Would You Go Back?

[jaherbst]

You just need to develop your skills better!:roflblack:

Na, just don't ride on roads with potholes.

Jack

 

[AeroPilot]

Is it wishing I could or fond memories....

Probably a little of both. There were only 4 two wheelers before I switched to 3 wheels last year, and many fond memories and wouldn't we all like to be younger/faster/more good looking again? I met my wife when all I had to ride was the old Yamaha and shanks mare, and she stuck with me through cold weather, and storms and even a little hail on our rides. After a 20 year hiatus, She suggested I might need a bike and 10 years and several bikes later, here I am on three wheels. Still enjoying it and thankful for every ride and experience!!!!

 

[HayRog]

I do miss 2 wheels, A LOT -- and if I could justify owning another FJR1300 I'd be on it !
But -- common sense tells me that my arthritic joints will still feel bad :sour:

So, Spyder it is -- and we're both loving it hyea:

So -- would if I could but I shouldn't.

 

[Bob Denman]

I miss giving a bike the "One-cheek tweak", in a sweeping corner... :shocked:
But I wouldn't go back! :thumbup:

 

[blitzkreig]

My knees went to hell in my 40's and I thought my riding days were over. At 65, my wife insisted I buy a Spyder - I had just retired and had time on my hands.

Not only do I love it, I don't think I'd go back, even if medical science could fix my knees.

Dan, Hayrog, and all ...

my knees went in an industrial accident when I was 17 years old. Two compound fractures with LOTs of bone missing in the dirt of the factory floor ...

When the surgeons were done (finally after my 21st birthday) my one leg is about 1" shorter than my other leg and this other leg had a 13 degree deflection. 13 degrees doesn't sound like much but I was so bowlegged I couldn't "stop a pig in an alley'.

That never stopped me and I have owned many many BMW motorcycles since. I just walked a little crooked.

Finally at about 60 years old my knees succumbed to osteoarthritis.

So I bought a 2014 Spider ... But then I could only walk a few hundred feet to where it was parked or I would have to sit down and wait until the pain subsided.

Enough of this.

Since then I have had BOTH knees replaced. What a miracle. The two legs are not only straight but absolutely no pain no matter how long I walk. The legs although they are all scarred up from all of the surgeries are simply beautiful to me.

All I say is go get them knees replaced. A couple days of pain and about a month of rehab and I am good to go ... No kidding it was just that simple.

Now I can use my BMWs or Spider but I find my Spider supremely comfortable to ride and it comes out most often.

 

[Ron2andia]

I saw these and fell in love at first sight. I test drove it a couple of times and was sold... I ride my friends 2 wheeler when I visit him but love this bike toooo much..

 

[RussRT]

I have had my Spyder for a year now! I rode 2 wheels for 39 years. I really like and enjoy my Spyder.
So far have I kept my 2013 Kawasaki Vilcan Nomad 1700. I really enjoy the big V Twin.
So for now I have both

 

[rosebelle]

I have just started riding a Spyder. This was because I missed, and lacked confidence in riding two wheeled cycles on the road (I have dirt bikes still). I thought this may bring me back into road motorcycle riding, a stepping stone backwards if you like. To get my fitness up.

In answer to the OP question, although I am still learning the spider, this makes me more determined to go back to two wheels health permitting (65 years old). And this is because , rarely mentioned above, it was the precise steering and effortless handling that a motorcycle has that brings enjoyment. Although Spyders appear fun to ride, they are not effortless and precise. I am surprised of the many aging and varying levels of disability people gravitating towards these. I ride an enduro Yamaha WR250F, have reasonable upper body strength and no great disabilities, but find the Spyder noticeably demanding in the steering department.

 

[Peter Aawen]

.......Although Spyders appear fun to ride, they are not effortless and precise. .......... but find the Spyder noticeably demanding in the steering department.

The factory alignment method generally used on Spyders leaves A LOT to be desired!! Get a 'proper' wheel alignment done on your Spyder & they become much more effortless & precise to steer. That brings us to the factory fitted 'black round things that keep the metal parts off the road' - the Kenda 'tires' really don't qualify for the tire label and barely qualify as good enough to be called crap!! Get some 'proper' tires fitted to go with that 'proper' wheel alignment & Spyders can & do become effortless & precise to ride!! :thumbup:

In fact, set them up right, forget about your entrenched 2wheel foibles, & learn to ride your Spyder the way IT should be ridden rather than trying to force it to behave like a 2wheeler while being ridden with 2wheel steering techniques & body movements, & instead learn to ride & use the best features of the chassis & engine, the different rev & power bands, the enhanced traction, steering, & handling characteristics etc, & your Spyder can be far more effortless & precise to ride than just about any 2wheeler, even if maybe not quite as outright fast in a straight line!! Buuut, fix the factory alignment & tire stuff-ups & then ridden/steered as a Spyder should be instead of trying to ride it like a 2wheeler, they become a blast to ride at speed thru the twisties; as well as being safer, more stable, have better braking, better steering, and basically are able to be ridden by a wider range of riders/wider skill range of operators than any 2wheeler - do that & you might begin to understand the appeal.

As long as you keep trying to force your Spyder into compliance with your 2wheel biased expectations, you are bound to be disappointed. Funnily enough, they AREN'T two-wheelers! :shocked: Not only do they have another wheel up front, but when you learn to ride them rather than fighting them, they become sooo much more!