First Spyder Ride

[paws]

Just got back from riding a Spyder for the first time.

Honda dealer was hosting a Spyder promo day. I had been looking at them since 2013. Bought a Goldwing MotorTrike instead after hearing a lot of war stories on the Spyder back then. But I know they have improved them greatly since they first came out. Got to say - it was a fun ride. I can't remember the model name but it was the touring style with all the bells and whistles.

It was comfortable seating and was basically straightforward on ease of operation. The semi-automatic COULD spoil one as opposed to holding the clutch in at a long red light. The steering was light and I knew to expect that from reading the tips and info on TrikeTalk, so I feel I handled that ok.

At first, in low speeds it "wallowed" in the lane but at highway speed it did not. (They told me that was where you have to add a sway bar for stability)

I would definitely rent one after getting to a vacation spot but in the end I'm not really sure it would be a long-distance machine for me, as compared to the Gold Wing. I did find the engine to be rather noisy. The 1330 engine was quick and fairly torquey but I didn't ride it in any heavy passing situations.

The wind protection was good - I was surprised about that. Over all, I liked it, and it was fun, but probably not enough to trade the Gold Wing for it. But, I had to satisfy my curiousity about it and would recommend it to new riders or someone wanting a change. Carla

[hogcowboy]

Yep, that semi-auto can spoil you. I don't ride my wife's very often but when I do I ALWAYS forget to down shift. It babsits me just fine. Not hard to remember to up shift when you wind it out you remember to hit the little switch.

These newer ones are darn good machines. My wife likes her 16 because it can keep up with me now. It does have something all new bikes and trikes should have, that ECO mode. She gets great gas mileage with it on. She just has to remember to get out of that mode if she thinks I might accelerate around slower traffic.

I can leave her in the dust if she doesn't. But I really think all newer machines should have multi-modes. They got the computer so use the things!!!

[Big Juice]

I put 30,000 miles on my conventional trike (1900cc converted with a CSC trike kit) and loved every minute of it. I now have a new Spyder F3, I feel like I just bought a new Corvette! If you want comfort and speed, get a Spyder RT (my wife loves hers, has more storage and more bling to it), if you want sport, get an F3.

My opinion, of course!

[trikermutha]

I would ride one longer. Tire pressure can make a difference on handling too. I found car tires really made the Spyder even better to ride.

[hogcowboy]

I would ride one longer. Tire pressure can make a difference on handling too. I found car tires really made the Spyder even better to ride.

We just had a car tire put on the rear on my wife's Spyder RT. Just a rear so far but she says it made a world of difference from the stock tire. She's still undecided on car tires in the front.

Do you have them up there too and did they make the same huge difference as the rear or did you do them all at the same time so can't say because you got one big change difference. She really likes the new rear and I can see it in her riding. She's on my butt in curves again just like she was on her 12 after we put a Ron Bar on it. We still have that to do on her 16 too.

[Pegasus1300]

I have both the BajaRon Sway bar and the car tires up front and it rides much better and steers better as well. I would do these 3 mods to any Spyder whether I pushed it hard on not,(I do). You can get so much more enjoyment out of it.

[trikermutha]

We just had a car tire put on the rear on my wife's Spyder RT. Just a rear so far but she says it made a world of difference from the stock tire. She's still undecided on car tires in the front. Do you have them up there too and did they make the same huge difference as the rear or did you do them all at the same time so can't say because you got one big change difference. She really likes the new rear and I can see it in her riding. She's on my butt in curves again just like she was on her 12 after we put a Ron Bar on it. We still have that to do on her 16 too.

I went with the Federal Formoza on the front and Kuhmo AST all weather on the rear. Think I am around the 15K mark on the rear tire so far and still have plenty of tread left.

Run 19 front and 29 rear PSI. You can put in whatever PSI works best for you. I did start at 23 PSI on the front.

I can tell you the fronts will make it even better and she will be really happy too

Also have the Baja Ron bar and Shock adjusters from Ron..

[hogcowboy]

I went with the Federal Formoza on the front and Kuhmo AST all weather on the rear. Think I am around the 15K mark on the rear tire so far and still have plenty of tread left.

Run 19 front and 29 rear PSI. You can put in whatever PSI works best for you. I did start at 23 PSI on the front.

I can tell you the fronts will make it even better and she will be really happy too

Also have the Baja Ron bar and Shock adjusters from Ron..

Did you do those both at the same time or try one and then go with the other? Just wondering which one gave more bang for the buck. Our 12 you could change the shock and it did make a huge difference. But we ended up going with the Ronbar anyway. Logic would then say we need both on the 16 too to get the same upgrade in performance but maybe one now would work, like just the Ronbar.

[trikermutha]

Did you do those both at the same time or try one and then go with the other? Just wondering which one gave more bang for the buck. Our 12 you could change the shock and it did make a huge difference. But we ended up going with the Ronbar anyway. Logic would then say we need both on the 16 too to get the same upgrade in performance but maybe one now would work, like just the Ronbar.

Did all my upgrades one at a time. You will really notice the handling for the tires. The shock adjusters were more for the turns and two up riding. (It stiffens up the shock springs) Bit firmer ride. IMO opinion try the swaybar first then if you want to go with the front tires. Shock adjusters can go last.

Did you see they now have a integrated Dash now for the 18 models? Just cant see me jumping on that bandwagon yet just for a dash upgrade.

[hogcowboy]

Did all my upgrades one at a time. You will really notice the handling for the tires. The shock adjusters were more for the turns and two up riding. (It stiffens up the shock springs) Bit firmer ride. IMO opinion try the swaybar first then if you want to go with the front tires. Shock adjusters can go last.

Did you see they now have a integrated Dash now for the 18 models? Just cant see me jumping on that bandwagon yet just for a dash upgrade.

You know, I'm not a big fan of ANYTHING that takes your eyes off the road. I have a small screen on my Indian. The newer ones have what amounts to a iPad. Just way too much information popping up and things you can do while rolling down the road. I've not seen what the 18 models have or look like yet but we won't be getting a new one just for a TV display. Well...unless my wife wants one.

She's the boss now as I retired and she's the one that gets a few extra dollars now and then with her consulting business. And she has hinted at it since she has had nothing but trouble with her 16 and the CB she not wants but has to have.

All dealer caused problems. Enough so that she now has the phone number and email address and a special case number pointing out the poor service and what they have done. It was a good dealer at one time but the owner wants to retire so is turning it over to his son who is a worthless do nothing lying person. This BRP rep has seen first hand now just what we've been dealing with.

So we've help remove that dealer Platinum rating, or Gold, which ever one all dealers want, I just can't remember now. And are in the process of helping another dealer get theirs. This other dealer at least has a BRP trained mechanic and the one we have been going to since that worthless son took over refuses to send his off the street shade tree butcher to get trained. Two years worth of this. We just had enough and exposed them. Sorry for the rant.

[trikermutha]

You know, I'm not a big fan of ANYTHING that takes your eyes off the road. I have a small screen on my Indian. The newer ones have what amounts to a iPad. Just way too much information popping up and things you can do while rolling down the road. I've not seen what the 18 models have or look like yet but we won't be getting a new one just for a TV display. Well...unless my wife wants one. She's the boss now as I retired and she's the one that gets a few extra dollars now and then with her consulting business. And she has hinted at it since she has had nothing but trouble with her 16 and the CB she not wants but has to have. All dealer caused problems. Enough so that she now has the phone number and email address and a special case number pointing out the poor service and what they have done. It was a good dealer at one time but the owner wants to retire so is turning it over to his son who is a worthless do nothing lying person. This BRP rep has seen first hand now just what we've been dealing with. So we've help remove that dealer Platinum rating, or Gold, which ever one all dealers want, I just can't remember now. And are in the process of helping another dealer get theirs. This other dealer at least has a BRP trained mechanic and the one we have been going to since that worthless son took over refuses to send his off the street shade tree butcher to get trained. Two years worth of this. We just had enough and exposed them. Sorry for the rant.

I hear you. Went thru problems with my First Harley the Dealer wasted so much of my time. I ended up fixing it myself in that case.

I know what you mean by the TV on the dash.

Been really lucky with my Spyder only thing in 3 years was that DESS error. Changed the module and that took care of that for now.

Is your wife the one with the CB problems I been reading about on another forum?

[hogcowboy]

I hear you. Went thru problems with my First Harley the Dealer wasted so much of my time. I ended up fixing it myself in that case.

I know what you mean by the TV on the dash.

Been really lucky with my Spyder only thing in 3 years was that DESS error. Changed the module and that took care of that for now.

I wouldn't be surprised. She seems to spend time there. I stopped going to that site so have no idea what she's bitching about or saying I screwed up.

[trikermutha]

I wouldn't be surprised. She seems to spend time there. I stopped going to that site so have no idea what she's bitching about or saying I screwed up.

I think see said something about a new bike you were going to buy her

If she is that person it was all the dealers fault the CB don't work correctly and been to a few dealers now??

[3-togo]

Just got back from riding a Spyder for the first time.

Honda dealer was hosting a Spyder promo day. I had been looking at them since 2013. Bought a Goldwing MotorTrike instead after hearing a lot of war stories on the Spyder back then. But I know they have improved them greatly since they first came out. Got to say - it was a fun ride. I can't remember the model name but it was the touring style with all the bells and whistles.

It was comfortable seating and was basically straightforward on ease of operation. The semi-automatic COULD spoil one as opposed to holding the clutch in at a long red light. The steering was light and I knew to expect that from reading the tips and info on TrikeTalk, so I feel I handled that ok.

At first, in low speeds it "wallowed" in the lane but at highway speed it did not. (They told me that was where you have to add a sway bar for stability)

I would definitely rent one after getting to a vacation spot but in the end I'm not really sure it would be a long-distance machine for me, as compared to the Gold Wing. I did find the engine to be rather noisy. The 1330 engine was quick and fairly torquey but I didn't ride it in any heavy passing situations.

The wind protection was good - I was surprised about that. Over all, I liked it, and it was fun, but probably not enough to trade the Gold Wing for it. But, I had to satisfy my curiousity about it and would recommend it to new riders or someone wanting a change. Carla

Hi, loved my 2015 rtl. Added extras but ran fine out of the box. Rear tire won't last long, recommend altimax car tire for replacement. Overall,most comfortable road bike I've owned or ridden. Corners damn well, learn how to use this machine and unlikely you fall behind any trike.

Pete

[rhino 2]

Hi, loved my 2015 rtl. Added extras but ran fine out of the box. Rear tire won't last long, recommend altimax car tire for replacement. Overall,most comfortable road bike I've owned or ridden. Corners damn well, learn how to use this machine and unlikely you fall behind any trike.

Pete

I had a 08 Spyder [New] The stock tire went 29+ thousand miles...

[FuzzyWuzHe]

I had a 08 Spyder [New] The stock tire went 29+ thousand miles...

That's because you ride in the snow ...

[rhino 2]

That's because you ride in the snow ...

I do ride in the snow, But that isn't the reason, I ride my Trikes like they are made to be ridden, Had my tire burners over the years, VTX 1800, Suzuki T1000, And a Bussa and also a host of UJM's that will smoke the tires at will... And i'm well over that..

But to each his own .......

[hogcowboy]

I think see said something about a new bike you were going to buy her

If she is that person it was all the dealers fault the CB don't work correctly and been to a few dealers now??

Dang, I'm really late seeing this. Sorry. Yes, that's her alright. She now has an F3 she's playing with. Wants to do everything herself when it comes to adding goodies or as they say over there, farkles. Has just about everything installed. Only thing I've done is, shall we say, customizing of parts needed.

[trikermutha]

Dang, I'm really late seeing this. Sorry. Yes, that's her alright. She now has an F3 she's playing with. Wants to do everything herself when it comes to adding goodies or as they say over there, farkles. Has just about everything installed. Only thing I've done is, shall we say, customizing of parts needed.

Went to a F3 now bet she is happy Farkles

I seen to new 2020 is coming out and liked what I seen so far, but still waiting to see the 2020 Slingshot.

[hogcowboy]

Went to a F3 now bet she is happy Farkles

I seen to new 2020 is coming out and liked what I seen so far, but still waiting to see the 2020 Slingshot.

Yeah, the new F3 even has me interested. But I'm having trouble giving up my Indian. If wishes made it happen, I'd already have a trike kit on it. But man it would be expensive and Randy is a bunch farther than I want to go even with his offer to meet half way. My back just won't let me go very far anymore. But I sure wish it was done.

As to the wife, I guess she's happy. Been installing all her farkles herself so busy and happy I think. Has me do certain things she doesn't want to do but I know she isn't done yet. Not sure exactly what's next for her. She certsinly can't ride both bikes. One is going to have to go but I think she wants me to start riding it and is trying to make it like my Indian as close as possible. What a gal !!! But I really would rather trike mine.