Hi there, my wife is looking at trading in her piaggio 300cc scooter for a Spyder. I've been looking at them, as has my wife, to do our research before pulling the trigger. She's not comfortable on the twisty pavement and gravel road we live on with the two wheeler.
I have a few questions, so I am looking for confirmation from people who have the vehicles.
1) Does the RS come with a fuel gauge? Doesn't look like it...
2) Can you get the heated grips on the RS? It looks like it's reserved for the higher packages. Can they be added aftermarket easy enough (I've been told I will not be allowed to hack into the electrical like I did on my own bike).
3) Can you get the seating position of the RT on the RS by changing the seat and raising the bars?
4) What's maintenance like cost-wyse? Is it a DIY thing for the most part? I am able to do oil, filter, airbox, tires, and I have done a valve adjust on my KLR650.
That's all I can come up with for now.. I appreciate it!
The RS does have a fuel guage just as the RT does. The RS does not come with heated grips either end as the RT does. I don't know how easy they are to add as that has not been an issue with me.
As for the seating position/handle bars there are lots of options to think about. I never was very pleased with the stock RS seat and ended up with the BRP comfort seat and like it a lot. Corbin also makes after market seats that I am told are very very nice. Handle bar risers come in many types and sizes. I have tried several and find I like the Kewlmetel 7" risers the best so far. They come closest in my opinion to the RT position seating wise without having to change wiring and cables. The downside of these bars is the console that houses the ignition switch partially blocks the guage cluster and you have to lean around to see the fuel guage on one side and lean the other way to see the temp guage. Maybe not an issue for someone taller.
As far as maintenance goes my 2010 was recalled along with all spyders for the DPS steering issue and had the gen 3 brake pads put on. The 600 mile service at my dealer was about 300.00 which I thought was a little high. I would say the main thing the dealer would do at least in my case is the belt service I.E.....changing or adjusting. Most other service should be able to be done by the owner if he/she is comfortable doing it.
Last edited by Corybud; 08-17-2011 at 10:26 AM.
Reason: add text
I bought an RT in June. I've been on 2 wheels for over 40 yrs. but finally got tired of white knuckling it down 13 miles of gravel and the older I get the heavier the Kawasaki Nomad got. I have put over 1,000 miles on it so far, not too many but am describing it to people who ask why is "it eats the gravel not the other way around". I took a 300 mile ride the other day, a lot of twisty turnies and using the full body workout, placing my body on the inside of the curve side of the bike I was able to do 50 - 60 around 30 mph curves. And a few times I had my heart going at aerobic speeds, that is always a good ride for me when that happens. I am female and am only 5ft 2in and am really learning to love my new Spyder.
We bought the 2011 spyder limited in July. Being a lady, I am not scared to get on this and ride to my hearts content. I understand that it is more stable that the harley trike. I haven't had any issues so far and I find it to be really comfortable for me. I'm 5'5" and the seating and handlebars work fine. Oh, and by the way, I've never driven a two wheeler before in my life.
The ladies have already spoken up...
Maybe if Sass or Bytemi can tell a bit about their adjustment to the RS models...
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2010 Blue RT Audio & Convenience model Se-5 transmision. Dealer-added foglights, accent LEDs and extra speakers. Some RTS chrome windshield, front spoiler and top trunk trim, RTS frunklight and frunk liner, Top Trunk liner, Chrome lower air deflector, fendertip LED bulbs and ISCI floorboards added by yours truly...
That is great info, and good to hear from the ladies too.
We went to the local BRP store yesterday... terrible hours, but that's a different story. Anyways, before they closed we looked at all the offerings for the Spyder.
My wife liked the RT 'feel' the most (seating position, feel, etc), but she found the RT was so massive, it was intimidating. She liked the size of the RS more, but found the forward lean put pressure on the wrists.
The dealer had an RS there that had some extras they bolted on; 3" riser block, taller windscreen, comfort seat, wind deflectors for the knees, hard luggage, passenger backrest.
I think we'd take the windshield and maybe the knee wind deflectors. My wife wants the Corbin saddle because you can get a driver backrest, and she wants the bars more in the position of the RT with less forward lean, so I'd probably get the KewlMetal 7" bars for her.
If you reposition the bars to a more upright seating position on the RS, do you have to modify the footbrake in anyway as you have less forward lean?
you can also go to utopia.com (everytime i put the www addy it goes to some wierd place so put the rest of the addy in yourself ) and get a back rest only instead of buying the Corbin. alot cheaper, but you have to install it yourself, but not too super hard
I have been reading horror stories about the quality of the Corbin seats so i am rethinking about getting one over the winter
i also saw one the other day on a big goldwing and dang thing was hard as a rock and was not new. guy had to have 3 cushions on it
If you reposition the bars to a more upright seating position on the RS, do you have to modify the footbrake in anyway as you have less forward lean?
Good question!
I'm not sure about the RS model, but the RTs have a threaded link in the system that hooks the pedal to the "plunger" You might want to take a look under there to see if yours is the same...
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2010 Blue RT Audio & Convenience model Se-5 transmision. Dealer-added foglights, accent LEDs and extra speakers. Some RTS chrome windshield, front spoiler and top trunk trim, RTS frunklight and frunk liner, Top Trunk liner, Chrome lower air deflector, fendertip LED bulbs and ISCI floorboards added by yours truly...
New to Spyder, a few questions
Linear Mode
