Newbie TOTALLY confused!

[vdoman]

I can't wrap my head around how the semi-automatic works. Am I understanding correctly? When you start the bike it is in neutral by default. You push the + sign, put it in first, and go. The trans auto downshifts when you come to a stop BUT, remains in 1st gear. Am I understanding correctly that at no time are you ever able to put the bike back into neutral unless you shut it down and re-start? This seems a convoluted way to me (but what do I know). Just hoping i'm wrong. Once you stop laughing i'd appreciate an answer so I don't make a fool of myself asking this to a salesperson.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Deanna777]

:welcome: ask questions, we are here to help. Glad you us. Deanna

 

[garb55]

Why would you want to go to neutral just put it in gear and never stop :roflblack::roflblack:

Just kidding
You can shift back to neutral
from 1st gear

 

[Pampurrs]

I can't wrap my head around how the semi-automatic works. Am I understanding correctly? When you start the bike it is in neutral by default. You push the + sign, put it in first, and go. The trans auto downshifts when you come to a stop BUT, remains in 1st gear. Am I understanding correctly that at no time are you ever able to put the bike back into neutral unless you shut it down and re-start? This seems a convoluted way to me (but what do I know). Just hoping i'm wrong. Once you stop laughing i'd appreciate an answer so I don't make a fool of myself asking this to a salesperson.

Thanks in advance.

You put the Spyder in neutral by pressing the minus (-) paddle behind the plus (+) paddle. It's on the backside of the handlebar. It's the same routine if you want to manually downshift while you're riding.

Any decent sales person would be happy to walk you through that. If not, you should go another dealership.

Hope that helps.

Pam

 

[CanAmChris]

I can't wrap my head around how the semi-automatic works. Am I understanding correctly? When you start the bike it is in neutral by default. You push the + sign, put it in first, and go. The trans auto downshifts when you come to a stop BUT, remains in 1st gear. Am I understanding correctly that at no time are you ever able to put the bike back into neutral unless you shut it down and re-start? This seems a convoluted way to me (but what do I know). Just hoping i'm wrong. Once you stop laughing i'd appreciate an answer so I don't make a fool of myself asking this to a salesperson.

Thanks in advance.

The front (facing you as you sit on the bike) of the paddle has a + on it, The back has a -. If you are in first, and stopped, and you tap the paddle towards you with your index finger the trans will drop to neutral. You can also do the same while in higher gears to downshift to get more power on hills and such. I usually wait until I am under 3k RPM before I downshift.

 

[SNOOPY]

If the bike is rolling forward at all it won't shift into neutral, it has to be stopped then press the - shifter into neutral.

Also, the bike will start in 1st if you hold the brake down.

 

[Centurion]

Welcome! I place my SE into neutral each time I shutdown and then apply the parking brake. However, if you forget to put the bike into neutral (leave it in gear), the bike will start in neutral but only once you have your foot on the brake.

 

[Peter Aawen]

You can select Neutral any time you stop & want neutral without turning it all off, just by rolling to a stop & letting the auto select first, then giving it a little 'change down' tap on the -paddle, it's sorta just a 'half a gearshift down' tap. You can do the same going from reverse to neutral by using that half tap on the + paddle. The reality about this 'semi auto' is that it is actually the very same gearbox as the manual, only instead of having a clutch lever & foot pedal selector that the rider changes gears with, it's got an automated gear changer that the rider operates via the paddles; & the auto gear changer also has the ability to match road speed, engine revs, & throttle position to select a lower gear if you let the speed drop below the preset for the current gear & then then twist the throttle for morepower/speed - hence the auto downshift.

Just like most other auto selecting sequential gearboxes, I don't really think it was really designed with the intent of doing away with the need for driver input to change down, but rather as a 'failsafe' to avoid gearbox &/or changer damage if the driver slows or asks for more power when you have a higher gear selected. And that's just been taken advantage of by those who don't feel the need to keep their engine revs in the most efficient or effective rev range as their speed slows - just like in your cage you don't hafta change down thru the gears as you slow to stop at the traffic lights, but if you want to start powering off again once the lights turn green, an auto box will change down to the appropriate gear as you press the pedal, or you need to select a lower gear in a stick shift - the auto selecting feature of the semi-auto in the Spyder does that for you.

Still, the more switched on or sporty riders can & do use the 'semi-automatic' just like they'd use a sequential manual gearbox, only without the need to operate the clutch because the box does that for them & automatically changes gears in response to the instructions from the paddles; albeit with the gearbox & clutch saving failsafe features changing down if they ever happen to get it wrong - but if you don't want to do that, it's perfectly fine to let those very same failsafe features do all the downchanges for you!

 

[robmorg]

Makes Sense

It's kind of like a car in this regard. You never shift a car into neutral, unless you want to move it with the engine off (unless the car has a manual clutch). When you think about it, it makes sense how the semi-automatic on the Spyder works. When you are stopped at a red light or stop sign. You only have to give it a bit of throttle to get going. You don't have to shift until it's you have to go to second gear. :thumbup:

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome: The previous posters have you covered on your questions. If you end up getting an SE model you will not have trouble with the shifting after you have started it up and driven it once or twice.

I have had one manual and four SE versions. I would not go back to the manual.

 

[jaherbst]

You put the Spyder in neutral by pressing the minus (-) paddle behind the plus (+) paddle. It's on the backside of the handlebar. It's the same routine if you want to manually downshift while you're riding.

Any decent sales person would be happy to walk you through that. If not, you should go another dealership.

Hope that helps.

Pam

What she says. No reason to go to neutral when stopped. Just keep foot on brake while stopped
. When ready to go take foot off brake and apply throttle. Same as car. When reducing throttle it automatically shifts down. (same as car)

Jack

 

[Bfromla]

Glad you are asking

As with any vehicle you need to know it & all functions. If you are not comfortable or have a problem by all means see a dealer sales or tech.If this has you confused wait till you have to check oil we will hear from you again!

 

[Thump]

Confused:
You already have a lot of great answers but I thought if you were like me it would have been great to see the operating manual so you could read a lot of details for yourself before buying or test riding. My salesperson was not very good but he did know about Spyder Lovers at least.
Another member posted the following link where you can find the manuals on all the Spyder types:
http://www.operatorsguides.brp.com/...180-b8bb-cc1215c5b596&brands=roadster&type=og

Happy reading and welcome!

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

THINK YOU WERE CONFUSED

I have heard that Aprilla which also uses the Rotax engine and Transmission has a revised computer map that will turn the Semi-auto into a FULL-AUTO.......with a manual over-ride function just like the cars have :yes:..........Mike

 

[PrairieSpyder]

Your question's been answered well, so I'll just say: :welcome:

 

[Bob Denman]

Me too! :welcome: :2thumbs:
Keeping the bike in gear while stopped, could even save your life one day!
(Although NONE of us ever want to see that car in our mirrors: closing on us without slowing down...:yikes

 

[missouriboy]

Welcome! I place my SE into neutral each time I shutdown and then apply the parking brake. However, if you forget to put the bike into neutral (leave it in gear), the bike will start in neutral but only once you have your foot on the brake.

Also note that you must apply the parking brake whether you shut down in neutral or leave it in gear. The SE transmission will NOT hold the bike, because the clutch is always disengaged when stopped.

When you take delivery of a Spyder the salesman will go over all this, and more, so don't be shy about asking him any questions at all. There is quite a bit to be covered and he understands that.

 

[Highwayman2013]

WELCOME!

Enjoy the ryde!:clap:

 

[HVACR Guy]

Welcome

I too am new to the Spyder world, 3 months. The best thing I could have done was to find out from the dealer where to take a 2 day course on how to ride this amazing machine. In the course I was taught about emergency braking, avoidance, lots of do's and don'ts. Never ridden one in my life and was nervous about it but by the end of the day I was a lot more confident riding. Google it if you want to. Can Am Spyder Training.

 

[JerryB]

Hi vdoman,

Re: I can't wrap my head around how the semi-automatic works.

I 'think' I understand the system. The best analogy ( IMO ) is how new cars use paddle shifters.

Does that help any?

Jerry Baumchen