New Owner Thoughts of 2009 SM5

[kromc5]

Purchase Date Oct 21, 2009
Current Mileage: 275
Problems Encounter (Mechanical/Usability): 0

Won a phantom black on eBay for a great price. Called the dealer and they stated it had been sold. Told me they had a silver in stock and I accepted the offer. Called back shortly and told me that was also sold and only a yellow was in stock. Accepted that offer, which Travis said he would put the phantom wheels and fog lights on the yellow SM5 for me. The price was fantastic and even with the mix ups I would recommend Performance East Inc ncpowersports.com as the price was thousands below the local dealers and less than a lot of used sell for.

Background of Motorcycles/ATV owned:
yz250
Two honda four wheels 125/185cc
Yamaha 600
Suzuki 600
Hayabusa 1300


Purchased the Spyder mostly because my wife cannot drive a motorcycle.
Driving impressions:

Traction: very little compared to Hayabusa, dry or rain it spins very easy.

Handling: Reminds me of my four wheelers even more so in the rain, I changed the rear to setting 7 and fronts to 6 and that helped tremendously. I find the Nanny as it is called comes in way to often for my taste, dry and rain. At speeds near the redline in 5th it does not give me the confidence I had on the hayabus near its redline in 6th.

Acceleration is not bad all things considered. My wife is very happy so that is what is important. It feels like it gearing is to low for the bike, I always want to shift up in 5th, rpms seem to high.

Braking: Excellent, dry or rain

Safety: Excellent, visibility seems very high, headlights are far superior to my motorcycle, fogs lights help as well.

Usability: No comparison, I can store 6 bags of groceries and tie strap my bags to the back. No longer need to drive the car if it is raining.

Engine: More vibration than the inline fours I'm used to. Also seems to be very on/off response in the lower rpms. Engine does not like to stay under 3 grand when tooling around in any gear.

Comfort: Outstanding compared to previous bikes, even more so when the wife is along.

Insurance: $61 Monthly - Geico

Overall I'm very happy with the Spyder and have enjoyed riding it to work even in the rain.

 

[rnet]

I am surprised about the traction, I can rairly get mine to spin on dry pavement. Must be the different clutching, Mine is an SE5.

 

[shansmow]

:congrats:welcome
Your wife is going to love you and her :spyder:....or is it the other way around? I haven't had any issues with my SE5 and hopefully you'll have many miles ahead of you without problems, too.

 

[GaryTheBadger]

KROMC5 - when you say "spinning" do you mean "buring rubber" with the rear tire or actual rotation of the entire Spyder?

With just 275 miles you're already had it to red-line in 5th?

 

[BRPjunkie]

Re-post after 1,000 miles and see if any first thoughts change. Did for me.

 

[BajaRon]

Problems Encounter (Mechanical/Usability): 0 (Great Stat!)

Traction: very little compared to Hayabusa, dry or rain it spins very easy. (Not much weight on the rear tire but not really a big deal either - Gain some weight or go easier on the throttle )

Handling: Reminds me of my four wheelers even more so in the rain, I changed the rear to setting 7 and fronts to 6 and that helped tremendously. I find the Nanny as it is called comes in way to often for my taste, dry and rain. (You'll find if you get smoother the Nanny tends to go away. She does not like sudden moves. Adding the Evoluzione Sway-Bar helps tremendously in this area as well) At speeds near the redline in 5th it does not give me the confidence I had on the hayabus near its redline in 6th. (A high rpm V-twin will give you a different feel than an inline 4 at the same rpm. The Rotax doesn't mind the high spin but it does take some getting used to)

Acceleration is not bad all things considered. (Performance intake/exhaust plus a Juice Box will help some but you'll never make a Hayabusa out of it). My wife is very happy so that is what is important. It feels like it gearing is to low for the bike, I always want to shift up in 5th, rpms seem to high. (Pretty universal feeling)

Overall I'm very happy with the Spyder and have enjoyed riding it to work even in the rain. (Congratulations and glad to have another happpy SpyderLover added to the group!)

:congrats::congrats::congrats:

 

[M2Wild]

welcome

 

[Stroke1]

friend you got taken..

Thats the old switch and scam thing. A true Phantom is worth a heck of alot more that a basic silver model. about 2-3 thousand. sliver sm5 is the chaepest one out there. Several local dealers are discounting the heck out of that model. usually in the $12,000 range. so before you sing the dealers praise check out some others. unless of course you are working for the dealership.........:lecturef_smilie:

 

[kromc5]

KROMC5 - when you say "spinning" do you mean "buring rubber" with the rear tire or actual rotation of the entire Spyder?

With just 275 miles you're already had it to red-line in 5th?

I have had pretty it close, over the years if someone was giving me grief on the highway I would always attempt to pull off the highway or accelerate far ahead and pull off. I was curious to see how the top end would be like with the high rpms in 5th when only cruising at 55mph. I have seen other riders comment 140mph possible but I do not see mine doing that in current configuration. When I refer to "spinning" this is relation to the loss of traction of the rear wheel when moving forward from start or during shifting.

 

[Roaddog2]

welcome:congrats::ani29:

 

[BajaRon]

Thats the old switch and scam thing.

Exactly what I was thinking.

I wonder if that same eBay seller re-listed the Phantom Spyder (which they do not have).

You have some Spyders that you want to move off the floor, you don't want to compete with the other Silver, Yellow, etc., Spyders for sale on eBay. You list a hard to get Spyder but when it sells you no longer have that one but you have the one that you intended to move to start with (and you probably got more for it than you would have if you listed it)

Sorry for the skepticism, but sadly, this is the real world all too often.

 

[kromc5]

Thats the old switch and scam thing. A true Phantom is worth a heck of alot more that a basic silver model. about 2-3 thousand. sliver sm5 is the chaepest one out there. Several local dealers are discounting the heck out of that model. usually in the $12,000 range. so before you sing the dealers praise check out some others. unless of course you are working for the dealership.........:lecturef_smilie:

I did not list the price I paid as I was not sure the dealer would appreciate it. But if I had bough the same spyder here a triangle dealer the delta in price is $4170. Even though I did not get the bike I bid on, I decided to accept the offer as it was so much lower than any dealer locally.

 

[kromc5]

Exactly what I was thinking.

I wonder if that same eBay seller re-listed the Phantom Spyder (which they do not have).

You have some Spyders that you want to move off the floor, you don't want to compete with the other Silver, Yellow, etc., Spyders for sale on eBay. You list a hard to get Spyder but when it sells you no longer have that one but you have the one that you intended to move to start with (and you probably got more for it than you would have if you listed it)

Sorry for the skepticism, but sadly, this is the real world all too often.

I have been watching the seller, they have not listed another spyder since I won the auction.

 

[Stroke1]

you may not see them again either

Ebay has rules against the old Bait and swap thing. For that matter so does alot of States..in any case hope the spyder works out for you.

Seems that BRP has two factories that make Spyders....
At one plant they make great ones, they run and run and have no problems like mine. these are more fun the a barrel of Monkeys..

The other plant puts out lemons never can get fixed right (the wife's) .. We got one of each.. Then every now and then I fire up my 1949 Harley 45C.U and ride it around the block, now thats a trip. talk about being from the house of rock and roll, with a whole lota shaking going on.... or a jump on my 2008 Ultra pop in good CD, hit cruise and motate...down the road..talk about putting you to sleep so smooooooth....

 

[r1eater]

Purchase Date Oct 21, 2009


Handling: Reminds me of my four wheelers even more so in the rain, I changed the rear to setting 7 and fronts to 6 and that helped tremendously. I find the Nanny as it is called comes in way to often for my taste, dry and rain. At speeds near the redline in 5th it does not give me the confidence I had on the hayabus near its redline in 6th.

Wait you redline your Busa in 6th gear? Umm I have a Bking which is essentially a naked Hayabusa and getting it close to redline in 6th means going over 190mph.... Heck redline in 3rd or 4th means over 120 already easily.