Asking Those Who Have Made A Trike Switch

[MikeT]

I now have 65,000 miles on my trike and have not had it in the dealers for any repair....it has not needed any! I change Mobil 1 15w 50 and Honda filter every 12,000 miles. I love this machine and ride it weekly.
I bought a 2011 RT-S SE5. It has 11,000 miles on it. The dealer has changed out the steering sensor, an ECM and Trottle Body. It runs well when running. I change oil and filters in Big Red 1 every 5-6,000 miles and check the oil often...it uses some oil, my Wing does not.

:spyder2:[/QUOTE]
I don't think I could have asked for a more succinct summary of my quandry. Add to that that:
1. my Honda/Hannigan Trike service facility is local and the Spyder dealer is 2.25 hours away, and
2. I do not have the "room" to keep 2 trikes. I tried keeping a H-D touring M/C while I also had a trike. It just didn't work out.
I totally get all the advantages of a purpose built factory trike. (I don't consider a H-D Tri-Glide in this category). I just don't know if I need a NANNY. BTW, does the Spyder go thru tires faster? My suspician is it would. I hope you have the longest extended warranty on Big Red.
Mike

 

[NancysToy]

No problem....... it was a cut and paste from BRP's web site.

I thought maybe it was. Funny things happen when they translate from French. :roflblack:

 

[Jeriatric]

I thought maybe it was. Funny things happen when they translate from French. :roflblack:

True. Tho, not near as bad as this hayseed :roflblack:

 

[PrairieSpyder]

At least someone has had something good to say about Bosch. As I recall about a week or two ago, that was a downside for someone who was getting rid of their spyder and going over to the dark side. <smiles>

Chris

Yeah. When I saw that, I asked my brother, who has extensive experience working on appliances and HVAC. He said Bosch pretty much owns most of the market for electronic components and has really good quality products.

 

[BikerDoc]

I run 89 octane in my RT and consistently get over 30mph. I checked the mileage against the 93 and could see no discernible difference in mileage or performance.. I know a lot of other folks who run 89 also rather than pay the ridiculous premium for 93 .

 

[daveinva]

I just don't know if I need a NANNY.

One common misperception is that the Nanny is actually that. It's very unintrusive in 98% of riding, and when it triggers, trust me, you WANT it to trigger, for it really is a wonderfully helpful piece of technology. When you find yourself lifting a front wheel in a high-speed corner, on the edge of traction, having the Nanny kick in to slow down the wheels and bring you back to the ground can be a lifesaver.

Now, if you are looking for a "pure" riding experience, you're not going to get that with the electronically-festooned Spyder. But IMHO, you're not going to get a *better* trike riding experience on anything but a Spyder. Those French Canadians really came up with something special here.

BTW, does the Spyder go thru tires faster? My suspician is it would. I hope you have the longest extended warranty on Big Red.
Mike

I don't know how many miles a (for example) Goldwing trike gets on its tires. Others will be along to offer their experiences but my guess is that a Spyder goes through its front tires in about 15K-25K, and its rears in 10K-15K, although you'll get some outliers either way. Me, I'm a fairly aggressive rider-- I had to replace my rear at 9500 miles, but I'm hoping my fronts last me until ~18K.

 

[Jeriatric]

One common misperception is that the Nanny is actually that. It's very unintrusive in 98% of riding, and when it triggers, trust me, you WANT it to trigger, for it really is a wonderfully helpful piece of technology. When you find yourself lifting a front wheel in a high-speed corner, on the edge of traction, having the Nanny kick in to slow down the wheels and bring you back to the ground can be a lifesaver.

Now, if you are looking for a "pure" riding experience, you're not going to get that with the electronically-festooned Spyder. But IMHO, you're not going to get a *better* trike riding experience on anything but a Spyder. Those French Canadians really came up with something special here.



I don't know how many miles a (for example) Goldwing trike gets on its tires. Others will be along to offer their experiences but my guess is that a Spyder goes through its front tires in about 15K-25K, and its rears in 10K-15K, although you'll get some outliers either way. Me, I'm a fairly aggressive rider-- I had to replace my rear at 9500 miles, but I'm hoping my fronts last me until ~18K.

Well said.

