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Going from 2 wheels to 3

J

Jester

New member
I am about to make the leap from 2 wheels to 3. Do any of you miss the leaning and banking of the normal bike. My current ride is a Suzuki Burgman 650 which is a blast to ride. I don't know whether it is a scooter that thinks it is a motorcycle or vice versa.

I have waited for the Spyder SE because of the inherent safety of the 3 wheels and my wife could operate the automatic part.


Your thoughts will be appreciated.

By the way, I have seen all black Spyders... can you order special colors now?

Thanks,
Cappy:joke:
The Jester
 
2 to 3 wheels

I miss it some but was never a knee dragger. You can have a blast on the Spyder in the curves.

The black is a kit you can buy seperately.
 
i also went from 2 to 3 and love it the spyder performs excellent in corners ... and my girl like to ride on the back as much as driving it herself ,,,, and i just drove the se and it was amazing ,,,, colors are red, yellow and silver and like the last guys said there is a flat black body kit
 
I went from 2 to 3 and have no regrets. The ride is great and the Spyder is sporty enough to make you forget you've got 3 wheels, until you look down.
 
This is a good thread!

I have not ridden on the street in 30 years. The last bike I had was a Yamaha RD400E. And, I was never a knee dragger. I didn't have the nerve to lay it down that much. :shocked:

Much of what I have heard since mentioning to my friends that I ordered a Spyder was that it won't corner like a motorcycle. It won't be the same fun, etc,,,. I'm sure many of you have heard the same thing.

Since I did not yet have my endorsement when the Spyder Demo Team came to town, I was not able to go out on the road. Like some of you, I got the cone treatment only. :) So, to this day, I still have not had the pleasure of riding a Spyder into a corner - a real turn, if you will!

Even today, a co-worker mentioned that it won't be like a motorcycle in the turns. I simply said that it will work well for me. I'm sure it will corner plenty fast for my liking. Hey! It's been so long, I won't know the difference anyway.

Again; great thread! :thumbup:
 
Greg, it may just be me but I think the fun factor is greater than that of a motorcycle. As I mentioned I still feel like I'm on a bike and the Spyder has other good points, like the added stability in the rain, that will make you forget about 2 wheels. Another major plus for me is the added comfort for longer riding. I can tell you after just a couple 250 mile afternoon rides that this is more comfortable then my Electraglide was. It's pretty routine for me and the guys I ride with to do a 400 - 500 mile day just to get together and have breakfast, so I like to be comfortable. I still have a V-strom in the garage, the wifes bike, and when I ride it I find myself wishing I'd taken the Spyder.
 
No doubt, the ride and control are different from a 2 wheeler. At first, a 2 wheel rider will feel "different" on the spYder. As you adjust to the handling characteristics of spYder, you learn to relax and really enjoy the benefits. I no longer miss the leaning, and have learned to trust the shocks action of the front struts.
Believe me, there is plenty of performance to the spYder for even the diehards.
---leo---
 
IMO, you should would be best served by not comparing the bike and the Spyder. The Spyder works against you in a turn where the bike works with you. My bike rides much smoother than my Spyder. Having ridden a Burgman, I would bet your experience would be close to mine. Of course, the benefit of the Spyder is not worrying where to put you feet down and watching every little odd spot in the road.

The biggest revelation for me since owning a Spyder is that the Spyder doesn't come close to replacing my bike. It comes real close to replacing my car!

If you can arrange it, try and get a several hour demo ride on the Spyder. That's what sold me.
 
Cappy said:
I am about to make the leap from 2 wheels to 3. Do any of you miss the leaning and banking of the normal bike...
Click to expand...

Jester--

I had my Spyder for about three months before I sold my Suzuki Katana. I hopped on the Katana for one last ride and thought, "This is weird!"

Nope, don't miss the two wheels. There's still p l e n t y of adventure riding a Spyder on roads with other automobile drivers, but the many added safety features are now a must for me.

If I ever purchase another motorcycle, it will just be a next-generation Spyder...:thumbup:
 
Thanks for the reports. Sounds like you all would make the same decision again. Jeff, where did you find your Spyder? I will probably have to go to Gulf Shores or Pensacola... so far no one in Mississippi or Louisiana.

Will be lurkin,
Cappy :joke:
 
riding the spyder...

...is like snow skiing. Following the law of physics...since you don't lean into the turn, the inertia (?) pushes your body in the opposite direction. I find that adjusting my weight to the inside (turn) and leaning into the turn does not affect the bike but allows me to brace for the momentum...
Okay that explanation is not for everyone...try this version. I was headed up hill in the Sequoias. I know that a National Park is not a test track (yeah, tell my husband) with a varied group of riders. They pull over and motion that one guy has a track/rice rocket bike (wants to go faster), he takes off and they generally meet up with him later. Husband tells them that they better let his wife (on the spyder) go next. I am not only able to keep up, but can run up his tail pipe at 60mph, slam on the brakes, turn tighter, hit the gas, and pushed him up the hill. I am no good on other bikes, but I know my spyder. :thumbup:
 
You may miss the lean for a short while, but you will not miss putting your feet down at every stop, searching for the kickstand when you park, paddling through the long light left turn, worrying about that gravel on the corners, and wondering if cars can see you. If you haven't already had the experience, you need to learn quickly what to do with road kill. On two wheels you just swerve around it. On the Spyder, your instinct is to straddle, but that puts the rear wheel right on top of it. Usually you can't swerve around it so you have to get it just inside one of the front wheeels in order to miss the back wheel. It was the same with going from a stand up Jet Ski to a sit down Sea Doo. Two different machines and you give up something, but gain in the move to a more stable platform.
 
going fm 2whls to 3

This thread on the switch fm 2 to 3whls is the best read so
far on the spyder talk.Having traveled across the country many times while in the military fm station to station,I had always wished that I could carry more on board or that the weather was better while traveling.Alot of lost time on the road was fm less than ideal weather conditions.The Spyder has not hampered my road desires one bit.After 27 different 2wheel rides,the spyder has out performed(so far)all of my other rides.Weather has not been an isssue and I've carried a weeks worth of road gear effortlessly on the spyder.Even when I had an ElectraGlide w/a trailer, the spyder has it beat.As long as the durability proves itself and the technology is correct,the spyder could be the ride that will open the road for many who long wished that they could be out on the road and experience a freer form of travel.I also believe that the spyder would be GREAT for those that are amputees or other disabilities that wished they could get back on the road again,the spyder, i feel ,would be excellant choice for them.In the 6 mos.I've owned my spyder I've traveled 6600 mi.in the rain,summer heat and cool evenings,not to mention I've saved a bunch on fuel.The spyder is COOL!:2thumbs:
 
Cappy - I got mine outside of Dallas in Richardson (~10 miles from my house). Personally, I think having a dealer nearby is important although you may be more talented (and patient) with working on the Spyder yourself than I am.

In thinking more about it, I drive my Spyder like I drive my Vette where I just sorta cruise on the bike. If I had to choose between the bike and the Spyder, it would be a tough call. Love the additional safety aspects of the Spyder and love being able to zip it in anywhere, but it's not the same as riding a bike and I would miss that.

Last week, the car left the garage once. All other trips were either on the bike or the Spyder. More time in the wind is always the goal - even in this 100+ temperature Texas summer!

Maybe I'll sell the car... :)
 
This hasn't seemed to be an issue for me. They are different rides. When I ride the Spyder, I love it, and experience it as a Spyder ryder. When I switch back to one of my bikes, it is like my first motorcycle ride, in ways. More of a thrill than it has been for many years. Same goes for the other toys, all are different, and unique in their own ways. I really think switching around heightens the experience for each, and makes each ride or drive fresh and exciting.
-Scotty
 
08 SPYDER

I bought one for my wife so that she can ride with me and we can enjoy her Spyder together also. My ride is a 07 Harley Heritage Softtail. I feel with 3 wheels she is safer and with the yellow color she can be seen. She is learning to ride right now (shifting gears and working the clutch) and scheduled to take her motorcycle course and get her liscense. It is a great deal of fun to drive or ride on. I had the backrest, off road exhaust, handlebar spacer, and taller windshield and brake caliper covers added to hers. A grand total of $19,900 but well worth the money.:2thumbs:
 
Last edited:
Hey Cappy....There is a new dealer in Mobile...SRS Powersports on Schillinger Rd close to Moffat....it sells the Spyder. That is where I did my demo ride. So the Spyder is closer than you think.
 
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