Stupid Question

[meamaral]

Can someone advise the difference in handling between a Trike and a Spyder. I've been lurking for 6 months and love any site that Lamont runs. I've always been on 2 wheels and just love the Spyder concept. Close to a decision and need your input.

Mike in Jackson, GA

 

[Dudley]

Can someone advise the difference in handling between a Trike and a Spyder. I've been lurking for 6 months and love any site that Lamont runs. I've always been on 2 wheels and just love the Spyder concept. Close to a decision and need your input.

Mike in Jackson, GA

Definitely not a stupid question. I have never been on a trike, but I am sure someone will be able to help you. We have had our Spyder since 11-18-2008 and love it!

 

[Roger]

welcome You came to the right place sorry i can't help you either but you will have your question answered. we are all friends here so their is no stupid questions. :2thumbs:

 

[bjt]

Can someone advise the difference in handling between a Trike and a Spyder. I've been lurking for 6 months and love any site that Lamont runs. I've always been on 2 wheels and just love the Spyder concept. Close to a decision and need your input.

Mike in Jackson, GA

Welcome to SpyderLovers. Congrats on finally getting out of "lurk" mode. Being I've never ridden a trike conversion, I am probably totally unqualified to answer this but my thought is that the 2 front / 1 rear geometry of the Spyder makes it handle better in certain situations, like corners. Also, I was theorizing with someone else one time that the Spyder may brake better than a conventional trike. Thats because a big portion of your braking power comes from the front tire and being the Spyder has two tires and two brakes up front, it can stop better than other trikes. :dontknow:

 

[opticat]

Great answer, bjt. I took my Spyder to a "bike night" and there was a Gold Wing trike rider who was chatting with me and he said that he took a friend's Spyder for a ride and it was definitely much easier to handle than his trike.

 

[Buelldog]

There Is A Difference

I have had 5 conventional Trikes........Now The Spyder,a ride all it's own!With conventional trikes or Trike conversions, you will find you exert a lot more arm,shoulder and chest muscle action.You really know you are pushing and pulling when steering thru the twisties with a conversion......even with "Easy-Steer Type Mods" installed.Best way However to evaluate the difference.......check the dealer locator sites for the major Trike conversion Mfgs. and test ride a dealers demo unit......then test ride a Spyder!Power steering with the Spyder.....None I am aware of with The Conversion Packages.There is a lot of noticeable differences.......these are what make some go the conversion route and others Grab the unique Spyder Ride.Best Advice.......test ride/then decide!!:yikes:

 

[GaryTheBadger]

You can't run over your foot or cut a corner too tight and hit the curb on a Spyder as easily as you can on a traditional trike. You attract way more attention on a Spyder. Its more fun to lean into corners and use your body on a Spyder.

 

[johnboyjohn.pretious]

Having been riding trikes for more time than I care to admit I would ask you this. What type of riding do you want to do with your Spyder. I have found that as a FUN and PERFORMANCE trike, it beats everything I have previously owned. But here in the UK it is not the most comfortable for long distance touring unless you are thinking of modifications to raise bar height and add a touring seat and foot boards etc. But saying that 100 miles or so is not too bad in one go. Remember we have few roads that are straight for hundreds of miles.
Summing up, the grin factor and fun beats all my others. Yes I would buy again. Yes I love it to bits.

:yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes::yes:

Johnboy

 

[SpyderDeb]

:f_spider::clap:I'll try to keep this short - for months I couldn't make up my mind. My husband wanted me to have a Harley - so we ordered the Tri-glide - at that time you couldn't even demo one! Then came Harley's 105th in Milwaukee - got to demo there - was very disappointed. My husband thought I might just have been nervous and that it needed to be serviced. While waiting for my Tri-glide to come in, I road my brothers SM5 Spyder, then demo'd one at a dealer. Still couldn't decide. A few weeks later while riding with my husband we came across demo day at a dealer so we took out both the SE5 and SM5. That same day we went to a dealer that sold only custom trikes, then onto a Harley dealer that had gotten a Tri-glide in that they had not ordered - the salesperson let me demo it! and three other used trikes with different conversions on them! The next day I bought my Spyder! The Spyder I found was alot easier to handle and not so big/ bulky, heavy feeling and having the wheels up front where you could see them was so much better! I'd talked to several/and rode with several trike owners who said it's not if your going to hit something with the back wheels - it's when - and usually at the gas station. The Tri-glide I'd ordered came in three days later!! Yesterday I rode with the midweek riders club - I was the only female - however - I kept up with all thirteen of them - we put on two hundred miles - I had the only Spyder - everyone of them were impressed with my bike :2thumbs:. I rode it to the HOG meeting with my husband on his Harley last night - got alot of positive feedback there too. I'm a big girl now - cuz - I can ride with the big boys!

 

[wyliec]

You can't run over your foot or cut a corner too tight and hit the curb on a Spyder as easily as you can on a traditional trike. You attract way more attention on a Spyder. Its more fun to lean into corners and use your body on a Spyder.

It's pretty easy to hit a curb on the Spyder. I'm having my left front wheel worked on tomorrow; scuffed against a curb. I didn't realize how much the spokes stuck out past the tire. I'm a bit more careful now.

 

[Smylinacha]

I went from 2 wheels to the Spyder but I sat on the TriGlide. It's a cool looking Harley but I felt like I was sitting on some HUGE hunk of metal. Not that I ever drove any other trike but the Spyder is nimble, goes really fast, stable, I don't feel like I'm gonna flip it or anything and I've heard all this talk about flipping conventional trikes. If you wanna ryde hard, get a Spyder. I never thought I could ride hard and keep up w/ the 2 wheelers on a conventional trike. With the Spyder I can No problem!:2thumbs:

 

[Don in E Texas]

I agree with past posts....

The Spyder is NOT a conversion; rather designed from the ground up. I like the anti-lock brakes -- having two wheels up front REALLY makes the Spyder squat down and STOP while maintaining full control of the bike.

I only rode a Honda Goldwing trike --- can see how easy it would be to run over your foot on one of these type bikes.. nasty..:cus: Plus a LOT more effort in turns - U-turns, etc.

Two wheels in the front handle bumps in the road a LOT smoother than any two wheel bike (or standard trike) IMHO..

Whatever your choice might be, enjoy it and ride safe.:thumbup:

don

 

[DynamoBT]

I went from 2 wheels to the Spyder but I sat on the TriGlide. It's a cool looking Harley but I felt like I was sitting on some HUGE hunk of metal. Not that I ever drove any other trike but the Spyder is nimble, goes really fast, stable, I don't feel like I'm gonna flip it or anything and I've heard all this talk about flipping conventional trikes. If you wanna ryde hard, get a Spyder. I never thought I could ride hard and keep up w/ the 2 wheelers on a conventional trike. With the Spyder I can No problem!:2thumbs:

You feel that you can go as fast on the Spyder as two wheelers?

I guess I'm still in the getting familiar with it process. Still feeling it out. Finding out how to use my body best. Riding the right lines in turns.

It would be great if I got to the point I could keep up in a group ride. I'm not there yet.

 

[2spyders]

I have only test-driven a goldwing trike, but I didn't like it. The fun-factor on the Spyder is sky high compared to that one. :2thumbs:

 

[NancysToy]

The Spyder beats the heck out of my old Harley Servi-Car, in every way! There is no comparison. As far as stability and handling vs. a modern trike conversion, the Spyder wins, IMO. As far as cushy comfort, it's the trike.
-Scotty

 

[jeuchler]

The Spyder beats the heck out of my old Harley Servi-Car, in every way! There is no comparison. As far as stability and handling vs. a modern trike conversion, the Spyder wins, IMO. As far as cushy comfort, it's the trike.
-Scotty

Oh, man, Scotty...not to hijack this thread (that's why we have RoadDog!), but when I was younger I had always planned (hoped?) to get a Servi-Car when I retired and sell ice cream from it.

(I just loved the idea of reverse. And, you know, ice cream.)

I am thinking of selling fudgesicles from my Spyder's trunk this summer...

 

[BLACK WIDOW]

3 wheels

Can someone advise the difference in handling between a Trike and a Spyder. I've been lurking for 6 months and love any site that Lamont runs. I've always been on 2 wheels and just love the Spyder concept. Close to a decision and need your input.

Mike in Jackson, GA

I considered triking my Goldwing, but after much deliberation I decided just to buy the Spyder. The main thought I had was the Spyder was designed to be a 3 wheeler from the ground up while most, if not all, other 3 wheelers (2 rear/1front) are after market conversions. opcorn:

 

[NancysToy]

Oh, man, Scotty...not to hijack this thread (that's why we have RoadDog!), but when I was younger I had always planned (hoped?) to get a Servi-Car when I retired and sell ice cream from it.

(I just loved the idea of reverse. And, you know, ice cream.)

I am thinking of selling fudgesicles from my Spyder's trunk this summer...

:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:
-Scotty

 

[meamaral]

Whoa...you guys are awesome. Thank you for all the input.

One of my riding buddies sent this to me...this is what prompted my question...Moto Trend said "But where cars have seat backrests and motorcycles lean over, the Spyder rider (and passenger) do all the work in countering lateral gs. Namely, by hanging off to the inside like sidecar monkeys."

I'm not sure where he got this comment but it made me pause. I do quite a bit of touring and running around the North Georgia hills. I was comfortable that the Spyder would be fun and would keep up with my buddies on 2 wheels after some saddle time. But I also would like comfort (will be 60 in August) for those miles that you need to gobble.

I am planning on a Test Ride next week.

Thanks!

Mike
Jackson, Butts County, GA

 

[bone crusher]

Whoa...you guys are awesome. Thank you for all the input.

One of my riding buddies sent this to me...this is what prompted my question...Moto Trend said "But where cars have seat backrests and motorcycles lean over, the Spyder rider (and passenger) do all the work in countering lateral gs. Namely, by hanging off to the inside like sidecar monkeys."

I'm not sure where he got this comment but it made me pause. I do quite a bit of touring and running around the North Georgia hills. I was comfortable that the Spyder would be fun and would keep up with my buddies on 2 wheels after some saddle time. But I also would like comfort (will be 60 in August) for those miles that you need to gobble.

I am planning on a Test Ride next week.

Thanks!

Mike
Jackson, Butts County, GA

Everyone is going to give you feedback on that here...I lean when I go around curves or take highway ramps at a good clip...this is physics and you need to do it...I have the BRP 1" riser and I am 6'1"...there are those who will recommend NMN's handlebar risers. I do not have them (yet) but EVERYONE who does really likes them and they say that you don't need to lean as you have more control over the steering...this would likely be a good first modification for you...

Let's be honest here...you're not getting a trike/Spyder instead of a car/SUV...you're gonna get one to get the open air feel of a motorcycle with some more stability and room.

This being the case, the Spyder is a great option as it's packed with safety features and is a lot of fun to ride...you can't go wrong with a Spyder...if you need to change the seat, get handlebar risers, etc..., there are plenty of modifications to make your bike perfect for you.

I recommend the SM5 as you get more of the motorcycle feel (changing gears with a clutch), but that's just personal preference...the SE5 is probably better for touring and might be a better fit for you...