Romney Cycle Demo

[Dirt_Dad]

Dirt_Dad, see you there - silver '02 Vee with Happy Trails bags.

Way off-topic, how's the Spyder? I was aghast a couple of days ago when I saw a TV ad for it where they said "take your motorcycle test on it one day, be out cruising the next" (or something along those lines). Seems they are aiming at non-riders, or suggesting an easy way to get a motorcycle license without needing to know how to ride a motorcycle, or that it's not much different to a car. I don't know what, really. What do you think?

Trevor

I'll be looking for you Trevor. I suspect Yamaha won't do many rides if it's raining, so I'll play that by ear. But for anyone not from this area and thinking of coming you should know the daily forecast around here in the summer is for thunderstorms...every freaking day. They do happen, but not nearly as often as forecast. Looking at a Wednesday forecast for Friday is often useless.

As far as the Spyder, very interesting. I've had a chance to put about 500 miles on it so far. The very long answer can be found in the post of this thread http://www.stromtrooper.com/other-motorcycles/64601-eeeeekkk-spyder.html. A more specific twisty handling answer is here http://www.stromtrooper.com/691112-post26.html. To summarize it all, the commercial is right, "compared to everything you've ever ridden, it's most similar to none of them." Truer words have never been spoken. I'd say it's most similar to an ATV, but I'm an ATV motocross rider and I can tell you, it's no ATV. It sure as hell isn't a motorcycle. It really is it's own beast. Anybody can get on it an ride it around the block with little difficulty, but if you want to ride it at a high level, fast through the twisties it's going to take a lot of practice and building new skills. So far I really like it because I'm not good at it yet and I enjoy the challenge of getting skilled on a new machine. I think it has a lot of potential, but I can't unlock it until I log a lot more seat time.

 

[HoebSTer]

here in washington, if a person gets a three wheeled permit, it doesn't cover riding a motorcycle or vise versa. Even myself as an MSF Instructor, I can't ride one on the street if i wanted to .

 

[Dirt_Dad]

here in washington, if a person gets a three wheeled permit, it doesn't cover riding a motorcycle or vise versa. Even myself as an MSF Instructor, I can't ride one on the street if i wanted to .

That's a pain. Just a bike license here. I could see the logic with one front and two rear, but with two up front and in plain sight the Spyder is well behaved in non aggressive riding. Of course I may be biased because I have a lot of ATV time and much of the steering is familiar.

 

[pqsqac]

I just read an article that BRP is plotting a fully independent lean Spyder. The article said most complaints are the bike or body does not lean on it's own. I can attest to that when I test rode one a few years ago I didn't care for the handling in corners because you could not lean the bike or trike.

 

[AVGeek]

That's a pain. Just a bike license here. I could see the logic with one front and two rear, but with two up front and in plain sight the Spyder is well behaved in non aggressive riding. Of course I may be biased because I have a lot of ATV time and much of the steering is familiar.

I agree. Can Am did a demo day in Phoenix, and I did the Spyder demo. It felt most like riding a sport ATV (live axle) on the street. Some people would call the steering "responsive", I use the word "twitchy". I also thought that it couldn't decide whether it was a ride on car (roadster) or a stabilized motorcycle.

I, too, have a lot of ATV seat time (current ride is a YFZ450, been riding ATVs off road for 25 years).

OK, back to the topic...

 

[Venture]

I just read an article that BRP is plotting a fully independent lean Spyder.

My brain can't seem to figure out how that would be possible. Still thinking...

 

[TEN YC]

the rain situation is screwing up my plans with this

 

[Dirt_Dad]

the rain situation is screwing up my plans with this

Forecast is looking bad. I talked to Romeny at 5:00 pm this evening. The said rides start at 10:00am, but if the roads are wet Yam will not take out the bikes. I'll make a decision on if I'm going when I look at the radar tomorrow morning. No sense in going if nothing will be happening.

