New and need advice

[MouthPiece]

You best be assured that she will have fun on either. There are some people who are "built" to ride a motorcycle and some that are not. Although my wife enjoys riding on our spyder and enjoyed our "two wheel days" as well, I can't say with all honesty that she REALLY enjoys seeing the sites as much as say getting in a VW convertable and covering the same territory. I'm not bashing my wife, but simply stating a fact. There are some people who prefer the amenities of a car. Additionally, I don't know for sure that a rider sees as much scenery as does the "pilot" of the machine. Seeing the sites is what it is all about is it not?? How can a passenger, unless he or she is so much taller, see the things that you see? I've tried several times to convince her that she just might like having her own spyder. She says no.

Bottom line is that for me going on a venture with either a spyder or two wheeler (note I did not mention a conventional trike) is an absolute "high". However, I cannot say that about my partner and that is what it's about is it not? Both of you?

Chris

 

[Questions]

Thanks again

Again, I would like to think everyone for their suggestions. After reading a lot of the posts here and on a conventional bike board, I was concerned about the heat. There are a lot of posts on here on how to "fix" the comfort and the heat issues. That what was giving me concerns. I will really look at a 2014 or 2012 to buy. Thank you everyone!

 

[gnirtsnod]

My 2012 Spyder RT has two big advantages over a trike. The SE5 auto transmission and two wheels in front designed like a car. I rode two wheelers from 1957 to 2012. The front of trikes are designed for two wheeling where making a corner compresses front wheel springs and shocks with no side load because you turn by leaning into corner. When putting two wheels on the back of a motorcycle (trike), the front forks now have a tremendous side load in turns that the original designers did not intend. If you are going to do much mountain driving with sharp turns, I would stay away from trikes for that reason.

I test rode an HD trike before deciding on my 2012 RT-S. The HD was like my Ultra from the rider seat to the front fender tip and like an over-sized beer cooler in the back..and it rode like I just described. I did not feel like the suspension on the HD trike was conducive to my somewhat aggressive riding style. The above quote provides the technical basis for what I experienced. ...Don

P.S. I love my Spyder.

 

[mclaw44]

My two cents

So i figured I may as well add my two cents to this thread.

I to had a wife that was very worried about riding. Lots of bad stories out there. My first spyder was a '09 RS which I put a lot in to it for touring bike (they didn't make the RT then). She was OK with it. She would ride with me becasue she know I enjoyed it. Then along came our '13 RT-L and well she loves it enve drives it. Yes we may have a little heat issue but the fun we have, its easy to overlook. The one thing I had did change this year was is I added a F4 taller, wider windshield for her to stay out of the wind more which a big hit. She now loves to ride even more, actual asks to ride. As a side note she will even allow our kids (16, 12, and 9) ride.

My vote would be a '14 RT with a F4 windshield. Both of you will have a time of your life which you never forget.

 

[sassoman]

My wife and I do what you ae looking at doing.We have a 14 RT and we built a trailer,much more storage and much cheaper than a Can-Am trailer and tows great.We looked at all of our options ,Harley trike which we ruled out right away.Gold Wing was way too expensive and two different places for warranty work. We even looked at triking our 2012 Victory Cross Country. In the end we saw an ad for the rebates on the 13 RT so we went and looked.Based on the improvements and the fact that we could give up a few amenities for a base RT automatic and ad our own upgrades. We got a beautiful white machine and could not be more satisfied with our decision.We get compliments everytime we ride.Our rig should have well over 10k by the middle of summer. Your decision ,but mine would be a 14 RT.

 

[Dan_Ashley]

Hi, I am new to this and would like advice from this group. I am planning on retiring within the next year and would like to be able to tour on a bike, (trike). My wife will not ride on a two wheeler at all. Since I plan on almost always being 2 up, would you recommend a traditional trike or the Spyder. I am leaning towards the Spyder, but... I am also reading that the Spyder is uncomfortable for a passenger and the seat get too hot for extended riding, etc. Is this the case and is there anything thing you would do differently if you could do it over? With my wife, I probably only have one shot at this and want to get it right.

get a gel pad for the wife. Maybe one for you too. Solves all problems. Even makes mother-in-law look good.