She's here!!!!!

[jenmom22]

She's here!!!!!!

Kelley and Ken brought the Spyder to the house (I think they enjoyed our hill). After signing all the paperwork and giving them the down payment we agreed upon, they left (storms are a brewing here). I started her up, and drove up the road and back. OMG! She is AWESOME!!!!

I plan on riding up the hills around the house and getting used to her (I already love her).

I do have a couple of questions.
a) She has 1.9 miles on her now clap, and when I turned her off, the exhaust pipe was smoking, her middle is HOT and she smells hot. I mean really hot. Normal, right?

b) One of the sides, where the panels are - they are very flexible. That's normal, right?

c) How much should I ride her tomorrow - breaking in period (for both of us).

Thanks! Will post pictures tomorrow. I named her Charolette (yea, I name all my stuff...).


:2excited:
:f_spider:

 

[spydee owner]

the stock pipe has a built in catalytic converter so it will most likely be hotter. Drive it like you own it. Worst thing to do is baby it. Flexible panels are normal.

 

[mvengineer]

:2thumbs:welcome:clap::2thumbs:

 

[Eraser]

the stock pipe has a built in catalytic converter so it will most likely be hotter. Drive it like you own it. Worst thing to do is baby it. Flexible panels are normal.

:agree: and:congrats:andwelcome

 

[fastfraser]

:congrats: I would read the manual that comes with the bike and follow there break in instructions until the first service and then ride it like you stole it .

 

[stormtrooper]

:congrats: welcome hyea: :yes: Have fun with your new toy.

 

[SpyderGirl]

:congrats: and welcome

Enjoy the ride!!! :2thumbs:

 

[Raptor]

welcome I know in my case I did not baby either one. One thing I did NOT do was rev it past 6000 rpm for the first 500 miles. Nor did I keep the engine at the same speed for any length of time. I kind of flexed the band and slowly worked the engine in. After 500 I started to ratchet it up a little bit at a time untill the 600 mile mark at which point the first service was done, fresh oil and check-over etc. After that,my man, it was on! This worked well for me.

Flexible panels are absolutely normal. You'll hear the word "tupperwear" used alot! That still makes me laugh!

Watch how hot it gets though. I mean there is hot and then there is HOT! And for mileage, I don't think there is any real limit. Enjoy the ride and have a blast!

 

[jenmom22]

Thanks!!!!

About to break open the manual and get to reading. Then tomorrow, I'll be ready to go have some fun!

 

[PCBeachBum]

:congrats: and welcome and have a GRRRRrrrrrrreat time Rydin.:clap:

 

[MoonChaser213]

Congrats and evjoy. I LOVE my Spyder:spyder:

 

[LDFIREWORKS]

:congrats:welcomehyea:

 

[wvsquirrel]

Congrats and enjoy

 

[SpyderWolf]

:congrats:

I hope you are having a great time getting used to the way your new Spyder handles.

I have ridden mine like I stole since the test ryde on it, so I am probably not a good example to follow. Then again, I haven't had any major problems with mine either.

 

[jenmom22]

Thanks all! Now, some new questions...

Thank you to all, I appreciate this forum so much!

Now, that I have ridden her around (15 miles today, not bad), I have some 'new' questions. I am hoping this helps the other newbies as well.

1) The area I live in is very hilly, with twists and curves. This is cool (especially with my old bike), but it lends itself to some questions. When I ride, it's been mostly in 1st gear and 2nd - 1st around some of the curves/twists, and 2nd during the 'straight' areas between curves. I just can't go faster than 20-25 around this area (even the speed limits are 15 and 25). On some of the straight ways, I can get going fast enough to move her into 3rd gear, but she pops right back to 2nd, as I have to slow down enough to make the next turn.
a) Is this hard on her? To keep her in 1st and 2nd so much?
b) At the lower gears, I really hear a whine, like brakes/engine going nowhere fast. Is this normal?
c) Once or twice this evening, on the longer downhill runs, when I had to brake (downhill and curving), she clunked. Normal?

2. This morning, I went down the front hill (it is very very steep with a sharp curve at the bottom). I ran into something I have never felt before. I am hoping someone can help -- going downhill, I brake, let it go and brake again when it gets above 10 or so (limit says 15, but it's STEEP). The bike bucked, like she didn't like the braking. When I hit the curve, I was in control (scared, but in control), and when I came out of the curve, started to give her gas. The whole bike bucked, and it was as if the throttle stuck - we're talking about 2,000 rpm up to 4,000 or higher. It was all I could to keep her straight and slam down the brake until she went back to 1st gear. Whew. What happened? What did I do wrong going down this ghastly hill?:yikes:

I have a picture of the hill in my 'album,' (and I think I successfully put a thumbnail here) although the picture does not do it justice. It's evil, this hill.
:gaah:

 

[SpyderWolf]

Thank you to all, I appreciate this forum so much!

Now, that I have ridden her around (15 miles today, not bad), I have some 'new' questions. I am hoping this helps the other newbies as well.

1) The area I live in is very hilly, with twists and curves. This is cool (especially with my old bike), but it lends itself to some questions. When I ride, it's been mostly in 1st gear and 2nd - 1st around some of the curves/twists, and 2nd during the 'straight' areas between curves. I just can't go faster than 20-25 around this area (even the speed limits are 15 and 25). On some of the straight ways, I can get going fast enough to move her into 3rd gear, but she pops right back to 2nd, as I have to slow down enough to make the next turn.
a) Is this hard on her? To keep her in 1st and 2nd so much?
b) At the lower gears, I really hear a whine, like brakes/engine going nowhere fast. Is this normal?
c) Once or twice this evening, on the longer downhill runs, when I had to brake (downhill and curving), she clunked. Normal?

2. This morning, I went down the front hill (it is very very steep with a sharp curve at the bottom). I ran into something I have never felt before. I am hoping someone can help -- going downhill, I brake, let it go and brake again when it gets above 10 or so (limit says 15, but it's STEEP). The bike bucked, like she didn't like the braking. When I hit the curve, I was in control (scared, but in control), and when I came out of the curve, started to give her gas. The whole bike bucked, and it was as if the throttle stuck - we're talking about 2,000 rpm up to 4,000 or higher. It was all I could to keep her straight and slam down the brake until she went back to 1st gear. Whew. What happened? What did I do wrong going down this ghastly hill?:yikes:

I have a picture of the hill in my 'album,' (and I think I successfully put a thumbnail here) although the picture does not do it justice. It's evil, this hill.
:gaah:

I will try to answer some of your questions, and am sure others will chime in with some insight as well.

1) Congrats on living in an area that sounds like it will be great fun ryding in.
1 a) Running in 1st and 2nd gear is not going to hurt anything, and in this case you really don't have a choice. When running The Dragon at SitS, where the speed limit is 30, I ran over the limit the entire way and never went above 2nd gear.

1 b) I believe many people have heard a whining noise from their Spyders at one time or another. I think most contribute it to the belt drive. I know mine does basically the same type of thing and I haven't had any major problems with it in 14,000 miles.

1 c) It will always clunk when downshifting into 1st gear. Sometimes may be a little more noticeable than others though. Perfectly normal.

2) Welcome to the world of Anti-lock brakes and the Vehicle Stability System, otherwise known as the Nanny. If you attempt to keep the brake pedal depressed while descending a steep hill, you will feel the brake system fighting back against you in order to keep the Spyder from sliding. The engine may also begin j-braking at this point and both factors together will make the Spyder seem like it is bucking.

When you got to the bottom of the hill and gave it more throttle. chances are your rear wheel was more than 5 degrees off center and the Nanny was j-braking the engine again in an attempt to keep traction to the rear wheel. Anyone who pushes their Spyder hard through the twisties should be familiar with this happening.

The major thing is you did not do anything wrong. This is a totally different machine than what you have ever been on before, and it is going to take some time to get used to how it performs. The more familiar you become with it, the more comfortable you will get, and you learn when to expect the Nanny to kick in and help keep you out of trouble.

Have fun getting used to a brand new ryding experience, the fun has just begun. :thumbup:

 

[jenmom22]

cool, thanks!!

Thank you so much! You answered every single question, and I feel so much better.

I think a couple more days of playing on the back roads, I'll feel better about taking her out on the busier roads.

I live in the hill country of Texas. My road (if I take the evil hill) butts right up against Highway 16 (where it is two lanes, so I'm afraid of getting run over). The other direction is about 7 miles out of the way, but empties onto Park Road 37, very twisty, but that empties out onto Highway 16, six miles down the road, where it four lanes. I know if I can manage the twisty part of 37, I can stay in the far right lane of 16. I've ridden that part before - the speed limit there is 65, but I can build my speed in the right lane without someone running over me. With experience, I'll gain speed.

Thanks again. I so love this forum, and all my Spyder family

 

[NancysToy]

SpyderWolf's answers were right on the money. I hope they relieved your mind. A couple of suggestions, to put you at ease with your Spyder, come to mind. First, if there is an empty parking lot or smooth field in your area, read the skills course in your manual, set out some soccer cones or tennis balls cut in half, and practice the skills until you are comfortable with them. It really does help. My second suggestion is to relax! The Spyder does best when handled gently, with a light grip on the bars. Also, learn to shift your weight by leaning into the turns. Think of it as trying to kiss your hand on the inside of the turn. You will corner much faster as you develop this skill, and feel less like you are being thrown off. Last of all, don't worry about the sound like you are going nowhere fast. The Spyder prefers higher rpm, and is happiest above 5,000 rpm. This will sound awful, at first, but it will not hurt the engine. Stick to the lower gears instead of shifting so often, and you'll have less to worry about. Most of all...Enjoy the Ryde!

 

[SpyderWolf]

Glad to help. I also agree with Scotty about finding a good place to practice before taking it out at highway speeds. It would be much better to be safe than sorry. :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

Nancy is right; take some small steps at first and take the time to practice and learn the skills that you'll need.
In the meantime... :2thumbs: and :congrats:and welcome