Regarding the "twitchy" Spyder, I agree. And let me tell you that riding after dark, five hours into your very first ride, after enduring big thunderstorms, the Spyder is super twitchy. Overall I'm used to twitchy. My ATV (Kawasaki KFX-700) was so twitchy my wife refused to ride it. It just scared her. I loved it. I'm still getting used to the twitchyness of the Spyder, but don't find it to be a problem. Just something else to get used to.

 

[TEN YC]

Forecast is looking bad. I talked to Romeny at 5:00 pm this evening. The said rides start at 10:00am, but if the roads are wet Yam will not take out the bikes. I'll make a decision on if I'm going when I look at the radar tomorrow morning. No sense in going if nothing will be happening.

that's what I'm afraid of. If I make the 5-6 hour trip each way I would like to be able to ride a super tenere.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

that's what I'm afraid of. If I make the 5-6 hour trip each way I would like to be able to ride a super tenere.

Just watched the local DC forecast. They are calling for 50% chance of rain. That gives me more hope that things will work out. Certainly understand your point of the long ride there. Two months ago I made a 5 hour ride to Roanoke, spent the night and when I showed up bright and early I was told no rides until tomorrow (when I was going to be gone) due to show rules. I did not hide my disappointment, I told the boss I had put my deposit down on one of those bikes back in September. She took pity, said to hell with show rules and let me go for a nice long ride with one of her guys. Nice lady. Unfortunately I don't think rain has any pity. Let's just hope the forecast is wrong.

 

[Brntrt]

Bikes loaded for an early start tomorrow. Planning on a Saturday Demo, weather permitting.

 

[TEN YC]

Bikes loaded for an early start tomorrow. Planning on a Saturday Demo, weather permitting.

early today and yesterday they were predicting clear skies on saturday but now the forecast is 50% chance of rain just like tomorrow. Good luck if you go. It's probably not worth the risk for me but have fun and let us know what you think of the bike

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Radar looks pretty good this morning. The day does not appear to be a washout. I think I'm going to head over there.

 

[SpeedStar]

Good luck with the weather guys. Look forward to hearing about the demos, if they happen. Mine got rained out in Long Beach. I hope you guys get yours.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

Weather in the morning turned out to be perfect. Arriving at 9:10am I was fourth in line for the S10. Fortunately they had two. Spklbuk and Dcstrom had it on the first ride. I jumped in between the two S10s with a Vmax. That bike is a blast if you get the chance. So powerful that I was concerned I may have set myself up for disappointment going from the rocket powered Vmax to the S10. But disappointment was not on the agenda. The S10 was very smooth and had loads of low end torque.

I know we've all read endless reviews and there's not a lot new to say. What I can do is compare my Roanoke S10 from two months ago to the two I rode today. In Roanoke the S10 had a somewhat raspy exhaust sound. That did not exist on the one today. Today's bikes were smooth and quiet. Much nicer than the Roanoke bike which I suspect needed a TBS. Also I did notice the snatchy throttle some had complained about on the Roanoke bike. Today's bike had none of that. Just smooth power delivery. I did not feel anything that could be considered snatchy. I really think the bike two months ago just needed some adjustments.

One other thing I noticed today was how clean the S10 is. By that I mean it looks like it will be easier to work on than the Strom. For example the rear master cylinder reservoir is instantly accessible. On the Strom it takes significant time to take off enough metal and plastic to reach the reservoir. Overall the bike just looks easier to work on and that is really appealing. It also reinforces my attitude that I don't want crash bars that restrict me from removing both panels.

The two bikes today were setup differently. One was completely stock, the other had every Yamaha accessory available. I rode both with the highest seat position. Both stock screens were completely inadequate for me. Both directed the airstream directly in the middle of my helmet. I can't say either were buffeting my head terribly, but the noise and annoyance they created forced me to close the face shield on my helmet to seek relief. That's something I almost never do on my Strom, and didn't need to do on the Vmax that had no fairing. Without a doubt I need to figure out what I am going to do with the wind protection. I tried squatting down to the level of the lower seat and it did not help.

