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My first thousand miles on the Spyder

I am quite tall and do not like sitting bolt upright on any motorcycle. I would like to be able to move the handlebars forward on the Spyder, so I would have a bit of stretch to reach the bars and therefore lean forward a bit. Are there any suggestions on how to do this?
Maybe use the passenger pegs? Of course, only intermittently, so you can brake... but just for attempting new positions.
 
I added a pair of "short reach" bars that helped with some arm pain. I don't think I ever feel comfortable with only one hand on the bars though. You never know when it will dodge or dive.
 
Thinking a heavier sway bar first, $300 seems like a single option for one, right? If it's not windy, it rides fine; on the Interstate, it gets pretty busy with truck turbulence.
You do want the BajaRon Ultimate. One of the first things I did was put on the regular BajaRon bar and it helped, but I'm a fairly aggressive rider and when I travel, I do load the bike down a bit, so after a couple of weeks I upgraded to the Ultimate. Boy did that make a difference. The bike seems a lot more responsive (some will say twitchy) and in some respects lighter steering. For the price difference, the Ultimate gets my vote. I don't think you will be sorry.

jdg
 
When my Goldwing became just too heavy for me to handle comfortably I traded it in and bought a new RT back in 2021. I thought I would miss the two wheel riding experience, and I did, to some degree. But it didn't take long before I found that the stability and comfort of the RT, the lack of worry when asphalt suddenly changes to gravel or dirt, and the ease of the semi-auto transmission more than made up for the loss of leaning. I'll be 83 in a few weeks and I've come to the realization that I will not be going back, ever, to two wheels. Forty years ago I met a rider of 85 and he became my hero. I may be on 3 wheels but I am still a rider, and hope that if and when I hit 85 I am still on my Spyder. I just wish my wife hadn't decided this past year that riding on the passenger seat, while more comfortable than on the Goldwing, is just too much for her 79 year old back. So now my rides are only solo.

BTW, the main change I made to the stock RT was adding handlebar risers which made all the difference in the world for my seating position, and eliminated the pain between the shoulder blades as well as the pain in the lower back. If I end up trading in my '21 for a new Spyder, the risers are coming with me.
 
When my Goldwing became just too heavy for me to handle comfortably I traded it in and bought a new RT back in 2021. I thought I would miss the two wheel riding experience, and I did, to some degree. But it didn't take long before I found that the stability and comfort of the RT, the lack of worry when asphalt suddenly changes to gravel or dirt, and the ease of the semi-auto transmission more than made up for the loss of leaning. I'll be 83 in a few weeks and I've come to the realization that I will not be going back, ever, to two wheels. Forty years ago I met a rider of 85 and he became my hero. I may be on 3 wheels but I am still a rider, and hope that if and when I hit 85 I am still on my Spyder. I just wish my wife hadn't decided this past year that riding on the passenger seat, while more comfortable than on the Goldwing, is just too much for her 79 year old back. So now my rides are only solo.

BTW, the main change I made to the stock RT was adding handlebar risers which made all the difference in the world for my seating position, and eliminated the pain between the shoulder blades as well as the pain in the lower back. If I end up trading in my '21 for a new Spyder, the risers are coming with me.
I will be 82 in June and am looking forward to making my latest 2018 RT "mine" (tires, sway bar, LEDs, mounts from electronics etc) when I see it in person for the first time when I get back to Washington for the summer. I have AO related peripheral neuropathy in both feet so a trike was the only way to get back out on the road.
 
I have AO related peripheral neuropathy in both feet so a trike was the only way to get back out on the road.
I suspect mine is AO related as well. I actually sprayed that stuff from my Huey. It's fine they said - only harms plants they said. Yeah, right.

Welcome home brother.

jdg
 
After years on "Stromtroopers" forum for Suzuki Vstroms, Adventure bikes, and with age related inflexibility, I can no longer get on or ride my Vstrom, hence the move to a Spyder. It seems like a common situation here prompting a three wheeled ride, but at least we're still out in the wind...
 
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