic of the armrests that are available from Diamond-R...
they sure made my Missus feel more at home in the Navigator's Perch!
Heere's a pic of the armrests that are available from Diamond-R...
they sure made my Missus feel more at home in the Navigator's Perch! 
GadgetGuy442
New member
Hi JT,
Lots of good advice from others here, for sure. Do you have a communication system for you and wife to keep in touch with one another?
One thing that made some of the uneasiness pass for my wife Sandy when we first got our 2010 RTS was when we got our comm system installed and could talk easily. Prior to that, us yelling to each other just added to her sense of not being fully relaxed.
Some nice weather days with short rides to places that interest her, and repeated application of such (Woody's point) is what I'd prescribe too.
Good luck, Bill
Lots of good advice from others here, for sure. Do you have a communication system for you and wife to keep in touch with one another?
One thing that made some of the uneasiness pass for my wife Sandy when we first got our 2010 RTS was when we got our comm system installed and could talk easily. Prior to that, us yelling to each other just added to her sense of not being fully relaxed.
Some nice weather days with short rides to places that interest her, and repeated application of such (Woody's point) is what I'd prescribe too.
Good luck, Bill
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jthornton
New member
We have a com system on the Goldwing but never use it. She uses Morse code to communicate with me usually via helmet taps and rib taps. We usually stop and mute the radio when we need to talk that way I'm not distracted from driving.
We went on a 200 mile ride (on the Goldwing) with some friends today and I think that she will get back on the Spyder, but I need to have the Spyder ready to ride 2 up... short trips and slow in the corners and I think she will be OK. I'll give her the option to choose the ride so she doesn't feel forced to ride one or the other.
I really feel the dealer should have made sure the tires were at least in the middle range of the pressure or discussed what ride type I was after...
I want to thank all those that chimed in with support, I was a bit down when I first posted and now feel much better about the situation.
Thanks
John
BajaRon
Well-known member
I do not have a web site. I do have a page link to my
You can always PM me here or email me at [email protected] Either works well.
A number of customers have told me that the passenger really appreciated the Sway Bar upgrade. I don't know if this is a universal reaction, but from those who commented it was very positive.
bertmc
New member
One more suggestion
When I first sat on the back seat i was sure it was going to be too small, compared to the GW seat. And the RT Limited custom seat is even an inch or so shorter, so I worried about it again. At first she didn't like the edges on the side of the seat, but now does, and has not complained about the length, but I'm still hesitant to get a driver backrest that might take up more space. She has driven some with me on the back, and I actually enjoy being a passenger--occasionally. We also went through the learning curve, no pun intended, with the corners. All of the previous comments are applicable.
But my point in commenting is actually full disclosure to her--let her read all these comments to see that others have also struggled with this, and overcome. Maybe that will give her hope and courage to stick it out.
And if you can get her up to, say, 250 miles, you can stop at our house for a break.
Bert
When I first sat on the back seat i was sure it was going to be too small, compared to the GW seat. And the RT Limited custom seat is even an inch or so shorter, so I worried about it again. At first she didn't like the edges on the side of the seat, but now does, and has not complained about the length, but I'm still hesitant to get a driver backrest that might take up more space. She has driven some with me on the back, and I actually enjoy being a passenger--occasionally. We also went through the learning curve, no pun intended, with the corners. All of the previous comments are applicable.
But my point in commenting is actually full disclosure to her--let her read all these comments to see that others have also struggled with this, and overcome. Maybe that will give her hope and courage to stick it out.
And if you can get her up to, say, 250 miles, you can stop at our house for a break.
Bert
Bob Denman
New member
John,
Ron's right; that Anti-SwayBar transforms the handling of the Spyder. :thumbup:
You mentioned that she couldn't see what was coming up on the road? Perhaps some sort of pad under her, would give her the ability to see over your shoulder perhaps?? :dontknow:
Ron's right; that Anti-SwayBar transforms the handling of the Spyder. :thumbup:
You mentioned that she couldn't see what was coming up on the road? Perhaps some sort of pad under her, would give her the ability to see over your shoulder perhaps?? :dontknow:
One word of caution. Not everyone likes armrests. If you don't have them on the 'Wing, your wife may not want them on the RT. My wife would not tolerate armrests on either. She made that very clear. Don't just assume that she'll like them and feel more secure. I would personally save armrests for the last step in a long process. If you finally get to that point, make sure she thinks it's a great idea.
DR Buck
New member
El Dorado Bob
New member
Kuryakyn Adjustable Pegs
The Kuryakyns allow several positions for the passenger (besides the up or down) it allows forward position which helped her on long rides and no tools needed. I will get it figured out and her comfortable again. I enjoy hi-way pegs myself which allows my long legs to stretch. I have, with a little help, made some. When I get them back from the chrome shop and install them I will post a picture, nothing fancy, an extension with a castle knurled peg.
The Kuryakyns allow several positions for the passenger (besides the up or down) it allows forward position which helped her on long rides and no tools needed. I will get it figured out and her comfortable again. I enjoy hi-way pegs myself which allows my long legs to stretch. I have, with a little help, made some. When I get them back from the chrome shop and install them I will post a picture, nothing fancy, an extension with a castle knurled peg.
jthornton
New member
I hope to get her to try some out at SpyderFest and see what she thinks. I have the factory armrests on the Goldwing and I almost never see her arms on them...
John
jthornton
New member
Thanks for the invite, we get to Swiss Mo. sometimes to pick up an ice chest full of bratwursts and sometimes go to Jefferson City for ice cream or The Cave for lunch. Next time we get up that way I'll holler.
John