Today was very worthwhile. I've moved from an attitude of wait and see what I think of the bike before buying any aftermarket parts, to an attitude of this is going to be a keeper, start buying.

Really enjoyed meeting everyone today. Forums make it great to show up to a place and you already know people that you've never even met before. I really appreciate that.

Hope tomorrow works out well for everyone. Good luck.

 

[colorider]

GREAT review Dirt_Dad!!! Thanks for sharing!!!1

 

[HoebSTer]

nice reading your thoughts DirtDad. I kow you have been on the fence since this thing was released, both here and early on the STromtrooper site. I really wish the bike had a demo offer here in the NW, but nothing at all. It is funny, around Dec this past year, the area rep had one and he was riding it all over the fricken country-side. Geez already!!! Glad to see you are taking the next steps towards longevity with this beauty!!!!

 

[Dirt_Dad]

nice reading your thoughts DirtDad. I kow you have been on the fence since this thing was released, both here and early on the STromtrooper site. I really wish the bike had a demo offer here in the NW, but nothing at all. It is funny, around Dec this past year, the area rep had one and he was riding it all over the fricken country-side. Geez already!!! Glad to see you are taking the next steps towards longevity with this beauty!!!!

It's unfortunate you don't get a chance to try one out. I usually say I learn absolutely nothing (or nearly nothing) on a test ride. But between the two different events and three different bikes I've ridden about 80 minutes on the S10. Granted almost none of that riding has been in my desired environment of hard core twisties, but still I feel like I have learned something about this bike.

There is a natural transition from the Vee to the S10, but there is enough difference that it will take time to achieve a high level of skill to make me feel that I am riding at my normal level. I love that!! The thing I disliked so much about owning an FJR was anyone of average skill could get on it and ride at a high level. You had to push that bike pretty fast to feel like it needed a skilled rider guiding it. High speed isn't my thing. I'm much more into high adrenaline. You feel the twists and turns on the Vee at much lower speeds than the FJR. The FJR is on auto pilot at those speeds. The S10 does inspire confidence, but I didn't feel I could slam it into a corner at my normal pace...just yet. Perfect, I have to work to improve my skills before I can flog this bike. Sign me up! I want to feel like a rider, not a passenger.

My last two Yamahas have been the FZ1 and FJR. Both are fantastic bikes that perform their designed purposes flawlessly. Both bored the crap out of me because they were too easy for my style of riding. The S10 is not from the same mold. Like the Stroms I'm sure anyone can get on an S10 and ride it for basic transportation purposes. But if you want to ride at a high level and really flog the bike you'll need to master new skills. >

 

[HoebSTer]

DirtDad, I too am one who really loves to push it hard in the twisties, hard, not over my skill level!!! I think I am pretty skilled and have ridden most of the major mountains in the USA. They have included, Rockies, Cascades, Adirondacks, Smokies, Green Mountains, WHite Mountains (NH, VT) Sawtooth Range. I am priveledged to have ridden all of these. I really liked the ST's, both 1100 & 1300's to the point of grinding off the peg feelers on both. I got it touched on the STrom, and felt I could enter a turn later and still be ok since the STrom was lighter than the ST's. I am going to love this Tenere.
I have already put the bug into my wifes ear that I want to finish the remainder of the USA states I haven't yet completed. From Seattle it is going to be hard for a one week trip. They include, RI, DE, AR, MS, AL, FL, LA. I will run the Tenere like there is no tomorrow on that trip. It will be only to touch wheel in the states, and a quick blast up the Blue Ridge Parkway too!!!! Then back home!!!
When the bike gets here, we will surely have some ride reports all around.

 

[sportrider]

Jeff,

If you get to NY and need to crash, I have a spare room with a hot meal and cold beer.