2020 Spyder RT

[hogcowboy]

...

When I ride a Gold Wing around town or on the road ... very few people look. When I ride a Harley ... my heart pounds with excitement and everybody looks ... half are annoyed that it's making noise and they think it's dangerous. The other half are having the same visceral response that I have when riding a Harley.

...

I think if I was all hot over an engine, I'd be going for a nice shiny 454 Chevy Boss Hoss. Don't get much better than that.

 

[FuzzyWuzHe]

Indeed Fuzzy, I'm aware you are totally hard core Harley and you explain why, makes sense to me. My friend in Sevierville TN is absolutely hard core Harley coming off a GW some years ago. There is probably nothing that would pull him off the Harley Trike now, coming off two wheels going to three because health issues. He finds faults, but he soldiers on with the Harley brand, smiling and feeling good because of the very things you have mentioned.

I might could be tempted with an Indian Trike ... Never ridden an Indian ... afraid to ... worried I might fall head over heals ... :AGGHH:

 

[Marc H]

Bill there is a place in the Sevierville area that rents them.For me the reasons are numerous but i still give them a look and a sit when new ones come out.First and most important for me is with the wifes bad back she not ride anything with a single tire right under her period.As for the rest they have improved a bunch the past few years but the first ones had issues we heard about a bunch.Wait times of months for parts and high prices for starters.Then the big improvement of the 1300 engine was followed with the reports of heat high enough to in some cases melt the plastics.I think they have overcome alot of this but once a bad image is given it takes along time for it to go away.Plus 2 to 30 is hard enough for alot to do and they want it to resemble a motorcycle.Also these aren't small investments and swapping to something else as some of you know is quite expensive and when that swap is for something not tried and true thats a truely scary proposition.

 

[hogcowboy]

I might could be tempted with an Indian Trike ... Never ridden an Indian ... afraid to ... worried I might fall head over heals ... :AGGHH:

Yeah, don't unless you are ready to switch. One test ride is all it took for me and I was suddenly in debt big time. Would do it again though. Indian is the best Harley I've ever owned.

 

[bikerbillone]

Bill there is a place in the Sevierville area that rents them.For me the reasons are numerous but i still give them a look and a sit when new ones come out.First and most important for me is with the wifes bad back she not ride anything with a single tire right under her period.As for the rest they have improved a bunch the past few years but the first ones had issues we heard about a bunch.Wait times of months for parts and high prices for starters.Then the big improvement of the 1300 engine was followed with the reports of heat high enough to in some cases melt the plastics.I think they have overcome alot of this but once a bad image is given it takes along time for it to go away.Plus 2 to 30 is hard enough for alot to do and they want it to resemble a motorcycle.Also these aren't small investments and swapping to something else as some of you know is quite expensive and when that swap is for something not tried and true thats a truely scary proposition.

All you've said has a lot of merit, and as you've said, they have improved a lot since the big 'heating problem'. The price at around $31/32K for the RTL with all that I would need for two up touring is a daunting number, spending that kind of money, I do not want problems. One big thing as you also mentioned, is the maintenance and repair problem, the horror stories abound about getting parts, down time, repair techs that can't repair, believe me, I think about that. Trying not to pick on the Spyder, because other brands experience the same problems. I'm just not sure I'll be riding a Spyder, but it does grab my imagination seeing myself and the wife out on the tour on that thing, somehow it does capture my imagination. Next time I'm in Sevierville to visit my friend, I check out the dealer you mention and see if I can rent one. Thanks for the comment.

 

[Marc H]

All you've said has a lot of merit, and as you've said, they have improved a lot since the big 'heating problem'. The price at around $31/32K for the RTL with all that I would need for two up touring is a daunting number, spending that kind of money, I do not want problems. One big thing as you also mentioned, is the maintenance and repair problem, the horror stories abound about getting parts, down time, repair techs that can't repair, believe me, I think about that. Trying not to pick on the Spyder, because other brands experience the same problems. I'm just not sure I'll be riding a Spyder, but it does grab my imagination seeing myself and the wife out on the tour on that thing, somehow it does capture my imagination. Next time I'm in Sevierville to visit my friend, I check out the dealer you mention and see if I can rent one. Thanks for the comment.

https://wolfcreekrentals.us/motorcycle-fleet/

 

[Marc H]

Truthfully if your gonna that different you better be good and for a company that big they just weren't in the beginning.I think they will continue to improve and grow in popularity.In time there voice will grow and it wont seem like they are being shunned.The shear amount of people on other bikes compared to the Spyder makes it appear that way and as their numbers go up that percentage will equalize some.

 

[trikermutha]

The 1330's do not have heat issue. :shok: I have no problem getting parts. I have ordered parts and received them within a week in not sooner.

The heat issues have been resolved with the upper air scoops kits, now this was on the 2013 models on down. May have only been 2011-2013 MY's.

The 1330 is one fine engine. Mine is in the range of 33K and others have a lot more for mileage.

I for one may not buy a new Spyder but a good low mileage 2020 at some point. If not, there's always a Slingshot or Vanderhall

Good Luck!

 

[bikerbillone]

Always the good comment, mutha.

 

[Pegasus1300]

The really bad heat problems were on the 2013 and BRP addressed that with some major body modifictions. I have a 2012 with 53,000+ miles on it with no heat problems and no other breakdowns. I would go anywhere on it and never worry. Parts have never been a problem,even when I broke a paddle shifter ( my fault) they had a new one in two days and fixed in four. It is smooth, quiet, comfortable, and fun. What more could you ask for. And Bill, with new 2020 now hitting the showrooms, there are some really good deals out there on leftover 2018 and 2019s. If you keep worrying about what might happen, you'll never get one. Ride more worry less.

 

[bikerbillone]

Outstanding comment Paul, we both know I've been looking at the RT/RTL forever, so your comment is well accepted. The 2020 has definitely caught my attention with the 47 gallon storage and can replace my GW/RoadSmith conversion with ease with the additional luggage capacity. Yep, you also right with 'what if' things which comes with every two or three wheel machine. I think about the expense, but perhaps I can snag a 2019 and make the luggage thing work, just take less stuff, but you know how the two up thing works. I really want to get a handle on how the 2020 performs for others during this year, but trying not to overthink it. Thanks again, always good to read your comments, I'm aware you came off a GW three wheeler back in the day and never looked back.

 

[kingfish108]

I bought a 2014 RTL new and had it for two years. Put 19K miles on it. The 2020 looks to be a big improvement with the saddlebags and rear tourpak. Those were my complaints along with the tires. At 14K I was on my third pair of front tires and two alignments. At 7600 miles I was putting on my second rear tire. After two years I traded for a '17 TriGlide and have never looked back. I have over 45K on it. I wish CanAm would switch to car tires and put a bigger engine in to improve gas mileage. Those two items would get me looking back.

 

[Pegasus1300]

I bought a 2014 RTL new and had it for two years. Put 19K miles on it. The 2020 looks to be a big improvement with the saddlebags and rear tourpak. Those were my complaints along with the tires. At 14K I was on my third pair of front tires and two alignments. At 7600 miles I was putting on my second rear tire. After two years I traded for a '17 TriGlide and have never looked back. I have over 45K on it. I wish CanAm would switch to car tires and put a bigger engine in to improve gas mileage. Those two items would get me looking back.

I'm glad you found something you love to ride.You had a front tire/front end problem that your dealer should have recognized. Kenda tires junk and many have had to replace front tires from the factory because of faulty tires. In 2014 Spyder put on a new Kenda on the rear with a softer compound, it didn't wear very well at all and they switched back, but they are still crummy tires. You could have switch to car tires any time you want to. Hundreds have, I did. I got 35, 000 miles out of my 1st rear car tire. I have car tires on the front also and the have over 40,000 miles and still going strong. The rims on a Spyder are car tire rims so have no trouble taking standard car type tires. The only thing to remember is to lower the tire pressure as the Spyder has nowhere near the weight of a car. I run 15lbs in the front and 20Lbs in the rear. Hope you are getting lots of miles on your Tri.

 

[trikermutha]

You should have not gone thru that many front tires. Something doesn't sound right.

Rear tire is a mixed bag on that one . I had the softer Kenda compound didn't last 5800 miles. Then went to the Vee rubber. Even worse yet.

Then went to a car tire and that held up much better.

Now going to install the new Kenda Kanine tire and see how that pans out. Tire is on the wheel. Just waiting for a new seal and some new dampeners. Then I will install and wait for spring.

Had the Tri too. Getting older it was time to move on from driving a tank.

Bigger engine , is has a inline 3 on it and can be tuned to unleash more power.

 

[hogcowboy]

Yeah, unfortunately you have to travel some distance to get laser aligned and that's what yours needed for sure. Or rather that's my guess. We had to travel to Springfield Missouri to get my wife's RT done and boy did it make a difference she says. That's just in handling. Better tire wear is a bonus. We put a car tire on just as soon as that factory piece of garbage wore out. It's the only way to go.

 

[kingfish108]

I had two laser alignments at 14K. I would have changed to car tires but after getting one on the back, which the dealer charged $180 to install, I couldn't get anyone in my area to do the fronts. I didn't feel like getting into the tire changing business myself, so we parted ways. It was fun to ride, just not fun dealing with the tires.

 

[hogcowboy]

I hear ya loud and clear. They don’t make it easy. But I sure wish I had gotten a good tire change, there almost automatic one, years ago. That thing would have paid for itself several times over. And that would be before we got a Spyder. The Spyder would have just been icing on the cake so to speak.

 

[trikermutha]

The front tires can be done by a car tire shop . balancing would required a smaller hub cone which I bring with me to the tire store for balancing.

 

[Pegasus1300]

So Bill have you got that 2020 home yet?

 

[bikerbillone]

Yes sir Paul, I do, it sitting in my garage. I ordered an iPhone mount for it today, gonna need that. Wife Millie is gonna take the course for her endorsement under the BRP $50 subsidy around late March. so looks like I'll be riding pillion some. That should be exciting. :>)