Anyone switched from a GL1500 to a Spyder RT? Looking for advice

Anyone switched from a GL1500 to a Spyder RT? Looking for advice

I took my 1997 GL1500A on vacation to Stowe Vermont area. Twisty mountain roads as far as the eye can see. I noticed more Can Ams than I've ever seen in one place. It got me wondering if they know something I don't know. I'm definitely not the most aggressive driver but really struggled on some of the long curves since the speed limit is 50 mph everywhere you go and a lot of the roads are not in very good condition. I test drove a Spyder RT in 2013 before I had my wing triked. I found them extremely easy to steer but didn't like the sound of the 900 cc engine they were using at the time. Tell me, are the Can Ams easier to maneuver on the twisties than a standard trike? I've read in some posts about something to do with a "twitching" feeling while cornering. Not sure what that's all about. I'm also wondering about the reliability of the Spyder. I've read horror stories about the early Spyders and people being left on the side of the road because of breakdowns. Not sure if this is true but just asking. What about maintenance. Is it a constant problem with the front end going out of alignment? How often do you need to replace tires? I really like the idea of the paddle shifter, does that work well? Any advice I can get would be appreciated. I know everyone will say to test drive one, which I will do, but want to hear from people who actually own one. Thanks

I'll be subscribed to this thread with hopefully some good responses. I like to read about the Spyders, especially the RTs. I've done a fair amount of homework, and demo'd the RT, I like it, perhaps a little too much, to me, I could not find any problems on the demo ride. My problem, I could not bring myself to almost give away my 2005 GW/2012 Road Smith conversion to own the Spyder RT. The only way I could manage the out door cost, was to do a private sale of my sled, and I just didn't want the hassle. In the end, I'm doing a seat rehab and deep maintenance on my three wheeler, and maybe discover some way to make the suspension better, the rehabbed seat should help some. Maintenance cost on the RT are unreal I suppose because of the technical aspects of the machine, and labor involved in getting to a simple oil change. If I chose, I suspect the my GW/Road Smith three wheeler will last as long as I ride. So it's all a good ending.

Bill, I have come to many of the same conclusions as you. I MIGHT wait on a year-end model again but it will probably be the same scenario as the 2017 year-ends...dealer was not desperate to have my trike as a trade-in...2008 GW Motor Trike Adventure kit, 34K miles. Not a darn thing wrong with it but I don’t have a dealer to work on it within 300 miles if something major does go wrong, whereas the local Honda shop sells/services the Spyders. I love my trike....its just the “what-ifs” that keep me on edge with the trike kit.

Paws certainly understand, we all seem to have our 'special' needs, opinions and programs for a specific brand ownership.

Recently chatted with a can am rider from either New Mexico or Arizona.

He was passing thru Kansas on his way North.

He said he was on his THIRD Can Am. Said the current one was the best

of the bunch. Said they seem to get better each year.

The wife and I test rode a couple maybe two years ago.

The current generation Can Ams are much better than the originals

It had more room and the butterfly shifter on the left grip is interesting to me

I have some issues with the left lower leg which can make shifting a pain.

Best I can say is take a test ride and buy the extended warranty

(and be prepared for some teasing, the poor can am riders seem to get more than there share of ribbing)

Some dealers also offer a 3 year plan, about $lK I think, that covers all the maintenance for those three years. For the cost of service, that's a deal.

I came from a 1990 Goldwing GL1500 converted to a trike.I found it a real workout in the twisties. After four years I sold it and went to a 2012 RTL with the semi automatic trans. It had 8500 miles on it. It now has 40,000+on it.Great bike.Just got back from 2000 mi trip to Black Hills and back.Great adventure at the Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally. I find it handles much better then the Goldwing did.

Pegasus1300 said:

I came from a 1990 Goldwing GL1500 converted to a trike.I found it a real workout in the twisties. After four years I sold it and went to a 2012 RTL with the semi automatic trans. It had 8500 miles on it. It now has 40,000+on it.Great bike.Just got back from 2000 mi trip to Black Hills and back.Great adventure at the Deadwood 3 Wheeler Rally. I find it handles much better then the Goldwing did.

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That's good to hear from someone that actually owns one. I also find it a work out doing twisties. My wife is afraid the passenger seat won't be as comfortable as the lamb-skin covered one I have now. (Really comfortable) Do you have the touring seat or regular? Not sure if they made the touring seat in 2012. (I think that's what they call it) How comfy is the seat you have?

brianl said:

That's good to hear from someone that actually owns one. I also find it a work out doing twisties. My wife is afraid the passenger seat won't be as comfortable as the lamb-skin covered one I have now. (Really comfortable) Do you have the touring seat or regular? Not sure if they made the touring seat in 2012. (I think that's what they call it) How comfy is the seat you have?

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Yes they made that seat and no I don't have that one. My wife likes this one ok and finds it comfortable as the wing but it works. You can always do what you did to the wing seat. I have a gel pad in the driver's part from motorcycledave.com that works for me really well.

Have you had any mechanical or electrical issues that weren't easily resolved?

I can't answer about Spyders, but my reverse trike Goldwing Endeavor handles very well in the "twisties" I'll be test riding a Spyder soon so I can compare them and will report my findings.

brianl said:

Have you had any mechanical or electrical issues that weren't easily resolved?

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The Honda or the Spyder?. No issues with the Honda,except bad gas mileage. On the Spyder,no issues that weren't easy to resolve. But as you know anytime you have any issue you can't resolve your self it is expensive. So far I have had a relatively incident free ownership experience. I now have 40,000+ miles on it. It is a great bike and fun to ride. For me much more fun then the Goldwing trike.

Just remember, a random electrical issue can be very hard to resolve no matter what kind of machine you have. Don't blame the brand. Especially these computer controlled machines today.