 

[Mr. White]

I now have 65,000 miles on my trike and have not had it in the dealers for any repair....it has not needed any! I change Mobil 1 15w 50 and Honda filter every 12,000 miles. I love this machine and ride it weekly.
I bought a 2011 RT-S SE5. It has 11,000 miles on it. The dealer has changed out the steering sensor, an ECM and Trottle Body. It runs well when running. I change oil and filters in Big Red 1 every 5-6,000 miles and check the oil often...it uses some oil, my Wing does not.

:spyder2:

I don't think I could have asked for a more succinct summary of my quandry. Add to that that:
1. my Honda/Hannigan Trike service facility is local and the Spyder dealer is 2.25 hours away, and
2. I do not have the "room" to keep 2 trikes. I tried keeping a H-D touring M/C while I also had a trike. It just didn't work out.
I totally get all the advantages of a purpose built factory trike. (I don't consider a H-D Tri-Glide in this category). I just don't know if I need a NANNY. BTW, does the Spyder go thru tires faster? My suspician is it would. I hope you have the longest extended warranty on Big Red.
Mike[/QUOTE]

I got 45,000 miles on my OEM Motor Trike tires (Goodyear, 235 70R 15) and just got nervous and changed them out then....probably could have gone another 5K or so, but why push it....I don't know how many miles I will get on BR1...but not much over 12-14K on the rear tire I think. Yes, I have the extended BEST warranty on BR1. I injured my left hand and have not ridden in five weeks....was going today and we had HEAVY rains..IMHO Hannigan builds a quality kit and with a quality install, it will serve you well....2.25 hours away is a little much for any brand as far as I am concerned....that is 4.5 round trip plus a headache if you have to leave it....

:spyder2:

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

I have some time on a Goldwing trike and lots of time on Spyders. Both ride great but differently but if you want to attach corners rather than just making a curve, get a Spyder. The Spyder is more aggressive in curves if you want to ride that way.

 

[exwinger]

GW trike

Had a GW with California side car trike kit installed , extended forks. Absolutely loved it ............when I still owned it. Sold the GW and bought a spyder RTSS and then realized it was the costliest mistake I'd ever made. Curves that I could burn on the GW I had to pussyfoot around on the curves. I couldn't believe how poorly it handled . My GW buddies were ragging me about being so pokey.

But then I adjusted the front shocks and took the time and miles to LEARN how to ride it. There is night and day difference between the two...Believe me . After about 800 miles it started feeling a lot better but It still, didn't feel as stable ( or so I thought ) as the GW. Now with 12000 miles and confidence in the bike , katy bar the door . Let the bike do what it's supposed to do and you'll be amazed at the handling and what you can get away with. Taking curves now is a piece of cake .Got advice from Lamont and spyderpops at the BBQ last year and really pushed it on the ride he took us on , no way I could have ridden the wing that hard and felt safe. No more ragging from my buddies anymore. Have had both bikes on two wheels a couple of times and although neither one was something to want happen again , I felt the spyder response ( Nanny ) induced gave a lot more comfortable feeling. ....Didn't suck as much naugahyde off the seat.

Front tires ( OEM ) wear faster ( cupping ) on the GW than on the spyder . I ran a Michelin rear tire turned around on the GW front and after 23k miles it still had over half the tread left . Rear tires looked like they had just been installed .

To me the GW had a little more seating room but maybe that was beacause I might have been a little thinner ??

Gas mileage on the spyder is about 5 per gallon less but I'll settle for the 30 - 35 I average. Can I keep up with my buddies on the wings....you bet . Usually ride 2 up and pull a loaded trailer on trips which may drop mpg another 2 .

Are there times I wish I still had the GW , well sure but I love the spyder.

 

[Mr. White]

Front tires ( OEM ) wear faster ( cupping ) on the GW than on the spyder . I ran a Michelin rear tire turned around on the GW front and after 23k miles it still had over half the tread left . Rear tires looked like they had just been installed .

Winger, the OEM on the Wing is a radial as you know....you changed it to a bias tire and got 23K plus out of it. I, too, went through the radial in 7K and am on my second Michelin bias....I change them out at 25K or so as I get nervous as I did with my rear tires. I have 25k on my rear Motor Trike tires and they barely show wear. I put the best Cooper tires on a second set (a good friend sells them) and am very pleased with them. I am looking at 50K from them running 24# pressure and 41# in my front tire. Works for me.


:spyder2: