Hey everyone. I'll start by giving a little background about myself and my wife, since we're both looking at these things and liking everything we see, but can't believe everything we hear.
My wife and I are in our early 30's, and just started riding last summer. We both took the MSF course and loved it, then purchased a Ninja 250R to continue to learn on. I rode it for about 2 months, then purchased a Ducati 848 (yep, pretty stupid move, I know). My wife kept the Ninja for herself. We both love riding the bikes. However...
We never ride much. When my wife rides, it's to the store and back to pick up something small enough to fit into her backpack. When I ride, it's just to ride for a few minutes, as I just cannot stand riding that bike. It's fun, it's beautiful, and it's an incredible machine...but it's just uncomfortable as hell to me. I have to say though, I think my wife enjoys riding her bike more than I would even if I had a comfortable bike.
The reasons for that are simple. I guess I'm a bit of a worry-wart. It's not that I'm scared, because I really do trust the bike, and myself (however, I never push any limits), it's just that I know in my mind, that my eyes might have missed that patch of gravel in that curve, and I could go down, hurt the bike and/or hurt myself. I worry about the same thing for her.
Don't get the wrong idea, I'm a speed junkie. I own a lamborghini gallardo and just can't keep it close to the speed limits. I love jumping jetskis, and other wild stuff. But for some reason, road bikes just make me a little nervous. And that's just on country roads. Highways are another story of "other vehicles".
Wow, this post is alot longer than I intended, and I apologize. I bet I sound like a total wuss lol. I'm not, I promise. I just try to be "aware".
Now onto the point. I'm of course ready for something new, different, and comfortable. She's ready to move up, as she feels she wants more power. I was looking around, and found the Spyders a couple of nights ago. I read as much as I could about them, and I have pretty much memorized all it's features and it's benefits.
It sounds like the "perfect bike" for us. Still giving that "bike" feeling of openness, but maintaining stability like a car. We want something that is comfortable enough that we can ride for hours without getting tired or sore. Something that we can enjoy together sometimes, and go on roadtrips. Don't misunderstand though, we have zero interest in any type of crusiers or touring bikes. Actually the 2-wheeled bikes we're looking at are the Ducati Monsters and the new Diavel.
I honestly love everything I've learned so far about the Spyders (we're looking at the RS-S models), but I have a serious worry....
I have a 4-wheeler to ride around our property. I've rode them many times before, and every one I've had the same experience with handling. They suck, plain and simple. If you're moving at any brisk speed, and want to turn, the vehicle feels like it wants to roll over. Turning the two front wheels with handlebars, even with power-steering just doesn't get much "steering feedback" and feels "numb". You basically have to come to a near stop to make a turn in grass. On a 4-wheeler, I don't mind this too much. It's an off-road vehicle, made to go where others aren't. It's just 1 con out of many of it's pros.
However, I worry to death that the Spyders handling characteristics are going to be similar. And going around a curve at 50+mph with a similar feeling to a 4-wheeler (about to roll over, and be thrown from the bike), scares the bejezus out of me. I want to believe these things turn similar to a car, perhaps even similar to my lambo. If it can even come close to it's handling characteristics, I'll be more than happy.
All of this would be settled if the dealership would let us test drive them. But that's impossible pretty much. Like all motorcycle dealers, they want to basically finish the sale and paperwork, along with insurance before they'll hand you the keys. Then you get TEN MILES to see if you like it or not. Maybe I could determine it by that time. I plan to try, but I figured I would consult you experts first.
So, if any of you are still with me in this entirely-too-long-post, please help convince me that these Spyders are right for us. Help me to believe they don't handle like a 4-wheeler.
Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide.
My wife and I are in our early 30's, and just started riding last summer. We both took the MSF course and loved it, then purchased a Ninja 250R to continue to learn on. I rode it for about 2 months, then purchased a Ducati 848 (yep, pretty stupid move, I know). My wife kept the Ninja for herself. We both love riding the bikes. However...
We never ride much. When my wife rides, it's to the store and back to pick up something small enough to fit into her backpack. When I ride, it's just to ride for a few minutes, as I just cannot stand riding that bike. It's fun, it's beautiful, and it's an incredible machine...but it's just uncomfortable as hell to me. I have to say though, I think my wife enjoys riding her bike more than I would even if I had a comfortable bike.
The reasons for that are simple. I guess I'm a bit of a worry-wart. It's not that I'm scared, because I really do trust the bike, and myself (however, I never push any limits), it's just that I know in my mind, that my eyes might have missed that patch of gravel in that curve, and I could go down, hurt the bike and/or hurt myself. I worry about the same thing for her.
Don't get the wrong idea, I'm a speed junkie. I own a lamborghini gallardo and just can't keep it close to the speed limits. I love jumping jetskis, and other wild stuff. But for some reason, road bikes just make me a little nervous. And that's just on country roads. Highways are another story of "other vehicles".
Wow, this post is alot longer than I intended, and I apologize. I bet I sound like a total wuss lol. I'm not, I promise. I just try to be "aware".
Now onto the point. I'm of course ready for something new, different, and comfortable. She's ready to move up, as she feels she wants more power. I was looking around, and found the Spyders a couple of nights ago. I read as much as I could about them, and I have pretty much memorized all it's features and it's benefits.
It sounds like the "perfect bike" for us. Still giving that "bike" feeling of openness, but maintaining stability like a car. We want something that is comfortable enough that we can ride for hours without getting tired or sore. Something that we can enjoy together sometimes, and go on roadtrips. Don't misunderstand though, we have zero interest in any type of crusiers or touring bikes. Actually the 2-wheeled bikes we're looking at are the Ducati Monsters and the new Diavel.
I honestly love everything I've learned so far about the Spyders (we're looking at the RS-S models), but I have a serious worry....
I have a 4-wheeler to ride around our property. I've rode them many times before, and every one I've had the same experience with handling. They suck, plain and simple. If you're moving at any brisk speed, and want to turn, the vehicle feels like it wants to roll over. Turning the two front wheels with handlebars, even with power-steering just doesn't get much "steering feedback" and feels "numb". You basically have to come to a near stop to make a turn in grass. On a 4-wheeler, I don't mind this too much. It's an off-road vehicle, made to go where others aren't. It's just 1 con out of many of it's pros.
However, I worry to death that the Spyders handling characteristics are going to be similar. And going around a curve at 50+mph with a similar feeling to a 4-wheeler (about to roll over, and be thrown from the bike), scares the bejezus out of me. I want to believe these things turn similar to a car, perhaps even similar to my lambo. If it can even come close to it's handling characteristics, I'll be more than happy.
All of this would be settled if the dealership would let us test drive them. But that's impossible pretty much. Like all motorcycle dealers, they want to basically finish the sale and paperwork, along with insurance before they'll hand you the keys. Then you get TEN MILES to see if you like it or not. Maybe I could determine it by that time. I plan to try, but I figured I would consult you experts first.
So, if any of you are still with me in this entirely-too-long-post, please help convince me that these Spyders are right for us. Help me to believe they don't handle like a 4-wheeler.
Thanks in advance for any help you guys can provide.