Not feeling the magic.......

[PMK]

I hear that a laser alignment makes a big difference (my dealer doesn't do them), but will it make enough difference to boost my confidence in a turn? I don't see how that could happen, though; the basic engineering should get me through a turn.

FWIW, our machine was pretty sketchy too when cornering. Also, it buffeted at highway speeds around other vehicles.

It was not practice or getting more accustom to a three wheeler, it was sketchy.

You asked, how can a wheel alignment help? For us it was the single greatest improvement.

If the Spyder is aligned, or most vehicles with two front wheels for that matter, you deal with at least toe in and toe out. The Spyder also suffers from bump or lean induced steering geometry changes, known as bump steer. The Spyder also, with it's Go Kart type steering has Ackerman effect. This is where the inside tire turns more the the outside, a good thing.

With toe out, a vehicle can be darty in a straight line, and even difficult to go straight down the road. With slight toe in, the vehicle will tend to track more straight.

With toe out, as you enter a corner (and I won't consider any leaning effects), and begin to turn in, the outside tire is still pointed to the outside of the corner, while the inside tire is turning a tighter radius. As you turn more, the outside tire will go to straight,and then begin to turn to the inside. The point where the outside tire tire towards the inside of the corner, the machine will dart towards the inside of the corner. Your reaction will be to steer outside, resulting in possibly an erratic line through the curve.

On our machine, I took a wild guess and cranked a tie rod. Without me saying a word, the wife noticed immediately the difference. I could still otice some tendency to weave, but it was better. I did make another adjustment, making the machine night and day better from how it was delivered.

Later I installed a BajaRon sway bar. This made cornering better still, but most importantly, stopped the buffeting at highway speeds.

Hope you get it sorted out, certainly no two wheel motorcycle, but still fun to ride when dialed in.

PK

 

[Dragonrider]

For those of us with loads of ATV riding, the Spyder is a natural. I recommend to my friends who get a new Spyder to ride from Salem to Bend (180 miles) on Highway 22. This is a moderate speed (55-60 tops) twisty road, with modest traffic. It includes a few towns, great changes in elevation (150 to 4,000 feet), and reasonable temperatures, most of the year (lots of snow in the winter tho). It represents about a 400 mile round trip of steady riding.

Additionally, spend some time riding with your hands open, using just the web (thumb to hand) to steer - this belays the "death grip" favored by some... initially, take corners at the posted limit, then, as you get comfortable, consciously increase the speed by 5mph - think about what you felt, and before long, you'll keep up with your Beemer (which was a K12 for me).

I don't know what the roads in your area are like, but avoid the superslabs and highways with tons of traffic.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Problems with your new spyder

Don't give up, relax, and keep riding.
Everyone that has NEVER spent any time on a spyder thinks it's easy and you just jump on and go. While you won't tip over, there is more to riding the spyder than non-owners would ever believe. Compared to 2 wheels, riding the spyder (especially when riding the twisties hard) will wear you out quicker.

Do you remember the first time you were on two wheels? How uncomfortable you were. Not knowing where/when to put your feet down, slowing before the turns to power out, keeping your head up and pointed to the exit of the turn? Slow speed turns and parking lot maneuvers? :yikes:

Learning the spyder is like learning to ride all over again. While some of the traits are similar, MANY of the ergonomics are quite different. Many of us felt the same way. I remember riding home thinking I just made probably the most expensive mistake I had made in a long time.....and I grew up riding 2 wheels and still do ride 2 wheels.

It's normal, and just like you learned 2 wheels, you'll learn 3. And the more you ride, the more comfortable you will become. Relax and ride. Most of us agree that you need a good solid 1000 miles to become fairly comfortable.

:agree:.... I don't often agree with DREW but on this He's on the Money....Also His Post # 7......I'm 68 always rode Mtc's since childhood, longtime Goldwinger etc....It took a little while but now I can go through the " TWISTIE'S " faster than I could with my last Wing ( an 03 ). There is a possibility Your Spyder is not TRACKING perfectly true. Maybe some one HERE will reach out to you and check your ride ( personally I don't trust Dealers ) to see if yours is acting NORMAL............As far as up-grading suspensions ......Well that's like " fixing something that might not be broken "......It's like asking your child ,who just got in your car AFTER first driving lesson " DO YOU THINK WE NEED NEW SHOCKS ? "..................ie. before you change anything be comfortable with what you have ...........just my 2 cents ............Stick with it ......Mike :thumbup:

 

[Highwayman2013]

I have to say a laser alignment was the best thing I did to my RT. It was very twitchy and the front wheels were very toed out. After a couple thousand miles on the Rt I can now switch back to my two wheeler no problem.

 

[SpyderMouse22]

Two years ago i bought a spyder and never rode any kind of a bike before. It was very scary for a bit. Already with around 5000 miles under my belt and no bike adjustments i am pretty comfortable with the bike. Learn the bike well and then decide what adjustments you would like to make. i am getting the laser alignment and i have played with tire preasure. I was running the front tires a bit on the low side. You will do fine in no time at all. If i can make it anyone can. I still can't do the twisties too fast yet but that will come.Highway speeds aren't much of a bother. Good luck to you.

 

[Vossr]

I'm in your boat

Fat Baxter,
I seem to be in the same boat as you. I've got 750 miles in a few rides on my RT-L... Any highway curve that has a posted speed scares the heck outa me. I'll say I'm a bit more comfortable now with the Spyder than when I initially drove it home, but I'm still shying away from those rides through the twisties.

That said, I've purchased a BajaRon swaybar & am getting it installed this week. I want this to work. Lots of folks here and loads of experience, just gotta believe that what they are telling us, works.

Good Luck & I'll let ya know how the Spyder feels after the sway bar install.

 

[JkRbbt]

I have to say that I feel just about the opposite! It took me a few hours on the Spyder to get used to where the front tire was as I hugged a curve. Now? Wouldn't go back to 2 wheels. I can hug a curve with any of my buddies and I don't worry about tar snakes, gravel patches, RR tracks, etc. I actually am able to relax and enjoy the ride more! I hope it all works out for you! Looks like you have a great machine! Enjoy!

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: This is going to sound completely contrary to what I believe in...

:lecturef_smilieON'T buy a swaybar!!! Yet...
But you should have the bike laser-aligned.

Why would I not want to help sell a "RonBar"?
You haven't had the bike long enough yet, to know if your riding style would benefit from it.
Since the bike seems "Twitchy"; take care of the alignment question first...
Then you just need to get comfortable in the saddle; that comes with time and miles. :thumbup:

 

[baileydale]

me too, at first

61 year old lifetime two wheel rider here. The first 800 miles or so I felt exactly the same. I finally sat down one day thinking I had really screwed up by buying the spider and had to do something. Then I remembered my quad a tv days and how too run a fast lap you have too totally relax and kinda let the machine drive itself. Found an empty road and made myself relax remembering how at 18 I wasn't afraid of anything and could run the scrap out of a quad. Magic!!! I for one basically let the spider drive itself with very little input from me,relaxing and kinda letting it go where it wants. I have no extra sway bars or anything and after a couple hundred miles from that point it's such a joy too ride. Not a spring chicken anymore but I can easily outrun any cruiser on the mountain roads here and can keep all but the best crotch rocket riders in sight. Best of luck too you and no shame in going back to two wheels if it doesn't get better for you. We ride too enjoy so enjoy what you ride.

 

[BajaRon]

My experience exactly! Was thinking of bailing out on the Spyder early on. The thing was uncontrollable and all over the road! Scared me to DEATH going over 45mph. Very frustrating after all those years on 2 wheels!

It took a fair amount of time and concentration on RELAXING my grip, arms and shoulders. Once the light bulb came on it was Katy bar the door!

Hang in there grasshopper! You will find the groove soon enough.

 

[adlereins]

Weird.

I rode 2 wheels waaayyyy back when and I have had not too much problem getting used to my ryde. Not all the way there yet but getting there after three months and about 1K miles. The weird part . . . . just in the last 4 or 5 rydes, I have been trying to put it in neutral by heel/toeing my left foot. Only problem is that my ryde is an SE!!:gaah::banghead: Explain that one:dontknow:! Just goes to show that old habits are hard to break. Even VERY old ones.

Hang in there. It only gets better.:yes:

Take Care,
Allen B aka adlereins

 

[2dogs]

Me too Baxter

Yea, me too Baxter. :helpsmilie:This site is full of the best advice you will ever find. Take the turns slow at what's comfortable for you and let the traffic be dammed, but, be courteous and pull over and allow them to pass you and go on their way. Now, this will help you more later on when your speeds increase. Lock your outside arm (wrist, elbow and shoulder) and with a gentle grip push on the outside handle bar as you prepare for, and enter into the turn. As you enter the turn press your inside knee into the seat (this will lower your center of gravity) and use your inside hand to make small smooth adjustments throughout the turn. I found this advice somewhere on this site and it helped me build my confidence immensely. Good luck Baxter and hang in there and don’t give up. I’ve got 4K now my 14 RTS now and I’m just at the point where I’m not looking at the speedometer as much as I used to, if you know what I’m say’n. :2thumbs:

 

[Bob Denman]

Ron,
I hope that I'm not on your, ":gaah:" List... pps:

 

[ARtraveler]

My advice is also to "hang in there." Lots of things can go into making the :spyder2: "twitchy." Tire pressure, alignment issues, over control, shock settings, etc.

Go through the list, and once you have reached 1000 plus miles, I am guessing that you will be liking your :ani29:.

I am a proponent of taking things gradual at first. Give a large parking lot a half hour or so. Practice starts, stops, shifts, and turns. (Owners Manual and Video offer good suggestions.)

I then suggest taking it out on the road at 30-35 mph areas. Twisties are great if they are in your area. Another hour or so and you should be ready for 55 + mph.

Low and slow at first will help to build your confidence. I was not comfortable with my first :spyder2: until I had over 1500 miles. I had driven two wheels for over 40 years prior to that. Lots of things to unlearn for me.

 

[BajaRon]

Ron,
I hope that I'm not on your, ":gaah:" List... pps:

____:hun:
:dontknow:

 

[Spyder 42]

I'll add my two cents...

when I first test rode a Spyder in 2010, I hated it. Like you, my BMW served me well for many miles but my riding experience did not translate into a comfortable roadster experience. Intellectually, I knew the routine, drive -don't counter steer, loosen grip, etc, but my lizard brain was screaming that I was about to die.

In 2012, we decided to pick up a sidecar rig to allow one of us to enjoy the ride and to bring the dog along. Well, driving a sidecar rig is a whole lot like driving a Spyder and this experience gave me the confidence to drive SWMBO's new RT home in the rain ( She chose to buy it two weeks before hip replacement surgery). She's not yet comfortable on the back of the Spyder yet (and she is still on pain meds) so we went out in the sidecar last week. She remarked that my driving was much smoother that it had been earlier in the season. I attribute that to more miles under my belt.

as others have said, give it some more time. I had to retrain 30+ years of 2 wheel muscle memory. I suspect that you will have to do the same.

 

[BajaRon]

And that's all I have to say about that..........

 

[Fat Baxter]

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. Today, I picked a reasonably straight state road, set the cruise control at 55, and just went. Setting the cruise control gave me one less thing to fuss about. I tried various positions while leaning in the few curves I encountered; a bit better, but still kinda scary. I guess this is like any other sport -- you need to trust your equipment.

I'll keep trying. Yesterday, I was a gnat's eyelash from packing it in. So again, thanks for the encouragement and hints. But I WILL get that alignment checked!

 

[jScotD]

know what you mean

long time MC rider...since I was 12 ---------67 now

bought a 2012 and circumanstances stepped in and I have less than 50 miles on it

1st ride.. terrorified ... even put my feet down when i came to a stop..parked it

looking forward to the time to go back to when i was 4 and put orange juice cans on my trycycle and made motor sounds with my voice and terrorized the sidewalks

thanks for all the good input folks

scott

 

[SNOOPY]