Taking Curves

[SpyderRed]

Hello everybody!

I just got my spyder and I am new here. As you can imagine, I am absolutely in love with it

I was wondering if anybody had some tips on the best way to take curves. I find them a little awkward and not that much fun...My hubby just discovered that the suspension was set too high, so he lowered it for me and I hope that will make a difference. But I still wanted to see if you guys had any tips and suggestions on the subject.

Thanks!

 

[aka1004]

Hello everybody!

I just got my spyder and I am new here. As you can imagine, I am absolutely in love with it

I was wondering if anybody had some tips on the best way to take curves. I find them a little awkward and not that much fun...My hubby just discovered that the suspension was set too high, so he lowered it for me and I hope that will make a difference. But I still wanted to see if you guys had any tips and suggestions on the subject.

Thanks!

welcome welcome welcome

i feel that spyder handles best with my butt/weight is tucked inside to rear.
i push my butt toward back and inside corner of the seat, bracing it with my outside arm by pushing on the handle bar as i am sort of pulling with my inside arm.
don't just tilt your upper body, move the center of gravity by sliding your butt/weight inside a little bit and don't let the weight shift back til you are out of the curve.

THEN, get a anti sway bar from Evoluzione. if you like to take curves even somewhat hard, it will make a big difference. handlebar risers make steering a little easy also and so does just ryding it.:thumbup:

 

[Bersquack]

:congrats: and welcome

Here is what I do:

1) Plant my foot on the outside of the curve firmly on the footpeg
2) Lean my body in the curve

If you try to keep your body straight in a curve it is not going to effective. By leaning your body in the curve, your arm outside of the curve can push the handlebar much further.

I hope this helps.

 

[ameobe]

welcome
Softer setting on shocks would add to the roll feeling. I have mine set to max & waiting for the new sway bar to arrive.:thumbup:

 

[SpyderRed]

Great tips. Thank you guys (and girls LOL)!

 

[Lamonster]

welcome
I don't know what your background is but the Spyder is more like driving a 4wheeler and not a motorcycle. It took me 200 miles to really figure that out.

 

[ThreeWheels]

welcome
I don't know what your background is but the Spyder is more like driving a 4wheeler and not a motorcycle. It took me 200 miles to really figure that out.

Yeah, what he said !!

I have an RT. I found out yesterday, that I am just incapable of keeping up with my old sport touring crowd. I was OK as long as the ride captain kept within the 5 to 10 mph above the speed limit, as advertised.
In other words, I can take a 25 MPH curve at 35. I CANNOT take it at 45 like I could on my ST1100.

So one of the other tips is, think of taking the curves at automotive speeds, not motorcycle speeds.

As always, the advice that I offer through this electronic format isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

 

[bone crusher]

Lean in and as some have said here, kiss the handlebar on the side you're turning into...shift bodyweight as necessary...

 

[j45p3r]

I found the curves easier on the spider than on my bike. I ride it like a atv when I go into the curve I lean my butt to the inside and push with the outside foot and lean forward a tad brace the outside bar and add power though the curve. I am able to take them a bit faster and cleaner than I was before. Now the wife is trying it:2thumbs:

I've found the Spyder will really plant itself when you start to accelerate out of a curve. It's really fun.

 

[jeff0110]

I have to agree, cornering with the spyder is really fun especially powering out of the curve. My harley buddies are slowing down going into and out of the curves when I am speeding up into and out of the curves leaving them in my dust

 

[VaughnCat]

Taking turns

I agree with most of what I've read . . . lean into the curve, slide your rear end into the inside of the turn, I try and keep the arm that is on the outside of the turn locked so the handlebars don't get wiggled. And keeping the outside foot planted helps alleviate the push from the G-forces. This machine is very much like driving my sidehack except that it takes a light touch. My wife actually leans with me in the turns when she isn't sleeping or making drinks in the pop out BRP smoothie machine. We have managed to lift each of the front wheels at various times, but never at speed. It has always been on a really tight road at slower speeds. :ani29:

 

[j45p3r]

I agree with most of what I've read . . . lean into the curve, slide your rear end into the inside of the turn, I try and keep the arm that is on the outside of the turn locked so the handlebars don't get wiggled. And keeping the outside foot planted helps alleviate the push from the G-forces. This machine is very much like driving my sidehack except that it takes a light touch. My wife actually leans with me in the turns when she isn't sleeping or making drinks in the pop out BRP smoothie machine. We have managed to lift each of the front wheels at various times, but never at speed. It has always been on a really tight road at slower speeds. :ani29:

Same on my RS/GS, I've only lifted the inside tire going relatively slowly (under 35 or so).

 

[VaughnCat]

Yeah, what he said !!

I have an RT. I found out yesterday, that I am just incapable of keeping up with my old sport touring crowd. I was OK as long as the ride captain kept within the 5 to 10 mph above the speed limit, as advertised.
In other words, I can take a 25 MPH curve at 35. I CANNOT take it at 45 like I could on my ST1100.

So one of the other tips is, think of taking the curves at automotive speeds, not motorcycle speeds.

As always, the advice that I offer through this electronic format isn't worth the paper it's printed on.

You need to pick the right day and right place to play with the sport crowd; a rainy day and a tight canyon! We took our first rain ride yesterday and I found the RT-S was a lot of fun on the tight canyon road (Hwy 199 from Cave Jucntion, OR to the coast) down through the Redwoods. . . . and we were clipping along at a better pace than our usual 2 wheeler. .. .

 

[wyliec]

. My wife actually leans with me in the turns when she isn't sleeping or making drinks in the pop out BRP smoothie machine. We have managed to lift each of the front wheels at various times, but never at speed. It has always been on a really tight road at slower speeds. :ani29:

You mean my gf isn't the only one to doze off? That's one of the reasons I won't be getting the arm rests.

 

[jgwoods]

Watch the road camber - roads with high centers make left turns more challenging then right turns. It's pretty easy to get in the groove when the road banks to help you, a bit scary when it leans the other way.
Don't push it and enjoy the ride at whatever pace makes you happy.

 

[Jester]

welcome
I don't know what your background is but the Spyder is more like driving a 4wheeler and not a motorcycle. It took me 200 miles to really figure that out.

Lamont's description is, as usual, right on. In fact, I have been telling two wheel riders that it is exactly like riding a real powerful, comfortable and fast 4 wheeler! In the twisties, use a lot of 'body english' and after a little practice, you can keep up quite well!:2thumbs:

 

[RoadHammer]

i figured out in 2 minutes it was like an atv. Actually its better than an ATV, it's more stable, longer wider,lower etc. within my first 5 miles on the spyder i had it doing 100 mph & pushing 10 over in the curves. If anyone has atv/snowmobile/motorcyle xperience the spyder should be the easiest thing to drive.

 

[MarkZ28]

I never rode ATV or snowmobiles so I have only been on 2 wheels other than cars. Its completely backwards at speed compared to a motorcycle. Instead of countersteering you turn the handles the direction you want to go. Took me a while also to get comfortable on the Spyder. The crners were fun also, lol, I'd try to lean like a bike but nothing happened like it nomrally did. I had to relearn how to ride it, luckily my wife has never been on a 2 wheeler as the main rider/driver so she should learn quicker than me.

 

[LDFIREWORKS]

welcome

:2thumbs: :spyder2: welcome :congrats:

 

[boborgera]

i figured out in 2 minutes it was like an atv. Actually its better than an ATV, it's more stable, longer wider,lower etc. within my first 5 miles on the spyder i had it doing 100 mph & pushing 10 over in the curves. If anyone has atv/snowmobile/motorcyle xperience the spyder should be the easiest thing to drive.

welcome:agree:But just ride your ride, Take your time on the curves you'll figure it out in a short time, then the fun will begin. :2thumbs: