NEWBIE

[TRELL]

Well went to Lexington motorsports in lex. ky. today. looked at RT-S viper red had all the goodies except gps and CB.Got to ask you all, do you get 45 to 50 mpg as they told me?The sale lady couldn't answer if the mirrors adjust or not and the life of the final drive belt.The one i looked at and want has semi auto trans/paddle shift. For 4 grand more i can get the trailer and hitch. bike price out the door is $29842.94 w/o trailer is this a good price?:dontknowne more thing does fan push air thru rad. or pull it thru?

 

[boborgera]

Well went to Lexington motorsports in lex. ky. today. looked at RT-S viper red had all the goodies except gps and CB.Got to ask you all, do you get 45 to 50 mpg as they told me?The sale lady couldn't answer if the mirrors adjust or not and the life of the final drive belt.The one i looked at and want has semi auto trans/paddle shift. For 4 grand more i can get the trailer and hitch. bike price out the door is $29842.94 w/o trailer is this a good price?:dontknowne more thing does fan push air thru rad. or pull it thru?

Expect 25 to 30 MPG's, You might want to double check any thing else they tell you. :dontknow:

 

[MouthPiece]

Well went to Lexington motorsports in lex. ky. today. looked at RT-S viper red had all the goodies except gps and CB.Got to ask you all, do you get 45 to 50 mpg as they told me?

Whoever told you that was either smoking dope or lying through their teeth.

Chris PE# 0004

 

[Mr. White]

Trell, the lady who told you the RT gets over 40mpg is probably the owners daughter. He gave her a job so her husband can quit stealing for a living. Her not knowing that you push the mirror to adjust it as you do on a Wing tells you that she does not know her product...and it is in the book. All she has to do is spend one hour reading the owners manual and she will know a great deal. She had not done that...

My second fill when I filled it the same to check the mileage against the GPS gave me 28.3....I read here some have gotten 30-32, but most in the high 20s, so I am average it seems.

That is a reasonable price....not great, but if the are a good service dealer and will take care of their customers, a few bucks one way or another won't matter in the long run. Good luck.

 

[challman]

Well i'm new here. Riding a goldwing 1800 now but have some health issues, wife says we should look into the Spyder roadster.So here i am trying to find out all i can. Been riding 53 yrs. only had one three wheeler
back in 70's vw trike.Didn't like it all that much.

I really like mine with the exception that the seating of my RS is horrible for me. I am 54 and have just had some pretty major surgery so I bought the Spyder. I would definitely consider the RT if you are going to do it. I am looking at the Seal footboards to see if I will be able to do anything about the riding position..

The RT is Way less than the RT even if you add the hard saddlebags, a world class windshield, lower wind screens, rear rack with a color matching rear top case, handlebar risers, and Hopefully the seal floorboards. to get you sitting right. I will keep you posted on the saga of getting this thing to sit well...

That being said I have had Harleys most of my life and recently an old Goldwing. I have to say that the Spyder is real kick to ride...drive... whatever. It is amazingly quick once you learn to get the RPMs up above 5 grand... 6 really.

This thing handles really well around curves, once you learn how to ride/drive it..

Here are the issues I suspect you will have

It takes a while to learn to ride if you are used to a motorcycle. I found myself constantly trying to lean it and often scared myself because it just wouldn't do what I wanted it to... Steer it Cole....... not lean

Forget about dodging pot holes on crappy roads... if you put it between the front wheels the rear one is sure to get it.

When you are riding down the road and there are little bumps on one of the front wheels and not the other it feels like you are starting to shimmy.... (Goldwing flashback)

When you are around town or on country roads it seems to take more exertion to ride because of having to or at least thinking you have to shift your weight back and forth. I am guessing as I learn how to ride it better I will quit wrestling with it and things will go better.

If you are used to a Goldwing this may not be an issue to you, but if you want to do ANYTHING on this thing mechanically except remove the front wheels you are going to be tearing body panels off to get to what you are working on. I do admit though the panels come off pretty easily.. they are held on with plastic snap down rivets, and torx head screws. I think an electric screwdriver (not a drill) would be very useful here or an air ratchet.

That is a complete list of my observations so far.

OH...
When you change oil you drain both the engine AND the oil tank...

Oh
Horrible gas mileage for a small vehicle with a fairing. I really don't understand why.. I figured the way the front end was built it would do much better. I have a theory that the front fenders are the cause. That and the high rpm idle and power curve of the engine.. AND the low final drive ratio.

this thing runs 2500 rpm at 35 in 5th (high) gear. A quick calculation tells me that the top speed without overreving is around 130... I have seen mixed stories about how fast it will go. ... Myself.. It still scares me that I will forget how to operate it again if I ride it very fast so I havent:2thumbs: been over 70 yet. I never ride very fast anyway... I am more of an acceleration guy myself.

I am still at the learn how to steer it every time I get back on point and I have owned it for over a week. I am guessing that this is typical of people who have ridden on 2 wheels their whole long lives....

overall.... I love this thing.

 

[SpyderWolf]

:welcome:

Best of luck in your quest for comfort.

 

[Dragon Snake]

I really like mine with the exception that the seating of my RS is horrible for me. I am 54 and have just had some pretty major surgery so I bought the Spyder. I would definitely consider the RT if you are going to do it. I am looking at the Seal footboards to see if I will be able to do anything about the riding position..

The RT is Way less than the RT even if you add the hard saddlebags, a world class windshield, lower wind screens, rear rack with a color matching rear top case, handlebar risers, and Hopefully the seal floorboards. to get you sitting right. I will keep you posted on the saga of getting this thing to sit well...

That being said I have had Harleys most of my life and recently an old Goldwing. I have to say that the Spyder is real kick to ride...drive... whatever. It is amazingly quick once you learn to get the RPMs up above 5 grand... 6 really.

This thing handles really well around curves, once you learn how to ride/drive it..

Here are the issues I suspect you will have

It takes a while to learn to ride if you are used to a motorcycle. I found myself constantly trying to lean it and often scared myself because it just wouldn't do what I wanted it to... Steer it Cole....... not lean

Forget about dodging pot holes on crappy roads... if you put it between the front wheels the rear one is sure to get it.

When you are riding down the road and there are little bumps on one of the front wheels and not the other it feels like you are starting to shimmy.... (Goldwing flashback)

When you are around town or on country roads it seems to take more exertion to ride because of having to or at least thinking you have to shift your weight back and forth. I am guessing as I learn how to ride it better I will quit wrestling with it and things will go better.

If you are used to a Goldwing this may not be an issue to you, but if you want to do ANYTHING on this thing mechanically except remove the front wheels you are going to be tearing body panels off to get to what you are working on. I do admit though the panels come off pretty easily.. they are held on with plastic snap down rivets, and torx head screws. I think an electric screwdriver (not a drill) would be very useful here or an air ratchet.

That is a complete list of my observations so far.

OH...
When you change oil you drain both the engine AND the oil tank...

Oh
Horrible gas mileage for a small vehicle with a fairing. I really don't understand why.. I figured the way the front end was built it would do much better. I have a theory that the front fenders are the cause. That and the high rpm idle and power curve of the engine.. AND the low final drive ratio.

this thing runs 2500 rpm at 35 in 5th (high) gear. A quick calculation tells me that the top speed without overreving is around 130... I have seen mixed stories about how fast it will go. ... Myself.. It still scares me that I will forget how to operate it again if I ride it very fast so I havent:2thumbs: been over 70 yet. I never ride very fast anyway... I am more of an acceleration guy myself.

I am still at the learn how to steer it every time I get back on point and I have owned it for over a week. I am guessing that this is typical of people who have ridden on 2 wheels their whole long lives....

overall.... I love this thing.

