New Spyder owner with Highway speed concerns(Wind blast & turns),need input please!

[SrtJake]

New Spyder owner with Highway speed concerns(Wind blast & turns),need input please!

Hello all,I looked for an intro forum but didn't see any.So here I am,first time rider,29 years old.I just bought a red and black 09 SM5 two weeks ago.This thing is a bunch of fun putting around!But I can't really say the same once I go 55+mph.

The wind blast intensifies so much after 55mph,I start to lose confidence,and gain a little fear.Not sure if that is normal or not,but I have the factory windshield and I am 6'4" tall.I see many companies offer taller ones,but how do I know which is right for me,or even if this will allieviate my concern with highway speed windblast.Thoughts?

My other concern is highway speed turning.I was on an interstate the other day,55mph zone,when a 45mph right hand curve came up,I dropped down to about 50 and went through the turn,going a foot or so on the left shoulder.Only thing I can come up with is,my instinct was telling me that just leaning will get me through the turn,while clearly it's not a two wheeler where that is the case.I realize I have to actually steer where I want to go,but my other fear is that during a higher speed curve like that,I will give too much steering input and possibly go into the near lane where a car could be lurking.
It's just a wierd feeling I get,kinda uneasy when I see I curve coming up at a higher speed. Can someone help ease my concerns?

I know I am just getting used to it,and will need to learn the reaction of all input but I don't wanna start out with any bad habits or keep a fear of the highway if there is a solution to the problem.I don't have any other concern really.I feel comfy and safe everywhere but the highway.
I am open to any suggestions! Thanks for reading,here is a picture of my new baby,

 

[SpyderAnn01]

A taller windshield will definitely help you out on the highway. I had an RS with the stock shield and went to a California Scientific tall one and it made a big difference. Also, as you will read on here the Spyder takes a light touch. Don't muscle it or you will have issues. Have all of the recalls and service been done on your 2009? There was a recall on the DPS (Dynamic Power Steering) and if that hasn't been done it will make a difference in how yours handles. Have your dealer run your VIN to see what updates you may need.

Welcome and I'm sure you'll feel comfortable in no time.

 

[joet82]

Hey brother, welcome to the world of Spyders.

I also am 29 and 6'4". I'm also 245 pounds. I have had my 09 since June 2010. I still have the stock windshield on it as I feel i'm big enough to not have the wind bother me, and the only time I have was when I was in Nevada on US Hwy 95 with 20 mph headwinds.

as for turning. I refer the riding style we need to that of an ATV or a snowmobile. you turn the handlebars into a corner and lean into it at the same time....if you're going fast enough, slide your butt into the corner. doing this, I have been able to take a rated 45mph hwy interchange at 90mph. and 90% of corners, I can take safely, without having to slide my butt, at 15 mph above the recommended speed.

message me at anytime if you have questions or would like tips. the only way you're going to improve your riding is to practice any tips anyone gives to you and test them out. but don't 'Go for the Gold' on the first shot, take it in incriments and make sure you're comfortable with what both you and your spyder can do. And remember, you have the nanny to help you out.

 

[cyclelover63]

i can't speak for the wind,I'm 5'4",so your a foot taller than me,but a lot of guys here are putting an adjustable taller windshield on theirs...I take the corners at the speed that is listed on the road sign,give or take...

 

[montylee]

montylee

my 2010 rt cruises great at over 100 at 130 it hunkers down like a corvet and gets smoother..don't do that often.but its great to know i can. relax and enjoy it you'get better and more comfortable.

 

[ThreeFeet]

:welcome::congrats:You will get the hang of it after awhile. Hang in there.

 

[fispyder]

It takes time in the seat to get use to ryding the :f_spider: Ride it like a 4 wheeler. :welcome:and :congratsn your new ride :thumbup:

 

[daveinva]

Here's a piece of advice: don't ride on the highway yet.

Ride some backroads. Ride slower (35-45 mph) arteries. Take your time to ease into how the Spyder rides. You'll learn FAST, trust me, but you still need to learn. It takes a bit to shake out the two-wheel habits and appreciate how the Spyder feels.

Some things translate: the handlebar inputs are modest (she'll go where you point her), hitting the corner apex still works (although be aware that you're riding two wheels up, i.e. your apex is different than a bike's), and the throttle is still your friend-- slow down and set your speed before the turn, then roll on the throttle as you come out of it.

Some things DON'T translate: you direct steer vs. countersteer, and you have to use your muscles-- you definitely lean into turns, but the faster and sharper you take them, the more you have to *move* into your turns; leaning your upper body lazily simply won't cut it. Take a look at those BRP promotion videos for the Spyder, watch how their Spyder RS riders move atop the bike. Emulate that.

Also, take some spins in a parking lot. Discover where the "lift point" is on your inside wheel-- trust me, you can get your Spyder onto two wheels under 15 mph doing a sharp turn in a parking lot. You'll trip the nanny-- the power steering will compensate and drop your wheel. You want to know what that feels like in a parking lot well before you're freaked out if you ever hit it on the highway.

Trust me, all of this works. How do I know? I take turns at the speed limit or above and I can't recall EVER tripping the nanny on a highway, not even once. You'll be impressed at how responsive the Spyder is-- it'll feel like you're falling off *long* before the Spyder loses grip (although, again, as noted above: hang your butt off the inside of your Spyder in fast, sharp turns-- it not only makes those possible, it makes them great fun!).

 

[Arr MiHardies]

A taller windshield may help your wind issue
Your turning is three fold though
1) A LOT of it is simply getting used to how to ride your machine. Lean forward and to the inside of a turn. Weight on the outside foot. Use your inside hand to steer, your outside hand to help brace. MOST OF IT is simply getting some saddle experience to help you learn how your machine handles and how your body needs to react to it.
2)Make sure all factory recalls, warranty work, service bulletins, and software upgrade have been performed. not only for a better ride, but for your own safety
3)Failing the above two note, you may find some new shocks, like Elkas, may help. But try the above two first.


Give it some time. You'll be pro by the time you hit your 5000th mile.

 

[tobor9]

I had the dealer give me a ultra touring 23" windshield when i bought my RS and I added the "Robo-Brackets" from Madsted now I have hardly any wind buffett even at highway speeds(70+mph). The steering comes from practice ,start slower and keep riding till you get the feel of it, you'll love it and the:spyder: loves high speed rides.

 

[Tierhog]

Good advice about getting used to the bike/wind. I thought as you did...after the first 1000 miles, the wind is actually nice. Back roads at 45mph. Get used to it....then SRs at 55... Next thing ya know... Your used to it. Full face helmets can help but limit visibility....when your plugging along just outside your comfort zone, put weight on those pegs... That handlebar death grip will transition to drape your arms... Then suddenly, you avoid the slow roads.

 

[dancogan]

There's a lot of good advice here, including the suggestion that you practice on slower speed roads until you feel more comfortable on the Spyder, and that you steer with a very light grip on the handlebars.

I'll try to add another: As you take a corner, look through the corner as far ahead as you can. When you're new at it, or a bit nervous, the tendency is to look just ahead of your front wheels and make many small adjustments. Try to look as far ahead int he curve as you can see, and the bike will track with where you're looking - without the little corrections along the way.

 

[fastfraser]

There's a lot of good advice here, including the suggestion that you practice on slower speed roads until you feel more comfortable on the Spider, and that you steer with a very light grip on the handlebars.

I'll try to add another: As you take a corner, look through the corner as far ahead as you can. When you're new at it, or a bit nervous, the tendency is to look just ahead of your front wheels and make many small adjustments. Try to look as far ahead int he curve as you can see, and the bike will track with where you're looking - without the little corrections along the way.

:agree: +1

:welcome: :congratsn the new to you :spyder2:. Keep coming back, lots of great advise here.

 

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the Party; Jake! :thumbup:
You've seen great advice here. I would simply emphasize taking your time getting used to the handling of the :f_spider:. They're not like a motorcycle; much more like an ATV at speed. It'll take a little while before you feel accustomed to how and what it does. Enjoy the learning process! :yes:hyea:

 

[retread]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here; get some tennis balls, cones or other hi-visibilty markers, go to a low traffic parking lot, lay out a course and practice going through it, when you get comfortable, tighten the course up, change the pattern, learn what you can do on the Spyder, and what it can do for you.

john

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome: and :congrats: on your new purchase.

