You experience coming from a can-am to a freewheeler

[Delkhouri]

I currently have a 2019 Ryker Rally and I like most things about it except for the fully automatic CVT transmission that does no allow me to shift and keeps a super high RPM all of the time. I am looking at spyders and freewheelers. I am interested in hearing peoples experiences coming from a Can Am to a freewheeler.

The reasons i am interested in the freewheeler are manual transmission/clutch, looks, sound, dealer network. I have not ridden a freewheeler yet as I am having trouble finding one locally and i need to refresh using a clutch.

So please share your experience coming from can am to a freewheeler (or from a freewheeler to a spyder)

 

[rhino 2]

I currently have a 2019 Ryker Rally and I like most things about it except for the fully automatic CVT transmission that does no allow me to shift and keeps a super high RPM all of the time. I am looking at spyders and freewheelers. I am interested in hearing peoples experiences coming from a Can Am to a freewheeler.

The reasons i am interested in the freewheeler are manual transmission/clutch, looks, sound, dealer network. I have not ridden a freewheeler yet as I am having trouble finding one locally and i need to refresh using a clutch.

So please share your experience coming from can am to a freewheeler (or from a freewheeler to a spyder)

I had one of the first Can-Am spiders in New Jersey (2008) I traded it for a 2011 Tri glide in 2011. to be fair it was the first year and I had a lot of problems with it also after riding motorcycles from the 60s till then I just missed the motorcycle feel and I felt like I was on a toy or a converted snowmobile...

 

[W3JNP]

Had a Goldwing reverse trike for a few years. The reverse trikes are more stable but harder to steer.

 

[paws]

My previous ride was not a Freewheeler but a 2008 Gold Wing Motor Trike Adventure to a 2021 Can-Am Spyder RT Ltd.

I really loved that Gold Wing trike… so comfortable and powerful.

With a rake kit it was very easy to steer. I don’t know if you can put a rake kit on a Freewheeler. I am sure those owners will chime in and let us know.

The Spyder has power steering and is ultra-sensitive and easy to steer. I like it fine for now. It too has all the bells and whistles like the GW. It too is a comfortable ride.

I do prefer the 2 wheels in back, as was the Gold Wing, but that has nothing to do with the steering between my 2 rides..

Ride everything you can to get a feel for what you really will be happy with.

 

[joebedford]

The FW is already raked.

 

[cScjhb]

I went from many years riding Goldwings to a Spyder RTL back to a Goldwing and now on a Goldwing Trike. I had a long period of adjustment and un-learning when going from two wheels to the Spyder. Not so going to the GW trike. The two main differences I found between Spyders and Traditional trikes are: Spyder steering is more sensitive. There is a learning curve to become confident and relaxed. Secondly, Spyders require more rider "participation" in corners and twisties. Body lean, foot & knee pressures all become important to be proficient on a Spyder. Traditional trikes are more like a car in that respect. Just turn the handlebars and away you go. Hope this helps..... Jim

 

[Delkhouri]

I went from many years riding Goldwings to a Spyder RTL back to a Goldwing and now on a Goldwing Trike. I had a long period of adjustment and un-learning when going from two wheels to the Spyder. Not so going to the GW trike. The two main differences I found between Spyders and Traditional trikes are: Spyder steering is more sensitive. There is a learning curve to become confident and relaxed. Secondly, Spyders require more rider "participation" in corners and twisties. Body lean, foot & knee pressures all become important to be proficient on a Spyder. Traditional trikes are more like a car in that respect. Just turn the handlebars and away you go. Hope this helps..... Jim

So i have owned a ryker for a couple years and I have ridden the a spyder RT new model on a hour demo and an F3 and F3L… the ryker is much more twitchy at speed than a spyder. I am surprised to hear you say that a traditional trike is more car like in some respects…. While i have never ridden a traditional trike i just assumed that the spyder was more car in pretty much every respect.

 

[cScjhb]

So i have owned a ryker for a couple years and I have ridden the a spyder RT new model on a hour demo and an F3 and F3L… the ryker is much more twitchy at speed than a spyder. I am surprised to hear you say that a traditional trike is more car like in some respects…. While i have never ridden a traditional trike i just assumed that the spyder was more car in pretty much every respect.

I owned my Spyder RTL for a little more than 3 years and 35,000 miles. I did a road trip last month and traveled over a road that I don't like.... a lot. It is about 60 miles of rough road and has signs indicating as such. I have traveled that section of road more than a dozen times on 2-wheel Goldwings, 6 times on my Spyder, numerous times by car, and twice this year on my trike. As I was riding it last month, I consciously thought to myself that my trike was MUCH more comfortable than the other bikes and was almost as good as my Buick on that bad boy road. I have a little over 20,000 on my current trike. At my advanced age, given a choice for extended touring, I'd choose my traditional trike 10 out of 10 times. I know my GW California Sidecar trike with IRS is a lot different from what you are considering. You may want to try different models and different suspension configurations to find what suits you best.....