New onboard - 2018 RT Limited Chrome

[Snoking1127]

Cut a deal this afternoon to purchase a 2018 RT Limited Chrome with 5,400 miles on the clock. Chris

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Newbie

Cut a deal this afternoon to purchase a 2018 RT Limited Chrome with 5,400 miles on the clock. Chris

:congrats.. & .. :welcome:..... If this is your first Spyder I suggest you find & read what is posted in a Thread called " Do's & Do not's " .... lots of good info about how to drive a Spyder .... If you have had two wheelers before there is a lot you have to UN-LEARN to safely operate the Spyder ..... Mike :thumbup:

 

[Snoking1127]

Had many dirt bikes years ago and a Kawasaki 650SR. In more recent years we did a lot of snowmobiling(no counter steering). Signed up for the two day trike course end of next week. Seller is going to bring it to our RV park for us. Will ride around in the park before hitting the highway. Will check the Do's and Do not's thread. Thanks! Being a techie, I will have to concur the electronic dash. I actually liked the 2014-2017 dash a little better, just looking at them. This 2018 was to good of a deal to pass on. In Arizona there is not sales tax on an used private sale. Low miles, and seventeen and a half. Kind of like the 2020-2021 running boards going farther forward, as I am 6'3", however the rear seat is not as good for DW as the 19 minus. The rear of the early ones is integrated, where as the 2020+ has an add-on appearance. Chris

 

[MNF3]

Drive it like a snowmobile and you’ll get along just fine.

 

[BeRight]

:congrats::yes::trike:

 

[PW2013STL]

Cut a deal this afternoon to purchase a 2018 RT Limited Chrome with 5,400 miles on the clock. Chris

Congrats on your first Spyder. Not sure where in AZ you are, but we are in Apache Junction - so if you are close by we could join you for a ride once you are comfortable on it.

 

[Arion]

Congrats on your first Spyder. Not sure where in AZ you are, but we are in Apache Junction - so if you are close by we could join you for a ride once you are comfortable on it.

Apache Junction brings back a long buried memory. Way back in the late 1950s we were moving from Texas to California and, at 3:00 AM, my father got a speeding ticket in, or close to, Apache junction. Apparently the cop was parked behind the only billboard within 100 miles and nabbed us. Those of us in the car thought it was funny - my father didn't. No sense of humor.

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome: and :congrats: on the 2018. That is a good :spyder2:

 

[Snoking1127]

Got the new to us Spyder home today. It came with helmet with CARDO intercom, cover and drivers backrest that I have to install tomorrow. And I think I like Digital dash. Got my smart phone linked up and rode it around the park and over into Montesa. PW2013STL, we are next door in Gold Canyon.

 

[Snoking1127]

Nash Powersport in Mesa, Az updated the firmware in our new to us 2018 Spyder RTL from 10.05 to 20.80 today. I see a new number in the center of the left speedo/Fuel level/engine temp screen that appears to be miles to empty?

On edit: I confirmed that it is miles to empty. Got music playing to Cardo blue tooth helmets and was able to dial a call from phones contacts on the trikes display. DW did did not answer the phone, so more testing needed. We had a veterans day parade today in our snowbird park, so I put the USCG marching song on the phone and set it to loop and played it on the parade route. So far liking the Spyder and wanted to change the name to Coastie however DW wants to stick with the old boats name of Endless Summer.

Picture is of my friend Mike and his GW trike, and my Spyder at the end of the payment past Tortilla Flats at Canyon Lake, AZ yesterday. Thinking about a ride to Fountain Hills tomorrow via Saguaro Lake.

 

[Snoking1127]

DW took her first ride on the Spyder today. She think's it is a keeper, which is good!

 

[JayBros]

Congrats! Very nice color.

 

[ulflyer]

That is without a doubt, my favorite color. Don't see many of them either. Congrats.

 

[Snoking1127]

I was having problems with the saddle bags not opening on our new to us 2018 RTL and played with the issue a bit today and think I may have gotten to the bottom of the issue. I could see scuff marks where the drop down "door-lid" was dragging on the fixed part of the saddle bag. So with them open I loosen the hinge screws on the door-lid and pulled out on it and retightened the screw and then repeated the process on the bike side of the hinges pushing up on the open door-lid and then retightening the screws. Both seem to open much better!!!! Fingers crossed. Chris

 

[Snoking1127]

I was having problems with the saddle bags not opening on our new to us 2018 RTL and played with the issue a bit today and think I may have gotten to the bottom of the issue. I could see scuff marks where the drop down "door-lid" was dragging on the fixed part of the saddle bag. So with them open I loosen the hinge screws on the door-lid and pulled out on it and retightened the screw and then repeated the process on the bike side of the hinges pushing up on the open door-lid and then retightening the screws. Both seem to open much better!!!! Fingers crossed. Chris

Well today after watching a video on adjusting the release cables, that will be my Spyder rear tupperware removal/cable adjust/tupperware reinstall project.

 

[Snoking1127]

Well today after watching a video on adjusting the release cables, that will be my Spyder rear tupperware removal/cable adjust/tupperware reinstall project.

Easy peasy. Bags open, remove to screws on each side. Remove four screws on lip of trunk, remove rear panel. Remove three screws on mud flap and tilt back. Adjust cables by lengthening them. Second picture is kind of upside down. Chris

 

[Lew L]

Be sure to put a drop of some kind of lube on the latching mechanism.

 

[Saluda]

Congrats & enjoy.

 

[Deanna777]

:congrats: & :welcome:

1330club


Deanna

 

[Snoking1127]

Everyone seems to claim that the 2020-21 RT Limited's handle better than the 2014-2019 RTLs. Checking the specs:
2018 RTL
L x W x H . . . . . . . . . . . . . 105 x 61.9 x 59.4 in.
(2,667 x 1,572 x 1,510 mm)
Wheelbase . . . . . . . . . . . . 67.5 in. (1,714 mm)
Seat height . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.4 in. (772 mm)
Ground clearance . . . . . . 4.5 in. (115 mm)
Dry weight . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,012 lb (459 kg)
Storage capacity....... 41 gal (155 L)
Maximum vehicle load . . 494 lb (224 kg)
Fuel capacity . . . . . . . . . . 6.9 gal (26 L)
Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 gal (3.8 L) approx.
Fuel type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Premium unleaded

2021 RTL and Sea to Sky
L x W x H ... 111.5 x 61.2 x 57.6 in. (2,833 x 1,554 x 1,464 mm)
Wheelbase ... 67.5 in. (1,714 mm)
Seat height .. 29.7 in. (755 mm)
Ground clearance ... 4.5 in. (115 mm)
Dry weight ... 1,021 lb (464 kg)

So the 2021 seat is 7/10 of an inch lower, 2021 is 7/10 of an inch narrower, wheel base is the same, weight is within 9 lbs(RTL/Sea to Sky are heavier and 6.5 longer)

What then explains the better handling. Different sway bar? Tires are the same! Better shocks? Smells new???