Test ride on Wednesday

[lonestarmedic]

Heading up to Woods in Austin, Texas to demo days. Hope to spend some time on both an SE and an SM in the RT. Took the day off work to see if I can get some decent saddle time. Then the wife and I are going to try it at the South Texas Motorcycle Show. Hope the solo ride will make it easier to run two up. We have a lot of miles on two wheels together.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Chupaca]

Good news..!!

Your going to love it. Hope to hear back after the fact. See which one you pick,which one you ryde home..:roflblack:

 

[flamingobabe]

enjoy...I did a test ride a week ago on the ST...loved it....I'm waiting for my ST to be delivered....the RT is like riding a Rolls Royce vs. Ford...Rt just flows down the road...let us know which one you pick...

 

[ARtraveler]

Like others said: Let us know how you like em, and what you end up with. :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

More than half of the fun is in the shopping! :2thumbs:hyea::2thumbs:
So have fun, and don't forget to fill us in with all of the gory details after you make a decision. :shocked: :thumbup:

 

[bhfromme]

I'll never forget the day I picked mine up. I saw the sales manager come around the building on it and it has been total love ever since. What a feeling that was.

Take your time. Get exactly what you want and don't look back.

Bill

 

[ragoo879]

Heading up to Woods in Austin, Texas to demo days. Hope to spend some time on both an SE and an SM in the RT. Took the day off work to see if I can get some decent saddle time. Then the wife and I are going to try it at the South Texas Motorcycle Show. Hope the solo ride will make it easier to run two up. We have a lot of miles on two wheels together.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

Rode all three tis past weekend. Started on the RTSE5, good, don't think I'm ready for that one yet. Went on the STSE5 next, oh, that was a fun ride. We were on a closed off track and was aloud to really get on it. Hit 90pmh on th straights. I even got to experience the VSS, SCS, and TCS. Kind of odd, but nice to have. Last I rode the RS-S SM5. This is the bike I loved when I first tried them. But now the SE5 on the ST is the chose for me. Nice sporty feel with enough tour adds ons to make any ride enjoyable.
Enjoy the ride.

 

[lonestarmedic]

Returned from test ride

Got to run around on an RT-SE5 Ltd. and an ST-SM5. Folks at Woods put on a nice demo. Hotdogs, hamburgers, and sodas while we waited and looked around. Got to mess with the modes and the stereo while waiting. I will say the stereo comes alive when you get the bass, treble, and fader set Did the closed course loop intro and then headed out on the SE5. Seating position and floorboards very good. Bars will need moved around a bit - need those adjustable ones. Floorboards need the forward slant removed!! I felt like I was pointing my toes down to kick cockroaches in a corner when I put my feet all the way forward. Either drop the heel or raise the front. Suprisingly, the auto-shift and I agreed pretty well. I miss 2 things there. The ability to park in gear, and pulling in the clutch at a stoplight. I found myself tapping to neutral at long lights. Of course both hands were looking for levers the first few miles. The clutch works VERY well when pulling away from a stop. Smooth and no stutters. Never got above about 50mph so not sure on accelleration and the feel at highway speeds.

Next the ST-SM5. This one was not fun. The steering was twitchy and almost felt like it had a center "detent" to over-ride when moving the bars. When turning it felt very unstable and I got nervous quickly. Some of it may be due to the seat. I do not think it has the right support. The manual trans was only ok. I found it needed a lot of RPM from a stop. Rev it to 3000 RPM and feather in the clutch. Once moving, the familiar feel of shifting was good. Not clunky and no missed shifts. I noticed at a stop light that the insides of my calves were very warm on the SM5. It almost reminded me of Harley leg burn.

Comparing transmissions, I will say that the SE system seems much better on the take-off. The shift were also good, just not as mentally satisfying as the manual. I think that would pass. My questions on the SE5 are as follows:
1) Longevity of the clutch mechanism and plates?
2) What will it cost to repair the electronics on the clutch system? Is it a separate computer?
3) Is there any over-ride in case of problems. I can see the bill now for towing it out of West Texas!!!!
4) Since it uses engine oil to shift, what are the effects of extreme ambient temperatures?

Last note from the ride. NEVER choose a Spyder as a getaway vehicle for a bank heist. They will have you in handcuffs before the start-up procedure is completed!

Will be taking momma to the San Antonio bike show where we can ride 2 up. Need to see about how we fit, how the motor reacts with a bigger load, and how the rear suspension reacts. Our only other worry is the fuel mileage with the Spyder. Right now we get 35mpg on 2 up at 65-70mph. And I get 40-43 one up. I have seen reports of sub-30 mpg one up. I sure don;t want the Hyundai Santa Fe getting better economy than the bike. Santa Fe is running 22mpg at 65-70. Two up with the A/C on

JB

 

[missouriboy]

Start-up

Last note from the ride. NEVER choose a Spyder as a getaway vehicle for a bank heist. They will have you in handcuffs before the start-up procedure is completed!

Use the kill-switch and leave the key turned on. That way, you're ready for an instant re-start whenever ready.

I do it this way when I'm only stopping for a few minutes, maybe up to 10 minutes. Question: Does this harm anything? Seems to me like it should be no problem, just don't pull the battery down too far?

 

[Bob Denman]

Last note from the ride. NEVER choose a Spyder as a getaway vehicle for a bank heist. They will have you in handcuffs before the start-up procedure is completed!

:shocked: You mean that you DIDN'T take that time to read the safety card???

:roflblack:

Thanks for the great write-up! :thumbup:

Fuel mileage is largely affected by the dance that your right wrist has with the loud lever.. You should be able to keep it at about 30mpg or so..

 

[donec]

Heading up to Woods in Austin, Texas to demo days. Hope to spend some time on both an SE and an SM in the RT. Took the day off work to see if I can get some decent saddle time. Then the wife and I are going to try it at the South Texas Motorcycle Show. Hope the solo ride will make it easier to run two up. We have a lot of miles on two wheels together.

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

I went to the Woods Fun Center (wfc) in Austin for the demos also, but I went in the car and not on my WebRyder. I also went to the Georgetown Powersports (gp) Spyder demo. My wife took some videos and posted them on her youtube site....

At the wfc I rode an ST Limited and WOW. That is a nice ride. Truly the most comfortable spyder around for me.

The seat felt like it was more narrow than any I have tried (not many) and gave me the feeling I was into the seat and not just on it. This made turns and curves feel much more stable.

The handlebars are up 4" and out 4" (I am used to up 1" and out 4") so I really felt straight.

The floorboards were quite good and have a slight slant down for the toes (which I like), but they don't allow you to move your feet forward enough for my taste. However with more time I may have found that to not be quite accurate, but with just one .5 hour ride it is my impression.

I did not like the dash it seems too much, too complex and the turning signals are quite hard to see in the bright sun.

The steering is soft with just the right amount of sensitivity.

The ride seemed a little stiffer and seem to hold the road better than my 2009 GS/RS SE5 but possibly that could be due to the great seat and not just the improved suspension.

I did not like that the saddlebags were too small to hold a helmet and there are not (that I could find) any hooks under the seat or any other way to secure a helmet other than the frunk.

I also don't like the color choices maroon and white.

The chrome wheels have too many spokes and I don't see any style just chrome, give me the wheels from the ST as those are some nice wheels and chrome in them may be ok as they do have some style.

The mirrors are much better than on the RS as they are lower allowing you to see past your hands.

The windshield sure reduced the buffering to zero and is adjustable for different size riders.

Over all a great ride.

On the other hand I went to gp and rode the RT Limited there ugh!!!

I liked the mirrors better even than the ST Limited larger and better positioned.

The ride was squirrelly and over sensitive.

My forearms started hurting after just a few minutes.

The seat was so wide my hips felt like I was riding a fat horse. I felt like I was on top of the RT and made the curves and turns more difficult than on my 2009 GS/RS SE5 WebRyder.

I did not feel like I was sitting up straight (the handlebars are adjustable but you have use a tool to make the changes) I felt the handgrips were too far apart also.

The parking brake has no indication on the dash I could find and in the sun light you can not tell if it is on or not. It is on the same rocker as the frunk switch so if you let your finger slide it will open the frunk. On the ride it started smelling like something burning so I stopped and tried to make sure the brake was off. With the parking brake on the RT would not move easily so it must have been off and the smell went away, but not a good set up.

Maybe I was somewhat predisposed to the ST Limited and may have been expecting too much but the RT Limited is AFAIK supposed to the the top of the line for Spyders. But IMO it is not.

 

[Bob Denman]

(FYI; the parking brake indicator is a flashing red light in the speedometer side of the display)
If that RT was acting squirrelly; perhaps it needs some replacement ball-joints? :shocked:

 

[lonestarmedic]

Donec caught my old Yamaha

In the Woods-Austin video at about 1:01 to 1:08 you sweep the bikes parked in the lot. If you look, my 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale is sticking out. Two tone brown and gold. I managed to stay hidden I had on a long sleeve red tee-shirt and a black vest. (Spoke too soon, at about 0:23- 0:27 you caught me pulling in on the white one. Black helmet, vest, shirt, and gloves.)

Funny how we differ in our thoughts. I like the position on the RT. And I do not like the forward tip of the floorboards. The steering on the White Limited with all the chrome seemed very good. The manual transmission ST felt funny to me. I did not mind the information center. But I will agree that in sunlight the indicator lights are difficult to see. I found the flashing park brake light. However, the green neutral light was sometimes hidden.
I had to tip my sunglasses to see them. I would eliminate the manual temp or fuel gauge and put in an indicator panel.

Heading to San Antonio with momma tomorrow to run two-up. Going to the motorcycle show at Freeman Coliseum.

JB

 

[donec]

(FYI; the parking brake indicator is a flashing red light in the speedometer side of the display)
If that RT was acting squirrelly; perhaps it needs some replacement ball-joints? :shocked:

I doubt the squirrellyness was due to ball-joints as it is a brand ne Spyder more likely it was just my preception due to the way it was setup and if it had been adjusted differently it would have been better but I'll never know.

as for the flashing red light on the dash I never saw it but if it is no larger or brighter than the turn signal light I could have easily missed it in the bright sun as I did the turn signals.

 

[donec]

In the Woods-Austin video at about 1:01 to 1:08 you sweep the bikes parked in the lot. If you look, my 1986 Yamaha Venture Royale is sticking out. Two tone brown and gold. I managed to stay hidden I had on a long sleeve red tee-shirt and a black vest. (Spoke too soon, at about 0:23- 0:27 you caught me pulling in on the white one. Black helmet, vest, shirt, and gloves.)

Funny how we differ in our thoughts. I like the position on the RT. And I do not like the forward tip of the floorboards. The steering on the White Limited with all the chrome seemed very good. The manual transmission ST felt funny to me. I did not mind the information center. But I will agree that in sunlight the indicator lights are difficult to see. I found the flashing park brake light. However, the green neutral light was sometimes hidden.
I had to tip my sunglasses to see them. I would eliminate the manual temp or fuel gauge and put in an indicator panel.

Heading to San Antonio with momma tomorrow to run two-up. Going to the motorcycle show at Freeman Coliseum.

JB

So you went in the group. I have never ridden in a group and the thought of it is a bit intemitating.:gaah:

It is kind of funny how taste differ but it is what make the world interesting. I didn't see a green neutral light either but I did see the gear # next to the cruise indicator so I knew what gear I was in (but mostly just went by the sound and feel of the engine).