Spyder Safety

[snowtostreet]

I've been really enjoying reading everyone's great comments about the Spyder and had a great time test riding one this past weekend at my local dealership. I still have a lot of concerns about safety though. I ride a snowmobile, but I've never been one for motorcycles. The Spyder appeals to me because it's nearly impossible to lay down. "Motorcyclists are 25 times more likely experience a deadly accident on the road than those in passenger cars." WOW!

What has the communities experience been with Spyder accidents? Do they happen often? What kind of accident is it usually?

 

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the party! :thumbup:
Accidents... pps: I had one last October... I T-Boned a Subaru at an interseciton; my fault completely for not paying attention...
The Spyder took the shot like a car... I stayed upright and drove it off the road surface; even thought the dash was lit up like a christmas tree...
Accidents will always happen and there's been too many reports of folks on Spyders paying the ultimate price too...
I honestly feel that the larger frontal area of the Spyders creates a presence on the road that is pretty tough to ignore... They'll see you! :thumbup:
The brakes are awesome; these bikes just hunker down and fling your eyeballs up against the inside of your face shield!
Road surface conditions become less of an issue... it'll stay upright unless you really screw up badly! :shocked:
Or would you feel safer on one of these???

 

[AnthonyG]

Well here is the thing..... Everyone who rides, whether it be a 2 wheel or trike, is at the same risk of having an accident at some point or another. Even if you do the right things on the road it could still happen. You can not dwell on the negatives of riding the spyder and thinking that it will happen to you. I bought my spyder because i think it is the safest possible ride to get me on the road and put some wind in my face. I know that if i do not pay attention on the road i could be the one in a tight spot. But i do pay attention and i watch everything that happens around me and i think that gives me the peace of mind to ride with confidence and also to have a great time doin it. I hope this helps in your decision to get a spyder and to ride safe and have fun!

 

[ARtraveler]

Accidents can and will happen to most everyone. Some are caused by the driver, some are caused by others.

Safety gear helps, such as helmets, gloves, boots, riding pants, and jackets. Nothing is going to gaurantee you come out alive though.

RE: safety by vehicle: you are probably safest in a car or truck (cage). Three wheels like the :spyder2: are less likely to tip over compared to two wheels. In any high speed accident you are likely to be ejected from your ride.

RE: snowmobile safer than :spyder2:--I don't think so. Lots of people are killed by head ons from oncoming just over the blind hill. Others do face plants on trees or other objects because they are driving out of control. Once again, your outcome depends on a lot of factors including safety gear.

 

[Motorcycledave]

Sitting at a STOP SIGN

You don't have to be moving to have a CRASH:yikes:
I was sitting at a stop sign waiting for the traffic to go buy and out of my left eye I saw a truck heading
right at me... I had no place to go he hit me going about 35mph... totaled the bike almost destroyed me
I got to enjoy the food and room at the local hospital for a while... He was blasted DRUNK this was his
(4th) Fourth DUI made it a felony...No insurance no drivers lic. not his truck, stolen lic. plates on it.
he is still enjoying the facilities here in California they provide for convicts.....
You can get it any time moving or not. The above was June 15th, 2010
Drive/ride SAFE
Dave

 

[TimmieTheGeek]

I have been riding 2 wheels since high school. I'm 59 now. Back in the early 2000's a buddy of mine and I decided to take the ABATE beginner's course. They provide the bikes. A 125-cc is standard but they gave me a 250 based on my size. You can even take the class on a scooter now. The course was 4 hours on Friday evening, 8 hours on Saturday and 8 hours on Sunday. Even though I had a lot of riding experience I learned a ton of new information in that class. The very next day, Monday, I was riding in town thinking about something they beat into us which was, "what's the worst thing that can happen and what will I do if it does?" I noticed a large van on a street ahead to my right. He was waiting to pull out in front of me and turn left to go the other direction. I figured the worst thing that could happen would be a car on the other side of the van wanting to go straight across the road I was on. I could not see if there was a car and he couldn't see me either. So I backed off the throttle and prepared to stop if I had to. Sure enough, a car bolted out in front of me. I hit the brakes and avoided an accident. But if I had not been thinking of what could happen and had not slowed down just in case it did, it would have been messy and painful. Moral of the story is I don't think we can ever get enough education or experience and the ABATE beginners course is good for everyone, regardless of how many years you have been riding.

 

[MMcc]

Bike vs trike

Over 50 years of riding I have had 2 cases where the drivers first claimed they did not see me when they blew through a stop sign on country roads. First time was on my Honda PC-800. Took to the ditch and took out a few rows of corn. Bike tumbled and so did I. The second time was on the spyder. A school bus came off a side road and forced me to the shoulder and then the ditch. Spyder stayed upright and I suffered little damage. Driver did not stop but I called the company and they spoke to him. His excuse was he did see me but thought it was an ATV not a motorcycle traveling at 55+mph. Kids on the bus said that they saw me down in the ditch which confirmed the drivers belief that it was an ATV so he just kept going. Moral, when dumb things happen I feel I am safer on the spyder.

 

[boborgera]

I've been really enjoying reading everyone's great comments about the Spyder and had a great time test riding one this past weekend at my local dealership. I still have a lot of concerns about safety though. I ride a snowmobile, but I've never been one for motorcycles. The Spyder appeals to me because it's nearly impossible to lay down. "Motorcyclists are 25 times more likely experience a deadly accident on the road than those in passenger cars." WOW!

What has the communities experience been with Spyder accidents? Do they happen often? What kind of accident is it usually?

I've been riding snowmobiles and Motorcycle's 40+ years and ATC'/ATVs since they came out.
Been in two major accidents, ONE on a Snowmobile and ONE on a Motorcycle, Broke bones both times,
Nothing is safe it's all relative, If you want to ride out in the open a Trike is your best bet, But if your going to ride ''A''scared stick to a Volvo.

 

[snowtostreet]

Thanks

Thanks for all of the responses guys. Not sure if that modded snowmobile is exactly street legal @Bob Denman.

 

[Bob Denman]

Legality is really only as issue if the lights in your mirrors are flashing... :shocked: :roflblack:
Oh! You're pretty new to our insanity... Don't pay attention to me; I'm only here because the Shriners have standards...

 

[StorminNorman]

BoB, you are toooo much!

Hey even the shriners know a good thing, they ride trikes too! Maybe not the right one, but hey!

 

[Bob Denman]

They wouldn't let me sit on one though...

 

[exwinger]

Safe riding

One big factor in safety no matter what you ride......if you ride careless you're going to be an accident looking for a place to happen....and it will. You have to be aware of your surroundings and watch for the other guy at all times. Ride within your abilities and watch for the other guy and you'll more than likely be alright.