Spyder RT vs Goldwing Trike or Harley Tri Glide

[billpowell]

I ride a wing with only 2 wheels, but my wife rides the :spyder2: and the reason I bot it back in 2010 was the safety of the design. I can replace whatever she rides, but I can't replace her, so safety was my reasoning. Weekends I ride with a bunch of 3 wheels, HD, seveal wing trikes, Spyders, and these guys all came from 2 wheels and have tested both with some votes for the Spyder and some votes for the trikes. I have ridden Gail's Spyder and I feel super safe on it compared to my wing, but I can't go to 3 wheels just yet. By the way, she enjoys the Spyder so much, I have a 2013 bronze RT on order for her.

As someone mentioned, each will vote for their own, but the Spyder seemed much safer than a trike to me.

 

[slather1]

What about the difference for the passenger. We have a Spyder RS SE5 that we bought new in 2008. It is nice and my wife does not want to trade it for a RT. I rode a GL1800 CSC trike with 6 degree triple tree last week and I liked it alot. Handled better than I thought it would in the curves. My wife was not with me so I don't know how the back of the trike compares to the back of the Spyder? To me the Spyder is good if you are driving but as a passenger you get whipped behind the front wheels and it is not as enjoyable.

 

[Blue Star]

What about the difference for the passenger. We have a Spyder RS SE5 that we bought new in 2008. It is nice and my wife does not want to trade it for a RT. I rode a GL1800 CSC trike with 6 degree triple tree last week and I liked it alot. Handled better than I thought it would in the curves. My wife was not with me so I don't know how the back of the trike compares to the back of the Spyder? To me the Spyder is good if you are driving but as a passenger you get whipped behind the front wheels and it is not as enjoyable.

In August my daughter (passenger), and I made a 1600 mile trip. Most of the time she would be texting her Mom, Sister, or friends while I drove. While I have no first hand experience in this, but I have read on here about passengers falling asleep on the Spyder before.

 

[slather1]

In a straight line, yes. I like to ride aggressively in curves and if you are my passenger riding the Dragon you will not be sleeping!

 

[wizwht]

Spyder RT vs My GoldWing Trike

I have had a spyder for 2 years. The first was an RS, but I needed to sit upright so I traded for an RT. In just a little over a year, I put 22,000 miles on my RT including a 14hr ride up to Louisville from Jacksonville, FL hauling a trailer with my electric scooter on it. For me, the Spyder doesn't have enough low end torque and I had to run premium gas to boot. The GW on the otherhand gets better gas mileage, runs on regular, runs smoother, and has a tighter turning radius. Would I use it to go on a bike ride though the hills with all the switchbacks and curves aound our house there. Deffinitly not!!!!:yikes:. Give me the RT anyday for that type of riding. I'm sorry to say, but I'll take my GW for the type of riding that I do here in Jacksonville over the RT. If I go back home, I'll borrow one of my brothers bikes to go riding in the hills

 

[Bob Denman]

If it takes a trike of some sort to get us back out into the wind; they're actually all pretty darn good! :thumbup:
(And we're entitled to have our favorites! )

For the record; I've ridden all three, plus a motor-Triked Shadow 750...
The RT: GREAT turning abilities!
The 'Wing: super smooth. It was raked out so the steering was..."Okay"
Tri-G: felt like a street brawler
The MotorTrike: meh... kind of bland and uninspriing... The steering on this one was the only one that set the bars to blurring after I put a rear tire in a pothole... :shocked: Head-shake will get your attention with this baby!
(The Tri-G and 'Wing tried to; but they were manageable!)

 

[SPYDERFUZZ]

Triiks

Before I bought my Spyder I was at HD dealer. I was talking to the sales person and he told me for the money the Spyder was the best deal over all. Ride was better on the HD but they did not handle as good as the Spyder. He said Spyder could take a curve a "lot better than a HD".:yes::yes::yes:

 

[muonwhiz]

Last year HD offered a Street Glide Trike, along with the Tri Glide. I rode it and found you had to be VERY physical with it. Pushing and pulling in cornering and turns. On straight roads, if there were any ruts, I was constantly fighting with it, it kept pulling in the direction of the rut. But, because I have always rode HD's, thats the direction I wanted to go. However, I thought to myself that I would be physically exhausted after riding it long distances. My husband talked me into trying the Spyder, since we had seen it on TV so I did. End of story. With the power steering and semi auto transmission, no comparison in ease of cornering, FOR ME. Thus, I am riding to to work every day on my RT to the HD dealership.

