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Newbie with questions on what model to buy

hollybry

hollybry

New member
I am really wanting to get a spyder some time in the near future and was hoping you fine folks could offer some advice.
is there anything wrong with the model 2008 or 2009 spyders?
those 2 years are what my budget would allow. anything newer and i would have to finance which i do not want to do.
i am looking to spend under $10K.
I know i want the semi automatic, which i know is an SE5, but I dont know what model i want.
I would like a more relaxed sitting position. not really a sport bike position. I like my feet either straight down or in front of me for long distance riding. is there a model that offers this type of seating configuration? can you buy aftermarket foot pegs for a more forward "stretch your legs out" riding position?
what about those years only having 5 speeds? someone told me that the engine revs too high at highway speeds in these model years and the 6 speeds are a lot better at highway speeds. is it true the top speed on a 5 speed is only 75 mph? i also had heard that rumor.
my purchase will be in the future. like a year or so out, so I am not in any rush. although i would love to have one tomorrow! LOL.
any help or advice is appreciated so i can start planning!!
 
Here's the thing....

08/09 you only have the one model. Your choice is manual 5 speed or semi automatic 5 speed. All high rpm engines V-twins. The six speed triple lower rpm's did not come out till 2014 and the RT models in 2010. So always the best thing to do is test ryde them. If your budget is limited just ryde the RS which is the same as the GS 08's. If you ryde the others you may be financing....:thumbup:
 
The 2008 and 2009 GS (2008 only)/RS (2009 and up) were the only models that BRP offered prior to the introduction of the RTS in 2010.

Both came equipped with the 990 Rotax engine. Choice was either a 5 speed manual or a 5 speed semi auto. The 990 Rotax engine likes to be driven at high rpm's. The sweet spot is 5000 - 5500. This is where the power band kicks in. For newer riders, its hard to get your head around driving the :ani29: in that range.

Top speed is over 100 and you can get a ticket easily even if you don't try. You will find that these are "crotch rocket" riding positions unless they have been modified (seats and risers on the handlebars). I had three inch risers on both mine.

They are mostly trouble free and no specific issues that I can mention. I had one of each.

The 2008 is the silver SM5 and the red is a SE5. Both have over $6K in accessories added. I like to think that BRP stole my ideas when they came out with the RTS in 2010.

 
Last edited:
I was just like you 6 months ago!

I am a newbie too and last fall I bought my first can am Spyder. Like you I wanted to get into this different style of riding without spending a huge amount. I was riding a Honda 750 shadow spirit that I traded in on a 2009 RS Spyder with 4,000 miles on it. I test drove a 2015 RT for a few miles but it was so different from my current bike I passed on it (cost was in the back of my mind too)! Now, 7 months later I love riding my Spyder and I have put 6,000 miles on it. However, now I starting to notice how I sit more leaning over on this bike and I'm starting to see why others before me added handlebar risers, floorboards, and highway pegs! I'm probably going to go down that road too! :rolleyes:
 
I was recently in Robbinsville NC riding and was staying in a cabin in the area. the people in the cabin next to mine had a 2015 spyder and I was talking to them about their ride. They said to stay away from the v-twin model as they had a lot of issues with high RPM's at highway speeds which was causing short engine life. The gentleman also said the top speed of the early models was only 75 mph. I thought that was a line of bull when he said it. I was trying to figure out how, on my 400cc bike, I could go faster than the spyder. He was really pooh-poohing any model before 2015.
That is when i decided to start doing some research to make sure I didnt get a year or model that was not known for its reliability....
 
hollybry said:
I was recently in Robbinsville NC riding and was staying in a cabin in the area. the people in the cabin next to mine had a 2015 spyder and I was talking to them about their ride. They said to stay away from the v-twin model as they had a lot of issues with high RPM's at highway speeds which was causing short engine life. The gentleman also said the top speed of the early models was only 75 mph. I thought that was a line of bull when he said it. I was trying to figure out how, on my 400cc bike, I could go faster than the spyder. He was really pooh-poohing any model before 2015.
That is when i decided to start doing some research to make sure I didnt get a year or model that was not known for its reliability....
Click to expand...

Based on the information, you were fed a line of BS. So far, all the information posted is on the money.
 
WELCOME TO SPYDERLAND

i have a 08 I bought in Sept 08 1st bike I still have it and enjoy it.Been to 3 SPYDERFEST and going to the next one in DEADWOOD next week. I have had ZERO problems. except normal maintance. I would say go for it:yes:
 
so do i understand, you can get forward foot pegs or floorboards and handlebar risers to change your seating position on the 08 and 09 models? that would be cool.
 
hollybry said:
I was recently in Robbinsville NC riding and was staying in a cabin in the area. the people in the cabin next to mine had a 2015 spyder and I was talking to them about their ride. They said to stay away from the v-twin model as they had a lot of issues with high RPM's at highway speeds which was causing short engine life. The gentleman also said the top speed of the early models was only 75 mph. I thought that was a line of bull when he said it. I was trying to figure out how, on my 400cc bike, I could go faster than the spyder. He was really pooh-poohing any model before 2015.
That is when i decided to start doing some research to make sure I didnt get a year or model that was not known for its reliability....
Click to expand...

Haha, the problem wasn't with the Spyder but with the rider. We see that all the time people that don't ride the v-twin at the proper rpm. You will decrease the engine life by not revving the engine.
 
hollybry said:
They said to stay away from the v-twin model as they had a lot of issues with high RPM's at highway speeds which was causing short engine life. The gentleman also said the top speed of the early models was only 75 mph. ....
Click to expand...
:D
Here's a picture of Spyderjockey's odometer:

Jim Van Cise GS Odometer.jpg

I'm not going to mention just how fast he's had it up to...
But I rode to Missouri with him a couple of years ago, and we spend pretty near two full days running well past 75 mph. nojoke
 
Hi hollybry,

Re: those 2 years are what my budget would allow. anything newer and i would have to finance which i do not want to do.
i am looking to spend under $10K.

2 1/2 yrs ago I was in the same boat. I found a '08, 4k miles for under $10k.

I have changed a fair number of things to make it ride better & to change the riding position.

Send me an email to: jerrybaumchen(at)gmail(dot)com

I'll send you back info on what I've done to it and a number of photos of what she is like now.

Jerry Baumchen
 
SpyderSue said:
Hi - yeah, that's my GS for sale. It's been a great bike. I've had it for 4 years trouble free. Check out my for sale ad - Corbin seat with backrests, highway pegs. saddlebags - much more. It's a great price - if you decide in a few years you want something else, you would lose much. That's what I did!!!

Thanks for the reference, Bob!!!
Click to expand...

Only $7400 - you'll have money for risers and floorboards and enough left over to take someone special to a REALLY nice dinner.

Oh, btw - I've got risers that I never put on. I'll sweeten the deal and throw them in. Just sayin'...
 
I must have a special GS

Or my Speedo is malfunctioning :shocked: I have been over 75 a few times ( 76 maybe) on my 08 GS ... 18,000 Kms on it now , change the oil and service seems to keep it purring along , replaced two sensors ( $88.00). I don't actually mind the stock riding position so far putting 12,000 on the bike myself after buying it , the bike posted for sale above is identical to mine and that's a very good price for one with a lot of the options already on it
 
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