Spyders do not ride like a two wheeler. After you get used to the difference they are a very comfortable ride. They don't tire you out in cross winds and seem real stable when semis pass. I put a better seat and floorboards on my rs which made a big difference. the power curve is pretty high rpms but it is smooth and civil. You have to stay on the curve and not lug it. 1st gear is good for slow starts or tire burning which ever suits your mood. Two up riding is real comfy. Do not like that you have to take side panel off to check oil. Rear belt should last at least 20k miles under normal riding. Gas mileage seems to be 25 to low 30s it's neat not to have to hold it up at a light. I give it a :2thumbs: up. hope this helps.

 

[KipDM]

i am not sure how, but i am not uncomfortable on the :spyder: at all.
i am 6' and find it has enough legroom for me with stock grips (even though i want those sweet spiderweb medallion floorboards) and only using the BRP 1" riser. and i weigh a touch over 300 lbs and find the seat comfy enough too.
now, after about a solid hour on it i do a couple of "butt-ups" by doing some clenches just to make sure everything is still where it should be and not numb from vibrations (have not gotten numb a single time).

the only complaint i have about the RS is i wish it came with longer mirror posts standard. i added some aftermarket extenders and they are not quite wide enough (i am pretty darn broad) so i am now searching for some that are a little wider. other than that i love this thing.

if you get an RS (since i have no experience with RTs i cannot give advice for them) you may want to consider the "missing air dam" since it seems RS's like to run just a tad hot. when i can afford it i plan on adding one.

 

[challman]

i am not sure how, but i am not uncomfortable on the :spyder: at all.
i am 6' and find it has enough legroom for me with stock grips (even though i want those sweet spiderweb medallion floorboards) and only using the BRP 1" riser. and i weigh a touch over 300 lbs and find the seat comfy enough too.
now, after about a solid hour on it i do a couple of "butt-ups" by doing some clenches just to make sure everything is still where it should be and not numb from vibrations (have not gotten numb a single time).

the only complaint i have about the RS is i wish it came with longer mirror posts standard. i added some aftermarket extenders and they are not quite wide enough (i am pretty darn broad) so i am now searching for some that are a little wider. other than that i love this thing.

if you get an RS (since i have no experience with RTs i cannot give advice for them) you may want to consider the "missing air dam" since it seems RS's like to run just a tad hot. when i can afford it i plan on adding one.

Are you young? I think My hip and knee discomfort is from a lack of flexability and beginning of arthritis. Not sure. but I am glad you at least are comfy. I am purchasing the Seal floor boards because they seem to be the only thing to me that addresses all the issues. I didn't want to have to move my right foot around much from the comfortable position to the brake because of no hand brake..

I will let you know how they are. John says I can return them if I am not happy. He says this has never happened however.

Ride hard

 

[challman]

Spyders do not ride like a two wheeler. After you get used to the difference they are a very comfortable ride. They don't tire you out in cross winds and seem real stable when semis pass. I put a better seat and floorboards on my rs which made a big difference. the power curve is pretty high rpms but it is smooth and civil. You have to stay on the curve and not lug it. 1st gear is good for slow starts or tire burning which ever suits your mood. Two up riding is real comfy. Do not like that you have to take side panel off to check oil. Rear belt should last at least 20k miles under normal riding. Gas mileage seems to be 25 to low 30s it's neat not to have to hold it up at a light. I give it a :2thumbs: up. hope this helps.

20K on belt ...........

I have never warn one out on a Harley... I am planning on getting many more than 20K and will be quite Disappointed if I don't

I ride like a grandma though, and don't do burnouts, and usually don't even get on it to accelerate much. Maybe that will help... I am wondering what type of milage I will get. I bet I can muster up more than 35.. We shall see

 

[MouthPiece]

20K on belt ...........

I have never warn one out on a Harley... I am planning on getting many more than 20K and will be quite Disappointed if I don't

I sure was hoping to get more than 25K too. Is that the consensus?

Chris

 

[SpyderWolf]

I sure was hoping to get more than 25K too. Is that the consensus?

Chris

I don't think that is a concensus on here at all. Ask Doc how far he rode before he had to replace a belt, although that may not be a fair judge of things either since he tore up his sprocket several times. I am pretty sure there are several people with over 25K who haven't had to replace their belt.