Yes! I agree with all above. I think ladies trying out these vehicles will prefer the spyder. I had a girlfriend with a very nice GW trike, which I drove before trying the spyder. As she said, she didn't like to ride it much because it beat up her upper body trying to steer it. For me, also quite a bit more work with the GW trike. I don't have 20" biceps like some who have been posting here- so maybe OK for those that do. I see lots of ladies driving spyders- and none driving harley or GW trikes. For me alot easier to steer with 2 wheels in front!

 

[Can-Am Poogs]

Interesting Thread, I was at the HD dealer this morning looking.

You like what you like. And you learn to like what you get used to. Goldwing trike is not my thing. Maybe when they are factory produced as a trike I would trust owning one from new. For me it would be the HD over the Honda. The HD has more comfortable ergonomics for the passenger than the RT. No ABS on the HD trike. Something to consider. Gas tank is bigger on the HD and the mileage is better on the HD. Lets not forget you have a better set up on the transmission with the HD. The HD is one down five up, with an electric reverse. So you have the benefit of 6 forward gears instead of 5 in the Spyder. They both have their fair share of driver comforts. The HD is definitely more of a traditional motorcycle when it comes to features. When it comes to the handling, well I prefer the Spyder,, but I could get used to both. The HD is not what I like when it comes to steering. It is different trying to get that big heavy and wide bike to turn without leaning and only having a conventional motorcycle tire on the front. It is not a natural feeling for the rear of the bike to want to follow the front. It's like the rear wants to pass the front of the bike in a turn, and you better make sure you know where that inside rear tire is. Regardless fun to drive. The Spyder is more natural to handle in curves and works with the ryder, not against the driver. If money was not a concern, I would have both bikes, maybe in a couple of years. My first choice was obviously the Spyder. I love my Spyder. If they ever made a 6 forward speed, I would trade up in a second.

 

[wyliec]

I don't have 20" biceps like some who have been posting here- so maybe OK for those that do. I see lots of ladies driving spyders- and none driving harley or GW trikes. For me alot easier to steer with 2 wheels in front!

I doubt 20" biceps has anything to do with it, considering there is probably only one member on here with 20" biceps (no flab); he's the one with the shirtless avatar and also signature line pic.

 

[diesel-dawg]

If you notice my signature, I have owned all of these trikes. I really like the Spyder. Am still breaking it in but have a long trip to Nashville in September and another trip to Maryland in Oct. I just hope it does not let me down. I really like it the best of all that I have owned, and have a 5 year warranty to wear it out before I trade to another 3 wheeler.

Ken

 

[Pennyrick]

I love my Spyder. If they ever made a 6 forward speed, I would trade up in a second.

When would you use sixth gear? I move up to fifth now at around 66-70 mph. If I had a sixth gear I might try to use it once I hit 80. That doesn't make much sense to me.

You could change the transmission so that the ratios of the gears are closer if you had six to choose from but then you'd be forever shifting up and down.

The Spyder is just what it is and is fine as it is.

 

[OJ UK]

Trike-wise I only have experience of the Spyder and it didn't take too long to acclimatize. I love it!

But to add a further complication, we don't have too many HD made trikes here or for that
matter Goldwing trikes either....but there seems to be a new kid on the block!
A reverse GL1800 trike which is built by a specialist Honda dealer.
What do you think?? Kinda nice, maybe?

And here's the company making them:


http://www.colinappleyard.com/motorcycles/goldwing-centre/conversions

Another angle and another design on what is the most stable configuration. IMHO, of course.....

 

[boborgera]

If they ever made a 6 forward speed, I would trade up in a second.

Iv'e had a few bikes with 6 speeds, As a matter of fact my Tri-Glide is 6 speeds, Hardly ever use 6th, and when i do if it weren't for the 6 light i'll be looking for 7, like i did on bikes with 6 speeds and no light..
Plus unless i was going 65/70 mph's i'll always be kicking back down to 5th, Kinda of a pain in the....... ...

 

[Can-Am Poogs]

EXACTLY

When would you use sixth gear? I move up to fifth now at around 66-70 mph. If I had a sixth gear I might try to use it once I hit 80. That doesn't make much sense to me.

You could change the transmission so that the ratios of the gears are closer if you had six to choose from but then you'd be forever shifting up and down.

The Spyder is just what it is and is fine as it is.

Iv'e had a few bikes with 6 speeds, As a matter of fact my Tri-Glide is 6 speeds, Hardly ever use 6th, and when i do if it weren't for the 6 light i'll be looking for 7, like i did on bikes with 6 speeds and no light..
Plus unless i was going 65/70 mph's i'll always be kicking back down to 5th, Kinda of a pain in the....... ...

Had to do some conversions to metric. I don't disagree with either of you. I have the RTS SM5. I make that same shift to 5th as you guys around 105 to 115 kmh. Divided highway speed limit up here is 110 kmh. I will sometimes do up to 130 to 145 kmh, and I am looking for the 6 the gear to just cruise in at around that 130 to 135 kmh speed. FYI if you are going less that 130 kmh up here, everyone is flying by you. 130 kmh is the just right speed. Would like to be able to cruise at that speed with a little less rpm.

 

[Mr. White]

As said earlier, I love both machines. Yes, they are different rides. I love the torque on Punkin', strong as ten pounds of garlic. Rode 250 miles last Saturday with my group, the Hill Country Road Riders and about 100 today when I had Punkin's annual inspection. The Wing is a little harder to steer, but get on IH10W, just west of Kerrville, TX where the speed limit changes from 75 to 80, bring it up to 85 and cruise for hours...smooth riding. Hey, BR1 is smooth too, but a little busy over 80 mph. Won't sell either and enjoy both.

:spyder2:

 

[wb4lrk]

Goldwing vs H-D Tri Glide vs Spyder RT

​​Met a couple of trike riders, one rides a Goldwing and the other rides a Tri Glide, both tell me they have taken test rides on the Spyder and that the conventional trikes ride smoother and handle better. I have no reason to doubt what they tell me since I have never ridden a conventional trike. Just wonder if anyone on the forum has tried both types of trikes and can share there feedback. I was surprised to see no comparisons on youtube.

I have a 2012 Spyder RT Limited, and both a 2012 H-D Tri Glide, and a GL1500 SE Goldwing with a side car. For general riding comfort I find the Goldwing to be far superior to either the Tri Glide or the Spyder. I can't speak to riding the twisties as I have not had the Spyder or Tri Glide on something like The Dragon. The Goldwing will cruise all day at 35 miles per hour in 5th. gear, try doing that on a Tri Glide or the Spyder. Not that one would necessarily want to ride all day at 35 miles per hour but it sure is nice to be able to ride localy around town without having to constantly shift up and down through the gears. So the Goldwing is #1 in my book, the Spyder #2, and the H-D Tri Glide #3.

 

[spyder3]

Trike-wise I only have experience of the Spyder and it didn't take too long to acclimatize. I love it!

But to add a further complication, we don't have too many HD made trikes here or for that
matter Goldwing trikes either....but there seems to be a new kid on the block!
A reverse GL1800 trike which is built by a specialist Honda dealer.
What do you think?? Kinda nice, maybe?

And here's the company making them:


http://www.colinappleyard.com/motorcycles/goldwing-centre/conversions

Another angle and another design on what is the most stable configuration. IMHO, of course.....

OJ, isnt that the R18 that is made in the netherlands? Is this an UK dealer for the R18?

 

[spyder3]

Some more info on the R18(nl) or the EZS trike(uk)

There is an article on this EZS trike in Trike magazine, Issue 26, it is the cover story. I have a digital version but can't figure out how to get it on here.
PM if you would like a copy.

 

[Illinois Boy]

It is a physical impossibility for a conventional trike to handle better than a reverse trike like the Spyder. The dynamics in a turn coupled with the stance of each machine gives a great advantage to the 2 wheels forward design.

What they probably did not like about the Spyder is the instant reaction to input that they do not get on their conventional trikes. This makes the Spyder seem 'Twitchy' to the uninitiatied. And getting used to a different machine will always give the impression that things are not what they should be.

Of course rider skill and how the various versions of each trike are set up will make some difference.

As far as smoothness, that may be a more debateable aspect. Still, I'd say the Spyder will hold it's own in that area with these 2 contenders.

:agree: I agree. Solidly stated.:thumbup: