Thinking about buying a Spyder RT Limited

[Papaloco]

Thinking about selling the Goldwing about buying a new Spyder RT Limited. I already know how valuable these forums are for each brand and type of bikes. Any recommendations on what extras to purchase with a new Spyder RT Limited would be appreciated. Wife has already said it would be red (same as the wing) and have a trailer. Are there any recommendations on a trailer other than a BRP? I have already found alot of useful info onthe Spyder RT Limited. Are the standard Ultra comfortable heated seats that come on the 2020 RTL the same ones offered as an BRP accessories? Haven't found a dealer rep that could answer that question yet. Has anyone used the Heli-on handle bars yet? They work great on the wing. I see several people have changed their handlebars. Incase anyone is wondering why the change for 2 to 3 wheels, age and the desire to keep riding with out the fear of dropping the wife and bike.

 

[Papaloco]

Thinking about a new ride

Thinking about selling the Goldwing about buying a new Spyder RT Limited. I already know how valuable these forums are for each brand and type of bikes. Any recommendations on what extras to purchase with a new Spyder RT Limited would be appreciated. Wife has already said it would be red (same as the wing) and have a trailer. Are there any recommendations on a trailer other than a BRP? I have already found alot of useful info onthe Spyder RT Limited. Are the standard Ultra comfortable heated seats that come on the 2020 RTL the same ones offered as an BRP accessories? Haven't found a dealer rep that could answer that question yet. Has anyone used the Heli-on handle bars yet? They work great on the wing. I see several people have changed their handlebars. Incase anyone is wondering why the change for 2 to 3 wheels, age and the desire to keep riding with out the fear of dropping the wife and bike.

 

[2dogs]

If you're going from a wing to a spyder, the RT is a good choice. I went with the SE6 and glad that i did. Love the paddle shift. Try and demo ride as many models as possible to help you make a good decision. One that you and your wife will be happy with. Lots of luck and welcome to the spyder world.

 

[trong]

I too come from two-wheel world, my knees can't handle the 700lbs full dressed cruiser any more. Sadly to say, I did not take my wife out on that Vstar1300 last year at all. I rode it in April alone and decided it's too heavy for me. I had the bike for 4 years and really liked it. I still have a Honda CB1100 though but I always ride alone. I just want to have something that I take my wife with me either cruise around town or scenery trips. I bought a 2013 RT-L and so far put about 500 miles on it just so I can get used to it. So far I like it but haven't taken my wife out on it yet. It is a learning process, but I get better and better with it.
Good luck to you Papaloco, I think you'll find something you like out there.
Cheers

 

[Pennyrick]

Thinking about selling the Goldwing about buying a new Spyder RT Limited. I already know how valuable these forums are for each brand and type of bikes. Any recommendations on what extras to purchase with a new Spyder RT Limited would be appreciated. Wife has already said it would be red (same as the wing) and have a trailer. Are there any recommendations on a trailer other than a BRP? I have already found alot of useful info onthe Spyder RT Limited. Are the standard Ultra comfortable heated seats that come on the 2020 RTL the same ones offered as an BRP accessories? Haven't found a dealer rep that could answer that question yet. Has anyone used the Heli-on handle bars yet? They work great on the wing. I see several people have changed their handlebars. Incase anyone is wondering why the change for 2 to 3 wheels, age and the desire to keep riding with out the fear of dropping the wife and bike.

My advice would be to get the Spyder RT Limited but leave it bone stock until after you’ve ridden it a few hundred miles and then add goodies as you go along. You may like the Comfort seat or additional lights but check sources and prices out a bit first. One thing you should invest in is a travel cover for the Spyder and the trailer. We found both of those items to be very useful.

The comfort heated seats are the same as the BRP accessories but check the For Sale thread on this site before paying the heavy dealer markup.

Enjoy your Spyder rides. My Old Aspencade was one of my favorites.

Pennyrick

 

[JayBros]

I have yet to see a 2020 RT in the flesh but agree with Pennyrick about loading the farkle gun with enough $$$ to fire long bursts. Wait until you have enough miles on it and your carcass before you even begin building an accessory list. FWIW, I ride year round, sometimes leaving the house when it's in the mid-twenties, and see absolutely no use in wasting money on a heated seat. When my butt is too cool to warm a seat I'll be dead. I ride almost exclusively solo. Good hunting!

 

[bluewoo]

Thinking about selling the Goldwing about buying a new Spyder RT Limited. I already know how valuable these forums are for each brand and type of bikes. Any recommendations on what extras to purchase with a new Spyder RT Limited would be appreciated. Wife has already said it would be red (same as the wing) and have a trailer. Are there any recommendations on a trailer other than a BRP? I have already found alot of useful info onthe Spyder RT Limited. Are the standard Ultra comfortable heated seats that come on the 2020 RTL the same ones offered as an BRP accessories? Haven't found a dealer rep that could answer that question yet. Has anyone used the Heli-on handle bars yet? They work great on the wing. I see several people have changed their handlebars. Incase anyone is wondering why the change for 2 to 3 wheels, age and the desire to keep riding with out the fear of dropping the wife and bike.

That was my reason also! Traded in my GW for a spyder and really enjoy it.
I would get arm rest for the passenger.
Good luck in your adventure and the members here are great and very helpful!!!!

 

[MRH]

I'm a fan of adding extra lighting for safety (I prefer to simply make the reflectors LEDs).

The rest of it does become a matter of preference, and experience will show you what you really need (and plenty of people here know solutions if there is an aspect you aren't happy with).

My personal favorite addition was the BRP short windshield and an X-Creen to control (and add) wind on hot days, while still being able to limit it on colder days (you may only use this during the hotter months, but it takes less than ten minutes to change the windshield out).

 

[MRH]

Oh, and since you are living in SoCal, do check out my signature for the best Spyder mechanic that I know of -- Lou at Pirate Powersports in Riverside.

 

[Bruita]

Have riding HD since 1965 and find things work slower then before. Time changes things so my wife and I bought a black 2016 Spyder Series Special. I’m over six foot tall and liked the power and whole idea but was not comfortable. Wife loved it so we took a look at 2020 RT, sat on it and we were sold. Took delivery two weeks ago and have ridden over 1000 miles as of now. We bought RT base, we’re Floridians and heated seats not needed. Added top case, backrest, signature lights and attitude bars
We average over 15,000 miles a year and see that still happening. We love this RT, fits me much better then 2016.
I tried hard to not like a Spyder but now I am a true convert.

 

[spyderider1]

I would suggest starting with a cover or covers. I have both the half cover and the full size and use them both depending on the conditions. The covers protect the finish and seat and they also prevent prying eyes if you're traveling and it's parked overnight somewhere. The BRP backrest was added when I bought the RT and would recommend it also. Enjoy the ride, I think you're gonna like it!

 

[DGoebel]

+1 on the Ride it first and build your list of upgrade needs, As I'm in my 60's and am more safety concerned now than ever before, I got the lighting upgrades (LED head and fog lights, Led's in all the stock reflectors), additional Tail/Turn/Stop Led up on the topcase, additional LED turn signals in the mirrors louder horn, Wide-Vue convex mirrors first. Then started working on the other comfort farkles. My wife would tell you the BEST farkle I ever added was the BRP armrests on our '13 RTL. She feels safe enough to nod off on some warm afternoons riding along the Mississippi. I have since added better tires, brakes, swaybar, and am upgrading my shocks soon. But get out there and ride safe and enjoy your new ryde.

 

[Brender]

Hot Seat!

Totally agree with JayBros. I absolutely thought I would NEED a heated seat when I bought my bike but they told me to wait and see if I really needed it. In my mind it still sounds good to have a heated seat but I find the heated grips warm me up just fine!! I was looking at the part list on dealer seat and interpret that it could shift rider position from my original seat I love on my 2018 RT Limited. Stock fits me perfect and I have my doubts if I would ever use a backrest. Get a couple thousand miles on your Spyder and decide what else you need is my recommendation.

 

[Bobby1048]

I too come from two-wheel world, my knees can't handle the 700lbs full dressed cruiser any more. Sadly to say, I did not take my wife out on that Vstar1300 last year at all. I rode it in April alone and decided it's too heavy for me. I had the bike for 4 years and really liked it. I still have a Honda CB1100 though but I always ride alone. I just want to have something that I take my wife with me either cruise around town or scenery trips. I bought a 2013 RT-L and so far put about 500 miles on it just so I can get used to it. So far I like it but haven't taken my wife out on it yet. It is a learning process, but I get better and better with it.
Good luck to you Papaloco, I think you'll find something you like out there.
Cheers

I feel your pain brother. I just picked up a '16 Spyder RT Limited I do love the beast (I call her Sonja). I traded a '13 Kawasaki Voyager for her. That big boy weighed 925 pounds it for me was getting it off the kickstand was getting tough. There is a large learning curve going from 2 wheels to three. Just got her last Saturday there is still a lot I don't know about but thank goodness for the owners manual.

 

[FastOldGuy]

Yea a bunch of us in the same Boat! My GF has a 38' Stink-Pot (e/2 Cat engines) she started looking at HD Triglides since she's SELLING the StinkPot. As a 40 year Harley Owner, I see a HD Trike as a WheelChair and I'm not there yet. I have a 2018 SG with the M8 engine. This SOB is HOT in the Summer so I also add this to the WheelChair thought and it's like Screw That. My Rule (and possibly why at 64 I'm Not Married) never tell a Woman Everything. Well the GF got my mind rolling since my knees hurt for a week after wrestling a 1,000 pounds of Bike and GF... I started looking at TRIKES. I found a Ryker and thought "Man, I Like That but... it will Not Work". Then I started looking at F3's. Nope, No radio, No Bags, Wont Work. Moved up to the RT, nope. Then I'm at a RT-S but I don't want the TRUNK. Knowing she's going to want a backrest I found a 2016 RT-S with low miles and made a deal on it. THEN, I told Her What I'd Done. She was "Noooooo, You Didn't"! I said "YESSSSS, I DID and Well Go Get It On Saturday"! (2 months ago) My RT-S is a SE-6. We've put 600 miles on it and she's driven it for at least 150 miles (yea, with me on the Back)! She likes the Spyder. I got a Bluetooth module from Amazon ($20) and when she's on the back she can control the Radio. I've built 3, 427 Cobra Replicas and the last one I put in Heated Seats (and a Heater). The heated seats in the Cobra are NICE in the Winter. I wonder why CanAm did the grips but No seat heaters. I was thinking about adding the seat heater myself. The OP mentions new Handlebars. Well, even with the stock bars my hands no longer go numb or go to sleep. Good Luck on your Search!

 

[Greven]

Good advice in the thread
I can relate to the topic raised by several allready, to not go overboard with additional farkles before you used the bike for a while. I for example bought the OEM LINQ 16 litre top case for my Ryker, just to realize it is quite too small for my preference. But since you have previous bike experience, you probably have a much better idea of what you want and need