Traded my 2013 RTS SM 5 for a Harley today

[BajaRon]

A properly set up Spyder is always going to be much more stable in the wind than 2 wheels. It's just a matter of physics.

Of course the rider will get the same amount of abuse from the wind on either machine. But on 2 wheels you MUST lean into the wind the exact amount necessary to counter the side force. Whereas the Spyder doesn't need to do much, if anything, depending on the amount of force.

The problem with the Spyder is that any body movement can be transmitted to the handlebars if your grip is too tight. This will then make the Spyder drift or dart. But it isn't the wind buffeting, it is the rider's input. Many try to stiff arm the Spyder in the wind thinking it will stabilize both the rider and the machine. But just the opposite occurs with this approach. Instead, relax the arms and the grip and you'll find your Spyder will settle down nicely.

You can add to this improper tire pressures and wheel alignment as additional possible causes. But the primary cause is almost always the rider. It simply takes a different riding style to handle 3 wheels. It's actually much easier than riding 2 wheels, but you have to unlearn your 2 wheel habits.

Hope you like the Harley. :thumbup:

 

[jerpinoy]

Enjoy and ride safe. Keep in touch.

 

[Woodsrider]

I could not get used to the wind buffeting and traded today for a 2011 HD Ultra Limited. Rode the Spyder 3 hours to the dealer. Was blown all over the road. Rode the Harley home in the heat of the day with the wind up. No buffeting. Like it was on a rail. Took a loss on the Syder but had huge grin on my face. Happy now. Will wave at you as I pass you.

Congrats!!! Having had all kinds of motorcycles the buffeting, especially with tractor trailers, was worse on every two wheeler I've had, including an 07 Electra Glide Ultra Classic, when compared to the Spyder.

The bottom line is you being happy, and the Ultra is a fine machine.

Did close to 300 miles yesterday with thunderstorms and 35 mph gusts and it was solid as a rock, I was kicked back with one hand on the bar cruise set at 70something and watching the cages and trucks get blown around . My front tires are set with a dual air fill so matched pressure, a bajaron bar with his links.

 

[AeroPilot]

Wind is wind

I had my Spyder laser aligned at Winston Salem Can Am/ Honda at my 600 mile checkup. The tech said he was trained by Lamont. Said my Spyder was right on and did not need any adjustment. I did not have a Sway bar put on because I thought my issue was wind buffeting. I read all of the posts on here. Tucked in knees, had loose grip, put windshield up/ down, etc. Just could not get used to being blown all over the road. Felt like the wind was going to flip the Spyder which I guess is not possible. The Spyder was not for me. I could not keep up with other riders I was with. To each his own. Spyders are neat, attract many questions, and are fun to ride around town. I like to ride away from town. Enjoy riding but ride!

2 wheelers, SPyder, Hondas, Harleys all feel the wind to different extents. I remember my XS750 Yamaha leaning into a stiff crosswind as the worst. You appreciate the days with a tail wind, endure a headwind and deal with the crosswinds. The heavier bikes like my Road King hold their line pretty well but of course you learn to lean and countersteer. The front passenger seat feels pretty good on the wife's RT, but it can be a B---- on the back with a strong crosswind. We have enjoyed the 50,000 miles on the RT through many relatively trouble free miles and I enjoy the days/turns I get to pilot. I enjoy the fuel economy of the Road King and especially the 6th gear on the interstate.

In a couple of years when we both retire, we'll probably tour on a new Spyder with the new engine/trans and get rid of the old ones. This weekend the Road King will set in the "barn" while we two-up and hit about three states, just because its more convenient that way. I enjoy wrenching on them but like most Enjoy the Ride!

 

[bikeguy]

Congrats on the Harley and hope you have many happy miles on it. I can almost spit on the highway from my front porch so I see a lot of traffic come by and I'll say that I see Harleys coming by on days when the wind is so bad that I don't see many other bikes at all. There are always more Harleys on the road than anything else but, still, on really windy days they seem to be doing just fine. But then, my spyder does just fine, too.

When I picked up my brand new 2010 RT and started home I thought I had made a terrible mistake. There was about a 15 mph crosswind when I hit the highway and I couldn't keep it in my lane. It was all over the road. A bike that can't be ridden in the wind is useless in west Texas. I tried to be loose on the bars like I read about on Spyderlovers. But knowing something and making your muscles react to what your brain knows are two different things. I don't mind admitting that it took me awhile to overcome years of 2 wheel experience and adjust to the Spyder. When I finally "got it", the Spyder went from being the worst thing I'd ever rode in the wind to being the best. Now, I can swap back and forth between my Spyder and my 650 BMW with no problem. They are both just fine in the wind. They are just ridden differently.

Cotton

 

[flaggerphil]

Wind buffeting? On a Spyder? Not on mine, anyway.

 

[BajaRon]

Congrats on the Harley and hope you have many happy miles on it. I can almost spit on the highway from my front porch so I see a lot of traffic come by and I'll say that I see Harleys coming by on days when the wind is so bad that I don't see many other bikes at all. There are always more Harleys on the road than anything else but, still, on really windy days they seem to be doing just fine. But then, my spyder does just fine, too.

When I picked up my brand new 2010 RT and started home I thought I had made a terrible mistake. There was about a 15 mph crosswind when I hit the highway and I couldn't keep it in my lane. It was all over the road. A bike that can't be ridden in the wind is useless in west Texas. I tried to be loose on the bars like I read about on Spyderlovers. But knowing something and making your muscles react to what your brain knows are two different things. I don't mind admitting that it took me awhile to overcome years of 2 wheel experience and adjust to the Spyder. When I finally "got it", the Spyder went from being the worst thing I'd ever rode in the wind to being the best. Now, I can swap back and forth between my Spyder and my 650 BMW with no problem. They are both just fine in the wind. They are just ridden differently.

Cotton

My experience almost word for word. Swap Texas for Tennessee and your BMW for my M109R and it is the same story. :thumbup:

Once I discovered it was me and not the machine, we have been on very good terms ever since. Some just don't hang in there long enough to give the Spyder a chance.

 

[EnjoyingTheRyde]

Did something similar...

Traded my '13 ST Limited for a '12 Tri-Glide last week. Dealer was anxious for the Spyder. Came from an '11 Street Glide to my ST but went back to HD. Stayed on three wheels but my wife says mine was built backwards... She still has her '12 RT-S.

 

[Questions]

Hope you don't have issues with the Harley. My buddies new 2014 full dresser limited is on it's third battery and now has been recalled for the third time. This time is for the rear shock that is leaking oil.

 

[MidTNDawg]

Like others

I doubt seriously you will pass me, but I will wave when we meet. Glad you are happy with your ride. The few times I have ridden two wheels since getting my 2012 RT Ltd has reinforced my choice of a Spyder. My 2014 is just simply a dream. I have ridden GL 1800s, F6s and a BMW R 1200 RT in this time. And no, I do not ride "in town" as you suggested any longer than it takes to get out of town.

 

[Woodsrider]

funny, I rode tailgunner for a group this weekend. Lead was a 14 Ultra Classic, then a few Japanese cruisers.

Only one not being buffeted by the winds and big rigs was me and the wife on the Spyder. Ride was to an event at a Harley dealer about 3 hours away for me, hour for them, I picked them up along the way.

I still love the Harleys and will likely always have several two wheelers, but for speed, comfort, stability, and getting around corners quickly...the Spyder is just killer on those under horse powered cruisers.

 

[MikeP]

A properly set up Spyder is always going to be much more stable in the wind than 2 wheels. It's just a matter of physics.

Of course the rider will get the same amount of abuse from the wind on either machine. But on 2 wheels you MUST lean into the wind the exact amount necessary to counter the side force. Whereas the Spyder doesn't need to do much, if anything, depending on the amount of force.

The problem with the Spyder is that any body movement can be transmitted to the handlebars if your grip is too tight. This will then make the Spyder drift or dart. But it isn't the wind buffeting, it is the rider's input. Many try to stiff arm the Spyder in the wind thinking it will stabilize both the rider and the machine. But just the opposite occurs with this approach. Instead, relax the arms and the grip and you'll find your Spyder will settle down nicely.

You can add to this improper tire pressures and wheel alignment as additional possible causes. But the primary cause is almost always the rider. It simply takes a different riding style to handle 3 wheels. It's actually much easier than riding 2 wheels, but you have to unlearn your 2 wheel habits.

Hope you like the Harley. :thumbup:

The above is the best explanation / Period... I liken riding the spyder to riding a dirt bike in the sand,, over compensation leads to a skittish ride = Pucker Factor!! I have just under 13,000mi on my 13 RTS and it's been a longer learning curve than I thought it would be.. Unlearning a two wheeled mindset of 44yrs is not easy and I'm glad I sold all my motorcycles to focus on riding a spyder as good as I could.. I hope your happy with your decision / my opinion is : You gave up on a much better mode of open air travel waaaaay tooooooo soon!!!!! Harley Davidson is making the best motorcycles they ever have but if I'm goin coast to coast or on a long trip,,, it ain't gonna be on any Harley any more. Been there done that ... There's a reason you see more Harleys in pickups and on trailers than any other brand..

 

[miltonb]

miss you

The above is the best explanation / Period... I liken riding the spyder to riding a dirt bike in the sand,, over compensation leads to a skittish ride = Pucker Factor!! I have just under 13,000mi on my 13 RTS and it's been a longer learning curve than I thought it would be.. Unlearning a two wheeled mindset of 44yrs is not easy and I'm glad I sold all my motorcycles to focus on riding a spyder as good as I could.. I hope your happy with your decision / my opinion is : You gave up on a much better mode of open air travel waaaaay tooooooo soon!!!!! Harley Davidson is making the best motorcycles they ever have but if I'm goin coast to coast or on a long trip,,, it ain't gonna be on any Harley any more. Been there done that ... There's a reason you see more Harleys in pickups and on trailers than any other brand..

hit a deer last year if I was on two wheels my wife and I might not be here.
good luck with your bike. :yes:

 

[Dragonrider]

Enjoy your new ride - some folks never adjust to the Spyder, and/or BRP.... Lots of ways to adjust your ride to the wind - going back to two wheels is just one of them..

 

[NorCalBud]

Enjoy your new ride - some folks never adjust to the Spyder, and/or BRP.... Lots of ways to adjust your ride to the wind - going back to two wheels is just one of them..

:agree::agree::agree:
As Spyder Ryders, I think we all know that "it's not WHAT you ride, it's THAT you ride"! Hope I get the chance to wave at you... see you out there!

 

[Top End Unlimited]

Traded Harley for Spyder

I could not get used to the wind buffeting and traded today for a 2011 HD Ultra Limited. Rode the Spyder 3 hours to the dealer. Was blown all over the road. Rode the Harley home in the heat of the day with the wind up. No buffeting. Like it was on a rail. Took a loss on the Syder but had huge grin on my face. Happy now. Will wave at you as I pass you.

Glad to hear you got what you wanted. I on the other hand traded my 2013 HD Ultra for a Spyder RT. Both have advantages and disadvantages. Like they say, " Whatever trips your trigger."

 

[n1njazx7]

My Spyder is rock solid in the wind as well, it's me and the wife that get all the abuse. The wind pulls us side to side something awful. I know what he's feeling, it's not the bike just the nature of the beast. I changed the wind shield on my Harley to lessen the wind on us but they just don't have the aftermarket for the Spyder that they do for Harley's. I do like my 2013 RT Limited but I stay away from interstates and freeways. My Harley was always at home on any rode. Have fun and keep riding anyway you can.

 

[Denny B.]

And I just did the opposite. After many years on a Harley dresser, I sold it and got a 14 RT. I am happy with it.