RANTING OF A SPYDER RIDER

[tatt2r]

just got to work here in new hampshire it was a balmy 15 degrees when i left the house ... and all though i can take a short cut through some back roads i took the long way on the highway ... after owning this machine for almost 3 years and have stocked up about 30000 miles and have ridden the whole coastline from maine to florida with a couple stops in tenn.... i still get a rush getting on highway watching speedo go from 0-60 then beyond so fast that windchill factory i couldnt determine and even after you stop your skin stays cold for at least an hour .... i still cant believe how much fun it is to drive this thing .... i walk into dunkin donuts this morning to grab a 12 pack of sinkers for me and the boys and the girl asks me "are you crazy?" it's freezing out there and i reply "you wouldn't understand unless you have ridden one" the power, handling, still the head-turn factor .... beats out the cold..... and to me if it's -0 or 25 it still doesnt matter .... cold is cold .... makes you feel alive .... and i know that i am awake when i get to work.... in closing i just thought i would pass this on to those of this forum that dont yet own a spyder ... when i was a mechanic i got to drive a lot of different vehicles ... and not one of them compares to the over all fun of the can am spyder ....so buy one ...you wont be disappointed ..... :2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:

 

[Lamonster]

... i walk into dunkin donuts this morning to grab a 12 pack of sinkers for me and the boys and the girl asks me "are you crazy?" it's freezing out there

You would think one look at your face would have answered that question for her.

You and Dee are both hardcore riders for sure. Glad you're still getting your kicks on the Spyder Bro. :2thumbs:

 

[BajaRon]

just got to work here in new hampshire it was a balmy 15 degrees when i left the house ... and all though i can take a short cut through some back roads i took the long way on the highway ... after owning this machine for almost 3 years and have stocked up about 30000 miles and have ridden the whole coastline from maine to florida with a couple stops in tenn.... i still get a rush getting on highway watching speedo go from 0-60 then beyond so fast that windchill factory i couldnt determine and even after you stop your skin stays cold for at least an hour .... i still cant believe how much fun it is to drive this thing .... i walk into dunkin donuts this morning to grab a 12 pack of sinkers for me and the boys and the girl asks me "are you crazy?" it's freezing out there and i reply "you wouldn't understand unless you have ridden one" the power, handling, still the head-turn factor .... beats out the cold..... and to me if it's -0 or 25 it still doesnt matter .... cold is cold .... makes you feel alive .... and i know that i am awake when i get to work.... in closing i just thought i would pass this on to those of this forum that dont yet own a spyder ... when i was a mechanic i got to drive a lot of different vehicles ... and not one of them compares to the over all fun of the can am spyder ....so buy one ...you wont be disappointed ..... :2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:

Love your rant, and though I don't necessarily share your fondness for the cold, I can concurr on everything else! :thumbup:

 

[Kjen]

Loved the write up Jamie, I was afraid the Spyder would become a fad type of thing. We still love ours and fad or not it's the only way we will ride until we pack it all in. Now, I'm not looking to ride in your type of weather, but different strokes and all that. Pour some of your coffee in your system and live in.
Happy holidays to you and Dee.

 

[Firefly]

:congrats: On staying on the bike during the winter. I rode my spyder every month this year -- including last week when it was around 20 degrees. I went out to run some errands and rode for about an hour. I actually got too hot while riding as I really layered up. Grip heaters and bar muffs kept hands nice and toasty.

Only thing I did not like is the cleanup afterwords. Salt salt salt!

How do you regular winter riders deal with the salt?

I'd like to ride more in the winter- but the salt thing really bugs me to no end.

 

[groundeffect]

Jamie!! Great post my friend! Yeah!!!! I hear you, brother!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:


I've been getting the same exictement and looks while commuting and adventure riding so far this winter. Coldest we've seen so far is about 14F. Loving my spyder, all year round in Newfoundland! :thumbup::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[SpyderWolf]

:2thumbs:

That has got to be one of the best rants I have ever read. :bowdown: :firstplace:

 

[tatt2r]

:congrats: On staying on the bike during the winter. I rode my spyder every month this year -- including last week when it was around 20 degrees. I went out to run some errands and rode for about an hour. I actually got too hot while riding as I really layered up. Grip heaters and bar muffs kept hands nice and toasty.

Only thing I did not like is the cleanup afterwords. Salt salt salt!

How do you regular winter riders deal with the salt?

I'd like to ride more in the winter- but the salt thing really bugs me to no end.

i was concerned about salt but 3 new england winters later and no problems with it ...the first 2 years i stripped tupperware off to see if any damage was showing from salt and i have to say there was none .... and i am not a fanatic for keeping it clean ...

 

[3tracs]

:2thumbs:

That has got to be one of the best rants I have ever read. :bowdown: :firstplace:

I agree completely!!

 

[DynamoBT]

You cold weather ryders are truly awesome!!:clap: :bowdown:

Years of riding horses year round in indoor rings freezing my buns off have taken their toll. I just don't deal with the cold all that well any more.

You guys still ryding in the winter are tough as nails as far as I'm concerned. I admire your grit. Truly awesome!!!nojoke

 

[ARtraveler]

Way to go! Reminds me of learning to ride my first bike in 1965 in Duluth, MN. I was out there in -10 degrees one day--that was pretty cold--but I was trying to learn to shift those gears and work that clutch without killing the engine. No windshield or special riding gear. I really do appreciate all you winter warriors, who brave the cold and snow, and still ride. Now I park it when the snow and ice is on the roads--but I am one of the earliest bikers on the road when the snow clears. Cant wait until March.

 

[jnt]

Totally understand! Used to commute at well-below-freezing temps - on TWO wheels. One of the best was when entering the building I was met by the corporate attorney: "I need to let you know: It is my esteemed and professional opinion that YOU ARE NUTS!" I responded, "THANK YOU!!" "huh?" "Well, now that you know I am nuts, the next time you see me doing something a little out of line, you will respond, 'Oh, yeah, that's Taylor. He's nuts.' " So I get away with more.

Love it!!

It is about being alive. We also have been known to lay on the ice of a lake watching the sky dance. For hours. At 30-below. Yep, nuts.

 

[Raptor]

Way to go Dude! We have it pretty easy out here on the coast so I have alot of respect for you real cold weather guys. You and guys like Seth inspire me to stay in the saddle! :thumbup: So far the coldest I have been in has been 39. But With the humidity that makes it interesting for a 45 minute jaunt to work and then back. And it looks like the rain is gonna be intense out here this winter. Rain riding is interesting to say the least! But I'm not going to wuss out and get in the cage; I'm going to ride whenever I can.

Thanks for the rant. Keep 'em coming!

 

[JJW SpyderRider]

Great write up, my feelings exactly. I had ordered a pair of handbar muffs that finley came in today so that I could keep riding later this winter. The muffs were too small for my hands but I too went out for an hour long ride at 15 deg outside. What a feeling of serenity. :2thumbs:

I thought I was going to cause an accident from the gawkers. You get a lot of looks in the summer but right now, wow. Had one guy stop in the middle of the road two lanes over to get a better look as I was stopped at a light to turn.

 

[GeminiJane]

Good post, Jamie. :congrats: on not letting the crazy cold keep you from doing what you love. Have to agree on the fun factor. We always have a small stable of 8 or 9 bikes in our garage that come and go as new models come out and call to us so when I purchased the Spyder in 2008, I figured if I was lucky it would be a fun "toy" to take out a bit and see what it was like but would never be a real "ride". I'm so happy to admit I was so wrong! I still rotate bikes to keep all the batteries up through out the week, but each time it comes the Spyder's turn, I come back smiling. I haven't had any trouble with mine in the 2 years and 10,000 miles so I, too, am a happy owner who would recommend the Spyder to anyone. (Oh, wait, I did that to several people today when I was at the motorcycle shop!) hyea:

 

[rogerb]

Good post Jamie. Wish I could keep riding but arthritis and tentanitis say no. Have to work on the tentanitis so I can ride next season. It's a bitch to get old and worn-out.:dontknow:

 

[dancogan]

...How do you regular winter riders deal with the salt?

I'd like to ride more in the winter- but the salt thing really bugs me to no end.

I wash off the bike using a garden sprayer filled with cold water. It's one of those things that holds about a gallon or two of water and you pump it up by hand to build up pressure. I use cold water because I believe warm water might be more likely to activate the corrosive quality of salt.

 

[boborgera]

:dontknow:
I've ridden in salt/sand/mud/ash covered roads on two wheels for years and never had a corrosion problem, But i do wash my bikes at least twice a year whether they need it or not. :roflblack:
Seriously though i bought the Spyder to ride all winter [and i do] so when i hit a patch of salt i don't do the white knuckle thing.:yikes:
Salt washers off easy, Road rash is harder to remove.
A clean bike is a unridden bike.

 

[Raptor]

A clean bike is a unridden bike.

AMEN TO THAT, BROTHER! Riding in rain leaves quite a bit of gunk on the uderside, though. I've been hand washing the whole bike because I was a bit nervouse about taking a hose to it for fear I would hurt something.

What do you guys think about using a hose? Perhaps this should be a new thread...

 

[WackyDan]

15 degrees. You sir are a better man than I... Or you are just plain... something. :thumbup: