daveinva
New member
I got back tonight from riding down to DR Buck's for Lamont's and Harvey's (aka Spyderpops) laser alignment party. (Still going on tomorrow, if you're in VA and can handle the chill, go!: http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?60458-Lamonster-Laser-Alignment-coming-to-VA-maybe).
I ride a 2010 RSS. I never thought I had an alignment issue; I've had no drift AT ALL, in either direction. Tire wear was even, and not excessive. The bike's always felt to me like it rode straight and true, and I've never thought I had much difficulty turning in either direction. As a point of comparison, I've ridden a few demo bikes before, RS, RT *and* ST, and I never noticed any significant differences between those and my ride.
Frankly, I was wondering whether there was any point in taking my Spyder down today to get it aligned.
Especially since it's, oh, TWENTY FIVE DEGREES here today, there's fresh snow and ice on the road, and Culpeper is 70 miles from my house. Sure, I've got heated gear and a talent for masochism, but this? This has to be a sign of a mental problem. :joke:
But I took a leap of faith, in large part because folks here at Spyderlovers were raving about the alignment, and I just have to trust the smartest people on the internet, right?
Well, guess what? Not only was my RS out of alignment, it was MAJORLY out of alignment. Like, Lamont said it was one of the worst he's seen, about 2 1/2 inches worth of toe out. I imagined my front wheels splayed outward like they were propped up in doctor's stirrups. :joke:
In a jiffy, Lamont and Harvey did all the measurements and adjusted the alignment. Time to take a test ride...
I am not kidding: instantly, it was like I had a completely different Spyder. Completely. Different.
Again, I never once had a complaint about how it rode before; I never imagined I had an alignment issue. Turns out, you really don't know what you don't know!
I took it for granted before that the Spyder's steering was a bit rough, that by design you had to muscle it around a bit. Nuh-uh, that's not how it's supposed to be, how it can be.
Now, no kidding, the steering feels as responsive to me as a two-wheeler's. The handlebars on my RS move now as if they're floating on air, steering to the lightest touch of the fingers. No roughness in the steering, no muscling through turns. The Spyder not only goes straight and true on a flat road, the ride also feels significantly better, too. I noticed the improved ride immediately, even riding on the gravel driveway off of Dave's property (even bumping over rocks and snow I could immediately tell that my steering was different, before I even got to the paved road). While riding home tonight was an exercise in endurance (TWENTY FIVE DEGREES, people!!), the actual riding was an absolute joy. (Can't wait for a warm sunny day to really take the bike out for a complete shakedown in the twisties).
Bottom line: of all the money I've put into my Spyder-- and like most of you all, have I put in plenty!-- I've never got more bang for the buck than the $120 I spent today. A properly-aligned Spyder is a happy Spyder.
Thank you again to Lamont, Harvey, Dave, Doug and John for the alignment, the hosting, and the pleasant company.
And to the rest of you: you owe it to yourself to have this done. Even if you don't think you need it, remember that *I* didn't think I needed it, either. The worst that can happen is you find out you don't need it, and then you just get to enjoy your time hanging out with fellow riders. But the best that can happen... well, you may be VERY happily surprised with the result! :2thumbs:
I ride a 2010 RSS. I never thought I had an alignment issue; I've had no drift AT ALL, in either direction. Tire wear was even, and not excessive. The bike's always felt to me like it rode straight and true, and I've never thought I had much difficulty turning in either direction. As a point of comparison, I've ridden a few demo bikes before, RS, RT *and* ST, and I never noticed any significant differences between those and my ride.
Frankly, I was wondering whether there was any point in taking my Spyder down today to get it aligned.
Especially since it's, oh, TWENTY FIVE DEGREES here today, there's fresh snow and ice on the road, and Culpeper is 70 miles from my house. Sure, I've got heated gear and a talent for masochism, but this? This has to be a sign of a mental problem. :joke:
But I took a leap of faith, in large part because folks here at Spyderlovers were raving about the alignment, and I just have to trust the smartest people on the internet, right?
Well, guess what? Not only was my RS out of alignment, it was MAJORLY out of alignment. Like, Lamont said it was one of the worst he's seen, about 2 1/2 inches worth of toe out. I imagined my front wheels splayed outward like they were propped up in doctor's stirrups. :joke:
In a jiffy, Lamont and Harvey did all the measurements and adjusted the alignment. Time to take a test ride...
I am not kidding: instantly, it was like I had a completely different Spyder. Completely. Different.
Again, I never once had a complaint about how it rode before; I never imagined I had an alignment issue. Turns out, you really don't know what you don't know!
I took it for granted before that the Spyder's steering was a bit rough, that by design you had to muscle it around a bit. Nuh-uh, that's not how it's supposed to be, how it can be.
Now, no kidding, the steering feels as responsive to me as a two-wheeler's. The handlebars on my RS move now as if they're floating on air, steering to the lightest touch of the fingers. No roughness in the steering, no muscling through turns. The Spyder not only goes straight and true on a flat road, the ride also feels significantly better, too. I noticed the improved ride immediately, even riding on the gravel driveway off of Dave's property (even bumping over rocks and snow I could immediately tell that my steering was different, before I even got to the paved road). While riding home tonight was an exercise in endurance (TWENTY FIVE DEGREES, people!!), the actual riding was an absolute joy. (Can't wait for a warm sunny day to really take the bike out for a complete shakedown in the twisties).
Bottom line: of all the money I've put into my Spyder-- and like most of you all, have I put in plenty!-- I've never got more bang for the buck than the $120 I spent today. A properly-aligned Spyder is a happy Spyder.
Thank you again to Lamont, Harvey, Dave, Doug and John for the alignment, the hosting, and the pleasant company.
And to the rest of you: you owe it to yourself to have this done. Even if you don't think you need it, remember that *I* didn't think I needed it, either. The worst that can happen is you find out you don't need it, and then you just get to enjoy your time hanging out with fellow riders. But the best that can happen... well, you may be VERY happily surprised with the result! :2thumbs:
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hyea: I did not realize how my Spyder should have steered, until the alignment was done. Huge difference! I also used considerably less gas going home (3/4 gallon less in 80 miles) than I did going to the Lap. I also discovered something else. My Spyder rolls a lot easier. I was approaching a gas station where I was going to fill up. I had cruise control on and tapped the brake to release it. I was rolling without throttle, planning to turn in to the gas station . . . and almost missed the turn. My Spyder didn't slow down nearly as fast as I am accustomed . . . it just kept rolling! Thanks for setting this up, and inviting me! And when I got home, just to make the day better, all the farkles I ordered from Spyder Pops were waiting for me!
