new owner with riding issues

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

As ak said, the total load capacity rating is 494# for both rider and passenger plus all cargo and accessories. In addition to the quick steering characteristics of the Spyder you need to have a laser alignment done. Misalignment of the front wheels is normal from the factory and the BRP alignment method doesn't give the best results. Handling is very sensitive to the front wheel alignment. Also, as has been suggested install the BajaRon sway bar and upgrade the front shocks and springs. With some modifications the 100+ pound extra load should be tolerable.

The ride and handling of a Spyder are a whole lot more like an ATV than a 2 wheel bike. You pretty much have to forget how the ride feels on a 2 wheeler and get used to a new norm.

 

[Bob Denman]

thanks so much guys!--love this forum!---the plan is for me to ride the spyder, but i was hoping we could use it to go to rallys and such since hubby's harley isnt that manuverable in parking lots and on gravel, etc.--so i just need to hurry and learn to ride myself lol--at 55 yrs of age with no previous experience!

Try and look at it this way:
You're at the best possible time of your life, to start a new adventure, and today's a great day for that very first step... :2thumbs:
I don't know what your State's licensing requirements are, but a safety course (one specifically for Trikes), is never a bad idea.

 

[tehrlich]

I'm only at 2000 miles on my 2015 RT, but documented my early experiences here. I definitely have the turning dynamics down now. I read a lot of posts on the troubles of turning and was disappointed with the many responses of "just gotta practice," " you'll get the hang of it,""after a couple hundred miles, you'll be all right," etc. I was a professional ski instructor for many years, and we were trained to dissect the entire arc of a turn and what every part of the body was doing during the turn. So, my mind works like that.

I think there are excellent suggestions here and will add a few too.

1. just adding suspension enhancements won't completely overcome the dynamics of turning. I've since done this as suggested all over this site, and completely recommend you do it because the RT suspension feels very soft. I suggest that you learn on the soft suspension in well-controlled situations first.

2. Head/body position is critical to start the turn, any turn, and the degree of the turn will determine how much you have to move into it. BOTH the rider and passenger must lean into the turn and be in sync. Your body goes where your head goes. So, get your head off of the midline of the spyder slightly before the turn in anticipation. It would go towards the inside of the turn.

3. Your hand focus is a push-pull emphasis. The inside turn hand should pull towards your head and body core as they are coming off the midline. Your outside hand should be pushing through the turn.

4. Finishing the turn you can straighten up into the midline and relax your arms because the centrifugal force of the wheels will straighten them up. A little acceleration helps with this.


Personally, I think the Spyder turn experience is a blast, and I'm delighted that it is very dynamic. However, I could see that this is NOT what some would like because they just want to lean and not think about it.

 

[OverHillAndDale]

Armrests might help the back seat passenger

My wife felt she was going to fall out until I got a set of back seat armrests. Also, you can buy a rear seat passenger backrest from Ultimate seat that offers the back seat passenger another inch or so of room.

 

[wiredgeorge]

I have a 2010 RT. My initial 2-up riding experience was sort of negative much like yours has been. My missus has probably close to a half million miles in pillion and was terrified. The suspension on a 2010 is even worse than the 2015 and we have done the BajaRon Anti-Sway bar and installed Elka shocks and heavier springs. The 2015 doesn't have the same type shocks and I understand that the spring stiffeners that have already been mentioned are needed so the Spyder doesn't wallow like a pig. Mine did and no longer does. That helps. As far as the pillion, the immediate need was to jack up the rear air suspension which smoothed out the ride for my missus and set the height of the passenger boards so she had some leverage which allows her to stay planted better. The hand grips are not very useful for my wife (short person) so we added Diamond R armrests. we also removed the bottom fasteners from inside the trunk that hold the passenger backrest pad and added a soft spacer at the bottom of the pad so that the seat didn't feel as upright. Take your time and read about fixing suspension issues and fix the ergos up and it does transform the pillion (and driver part as well). Since we have been riding so log and came off a Goldwing trike, I won't argue with all the folks who are analytical about leaning and placement of feet and such as I don't pay much attention to these things. Slow down in sweeping curves till you are comfortable with the feel of the vehicle...

 

[MouthPiece]

For the passenger, Corbin seat and backrest (which contemplates a complete Corbin saddle., Corbin armrests and Airhawk cushion. Can't go wrong.

Chris

 

[Pirate looks at --]

Passenger

Well I have a unique perspective as my wife and I trade seats on our 13 RTL. I have found that the ride in the back is almost too comfortable. My biggest problem is staying awake on our rydes. When I am not comatose I tend to perform the same manuvers as I would driving so we are in pretty good unison as we ryde. I do think that you need to loose the fear factor of the new ryde and relax the grip as you ryde. From the passengers standpoint just do as you husband does in the front seat and that will help. While it will not cure your fear the swaybar from Baja Ron will help stabilize your ryde. It takes some getting used too but in about 1000 miles you will be in sync.

 

[jaherbst]

rode with my husband today for about 5 hrs on our new 2015 rt lt--worse bike ride i have ever had--i've gotta be doing something wrong since everyone else loves theirs?--i tried pressing down on outside foot (in curve) and leaning and then pressing down with outside food and pressing back into backrest--is that correct?--and this thing throws me all over with the least little bump--i was hanging onto those grips for dear life--it has adjustable suspension--do u have to reset it after each time u stop and restart the bike? we couldnt find the screen that says if its on or not after the first stop--whats the weight limit for these things?--we are a combined weight of around 600---

First let me say hello and welcome.

The Spyders do take a bit of getting used to. Usually about 300-500 miles. Try to loosen your grip a little or a lot. I find that the Spyder needs to be ridden somewhat like a snowmobile. i.e.If you are turning to the Left push on the right handle bar with the right arm and not try to pull with the left arm as much. If turning right push with the left arm and very little pull with right arm. Do the pushing with some what of a stiff arm. This will take a little practice but will make turning much much easier. Harry from Spyder Pops told me this and it made quite a difference.


Leaning very much does little to help you on the Spyder. Leaning forward and into the turn (kiss your mirror in the direction of the turn will help a little).

If after 300-500 miles and practicing the above with no improvement, you might need a Lazer Alignment.


Hope this helps,

Jack

 

[Pampurrs]

Everyone has given you some very good advice. I have nothing to add, but I would like to hear back from you after you've had a few hundred miles of riding, and especially if you install the BajaRon sway bar.

Happy riding!

Pam

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: It'd be real nice to hear how the adaptation is going... :thumbup:

 

[Netminder]

Welcome, hope you start feel the (S)miles soon. I agree with all the above, mostly it will get better with the miles. For me the Spyder really started to be a pleasure to ride after the following upgrades: ElKa shocks front shocks (but there are others available), BajaRon Anti-sway bar /links and a laser alignment. Now it is effortless to ride. I know we should not have to add these on such an expensive bike, but it worked for me. Hope you find a solution that works for you.:thumbup::thumbup:

 

[ARtraveler]

thanks so much guys!--love this forum!---the plan is for me to ride the spyder, but i was hoping we could use it to go to rallys and such since hubby's harley isnt that manuverable in parking lots and on gravel, etc.--so i just need to hurry and learn to ride myself lol--at 55 yrs of age with no previous experience!

55 :bowdown: your just getting started. :yes: I know people that did not start this stuff until they were past 60. The rest of your life starts now.

 

[Highwayman2013]

I ride with people that are over 80 years old. You can learn, my wife got her 2012 in the fall of 2012 and her license in the spring of 2013 (when we were in Pa.). A month later off we went on separate bikes to the Blue Ridge Parkway and West Virginia. 23,000 miles now so you can learn.

 

[Professor]

When I taught people how to ride as an MSF Rider Coach, I always told them to get several hundred miles of experience before taking on a passenger. I think the same applies to the Spyder, although I'm sure there are many people who have done just fine starting with a passenger right away. But getting some miles under your belt smooths out the ride and teaches you the characteristics of your machine. I'll bet you that after your husband spends more time in the front seat, your pillion experience will get much better.

I rode my new RTL for a couple of months before giving my wife a ride. During my first rides, my 50 years of riding 2-wheelers caused me to over-control the :spyder2:. Even I was afraid to ride with me. :yikes: I thought the Spyder was squirrely, but it turned out to be me, not the RT. After about 500 miles, things had smoothed out significantly. Over the next few months, her longest trip was about 5 miles to one of our favorite restaurants. Then after I had about 2,000 miles in the saddle, we took a thousand mile trip to Spyderfest and back and she loved it. If we had done that when I first got the :f_spider:, she would probably never get back on it. Time and experience will make a huge difference and you both will have a blast, no matter who is in the driver's seat.

By the way, I also recommend the BajaRon anti-sway bar.

 

[beadaholic]

Hi Lesa! I too am 55 years old, and this is my first motorcycle. I have never really rode one (I had a tiny bike at 8 years old) haha, but that is it. I don't have a hubby here either to teach me anything. So I have went at it all by myself, but I love it and I have not driven my car in 4 months now haha. Pretty funny, I think I need to sell the car....Welcome!

thanks so much guys!--love this forum!---the plan is for me to ride the spyder, but i was hoping we could use it to go to rallys and such since hubby's harley isnt that manuverable in parking lots and on gravel, etc.--so i just need to hurry and learn to ride myself lol--at 55 yrs of age with no previous experience!

 

[lesa]

Welcome, hope you start feel the (S)miles soon. I agree with all the above, mostly it will get better with the miles. For me the Spyder really started to be a pleasure to ride after the following upgrades: ElKa shocks front shocks (but there are others available), BajaRon Anti-sway bar /links and a laser alignment. Now it is effortless to ride. I know we should not have to add these on such an expensive bike, but it worked for me. Hope you find a solution that works for you.:thumbup::thumbup:

goodlord, whats the ballpark figure for those 3 things??

 

[murphybrown]

Approx costs

goodlord, whats the ballpark figure for those 3 things??

Before I answer your question about cost just want to let you know I was 70 years old before I bought my first spyder had never ridden a motorcycle before. hundred thousand plus miles later I wouldn't trade the fun and joy I get ryding.
i don't remember exact cost of those 3 items as I had them included as part of "must haves" when I got my '14 RTS. I added those items to my '10 RT and they made a world of difference so they are now "necessary" IMHO
Laser: $120
Bajaron Sway Bar with metal helms: $150
Elka shocks : $650
those are approximate costs.
Keep adding miles and soon it will be all smiles. :yes:

 

[lesa]

Before I answer your question about cost just want to let you know I was 70 years old before I bought my first spyder had never ridden a motorcycle before. hundred thousand plus miles later I wouldn't trade the fun and joy I get ryding.
i don't remember exact cost of those 3 items as I had them included as part of "must haves" when I got my '14 RTS. I added those items to my '10 RT and they made a world of difference so they are now "necessary" IMHO
Laser: $120
Bajaron Sway Bar with metal helms: $150
Elka shocks : $650
those are approximate costs.
Keep adding miles and soon it will be all smiles. :yes:

Wow!--hats off to u ma'am!---i was thinking 55 was a little old to get started lol---i just need to hush and go ride!

 

[easysuper]

riding issues

My lovely wife for the last 40 years took my spyder in for an oil change last year and bought her own. She had NEVER ridden a bike by herself but wanted to learn on the spyder incase I got sick or injured while we were on a trip so she had a girlfried who had a spyder teach her how to ride , she purchased her bike and started riding last August and a year later she has 20,000 miles on it. She loves to Ryde.

 

[Pampurrs]

My lovely wife for the last 40 years took my spyder in for an oil change last year and bought her own. She had NEVER ridden a bike by herself but wanted to learn on the spyder incase I got sick or injured while we were on a trip so she had a girlfried who had a spyder teach her how to ride , she purchased her bike and started riding last August and a year later she has 20,000 miles on it. She loves to Ryde.

I love that trailer!!!!! Where'd you get it?

Pam