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Newbie Seeking Wisdom

R

redink94

New member
I am planning on taking my first ride as in the first ride ever on a 2010 RT SE-5 with Audio and Convenience tomorrow.

So I am trying to educate myself on what to be on the alert for. It has about 8500 miles on it. No idea if the previous owner(s) added anything (dealer has it now). The dealer is asking $16K.

So far my questions are is there anything about the 2010 I need to be concerned about. For example I can't find anything on alternator output so I am wondering how restricted if I add lights, etc. Wind protection and engine heating the rider are some other concerns. My history is Goldwings so having fairings, places to mount highway pegs and a rider backrest are things high on my preference list

Any and all help will be appreciated. I think an RT will be the best match for my riding preferences. Being in my eighth decade of life I am having an argument with myself as to whether I should continue having my knees in the breeze or hang up my helmet and recall the good times I had on 2 wheels during the past 35 years.

Jerry Bennett
 
WELCOME!

The biggest change from a Goldwing is the RPMs the 998 motor likes to rev. Keep it above 5,000 for best power and clutch life. There are many sponsors of this site with aftermarket add-ons for the RT.
 
Welcome..!!

to the spyder world. Have the dealer check all updates, bulletins etc. You have a 600 watt output from a stator/ rectifiers system. Crusing pegs are offered by several vendors on the home page. Reading your owners manual will answer most all your questions a shop manual will help with all your work you want to do. Enjoy your new ryde...:thumbup:
 
:welcome:

The 2010 RT-S A&C is a pretty good machine. I had a RTS premier edition and put 36,500 trouble free miles on it before trading up to a 2014.

Have dealer check by computer to assure that all updates have been performed. You may be on the verge of needing a new battery, and I would also recommend a complete servicing with oil change and filter as part of the deal. Tires though still having tread life are going on five years old. They should be changed out for new.

$16,000 sounds a bit high--but gives you some room to negotiate.

Let us know how it goes.
 
Last edited:
Welcome!

:welcome: You are going to have a blast! Take your time. Smoothness will come with time. One of the best tips someone gave me on curves and corners was: Lock your outer elbow to make a smoother turn. If you are turning right, lock the left elbow. Vice-versa for turning left. Lock the right. Don't fight the bike. Let it find it's on way. Gentle corrections work better. Find a big parking lot and see just how restrictive the "nanny" system is. That way, if you are ever in a situation when she kicks in, you will know what is going on! And, most important of all SMILE! You are riding one of the funnest rides around!
 
:welcome: The 2010 RT A&C was my first ride... :congrats:
The First year RTs did have a couple of "issues"...
The front suspensions were pretty soft... that's an easy thing to fix with some new shocks, and one of BajaRon's Anti-Sway Bars...
The center strut that holds the windshield; (The one that moves it up and down), has shown itself to be prone to breakage. This is for ALL RTs; not just the 2010. If you can take a good look at it with the windshield in the highest position: check it for cracks.
The throttle bodies on the 2010s were prone to several different types of failures... :shocked:
(I had mine replaced twice)
The dealer should be able to pull up any and all warranty work that was done on the bike...

Oh! The magneto output was 650 watts. :thumbup:
 
Thanks everyone. Excellent suggestions that never entered my mind. And excellent feedback on the machine itself. Raises my hopes the RT just might be my next ride. I'll post tomorrow afternoon after the test ride how this first timer fared if I don't decide to reschedule for safety reasons because of rain and wet streets.

Jerry Bennett
 
I did the test ride. Two in fact. One on the 2010 RT and one on the FS-3. I am now on the horns of a dilemma. The FS-3 is outside my budget but really enjoyed the ride. The price on the RT dropped $1K. Anyway I now understand why so many people praise the syder platform. Thanks every one for their inputs.

Jerry Bennett
 
Check around for a used (or even a new) 2014 RT. You will be much happier and it should be not much more than the $16,000 range. (Hopefully)
 
Last edited:
SL Ken said:
Check around for a used (or even a new) 2014 RT. You will be much happier and it should be not much more than the $16,000 range. (Hopefully)
Click to expand...

Thanks. You may have unlocked the cause of my dragging my feet in closing the deal.

Jerry Bennett
 
Anytime you buy a used machine, change the oil and filters. You never know what the previous owner did or did not do. I traded my 2011 RT-Se5 in on Mr. Cognac and the dealer sold it for $16K. I had a CB on it too. Anything over $14K is too high. If you can swing it, a 2014 with lots of engine and frame upgrades is the way to go. Hey, get your wife a job at Wal Mart or the the local sawmill for a little extra income. If you are 80, go for it. I don't remember being 80.....ha ha

:spyder2:
 
Mr. Cognac said:
Anytime you buy a used machine, change the oil and filters. You never know what the previous owner did or did not do. I traded my 2011 RT-Se5 in on Mr. Cognac and the dealer sold it for $16K. I had a CB on it too. Anything over $14K is too high. If you can swing it, a 2014 with lots of engine and frame upgrades is the way to go. Hey, get your wife a job at Wal Mart or the the local sawmill for a little extra income. If you are 80, go for it. I don't remember being 80.....ha ha

:spyder2:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help. I did get the price down to 14K but couldn't get the salesman to make that the out the door price. No CB though. It is supposed to be fully serviced before I take delivery Tuesday. I'm not very trusting when it comes to service people I have never dealt with. It is raining again (23 of 30 days) here in the DFW area so I don't feel I am missing much riding time. When the sun does finally come out of hibernation I will be anxious to find a parking lot and get acquainted with a new way of riding. I'm not very trusting when it comes to service people I have never dealt with. I'm only 73 but some health issues sometimes make me feel 74.

Jerry Bennett
 
Another source

You may want to check out the dealer in Greenville - just up the road on IH30. Has good selection and prices. Daughter deals with them and they service her 2011 RT-Limited Ed.

...and they are open on Mondays as well.

Don
(in soggy E Texas)
 
Don in E Texas said:
You may want to check out the dealer in Greenville - just up the road on IH30. Has good selection and prices. Daughter deals with them and they service her 2011 RT-Limited Ed.

...and they are open on Mondays as well.

Don
(in soggy E Texas)
Click to expand...

Thanks Don. I've been shopping locally because of thinking it may help to have a relationship when it comes time for service and maintenance. I know where the bike is bought should not be an issue but experience has shown me some dealers do not treat all customers with the same priority. Very unusual to find a dealer open on Monday.

I'll check to see what they have before I pull the trigger.

Jerry Bennett
 
RT SE5

I have a2010 RT SE 5 with a few bells and whistles. I put extra led lights around the bottom of the front to help light things up for oncoming traffic. Hopefully it helps them SEE me!!! I also have 47xxx + miles( I can't remember for sure but might have flipped 48,000. White hair and "old timers disease" ) on her and I just had the throttle body replaced. One thing I sorta learned about this motor is keep the RPMS UP!!! I have been known to get on the freeway at 90mph in 4th gear. I usually won't go to 5th gear untill I am going at least 65 and 70 mph then shift to 5th. So back roads I am mostly in 4th gear. The hardest part of this bike is learning how to "drive" it. Sorta like a car. Least wise that was the way I saw it. I am still learning it's fun things it can and can not do. A LOT more CAN than NOT. Fun bike and hope you enjoy yours. Many smiling miles to you and your bike.:welcome::nopic:
 
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