What have you done to your Can Am Spyder

[trikermutha]

What kind of upgrades,trinkets have you put on your Can Am Spyders? Like to hear your stories.

What not to put on your Spyder?

I am looking for new Trunk Medallions versus the stock BRP and my dealer medallion's. Any suggestions where to look.

 

[trikermutha]

went another route and put in a LED on the Front and maybe one on the rear trunk later on..

 

[DJFaninTN]

went another route and put in a LED on the Fronk and maybe one on the rear trunk later on..

those are pretty cool. post up some pics ThumbUp

 

[hogcowboy]

We have a 12 RT Limited and two things I did to, now my wife's, Spyder was to put Baja Ron's sway bar and seal boards. Two items worth every penny. My wife was leery of taking corners aggressively but she does now. Fact, is she could out ride me on two wheels now if she just knew it. But I'm not telling her that.:gah:


We also had what is done on other trikes that have the recall heat issue done to her trike as well. Another wise choice as it lowered the felt heat tremendously. According to her anyway. And if she's happy I'm happy.:clapping:

 

[Haze]

Farkles for the Spyder

I have a 2013 STS. Added a Can Am package rack.

Installed the BajaRon Sway bar immediately after purchase.

Upgraded the shocks/springs to Elka's.

Had it laser aligned. Installed a remote garage door opener switch.

Made DIY heated grips and installed driving lights on the lower A arms

Built a GPS mount for my Cell Phone and Auto GPS.

Installed 3 USB charging ports for the phone/gps and 1 Powerlet socket for my heated gear.

Power all the farkles with a DIY switched and fused power strip

Final addition was an SAE connection for battery charging.

Built for functionality not glitz or glamour. :clapping:

Cheers, David C.

 

[trikermutha]

A few "farkles" I've added to my new 2015 RTS -----Lamonster Baja Ron stabilizer bar, Spyder Dock, NBV Highway Brackets,Trident pegs, Spider Decal set, Signal Mirror led light strips, Utopia backrest, 5 pc. Hopnel luggage set, cargo nets side and rear doors. Mesh pocket bag front trunk door, foam grips, spare trunk key, passenger armrests with storage pouch's, ram mounts for GPS, Drink holder,Phone, Passenger clamp-on drink holder, rear trunk battery tap light, custom license plate frame, spider fastening bolts, lower mirror adjustable wind deflectors, F4 Custom, tall, wide, clear with vent windshield in my first 500 miles:xzqxz:. safe riding! ps. pictures in album on spyderlovers.com website.

Go with Baja Rons shock adjusters will put the icing on the cake

 

[trikerbiker634]

Go with Baja Rons shock adjusters will put the icing on the cake

I considered those already but unless it handles a lot differently while riding 2 up and luggage loaded which isn't often I'm not sure i"ll need them.....more gas / hotel money

 

[trikermutha]

I considered those already but unless it handles a lot differently while riding 2 up and luggage loaded which isn't often I'm not sure i"ll need them.....more gas / hotel money

Even single riding..With the sway bar and the adjusters it makes it ride on rails.. ThumbUp I was skeptical at first but was more happy after they were installed..

 

[hogcowboy]

Just the Baja Ron swaybar did it for me. Made a huge difference.

 

[Haze]

Farkles

BajaRon Sway bar and Elks stage 2 shocks.
It doesn't get any better...:clapping:

 

[hogcowboy]

BajaRon Sway bar and Elks stage 2 shocks.
It doesn't get any better...:clapping:

I'm curious. What year and model trike? I ask because I've heard you may not need the sway bar in the 15's and later. And my wife has started looking at a new RT Limited. Can't say much. She let me have a new Indian back in December. We'll be looking hard starting in October to try getting a deal if she's still looking.

 

[trikerbiker634]

2015 RTS,
trust me , you will at least want the BajaRon sway bar.........safe riding!

 

[hogcowboy]

2015 RTS,
trust me , you will at least want the BajaRon sway bar.........safe riding!

I've heard conflicting reports. Some say you don't need it. I guess compared to the 12's it might be better. But I agree, for the little effort BajaRon's sway bar upgrade can't be beat. That's all we did to our 12 RT Limited. Was like a completely different machine.

The other thing I've heard is a plus is the laser alignment. Our dealer doesn't have the machine so not sure how to address that. Think we got lucky with our 12 or more like the mechanic got lucky.

 

[trikermutha]

http://www.spydercomfort.com/dealers.htm

1st I have heard about the 2015 not needing a sway bar upgrade.

 

[Capt.Bob]

http://www.spydercomfort.com/dealers.htm

1st I have heard about the 2015 not needing a sway bar upgrade.

Yesterday I ordered a BajaRon Ronbar and BajaRon billet heim links to increase lateral stability on my new-to-me Spyder F3-S.

 

[bikerbillone]

Capt Bob, did you have a different machine recently before the Spyder? Just curious, seems I remember, but you know that goes.

 

[trikermutha]

Yesterday I ordered a BajaRon Ronbar and BajaRon billet heim links to increase lateral stability on my new-to-me Spyder F3-S.

You will notice the improvement while cornering. ThumbUp

- - - Updated - - -

Capt Bob, did you have a different machine recently before the Spyder? Just curious, seems I remember, but you know that goes.

He has the TRIGLIDE and NOW the F3 Spyder

 

[Capt.Bob]

Bikerbillone, I got so hooked on trikes that I decided to get a sport trike to go along with my Tri Glide. I know it is goofy to have such a major investment in two depreciating assets but WTH?

Trikermutha, the BajaRon anti-sway bar and billet aluminum heim joints is the bomb. The swaybar is truly transformative for a trike that was meant to corner well. The amount of body lean has substantially decreased. I plan to ride the same twistie roads that I did when I got it home last week and get a comparative feel for how much more sure-footed the trike feels.

I did something even more financially foolish but functionally sensible in that I ordered a Drop-Tail brand SCT-2200 open trike trailer that will be perfect for use with both my TGU and my F3-S. The trailer folds in the middle and can take up as little as 40" in depth in one of my garage spaces so I can park other things there.

I plan to haul the TGU up to the mountains with my wife who enjoys riding on that rig and doing some light touring. Then, on my own time, I will take the F3-S up to the same mountains and do more serious riding of the twisties.

 

[Capt.Bob]

Things are trying to come in threes but only got the second installment of my planned upgrades in the mail while I spent part of the afternoon installing the RonBar. Spyderpop sent me my foam grips to put over the stock grips which are too small for my hands. I know from experience that larger grips allow for lighter hand grip and that translates into increase smoothness of the controls. I went out to the carriage house with a bottle of hand sanitizer as recommended by Spyderpops, wetted down both the handgrip and the inner surface of the foam grip and slid them on with some pulling and use of my palm. I also reinstalled the bar counterweights that I had taken off for the install. It went smooth as pie and the grips only cost $14. Can't wait to ride those twisties tomorrow and see how everything is coming together. Now just waiting for the windshield, backrest and a laser align when everything is dialed in.

 

[trikermutha]

I like that drop tail trailer for space concerns.

The foam grips do help a lot. I didn't like the small ones that come on the Spyder.

Rons bar does make it handle much better.

Will lighting be next for your farkling??

 

[Capt.Bob]

I like that drop tail trailer for space concerns.

The foam grips do help a lot. I didn't like the small ones that come on the Spyder.

Rons bar does make it handle much better.

Will lighting be next for your farkling??

Trikermutha, I was wondering about how easy it is to install the fog lights that supposedly are "plug and play"? Vehicle conspicuity is always something I am interested in even though I generally will not travel with it much at night but will find myself out some early evenings or early mornings.

 

[bikerbillone]

Bikerbillone, I got so hooked on trikes that I decided to get a sport trike to go along with my Tri Glide. I know it is goofy to have such a major investment in two depreciating assets but WTH?

Trikermutha, the BajaRon anti-sway bar and billet aluminum heim joints is the bomb. The swaybar is truly transformative for a trike that was meant to corner well. The amount of body lean has substantially decreased. I plan to ride the same twistie roads that I did when I got it home last week and get a comparative feel for how much more sure-footed the trike feels.

I did something even more financially foolish but functionally sensible in that I ordered a Drop-Tail brand SCT-2200 open trike trailer that will be perfect for use with both my TGU and my F3-S. The trailer folds in the middle and can take up as little as 40" in depth in one of my garage spaces so I can park other things there.

I plan to haul the TGU up to the mountains with my wife who enjoys riding on that rig and doing some light touring. Then, on my own time, I will take the F3-S up to the same mountains and do more serious riding of the twisties.

CaptBob, well you surely it going on and have arrived in the world of trikes, and too, a fine trailer if needed.

What's the old adage, "we ain't taking it with us", so spend and enjoy. I do check out those Spyders, the looks just grab me, but alas my GW RoadSmith serves one main purpose, the wife loves riding on the back of that thing and I only built a shed for one trike. Maybe we'll see each other in Maggie this year?

 

[trikermutha]

Trikermutha, I was wondering about how easy it is to install the fog lights that supposedly are "plug and play"? Vehicle conspicuity is always something I am interested in even though I generally will not travel with it much at night but will find myself out some early evenings or early mornings.

Now keep in mind I have the RT limited. Headlights were plug and play but had to take off some Tupperware to get to the headlight. I bought TricLED Headlights but found the polarity had to be switched. (Invert the plug)

I haven't done my fog lights yet as I have installed the Clearwater lights on my lower front of the Spyder.THese are really bright and adjustable. Others use different types and manufacturers that are cheaper.

And I don't use the fog lights much as by State law not suppose to have more than 4 White lights on the front of the vehicle. I may change the fog lights at some point..

So far I have found when they say plug and play it is as advertised . I think the fogs can be installed in the wheel wells but haven't checked yet..

I really light my fender lights and LED flag with the high mount brake light. Oh even installed the bag lights. I think that is enough lights for now..You can see me pretty well.

 

[Capt.Bob]

Just installed a BRP Blue Ridge windscreen and BRP smooth backrest this afternoon. Yowser! The windscreen with the laminar lip allows the air to hit me at about forehead height and is not blocking my line of sight whatsoever. The backrest is terrific but unreasonably expensive but takes all of the strain off my back while sitting in the seat. I had added Spyderpops foam grip covers to be able to have a light touch on the handlebars and I think I am ready to strafe the twisties tomorrow and see how the whole setup works. I have a very defined set of roads that I use for testing that allow me to understand the characteristics of any new bike I have gotten over the past 16 years and I will go out tomorrow and see how the whole ensemble works for me.

Can you tell that I am really excitedepper:?

 

[Capt.Bob]

Not very excited about the head buffeting from the new Blue Ridge windshield. It is not designed properly. I am trying to decide what to do? The backrest is to die for. Makes the Spyder MUCH more comfy!

 

[trikermutha]

I liked the f4 windshield..But I have a RT and went taller and wider than stock..

Is it too short and wind hitting you in the top of your head?

 

[hogcowboy]

I wish someone made a re-curve for a Spyder RT Limited. With the adjustable windshield a re-curve would be great so you could look over it unless you are on the interstate. But I sure can't find one. John at Freedom Shields says he has plans to do it but has been too busy with his current orders to get into it. He makes the absolute best shield going. Had one on my Harley Ultra and have one on my Indian Roadmaster. The Spyder needs one now.

 

[Capt.Bob]

I liked the f4 windshield..But I have a RT and went taller and wider than stock..

Is it too short and wind hitting you in the top of your head?

The wind is hitting me right at about eyebrow level. At higher speeds, the windshield gets slightly better but unfortunately it is much too turbulent to be enjoyable. Gusstaffson makes a replacement shield that uses the Can-Am mounting hardware but it is another $270 to effect a fix. Think I am going to ride bare for a while until I figure it out?

 

[trikermutha]

The wind is hitting me right at about eyebrow level. At higher speeds, the windshield gets slightly better but unfortunately it is much too turbulent to be enjoyable. Gusstaffson makes a replacement shield that uses the Can-Am mounting hardware but it is another $270 to effect a fix. Think I am going to ride bare for a while until I figure it out?

Well good luck as I would not like the wind hitting me in the head either. Make sure you measure before you buy..

Good Luck..

 

[Capt.Bob]

Well good luck as I would not like the wind hitting me in the head either. Make sure you measure before you buy..

Good Luck..

Trikermutha, I sold my windshield and ain't gettin' no stinkin' windshield for the F3-S. I went on a spirited 120 mile ride this morning on lots of my favorite twisty roads with no windshield and the trike was like a dream with the RonBar, backrest and foam grip covers. No buffeting at even a ton and the wind felt like wonderful laminar flow over the trike rushing past me. Unlike the Tri Glide which has surprisingly good wind-flow with the movable air deflectors and vents in the lowers, the F3 with a windshield has too much of a dead area in addition to the incredible amount of helmet buffeting I was experiencing (worst buffeting that I have ever experienced). One trike will have a windshield (Harley) and the other will not (Can-Am).

I was on a 55 mph road where there were lots of posted recommended 35 mph turns that I took at the speed limit with absolutely no hassle on the F3-S. It was really fun to use my old sportbike days habit of paying attention to remembering that we go where we look and the tighter it gets, the farther forward we need to look. The handlebars are so light on the Can-Am that I can just almost intuit the curves with a little bit of input which of course is dramatically different than the steering inputs we have to give to our beloved TGU's.