SM5 or SE5

[Questions]

Hello

Read quite a few negative remarks on the SE5 here in the forum. So I am asking for suggestion as to which one to buy. I am a new rider with no experience on a bike so the SE5 will be more easy for me, but don't really want to be going to the dealer every 600 miles. Any insight will be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Rando]

If I had to do it again, I would get the SE5. Not all owners are having issues. Get one and ride it like you stole it!

 

[SpyderByter]

IMO, a clutch always gives you more control, car or bike.

On the Spyder, it is nice to be able to just pull in the clutch and coast to a stoplight, rather than having the machine downshift for you. Also you will find more control going around corners. With the auto, your only option is to apply throttle or let off, which can be jerky. A clutch will allow you to cluth the power in thru the corner. Try both at the dealer, thats what I did before I bought. I never had an auto bike, and was not impressed with the feel of it.

The Spyder is a great machine to learn a clutch on if you never had a manual bike, because even if you mess up and stall, you wont tip.


Good luck

 

[Firefly]

Hello

Read quite a few negative remarks on the SE5 here in the forum. So I am asking for suggestion as to which one to buy. I am a new rider with no experience on a bike so the SE5 will be more easy for me, but don't really want to be going to the dealer every 600 miles. Any insight will be appreciated. Thanks

A few questions:

Are you very mechanicaly inclined?

I find mechanicaly inclined people tend to take to using a clutch fairly easy.

Have you driven a stick shift car?

Same principal - helps if you are profecient on a stick shift car.

Are you male or female?

Men tend to take to using the clutch a bit easier than the ladies do (no offense ladies!), and usually have ample hand strength for the clutch.

Some people find using a clutch to be tiring or a pain - I actually like shifting. To me it's just natural, of course I've been riding bikes since I was 12.

The majority of SE5 owners are not having big problems, but there does seem to be issues that are unique to the SE5 as it has more complex shifting mechanisms.

To me it wouldn't be worth the extra money and the possible troubles with the auto-shift.

Whatever you do - get the BEST extended warranty so you're covered!

Good luck!

 

[DynamoBT]

In the short time I've ridden a Spyder I loved the SM5 I took on the test ride. In the even shorter time I rode the SE5, I hated it.

I agree that if you want to learn the SM5 would be very straight forward. In the end I don't think you can go wrong with whatever you feel most comfortable with. Ride both. You choose.

 

[czdaryle]

This is my second year with the spyder and my first bike. I was a little nervous with the clutch but it is super easy and makes it a lot more fun to ride. I would suggest the manual, nothing like going threw all the gears:2thumbs:

 

[SpyderByter]

A few questions:

Are you male or female?

Men tend to take to using the clutch a bit easier than the ladies do (no offense ladies!), and usually have ample hand strength for the clutch.

Some people find using a clutch to be tiring or a pain - I actually like shifting. To me it's just natural, of course I've been riding bikes since I was 12.

The majority of SE5 owners are not having big problems, but there does seem to be issues that are unique to the SE5 as it has more complex shifting mechanisms.

To me it wouldn't be worth the extra money and the possible troubles with the auto-shift.

Whatever you do - get the BEST extended warranty so you're covered!

Good luck!

hoo boy, you are walking on dangerous ground there with the female using the clutch remark! The last guy who made a comment like that got flamed real bad. (I think it was Road Dog and his woman's shopping club remark) I recently rode with a petite young lady who drives a manual, and I would not want to take her on head to head. She can handle the bike, and got a real need 4 speed. Good luck buddy, I can't wait to read the replies.....

That being said, hydro clutches dont require too much strength, and if they can turn the Spyder, I don't see a problem pulling the clutch unless it a an issue of smaller hands. Thats where most people find the clutching problem and a piazzo (sp) lever helps.

Good advice on the warranty, no matter if you choose the SM or SE, both have some complicated and expensive electronics. I also agree, why spend the extra for an auto unless you really feel you need it. I think it is an extra grand, and to me you give up control.

 

[Cundiffla]

I have the SE5, I think its the greatest machine. I orignally bought the SE5 thinking my wife would get hers Motorcycle License, she states after I got "no it is your Toy".

After seeing a few people with the SM5 and compared the milage and the rear wheel treads seems on the SM5 has more wear then mine, now I compared with three different SM5 with the about same amount of miles which now I have a little over 6200 miles on my a friend SM5 has 5900 miles and I did see quite a difference.

He stated he like to burn rubber every now and then. The SE5 is almost impossible to burn rubber. I only burned rubber once with a little help "sand" on the rode. I have no idea how much the rear tire cost "YET" and will hesitate looking forward to that day. Something you might want to look into.

I wouldn't trade mine for the world and yes I do ride my every chance I get! no matter which one you get you'll have a blast with either one :2thumbs: !!!!!

-Larry :spyder:

 

[Capt John]

I had never owned a MC. I had Honda 3 wheelers with a centrifical (auto)clutch. I got the SM5. The salesman told me this dealership would not sell a SE5 until BRP had all the bugs worked out. I have since learned this dealership did sell one. The service tech told me when it was sold. He was glad it went out of state. No problems so far with my Spyder. I right at 3000 miles and I loved every one of them.

 

[aka1004]

i do own a se5
i used to ride 2 wheeler
i chose se5 over sm5 for convenience over little more fun
i did not wanted to deal with clutch and i am glad i got a se5
when i come to a stop at a light i dont have to hold on to clutch or leave it in neutral and fumble to put it in gear when the light changes and i am not paying attention. i just leave it 1st and when light changes i just go.
se5 does not mess up my shoes neither
i take corners very hard and i can easily change gear just as i enter the turn, probably quicker than a sm5.

now this issue is just a personal preference and as far as problem with se5, i know you are looking to get a used 08 so when you find one ask the seller if he had tranny problem and if you can check with brp. meet him at a dealer they can tell you whether that spyder had a tranny issue as all service is recorded.

 

[bone crusher]

Oh, come on, let's have fun here with this topic (oh boy)...

Get the SM5...everyone knows that manual transmissions of any kind keep you more in touch with the machine...more responsive and more fun...

And, at this time, the SM5s do have less problems, although I expect within a year or two the repair records will get closer...there's more to go wrong with a SE5 at this time...period...sure, not everyone is having problems, but let the dealerships clarify the repair record with you. I'm sure BRP will get it better soon...they can't afford not to.

They're both great but part of the joy of a motorcycle (even with 3 wheels) is to have the ability to hit the clutch and pop the gears...be one with the machine...nothing beats the sharp acceleration that requires the 'perfect' timing between hand and foot!

Either way you go, you'll have a blast...as everyone here knows, I prefer the SM5...as of now, more time on the road and less in the shop...

Oh, and get Millennium Yellow...it's faster...hehe!


Oh yeah, get the BEST warranty when you buy the bike, whichever one you get...cheaper when you initially purchase the bike...

 

[Dudley]

Having ridden motorcycles since 1966, I was ready for the ease of the SE5. I tested both the SE and SM. Drove the SM about 100 miles and the SE about 150 miles. I find that either one shifts well. After a little time with the SE5 (7300 miles), I think that I can shift faster than any SM up or down. It is a lot easier to shift when all it takes is either your finger or your thumb. When up-shifting, just keep opening your throttle as you shift. One operation only. No need to pull the clutch, close your throttle, shift with your toe, and then open the throttle again. When going into a curve, pull up the shifter any time you want a lower gear with your finger, no need to do anything else. No clutch, no toe action, no unnecessary throttle action. Couldn't ask for anything easier. My wife, having only ridden sitting behind me over the years took to handling the Spyder with no problems. No, she is not ready to go alone yet, but she is learning. We have had no issues with ours. Got the transmission and parking brake "fix" because they were free. Transmission got better, parking brake worse. I "fixed" the parking brake myself afterwards. Now works flawlessly. Whatever choice you make, I believe you will be a happy Spyder ryder!

 

[jimclarkf1]

Sm5

I aways enjoyed the clutch, and I drive a package car for UPS, I never basicaly rode on, or drove a bike before, last Sept. I bought my Sm5 on ebay, never had a dealer in Omaha yet, I was scared, but it keeps getting more easy, but Iam sure if you get a Se5, without problems you will enjoy it. Just get use to a lot of people looking and asking you questions:yikes:

 

[jeuchler]

...When up-shifting, just keep opening your throttle as you shift. One operation only. No need to pull the clutch, close your throttle, shift with your toe, and then open the throttle again....

Ha!

You remind me of when my father bought his first automatic transmission car in 1970, and he would brake with his left foot. When I asked him why he did that way, he had replied, "Oh, it's so much trouble your way: lift your right foot, move it all the way over to the brake pedal, now push it back down...besides, I can save 1/20 of a second braking or pulling away from a stop light." :thumbup:

 

[Degaman]

He stated he like to burn rubber every now and then. The SE5 is almost impossible to burn rubber. I only burned rubber once with a little help "sand" on the rode. I have no idea how much the rear tire cost "YET" and will hesitate looking forward to that day. Something you might want to look into.

-Larry :spyder:

You might want to have your machine checked out. I have smoked the rear almost all the way through first and then some in second with my SE5.

Now that the GPS replacement seems to have cured my shifting problems, I don't see any advantage of a manual clutch (except to save some dinero).

 

[Magic Man]

You might want to have your machine checked out. I have smoked the rear almost all the way through first and then some in second with my SE5.

Our SE5 will smoke the rear tire so easy, it's almost hard not to do it at every light.:yes:

Of course that's only what I have heard, as I would never do anything like that myself. :shocked: LOL

MM

 

[NancysToy]

As you can see, you asked a very controversial question. In the end, you have to make this decision for yourself. My wife had to do the same. She had the advantage of having a stick shift in her 63 Falcon convertible, so knew about manual transmissions. Her only bike experience was with an auto clutch, however. In addition, she is small, with tiny, weak hands. We had read one early review that said the Spyder clutch was vacuum assisted. I don't know if that's true, but it certainly is much easier to pull with the engine running. If you try it at the dealer, have them start the engine before you decide it is too stiff. My wife did exactly that (winter and we couldn't take a demo ride), and she decided to go manual. She bought one of those hand exercizer levers at the sporting goods store, and worked on her grip for a while before her MSF course. Took the course on a standard motorcycle. They spend a lot of time working on getting a feel for the clutch friction point. The Spyder operator's manual has training exercises that do the same, and she did her fair share of parking lot time before hitting the road. Don't be intimidated by the clutch. Most people can handle it with just a little practice. Just try both models and make the choice that suits you best.
-Scotty

 

[Lamonster]

I think it's the luck of the draw on the SE5's.:dontknow: I love my SM5 but if they would have had a SE back when I ordered mine that's what I would have bought. My Boss Hoss was a auto and my KFX700 is a auto and once you get use to riding a auto you realize how nice it is especially when you're stuck in traffic.:doorag: Either way I think you'll love the Spyder.

 

[SpyderCrazy]

My husband and I both have burned rubber numerous times on our SE-5's. We love our SE-5's.

I would suggest you get the SE-5. My husband has almost 5800 miles on his. I have about 4700 on mine. The only thing we have had to have fixed/adjusted on ours so far has been the parking brake.

If we had to do it over again, we would still buy SE-5's.

:2thumbs:

 

[captainryder]

I don't know if it's lack of buyers or BRP's subtle way to tell us that they want the SE5 to be the main model. But here in Kansas City, there are few, new SM5 available, and all their showrooms have all colors of SE5.

And Moon Silver is faster, especially like last Friday night when the moon was full..... really fast then !:2thumbs: