Pete Denzer
New member
62 year-old 750,000-mile two-wheel refugee with 85,000 miles of sidecar travel here. Just turned four digits on my 2009 SE5 odometer, so I know y'all are DYING to read my impressions.
First, my unit has had no problems whatsoever, though it is somewhat idosyncratic. Took some getting used to, despite my experience on sidehacks.
Having no handbrake lever was my biggest adjustment, and the fact that I am used to only lightly using the footbrake. What I thought was lame brakes was actually me not standing on the pedal hard enough -- it does require a fair amount of effort. Like others, I would love to see the addition of a handbrake to also operate all three brakes.
Been averaging low-30's mpg despite agressive driving on backroads.
Low beam lights useless, high beam not to bad. Leery of fog lights as many folks seem to experience electrical gremlins after installing.
Options include Hindle muffler, Evolucion air filter, F-1 windscreen, Givi rack with 45-liter Givi Monolock topbox I've had for years.
Spyder is getting more comfortable as I get into physical shape driving it -- operating it, like a sidecar, is much more pysical effort than a two-wheeler. I have been somewhat deconditioned over the past couple of years due to a bad sidecar accident in which my left leg and foot was crushed by an oncoming car, leaving me minus left great toe and left pinky finger. That, two unsuccessful surgeries on left rotator cuff and the early effects of Parkinson's Disease, make riding a two-wheeler kinda risky, and I really can't afford to fall on my left leg as I just barely escaped amputation the last time. Gettin' old ain't for sissies. But I am getting back into shape lifting light weights, doing pushups, walking the dogs and riding the hell out of the Spyder. Knees and hips get sore, but less so than at first. Highway pegs and/or seat change may eventually be in order.
Some observations: Shifting is smoother if you trust the computers upshifting, not backing off the throttle and speedshifting instead. Manual downshifts are the reverse, just back off and let your throttle hand play dumb. The Spyder is definitely set up for an inexperienced biker.
Spyder at first feels a little tippy, making rider want to lean body into turns. As (over)confidence develops, I find myself leaning less; I suppose stiffening shock preload up front might help, as would addition of heavier swaybar, but I do enjoy the comfy ride on the brutal WV backroads I drive.
The F-1 windshield I got during Marcel July's Superbowl sale needed a little work with a heat gun to fit and appear symmetrical, but it does work well, goes a long way to reducing buffeting and wind noise experienced with the OEM screen. Managed to easily register 100 mph on a slightly uphill stretch of backroad despite added frontal area, maybe the Lexan is more aerodynamic than my 5'-7" body. F-1 also provides good protection in medium-strength rain, as do the Spyder's lower bodyparts.
Hindle muffler was installed with battery disconnected and 15-minute idle. Noise level initially seems REALLY loud, but that is usually my first reaction to aftermarket pipes, seems moderately loud now, produces a raspy deep snarl akin to a deepvoiced chainsmoking senior yelling at the whippersnappers on his lawn. Let's face it, a red Spyder will visually make itself evident to numb cagers and the local constabulary about as much as loud pipes (which don't save lives). The Hindle seems to produce a little more power midrange and top-end, but runs more roughly than stock and transitions at low rpms not as well. Might give another mile or two to the gallon, but seems to be running a tad lean.
The Givi rack is a pain in the butt to install, requiring removal of five body panels and some filing and grinding on the rack to allow tailpiece to fit. Rack also requires cutting holes in tailpiece, the template provided leaves holes too big which must be further enlarged to fit rack; these holes I covered with 5/8" ID rubber washers and silicone household glue. The rack is sturdy as it mounts on the frame, not the plastic tailpiece, and it does look like an OEM feature as the textured finish on the rack and box match the unpainted plastic on the Spyder. I like the Givi box as it can be securely locked, and then unlocked and carried like a suitcase. With it and the front trunk, I can carry as much as a lot of baggers.
I am runnining 20 lbs in the front tires and 30 in the rear, and they have not lost a pound in 1000 miles, a surprise after years of slow leaking tubed and tubeless bike tires. I am carrying a small electric air compressor and tubeless tire plug kit in the front trunk, no jack needed.
This will be my last motorcycle. I appreciate still being able to get bugsplattered, rainwet, summersweaty and winterfrozen despite my disabilities. Also, wife will once again ride behind me, really enjoyed it after Mexican dinner out a a couple a Margueritas; Spooked, she sold her own Ninja after my accident. Now she has expressed interest in riding the Spyder herself. "Just in case you get too spastic," she says. Yeah.
First, my unit has had no problems whatsoever, though it is somewhat idosyncratic. Took some getting used to, despite my experience on sidehacks.
Having no handbrake lever was my biggest adjustment, and the fact that I am used to only lightly using the footbrake. What I thought was lame brakes was actually me not standing on the pedal hard enough -- it does require a fair amount of effort. Like others, I would love to see the addition of a handbrake to also operate all three brakes.
Been averaging low-30's mpg despite agressive driving on backroads.
Low beam lights useless, high beam not to bad. Leery of fog lights as many folks seem to experience electrical gremlins after installing.
Options include Hindle muffler, Evolucion air filter, F-1 windscreen, Givi rack with 45-liter Givi Monolock topbox I've had for years.
Spyder is getting more comfortable as I get into physical shape driving it -- operating it, like a sidecar, is much more pysical effort than a two-wheeler. I have been somewhat deconditioned over the past couple of years due to a bad sidecar accident in which my left leg and foot was crushed by an oncoming car, leaving me minus left great toe and left pinky finger. That, two unsuccessful surgeries on left rotator cuff and the early effects of Parkinson's Disease, make riding a two-wheeler kinda risky, and I really can't afford to fall on my left leg as I just barely escaped amputation the last time. Gettin' old ain't for sissies. But I am getting back into shape lifting light weights, doing pushups, walking the dogs and riding the hell out of the Spyder. Knees and hips get sore, but less so than at first. Highway pegs and/or seat change may eventually be in order.
Some observations: Shifting is smoother if you trust the computers upshifting, not backing off the throttle and speedshifting instead. Manual downshifts are the reverse, just back off and let your throttle hand play dumb. The Spyder is definitely set up for an inexperienced biker.
Spyder at first feels a little tippy, making rider want to lean body into turns. As (over)confidence develops, I find myself leaning less; I suppose stiffening shock preload up front might help, as would addition of heavier swaybar, but I do enjoy the comfy ride on the brutal WV backroads I drive.
The F-1 windshield I got during Marcel July's Superbowl sale needed a little work with a heat gun to fit and appear symmetrical, but it does work well, goes a long way to reducing buffeting and wind noise experienced with the OEM screen. Managed to easily register 100 mph on a slightly uphill stretch of backroad despite added frontal area, maybe the Lexan is more aerodynamic than my 5'-7" body. F-1 also provides good protection in medium-strength rain, as do the Spyder's lower bodyparts.
Hindle muffler was installed with battery disconnected and 15-minute idle. Noise level initially seems REALLY loud, but that is usually my first reaction to aftermarket pipes, seems moderately loud now, produces a raspy deep snarl akin to a deepvoiced chainsmoking senior yelling at the whippersnappers on his lawn. Let's face it, a red Spyder will visually make itself evident to numb cagers and the local constabulary about as much as loud pipes (which don't save lives). The Hindle seems to produce a little more power midrange and top-end, but runs more roughly than stock and transitions at low rpms not as well. Might give another mile or two to the gallon, but seems to be running a tad lean.
The Givi rack is a pain in the butt to install, requiring removal of five body panels and some filing and grinding on the rack to allow tailpiece to fit. Rack also requires cutting holes in tailpiece, the template provided leaves holes too big which must be further enlarged to fit rack; these holes I covered with 5/8" ID rubber washers and silicone household glue. The rack is sturdy as it mounts on the frame, not the plastic tailpiece, and it does look like an OEM feature as the textured finish on the rack and box match the unpainted plastic on the Spyder. I like the Givi box as it can be securely locked, and then unlocked and carried like a suitcase. With it and the front trunk, I can carry as much as a lot of baggers.
I am runnining 20 lbs in the front tires and 30 in the rear, and they have not lost a pound in 1000 miles, a surprise after years of slow leaking tubed and tubeless bike tires. I am carrying a small electric air compressor and tubeless tire plug kit in the front trunk, no jack needed.
This will be my last motorcycle. I appreciate still being able to get bugsplattered, rainwet, summersweaty and winterfrozen despite my disabilities. Also, wife will once again ride behind me, really enjoyed it after Mexican dinner out a a couple a Margueritas; Spooked, she sold her own Ninja after my accident. Now she has expressed interest in riding the Spyder herself. "Just in case you get too spastic," she says. Yeah.
