Question from a newbie

[dtkennney]

I pick up my new black currant 2014 RT limited next Tuesday. I can hardly wait. My question is:

i will ill be riding it home. I have very little experience riding an rt. I currently ride a two wheeler and am a bit concerned about having it on the freeway for the first time. The dealer does not have much of a parking lot so I will have to drive it on the streets from the get go. Should I ask someone with experience to drive it home for me.

I know now this will be hard to answer spence you do not know me. Just looking for some advice.

Looking forward to being part of the spyder community.

 

[Bob Denman]

:congrats: on the new bike! :2thumbs:
Let's face it; sooner or later, you're going to have to be "The One In The Saddle"... :shocked:
It might as well be on Tuesday!
Why are you taking it on the freeway? Aren't there any other choices available for you?
The key to feeling comfortable on these bikes, is to NOT try and over-control them... Use a very light grip, and don't try to make a jillion directional adjustments. Let the bike find it's own way within the lane, and you'll be just fine. :thumbup:
It wouldn't hurt to use some secondary roads first;hit the freeway after you've had a taste of what the bike feels like, and how it repsonds! nojoke

 

[MrBlonde]

I had never even seen one in the flesh until I drove down to England to get mine,I was on quads before this but found it really easy to ride so I wouldn't worry you'll be fine


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[ARtraveler]

Congrats on the new Spyder. As usual, Bob is right on the money. Take the "scenic" road home if possible. The first few miles on a new vehicle can be a little tense. Upside, you are not going to drop the Spyder. Don't overcontrol. Maybe you can get the dealer to give you the video and the manual ahead of time and do a bit of reading and watching.

 

[SPYD1]

Practice in the parking lot too...:congrats:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I rode two wheelers for decades before getting my RT. It took me about 2,000 miles to adjust to the 3 wheels. Others say it takes 500. We are all different. Here are my two cents and my two observations:
1. Relax your grip. Failing to relax will cause the Spyder to feel like it is fish tailing. You can't high side crash at speed, so relax. It feels abnormal to do this. Just keep telling your brain to relax. Talk to yourself like this. I don't know why talking to yourself works, but it does.
2. I have a 2012, maybe the 2014 models have a better sway bar than the stock 2012. But passing trucks and with even smallish side wind gusts I felt a lot of body roll. Keep YOUR body in the middle of the lane. You are as wide as a Prius--you are not on a single track two wheeler. Ignore the body roll, you won't tip over. If you decide futuristic ally that the body roll is uncomfortable, it can be fixed by installing a Bajaron aftermarket sway bar. I did. It made ryding more fun for me.

 

[Bob Ledford]

I pick up my new black currant 2014 RT limited next Tuesday. I can hardly wait. My question is:

i will ill be riding it home. I have very little experience riding an rt. I currently ride a two wheeler and am a bit concerned about having it on the freeway for the first time. The dealer does not have much of a parking lot so I will have to drive it on the streets from the get go. Should I ask someone with experience to drive it home for me.

I know now this will be hard to answer spence you do not know me. Just looking for some advice.

Looking forward to being part of the spyder community.

Be very aware of where right foot is at all times. Spyder "Nanny" your overseeing computer will flash a warning screen on you in a heartbeat and you're going to say " Aw Shoot!" grandma nanny does not tolerate your right foot riding the brake pedal.

The first time I rode it at night I was sailing down Nova Road in the dark looking at the dash, the fender lights, trying the hi beams stopping for red lights and I was impressed at how bright they were when they came on. But crabby nanny must not have liked my big foot hovering over the brake pedal as she shot me a warning window and I am on a three lane road at a red light and traffic coming on strong

like previously stated by OP's. Don't grip the bars like a gorilla but more like a humming bird that your afraid you will crush its fragile body. Most of the time I just lay my hands on the grips about as tight as you would rub a sand spur stuck in your finger.

 

[Hokiev]

You will also try to shift with the clutch lever that is not there and try to apply the front brake lever which is not there. As stated above, practice in the parking lot first with quick stops to get used to how firm the brakes are. Also practice turns as you don't lean anymore with the ride and that will take a little getting used to.

 

[Pennyrick]

I pick up my new black currant 2014 RT limited next Tuesday. I can hardly wait. My question is:

i will ill be riding it home. I have very little experience riding an rt. I currently ride a two wheeler and am a bit concerned about having it on the freeway for the first time. The dealer does not have much of a parking lot so I will have to drive it on the streets from the get go. Should I ask someone with experience to drive it home for me.

I know now this will be hard to answer spence you do not know me. Just looking for some advice.

Looking forward to being part of the spyder community.

Consciously or unconsciously you have been counter-steering on two wheels and constantly making minute corrections as you travel. Resist the habit of doing this on the Spyder... if you do, the Spyder will feel squirrelly. As others have stated try to take the tension out of your arms and hands and just guide your new machine. It will reward you by tracking straight and true.

For the first few hundred miles it helps to pretend you have a small bird under each hand.... try not to crush them. The absence of a front brake handle throws some folks for a loop but that pedal close to your right foot has all the stopping power you'll need and applies braking to all three wheels not just two.... just don't ride the pedal.

Enjoy!

 

[NancysToy]

I agree regarding the parking lot practice. Fifteen minutes in an empty parking lot running through the skills section exercises in the owners manual will give you a pretty good idea of what the Spyder does and how it reacts. It will also get you used to the beast. I'd also try to avoid the freeways on the way home if you can. You know the basics from your two-wheel experience. It's just a matter of learning the controls and differences and getting used to the new ride. If you have ridden ATVs or snowmobiles it will come easily. Godspeed!

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

First of all, give yourself plenty of time to get it home. You do not want to be fighting the clock on your first time out.

I also agree with the suggestion of riding around in a parking lot. Look for a mall or large school lot. Today I sold my Goldwing 1800 to a guy moving up from a 1500. The first thing I did was lead him to the local high school parking lot where he spent about 10 minutes getting used to the bike. And this was moving from one 2 wheel to another 2 wheel!

Ride around on residential streets, or back streets, where traffic is light, and then the secondary highways for awhile on your way home. Only you can know when you really have a good enough feel of the bike before you're comfortable moving to the Interstate.

As has been said, if you have experience riding an ATV you'll be OK. The Spyder is a lot more riding an ATV than a 2 wheeler.

 

[ulflyer]

If the interstate is your only choice, then, by all means, have an experience rider ride it for you. All of the above is good advice, and you may be a quick learner, but I'm one of those old timers whose brain took 3000 miles to become reprogrammed. And it took me awhile to get comfortable enough to hit the interstate.

 

[Jester]

All of these new friends are giving you excellent advice. Another thought to remember is that it is really more like ryding a small very open automobile with handle bars. Very sensitive and very responsive. Have fun!:yes:

 

[tankguy]

Your first ride

will be AWSOME!! Listen to these guys :thumbup:. They have the real dope and know what they are talking about :bowdown:. As for how easy is it to drive? We bought our 2012 last Sept from Lifestyles Honda in MT. Vernon, Washington and my wife (who says that she's not too smart in the first place)(and had never even been on a cycle before in her life) drove it home. Home was 75 miles away through two towns on rural roads and a 15 mile stretch of freeway. The sun set and it started to rain so she went through most everything at once. Afterwards, she say's that she couldn't get the smile off her face for two days.


Gary