Not a Sidecar, Not a Trike...... - Page 2

phillyrube · 05-21-2012, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BeeMaa

Roger that.
Like I said, drop me a pm or e-mail.
We are only 175 miles away, or about 200 the scenic way.
It would be a good overnighter (staying at a campground) trip for us.
Chippokes Plantation SP looks close and the wife likes the state park campsites.
Lemmie know.

Chippokes is just up the road, pretty neat place. They have an antique steam and gas engine show there, along with the annual peanut, pork and pine festival (ever have a boiled pinecone?). Love to meet up if you get down this way.

kbuckey · 05-31-2012, 06:41 AM

Well, this is an interesting development. My wife loves riding her Spyder RS-S but she is tired of me going off on long trips on my motorcycle without her because she feels she really couldn't keep up for a 300+ mile day. Sooooo, she says she's thinking of selling her RS - and getting an RT. Her thinking is she would be happy riding around here day trippin' like she does now and on long trips she'd be comfortable as pillion. Of course that means I'd have to ride it and not one of my bikes, but that would probably be a reasonable compromise on my part. What do you RT riders (er... "ryders") think?

Prmurat · 05-31-2012, 08:09 AM

IMHO: she will miss the RS lightness and "zap" but she will appreciate the comfort, luggage space and long distance possibilities (but for the gas stops!). Having all the gadgets helps too!!

kbuckey · 06-04-2012, 07:47 AM

My wife and I went down to RPM Motorsports on Saturday to test ride a Sptder RT. Took it for about a 30 mile ride (for those from the area: up the canyon from Morrison to Evergreen and back the interstate). I rode it about 20 with her as pillion and she rode it about ten (with me as pillion

). The weight is noticeable on acceleration, but it is much smoother, much less wind than the RS. Handles very well. She loved it - both as pillion - which she did once on the RS and swore she'd never do again - and as pilot. I hope that means she'll start putting the miles on the new RT Limited we're picking up Tuesday!

Prmurat · 06-04-2012, 12:15 PM

Chocolate color RT limited ....with the brown seat?? Now I am jealous!!

kbuckey · 06-05-2012, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prmurat

Chocolate color RT limited ....with the brown seat?? Now I am jealous!!

That be the one. It is striking looking. I am looking forward to her (and us) putting some miles on it. Hope I can figure out all the gadgets.

motoretro · 06-05-2012, 10:46 AM

With all the remarks on the Spyder, I need to ask, How does it actually ride? The wheelbase is around 68" which should help things out and I was under the impression the tire pressure is run low on these. How do they handle the bumps?

I'm approaching 60 and this might very well be my last year on two wheels as the back is not doing well at all. Too much damage through the years and Michigan's stutter bumps are getting the best of me. There is a lot of us with compromised backs from riding on bikes back in the day with minimal suspension compliance/travel and now we get to pay the price. I'm really amazed by the lack of motorcycles on the road for aging riders, there's a huge market not being addressed and lots of loss revenue. The Technology today for M/C's is unbelievable although this is one segment of advancement that's basically been missed. I'm not whining as I've been riding since December 26, 1969 and have enjoyed every minute of it although as long as the reflexes and desire are still there, I'd certainly like to ride.

I though about a Sidecar rig although don't conceivably see a reason these would ride any better than a solo so started looking at Spyders, I guess a test drive is in store....... What do I ride now? Semi-Motarded DR650

Motoretro

Prmurat · 06-05-2012, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoretro

With all the remarks on the Spyder, I need to ask, How does it actually ride? The wheelbase is around 68" which should help things out and I was under the impression the tire pressure is run low on these. How do they handle the bumps?

I though about a Sidecar rig although don't conceivably see a reason these would ride any better than a solo so started looking at Spyders, I guess a test drive is in store....... What do I ride now? Semi-Motarded DR650

Motoretro

I can only speak from my one year experience on my RT (and 6 months on the Ural): the RT is the most comfy bike I ever owned..basically in Goldwing territory! I had no other choice if I wanted to keep on being in the wind and touring with my wife (lost almost all of my right arm movement) so it was a "negative" choice for me (which explain why I am never really happy with the RT!!). But this "contraption" does everything a motorcycle do BUT leaning ! It is a real touring bike: tons of space for luggages, problems seem to have been fixed (fuel injection, twitchy computers etc). MPG not great and small tank... Can be fast if you ride the way it has to be (brake late, smooth apex and throttle out). The semi auto gearshift is great (I took all the gadgets...).
The Ural is different: comfort is marginal, speed? what speed??? A lot more tiring to ride (no power steering like the Can Am!!), no nothing in terms of creature comfort but great for dirt roads and SO Cool!!!!

IMHO, you should rent a Can Am for a weekend as a short test ride should turn you off...

4PawsHacienda · 06-05-2012, 12:25 PM

have 3 bikes in the garage - Ural, Spyder RS, BMW GS.
Spyder takes a bit of getting used to but is an excellent machine. My wife rides it most of the time. I honestly don't have a complaint with it. Not a motorcycle but a roadster.

I wouldn't be too surprised to find myself owning a Spyder RT in the future.
After getting the Spyder and the Ural the GS has mostly been sitting - just not as much fun.

vortexau · 06-05-2012, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillyrube

Getting old SUCKS!!!! Just turned 60.....my Road Glide is in pieces about my garage getting reassembled after the laydown last April and my broken ankle. Road King was sold, and my wife just sold her VStar. She had back surgery two years ago, . . . she drops the bomb she might want a Can-Am. Heck, it's out in the air, so has anyone driven or ridden one?

This is still a Trike! Having the single wheel at the rear means that its a Tadpole Trike. Cyclecars (such as the Heinkel Kabine, Messerschmitt Kabinenroller and the Morgan-types) are also Tadpole Trikes.

Eaglebeak · 06-06-2012, 02:50 AM

If you like dirt road riding any sort of trike (single wheel at the front or the rear) is a problem.
Most dirt roads have two wheel tracks with a bit (or a lot) of loose material in the middle, where does the single wheel of the trike sit ?

Not so good.

Something to think about before going down the trike path.

kbuckey · 06-06-2012, 06:56 AM

The Can Am is a hoot (RS is real fun to push - haven't ridden the RT enough to tell if that's the case with it) and the RT is very comfortable. The adjustable windscreen on the RT can be made to virtually eliminate any wind on the rider, the pillion does get a bit. If comfort is what you're after, I'd go with the RT.

If dirt roads/trails are what you're after, skip the Spyder.

motoretro · 06-06-2012, 11:01 AM

What I'm really interested in is how does it actually ride? I.E. How is the suspension compliance, spring rates, dampening? How well does it handle bumpy roads, frost heaves/stutter bumps, pot holes, etc?

Motoretro

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbuckey

The Can Am is a hoot (RS is real fun to push - haven't ridden the RT enough to tell if that's the case with it) and the RT is very comfortable. The adjustable windscreen on the RT can be made to virtually eliminate any wind on the rider, the pillion does get a bit. If comfort is what you're after, I'd go with the RT.

If dirt roads/trails are what you're after, skip the Spyder.

kbuckey · 06-06-2012, 01:59 PM

Rides very nicely. The RT with the air suspension does better with a pillion but the RS rides very well one up.

motoretro · 06-06-2012, 02:39 PM

Looks like a test ride/drive? is in store.
Thanks for the info,
Motoretro

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbuckey

Rides very nicely. The RT with the air suspension does better with a pillion but the RS rides very well one up.

06-04-2012, 07:47 AM	#19
kbuckey Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Lookout Mountain - above Golden, CO Oddometer: 475	My wife and I went down to RPM Motorsports on Saturday to test ride a Sptder RT. Took it for about a 30 mile ride (for those from the area: up the canyon from Morrison to Evergreen and back the interstate). I rode it about 20 with her as pillion and she rode it about ten (with me as pillion). The weight is noticeable on acceleration, but it is much smoother, much less wind than the RS. Handles very well. She loved it - both as pillion - which she did once on the RS and swore she'd never do again - and as pilot. I hope that means she'll start putting the miles on the new RT Limited we're picking up Tuesday!

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05-31-2012, 06:41 AM	#17
kbuckey Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Lookout Mountain - above Golden, CO Oddometer: 475	Well, this is an interesting development. My wife loves riding her Spyder RS-S but she is tired of me going off on long trips on my motorcycle without her because she feels she really couldn't keep up for a 300+ mile day. Sooooo, she says she's thinking of selling her RS - and getting an RT. Her thinking is she would be happy riding around here day trippin' like she does now and on long trips she'd be comfortable as pillion. Of course that means I'd have to ride it and not one of my bikes, but that would probably be a reasonable compromise on my part. What do you RT riders (er... "ryders") think?

05-31-2012, 08:09 AM	#18
Prmurat Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 381	IMHO: she will miss the RS lightness and "zap" but she will appreciate the comfort, luggage space and long distance possibilities (but for the gas stops!). Having all the gadgets helps too!!

06-04-2012, 12:15 PM	#20
Prmurat Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2011 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 381	Chocolate color RT limited ....with the brown seat?? Now I am jealous!!

06-05-2012, 10:46 AM	#22
motoretro Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Oddometer: 458	With all the remarks on the Spyder, I need to ask, How does it actually ride? The wheelbase is around 68" which should help things out and I was under the impression the tire pressure is run low on these. How do they handle the bumps? I'm approaching 60 and this might very well be my last year on two wheels as the back is not doing well at all. Too much damage through the years and Michigan's stutter bumps are getting the best of me. There is a lot of us with compromised backs from riding on bikes back in the day with minimal suspension compliance/travel and now we get to pay the price. I'm really amazed by the lack of motorcycles on the road for aging riders, there's a huge market not being addressed and lots of loss revenue. The Technology today for M/C's is unbelievable although this is one segment of advancement that's basically been missed. I'm not whining as I've been riding since December 26, 1969 and have enjoyed every minute of it although as long as the reflexes and desire are still there, I'd certainly like to ride. I though about a Sidecar rig although don't conceivably see a reason these would ride any better than a solo so started looking at Spyders, I guess a test drive is in store....... What do I ride now? Semi-Motarded DR650 Motoretro

06-05-2012, 12:25 PM	#24
4PawsHacienda Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Oct 2008 Location: Climax NC or Fancy Gap VA (milemarker 199 BRP) Oddometer: 298	have 3 bikes in the garage - Ural, Spyder RS, BMW GS. Spyder takes a bit of getting used to but is an excellent machine. My wife rides it most of the time. I honestly don't have a complaint with it. Not a motorcycle but a roadster. I wouldn't be too surprised to find myself owning a Spyder RT in the future. After getting the Spyder and the Ural the GS has mostly been sitting - just not as much fun.

06-06-2012, 02:50 AM	#26
Eaglebeak Aussie BM rider, West Oz. Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Perth. Oddometer: 1,719	If you like dirt road riding any sort of trike (single wheel at the front or the rear) is a problem. Most dirt roads have two wheel tracks with a bit (or a lot) of loose material in the middle, where does the single wheel of the trike sit ? Not so good. Something to think about before going down the trike path.

06-06-2012, 06:56 AM	#27
kbuckey Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Lookout Mountain - above Golden, CO Oddometer: 475	The Can Am is a hoot (RS is real fun to push - haven't ridden the RT enough to tell if that's the case with it) and the RT is very comfortable. The adjustable windscreen on the RT can be made to virtually eliminate any wind on the rider, the pillion does get a bit. If comfort is what you're after, I'd go with the RT. If dirt roads/trails are what you're after, skip the Spyder.

06-06-2012, 01:59 PM	#29
kbuckey Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2005 Location: Lookout Mountain - above Golden, CO Oddometer: 475	Rides very nicely. The RT with the air suspension does better with a pillion but the RS rides very well one up.