noob questions

[jgwoods]

I've ridden around town all Winter. Mostly 8-15 miles here and there with Gerbings jacket and heated gloves to make it quite comfortable down to about 20f, and a bit of a challenge below that.
Snow handling is fair at best. I don't take it to work if it snowing but I have made the 8 mile ride home in a few snowstorms without incident.
You True North guys seem to like the cold better than me here in New England- maybe the Can AM will work for you in colder weather. I think I would go with an SM5 over the SE5 for riding on snow - you can pull in the clutch when things get really slippery and gain a little control that the SE5 cannot give.

 

[Granrey]

After looking at my garage, I was undersizing it my garage in my mind.

I just have to enter and some how park it sideways during winter to allow the car in.

In summer, I will most like it leave the car in the driveway.

Anyways, another question.

It appears to me that the spyder is the most afordable trike out there and also the one with best value per buck.

The other trikes I see, are very expensive and are very simple compared with the technology of the spyder.

am I right on this?

 

[Granrey]

hey granrey, I also live in edmonton and have a 2008 me, yellow. It is a poor deal that the riding season sucks in this area, however when spring comes , look out SHA-bamm, SPYDER ON THE ROAD. Weather conditions vary and I have driven in all. Be prepared and ready, but there comes a point in time when enough is enough. If I can offer help or assistance just let me know. Freaking waiting for SPRING............:yes:

Oh man, I thought I would be the only one LOL.

Can you recomend a good dealer here and what is your experience with your bike and dealer?

 

[COOLMACHINE]

i agree

NancysToy says, " The machine needs to fit your garage...and your pocketbook. Don't buy something you will hate, however. Good rides both, but different niches."

Well said NancysToy. :thumbup:

 

[mxz600]

welcome

You must get soaked, cold, and filthy...the way they salt around here is nuts! Add some dirt and other various crud and that reason, alone, is enough to keep me in a cage in bad weather!

:agree: My Spyder will never see a salty road. It is parked in the garage until spring. Winter is for sleds & 4 wheel drive trucks. Although my wifes AWD Fusion is pretty sweet for winter driving also.

 

[jgwoods]

I can't see any reason to own a 3 wheeler unless you take advantage of its bad weather capabilities. Motorcycles handle better on dry, clean roads. I can ride my Can Am when there is ice and sand in the corners etc. so I take advantage of that to ride all year round while my two wheeled friends bow down in mock admiration of my determination...or foolishness.
It makes me feel alive, I don't get rusty from not riding, heated gear makes it very tolerable, salt and grime don't bother me, I ain't in the fashion business and I used to be a mechanic.
The Can Am can take it, why spend all that money to park it?

 

[NancysToy]

I can't see any reason to own a 3 wheeler unless you take advantage of its bad weather capabilities.

:roflblack: You might when you get to be as worn down as I am.....LOL It's not the age, it's the mileage! The three surgeries plus one additional hospitalization alone last year made me thankful I had a Spyder to ride. My BMW didn't even see 1,000 miles, compared to the usual 10K-12K. The new RT-S did allow me to get out of the icy driveway and ride on my January birthday, though, something my two-wheelers seldom have let me do...I'll certainly grant you that. Lot's of different reasons for choosing a Spyder, for different people.:roflblack:

 

[jeuchler]

:roflblack: You might when you get to be as worn down as I am.....LOL It's not the age, it's the mileage!

I'm almost as worn down as you, Scotty :joke: but it's also the mental incapacity...I like(d) the Spyder because I don't want to have to think so much when I am driving anymore...

 

[NancysToy]

I'm almost as worn down as you, Scotty :joke: but it's also the mental incapacity...I like(d) the Spyder because I don't want to have to think so much when I am driving anymore...

You say that partly in jest, but when the first Spyders came out, the first folks to do Ironbutts on them commented on that. After you get some sixteen hours into the ride, you don't have to think about dirt in the corners, wet, slick roads, and the like...just concentrate on the map and staying on the road.

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

info

Can you recomend a good dealer here and what is your experience with your bike and dealer?[/QUOTE]
there are only 2 dealers in town, one south and one north ( MARTIN MOTOR SPORTS ) have dealt with both and much prefer the north location. very happy with my spyder, a few minor glitchs tho, recall done and all is good now. still waiting for spring AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGGHH

 

[Granrey]

Can you recomend a good dealer here and what is your experience with your bike and dealer?

there are only 2 dealers in town, one south and one north ( MARTIN MOTOR SPORTS ) have dealt with both and much prefer the north location. very happy with my spyder, a few minor glitchs tho, recall done and all is good now. still waiting for spring AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGGGHH[/QUOTE]

What do you think about driving motocycles in Edmonton from the point of view of safety? Based on how the car drivers treat you, city laws, local car drivers habits, ect.

Since when you have your spyder parked on your garage? November I would guess?

 

[Granrey]

I can't see any reason to own a 3 wheeler unless you take advantage of its bad weather capabilities. Motorcycles handle better on dry, clean roads. I can ride my Can Am when there is ice and sand in the corners etc. so I take advantage of that to ride all year round while my two wheeled friends bow down in mock admiration of my determination...or foolishness.
It makes me feel alive, I don't get rusty from not riding, heated gear makes it very tolerable, salt and grime don't bother me, I ain't in the fashion business and I used to be a mechanic.
The Can Am can take it, why spend all that money to park it?

I;m not planing to ride on snow but being able to ride in case I get a snow fall while riding.

BTW, In Edmoton a snow fall (regular weather for us), could be terrible weather any where else on the planet (LOL).

The weather issue here is a big turn off for me, when you try to spend money on anything that is not a mobile cage.

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

info

i used to ride bikes in the city, became very dangerous and sold them. since getting the spyder in 08 have not even had a smidgen of a close call. it has a very big footprint and i have added more lighting. if anything you get people following you and then asking all sorts of questions. Of course if you are going to be a total idiot, then you are asking for issues. hope that helps. both vehicles in the garage now as like a warm truck in the am as well as the missus. spyder parked actually since late october in a outside portable garage from princess auto. seems to work just fine. I take the battery out and add fuel conditioner, all is good. the waiting for spring is kinda gruelling , however when it happens me n my spyder are out almost every day. so still waiting for a change in the weather. Have you actually gone for a test ride on one ?????????? or just thinking about it ??

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

info

just re-reading your last post, i actually was riding my spyder on the labour day weekend in Banff in the snow. absolutely no issues, coming back from south of Red Deer area. a little cool but otherwise awesome...

 

[dltang]

two years in march and road every month since i got it.... but have to admit all though it's fun in the snow it's not practical... if i get stuck riding home in it i deal with it , but if i leave in the morning and raods are too bad it stays home...

:agree:

If I have it I ride it. I too am coming up on 2 years of spyder ownership in March. I don't ride if the roads are actually snow covered or icy but don't let the cold stop me. I have ridden in snow and ice because that was what the weather was like by the time I got out of work and I didn't really like it. You have to really drive slow and seriously watch the other drivers even more than normal. The really good new that I discovered while my spyder was taken apart and hanging out at the dealer for so long was that I did not have any damage internally due to salt on these Michigan roads. I wipe it down in the winter periodically with a detail spray and when it gets warm I hose it all down. But weather on a whole has not stopped me from riding my spyder, so enjoy. But stay out of the deep stuff, it just won't work.

 

[Granrey]

just re-reading your last post, i actually was riding my spyder on the labour day weekend in Banff in the snow. absolutely no issues, coming back from south of Red Deer area. a little cool but otherwise awesome...

No, I have not taken the test drive yet on the spyder neither the piaggio mp3.
I do my best to make a decision prior the test drive to avoid impulse buying. I will most likely do the test drive in April or May (giving me time to re-consider the decision, I know I might sound weird LOL).
Also, I want to take the motorcycle riding lessons at NAIT prior I do any riding. I;m also reading a book about Proficient motorcycle riding.
Then, after the test drive, if I don’t like the machine, then I don’t buy it.
I like your comment about the big difference you notice between regular motorcycles and the spyder. One of the main reasons for me to consider the spyder is the safety.
My safety, as well as the other people on the road is very important for me. I have lost very close family members due to vehicle accidents.
I;m quite confident the spyder is very visible on the road compared to regular motorcycles, due to the size as well on bad road conditions due to the 3 wheels.
Another noob question:
Which safety gear do you guys recommend? I know I need helmet, gloves, etc. but if there are some kinds that you think are better let me know.

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

ifo

yes the satety gear you mentioned is most important. I wear a jacket on the highway but in the city usually just a shirt, have a higher windshield. Good on you wanting to take a motorcycle course, would be amazed what you will learn. Would assume that you are looking at the new RT as opposed to an earlier model. The rt has lots of extra goodies which for the most part I have done to mine , but am still signed up for a definite test drive. Was in the dealer doing some snooping and he did the sign up already, just waiting for the call. ( curious more than anything ). They do have a nice price tag which sounds like an issue to you. All I can say if you do get one enjoy it to the most and above all RIDE SAFE.:yes:

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

INFO

fyi, there is another hands on motorcycle training ground at approx 49th street and 91 ave, forget the name but have stopped to watch numerous times on my way home. :spyder2:

 

[Granrey]

fyi, there is another hands on motorcycle training ground at approx 49th street and 91 ave, forget the name but have stopped to watch numerous times on my way home. :spyder2:

I;m interested in the RS.

BTW, any idea if the price on dealer is usuallly above or below MSRP?

 

[txknight67]

No likee ice!

I have been riding all winter. The only problem I had was after the storm about two weeks ago which started out as freezing rain then turned to snow.

BF Goodrich wasn't joking about that G-force being summer only. Absolutely NO traction on the ice. Wound up having to push the bike up the alley after I got it out of the garage. Once I got on the roadway I found that as long as I kept the rear tire in the tracks the cages made I was good to go. Had to go slow because it kept wanting to pull in snow, but other wise was able to make it to the interstate, which was completely clear and in to work.

Have the Gerbing gloves and when I get my bonus check hope to get the jacket and pant liners.