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Thinking about a two wheeler

I'm going to hit you first with a few questions:

  • What sitting position did you prefer RS or F3?
  • What sort of roads do you mainly ride? (e.g. back road bendy, highways or city streets)
  • Do you ride at night?
  • Do you want to ride unmade/gravel roads?
  • What sort of distance is your average ride?
  • Do you normally ride solo or two up?
  • Are you planning to make multi-day trips?
RS was actually more along my style
Mostly backroads, some freeway
No night or off road
Will be a weekend toy for about 30-50 miles
Always ride solo
No multi day trips
I was thinking about an R3, will it feel underpowered after a 1330 cc on a spyder?
 
I've owned spyders since they came out. Started in 2008 with an RS and now have a 2015 F3 . Both SE5, no previous motorcycle experience. Should I start with a 300cc or a 600, Spyder is a 1330, but I assume much less torque than a Yamaha R6, what do you think?

I am a fan of big iron. Loved my 900cc Vulcan LTD. Also had a 2000cc Vulcan LTD--biggest production V-twin made.

Buying to small may be a mistake once you get your two wheel legs back.

If I were to buy another, the Indian Roadmaster in Green/Crème would be my choice. Lucky for me, the nearest three dealers are all 1300+ miles away. :yes:
 
RS was actually more along my style
Mostly backroads, some freeway
No night or off road
Will be a weekend toy for about 30-50 miles
Always ride solo
No multi day trips
I was thinking about an R3, will it feel underpowered after a 1330 cc on a spyder?

I think you're right to be looking at smaller capacity bikes like the R3 judging by those answers. A large capacity bike is going to cost you a lot more to own and run, yet you'll find half the time it will be a burden rather than a pleasure for the sort of riding you're doing.
You don't need to carry lots of weight or cruise for hours on highways so there's no benefit to having a large capacity bike.

You can have a huge amount of fun on a small capacity bike and trying to push it to the limit of what it can do. It's also far safer because you are reaching the bikes limit rather than your own. It's when you reach your own limits that things tend to go very wrong.

One thing I would recommend is if you have a choice of ABS (like the R3) then get it. You're used to riding the Spyder which has this and trying to learn how the brake without it is going to be difficult.

The one issue that you do have to consider with the smaller bikes is their lack of road presence. There's not much you can do to mitigate that other than the obvious things like always riding with your lights on etc.
 
Having ridden in LA for 5 years, I have some feel for the traffic, speed, etc demands you will encounter on 2 wheels. I love the R3. If you were getting a non-freeway bike it woould be good enough. But, on the freeway you will be maxed out when traffic is moving. If traffic is congested, the bike will be great to slice between the traffic.

The Honda NC700X would be my recommendation. Get the auto with ABS. It will have enough power and be nimble enough to get through traffic, you will not outgrow it. You will like the reliability and mpg - and it costs only about $1.5K more than a R3 but you get more bike for your money.

Good luck.
 
1998 Honda Valkyrie Tourer With many extras. Yes is a big bike but with a low seat height and good handling. You can't beat the torque. See it on Craigslist reno

Kaos

Don't mean to sound "mean" but that is a horrible choice. We are talking about a person's first 2 wheeler. It needs to be something relatively light and above all else it should have the feet positioned UNDER the rider - not out in front. Cruiser style is great for comfort but poor for control.
 
RS was actually more along my style
Mostly backroads, some freeway
No night or off road
Will be a weekend toy for about 30-50 miles
Always ride solo
No multi day trips
I was thinking about an R3, will it feel underpowered after a 1330 cc on a spyder?

The R3 would be an excellent choice. It doesn't have ABS but other than that it is a winner. You will not notice any lack of power. The R3 is light and handles great. It is considered a great beginner bike and not only that but it sets you up to progress to other more powerful sportbikes...like the R6:)
 
I am a fan of big iron. Loved my 900cc Vulcan LTD. Also had a 2000cc Vulcan LTD--biggest production V-twin made.

Buying to small may be a mistake once you get your two wheel legs back.

If I were to buy another, the Indian Roadmaster in Green/Crème would be my choice. Lucky for me, the nearest three dealers are all 1300+ miles away. :yes:

Again I butt in but I'm being serious. The machines you mention are way too big for a beginner. Too many people make the mistake of going big (either size/weight or power) for a first bike. Many regret it. Go small, go inexpensive, and learn - then move on to your dream bike. David
 
I've owned spyders since they came out. Started in 2008 with an RS and now have a 2015 F3 . Both SE5, no previous motorcycle experience. Should I start with a 300cc or a 600, Spyder is a 1330, but I assume much less torque than a Yamaha R6, what do you think?
Get a small old school legal dirt bike so you can learn the feel of when the tires break loose that way you won't be suprized when it happens on the street a bike like that is lite cheep fun and you can always get your money back if you buy right dirt and gravel open up lots of new turf to explore and you can consentrate on the ride not traffic then you trade up to one of the many great bikes out there or keep it and have 2 can't have to many bikes after all
 
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One hazard I can think of about going from a Spyder to a 2-wheeler is relearning about braking! You can brake a Spyder HARD in nearly any situation, including sharp S-curves, if necessary. On a 2-wheeler you must be rolling in a straight line, or you'll be ass-over-appetite in about 2/100 of a second.

Will your reflexes remember this in a sudden panic situation? (I seriously doubt that mine would.)
 
Sign up for a motorcyle riding course. They will supply you with a bike to learn on. This will give you a starting point. Most use smaller managable bikes. Once you get that out of the way rent some others and see if you really want to do this and at what level you want to invest. Good luck and hope you have fun with it...:thumbup:

:agree:
 
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