What you are experiencing is the same as about 98% of new :spyder2: encounter.

RE: Windshield: I would opt for a taller one--I like a full windscreen--but there are a lot of in between versions available.

RE: Handling: There is about a 250-500 mile learning curve for most new riders. I came off a regular motorcycle (a rider for 40 plus years). It took me almost 500 miles before I felt comfortable.

The big points: You do not countersteer. You must put the turn input into the handle bars the way you wish to go. Try to use as little input as possible. Think that there are eggs between your hands and the bars and that you don't want to break them. Over control makes the :spyder2: seem squirrly because you are having to correct what you just did.

A little body lean when you feel the g's is good. It wont affect the :spyder2: to much but you are just following the g's. In no time, you will be able to take turns like a pro.

Watch out for the front wheels--they stick out from the drivers position--and can put you over the line if you are not careful.

I started out on non expressway roads where I could go 30 or less and not be a bother to cars or other vehicles. A few miles at lower speeds will build your confidence.

Practice is fun--because you get to ride your new spyder.

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

PRACTICE PRACTICE AND MORE PRACTICE, You will get it. Definetly a learning curve. Above all else RYDE SAFE AND ENJOY...:yes:

 

[Sny]

Lots of great advice. Along with my favorite, don't go on the highway just yet...

A high quality helmet and earplugs go a long way to taking some of the circus out of highway travel with a small windscreen. If you have one of the cheaper, less aerodynamic helmets, you'll hear and feel a lot more noise and vibration which adds to the stress of riding at higher speeds.

Start with earplugs, definitely the cheaper of the two options. The peace you get from that helps you relax more and the rest will come naturally with practice and time.

Welcome to the Ryde!

 

[BajaRon]

There is a learning curve to riding the Spyder. The more time you've had on 2 wheels, the more time it usually takes to get used to the Spyder. This is not universal, just a general observation.

The Spyder is extremely stable in curves and in the wind. But confidence may take awhile.

Here is what happens on the negative side. As you get more apprehensive (due to lack of confidence in machine, your skill level or both), you get more tense. As you get more tense you tend to over-control causing more apprehension leading to a vicious negative cycle.

Here is what happens on the positive side. As you get more confidence you tend to ride relaxed, this reduces the unrealized tendency to over-correct resulting in better handling causing confidence to grow and a positive cycle of improvement.

The key is to relax, (especially hands and arms), don't exceed your confort level until your body and mind have had time to adapt to the characterists of the Spyder. Try to enjoy the ride as much as you can.

I found that my issues were not due to a problem with my Spyder, it was me. You will probably discover the same thing. I have found that it is very difficult to exceed the capabilities of my RS with the right approach.

 

[Insy]

My 10c worth.
The wind will always be a factor, after enough saddle time you will get used to it and hardly notice it unless it really howls. Always look at your intended exit point in a cornering situation. This sorts out hand eye coordination and really smooths out the cornering, particularly when transitioning through twisties.
Under fast cornering situations the weight shift issue can be confusing at first because no one tells you to bring your legs into the equation.
Grip the "Tank" with your inner thighs, make sure your feet are balancing on the balls. For a right hander, push your right knee onto the "tank", move your bum across the seat to the right (shifting weight), look at your exit point and go!

By doing this your "body shift" position is fluid, the outside arm straightens , the inside arm bends and that shoulder drops into the corner. Wonderful stuff. By focusing on each bend's exit point, body shifting becomes automatic and a lot of fun. The added advantage of always having the exit point as your direction is that you won't fall victim to " object fixation" which is a phenomenon that has ruined many a riders day.
Once you master this skill, you will relish every curve, corner or bend that you come across. It will dawn on you that hard, fast cornering is the Spyder RS's party trick and in my view most enjoyable attribute.
Like everything, practice makes perfect and never let your ego write cheques that your skills can't cash.
That was actually 50c worth!!