Hello all! So I've been interested in the Spyder for a few years now (hence my early join date compared to this post), and I did a demo ride of one 2 years ago. If I do get one, it will be the F3-S. I am still young, and I've spent the past 11 years on a couple FZ1's and a short time on a Tiger 1050. I love my FZ1 very much, but it's getting to where I cannot ride it for more than an hour or so before I'm in pain. My shoulders, my back and my butt...all started just in the past couple years.
For one, my dad is retired now, and he lives on his motorcycles...he's been riding for 50+ years. I want to ride more with him when I can, but I hate making the trips so short for him. He wants to do more overnight trips, or at the very least, 6-8hr day trips. I just can't do that on my current bike, so I want something I can ride all day and not dread it. Like I said earlier, I'm still young and love my performance....so there is no way I would consider a "bagger" motorcycle, or any cruiser. I stuck with the FZ1 because it had all the performance of a literbike, but without the hunched-over, cramped-up riding style (for the most part). I'm also 6'5", 300#, so it fit me better
For two, I work nights, and would like to commute back and forth more. The deer population here is astronomical, and I just don't feel comfortable riding at dusk and dawn on my motorcycle. I feel a Spyder would protect me better, and be much safer in a deer strike. Also, living in the south, we get a lot of rain from pop-up storms almost every afternoon. The roads I ride are heavily wooded, and a good portion of them are chip seal (tar & gravel surface treatment). We all know how fun gravel and wet leaves & sticks are on 2 wheels :shocked:
Now for my reservations:
The nanny features scare me. I HATE nanny features! I spent a good amount of time, money, and effort getting around some of them on my past two new trucks (2016 & 2018).
I don't want some stupid computer programmed by a Chinese guy who has never ridden a bike before, to dictate what I can or cannot do with the object I own. If I want to do burnouts and donuts in a parking lot...well, I should be able to. If I want to drift around a corner, or push it enough to lift a tire...I should be able to!
So, I am not seeing any way to disable these things on here...is it because no one has really tried? Does unplugging the ABS sensors cause a limp mode situation, or will it still let you ride normally? I see the new models have a "Sport Mode" that will disable traction control. If it's anything like my trucks...you will be able to spin in a straight line, but as soon as steering input is sensed, the computer will take over and apply the brakes/detune the engine.
How is the steering sensor hooked up? Is it a sealed all-in-one unit, or is there access to disable it, or fool it into thinking the bars are straight?
I'm also torn between the manual transmission, or the auto. The one I rode was the auto, and it wasn't too bad...but my dislike for electronics, and the old school in me tells me to go for the manual for fun and more control. I definitely need to ride one when I get the chance.
How are the autos holding up as far as reliability? Any shifting failures? Troubles with the internals?
Again...I'm still young and want a little thrill here and there on a ride. The whopping 20-minutes of experience I have riding one just doesn't answer a lot of questions.
For one, my dad is retired now, and he lives on his motorcycles...he's been riding for 50+ years. I want to ride more with him when I can, but I hate making the trips so short for him. He wants to do more overnight trips, or at the very least, 6-8hr day trips. I just can't do that on my current bike, so I want something I can ride all day and not dread it. Like I said earlier, I'm still young and love my performance....so there is no way I would consider a "bagger" motorcycle, or any cruiser. I stuck with the FZ1 because it had all the performance of a literbike, but without the hunched-over, cramped-up riding style (for the most part). I'm also 6'5", 300#, so it fit me better
For two, I work nights, and would like to commute back and forth more. The deer population here is astronomical, and I just don't feel comfortable riding at dusk and dawn on my motorcycle. I feel a Spyder would protect me better, and be much safer in a deer strike. Also, living in the south, we get a lot of rain from pop-up storms almost every afternoon. The roads I ride are heavily wooded, and a good portion of them are chip seal (tar & gravel surface treatment). We all know how fun gravel and wet leaves & sticks are on 2 wheels :shocked:
Now for my reservations:
The nanny features scare me. I HATE nanny features! I spent a good amount of time, money, and effort getting around some of them on my past two new trucks (2016 & 2018).
I don't want some stupid computer programmed by a Chinese guy who has never ridden a bike before, to dictate what I can or cannot do with the object I own. If I want to do burnouts and donuts in a parking lot...well, I should be able to. If I want to drift around a corner, or push it enough to lift a tire...I should be able to!
So, I am not seeing any way to disable these things on here...is it because no one has really tried? Does unplugging the ABS sensors cause a limp mode situation, or will it still let you ride normally? I see the new models have a "Sport Mode" that will disable traction control. If it's anything like my trucks...you will be able to spin in a straight line, but as soon as steering input is sensed, the computer will take over and apply the brakes/detune the engine.
How is the steering sensor hooked up? Is it a sealed all-in-one unit, or is there access to disable it, or fool it into thinking the bars are straight?
I'm also torn between the manual transmission, or the auto. The one I rode was the auto, and it wasn't too bad...but my dislike for electronics, and the old school in me tells me to go for the manual for fun and more control. I definitely need to ride one when I get the chance.
How are the autos holding up as far as reliability? Any shifting failures? Troubles with the internals?
Again...I'm still young and want a little thrill here and there on a ride. The whopping 20-minutes of experience I have riding one just doesn't answer a lot of questions.
I own F3S. I should also mention that first spyder was a manual Gs than went to semi rs and now semi F3s let's me be lazy when i just feel like enjoying the ride without putting any effort into it.
). I am thinking that the ryker might not have what you are looking for in the power department. When I test rode it, it was fine up to around 60 mph. But with my size, it tended to give out of breath pretty quick. I suggest giving a F3S another test ride and see what you think. Then give a ryker rally edition a try and see how they compare. They both are petty good bikes, but I am a spyder guy. BTW, I will be 53 in a couple of months and still consider myself a hooligan
:doorag:
