New guy prepping for the demo ride

[moloprintz]

Hi Ya’ll!
I’ve been lurking in the shadows here for a few years.
It’s been a fun education.
Both the wife and I are Harley riders.
I ride a FXDB and she rides an XL1200C.
She’s retired and I’ll hang up my tool bag Aug 1[SUP]st[/SUP].
We’re getting close to adding a 3 wheeled ride to the stable (RT-S).
Back in 2011 we got a test ride at a Can Am factory sponsored demo.
I took the front seat and the wife rode as passenger.
I loved it.
But she complained that she felt like she was cantilevered off the back because it seemed to sway very slightly left and right as we headed down the highway.
Our investigation went no further.
Years have passed and the Spyder design has matured.
I’m going to schedule a test ride with the local dealer (Alcoa Good Times Maryville TN).
What should I be looking at to ensure the best quality ride possible out of a demo ride?
If the wife isn’t happy she’ll be pushing for a new Tri Glide.
And I would hate for that to happen simply because the dealer didn’t have the Spyder set up properly.
All advice helpful.
Thanks
Mike

 

[Spyder4Tess]

It would be hard to compare the ride quality for your wife if you can't test ride a TriGlide.

I have been on the back on my wife's '11 RT and there was no swaying..Perhaps since it was your first demo ride you were making the bike sway?

 

[Bob Denman]

Glad to see that you've "Stepped out of the shadows"
Both bikes (Spyder and Tri-G) have the same sort of "feel" when cornering...
You need to lean to the inside of the turns in order ot keep your weight centered over the bike...
That is WAY different, than the feel of a two-wheeler; you lean the bike, and the forces just push you into the seat...
Tell your better half, to hang on to those grab handles, and follow your lead, as YOU lean...
And good luck! :thumbup:
Let us know what she thinks of it!

 

[jcthorne]

The weaving and sway is also a result of your inexperience at riding a Spyder. In time you will loosen your death grip on the bars and let the Spyder go straight on its own. We all went through it. Also, most folks that own these for a while end up adding the BajaRon sway bar that drastically improves handling the sway your wife noticed.

My wife went from a Harley to her Spyder as well. Loves it.

Have Fun!

 

[ARtraveler]

Over control can lead to a squirrely feeling. This happens quite frequently for those that are trying :spyder2: at first. I have thousands of passenger miles on mine, and never had a complaint about rear end seeming to move around.

If also thinking about the Tri Glide, a test drive on both should help you make up your mind. I got as far as the test sit on the TG when they and the RT both came out. I did not like the ergos on the TG, so it ended up :ani29: for me. (I already had two :spyder2:'s under my belt at that time though).