Motorcycle free

[Warlock]

First time in many, many, years not owning a motorcycle. I had my valkyrie for over 11 years and to me still the best made. I also loved my goldwings and fine bike, but no valkyrie. About 4 1/2 months ago had both knees replaced. Doing well with them and can ride motorcycles, but afraid if I drop it picking it back up would cause a problem. If I had only done one I believe I would still ride them. I'm not completely done. Kathy and myself are both riding Spyders now. Since her cancer and now cancer free she wanted to ride her own again. So sold all the cycles and bought 2 Spyders. Used of course. Mine is a 08 GS manual shift and hers is a 11 RSS SE5. Having a ball riding these. Not like a motorcycle but are fun. So maybe next year might try and make some of the rides. Always have loved the VRCC . Read the board daily, but don't post a lot. Have meet a bunch of good folks here. On long term disability at present and will chances are I will not return to work in the gulf. Might have more time to ride now.
David

[hotglue #43]

Good to have those rebuilt knees in the breeze!!!!!!!  enjoy!!!!!

[Oss]

Been a lot of years since we shared a ride down to Wheels thru Time from DOTS.   That was a great day. Pretty sure that was about the last time I saw Bird and Cindy.  Saw Rusty and Magoo at GOTF

Best wishes for yours and Kathy's good health from Oss and Bonnie

[Warlock]

Been a lot of years since we shared a ride down to Wheels thru Time from DOTS.   That was a great day. Pretty sure that was about the last time I saw Bird and Cindy.  Saw Rusty and Magoo at GOTF

Best wishes for yours and Kathy's good health from Oss and Bonnie

I think I saw you last year there. I was on my Goldwing. Don't think you recognized me. Hoping to go to the next one.
David

[DDT (12)]

My first thought as I began reading this was, "This is just too sad to contemplate!" Glad I read your entire post! Congrats on the Spyders and continuing to keep those knees in the breeze. Really happy things are working out for both you and Kathy... Y'all are highly regarded members of the family, and we'd love for y'all to hang around with us forever... no matter what you ride or drive or... whatever.

DDT

[cookiedough]

I take it the wifes is the newer, redesigned bigger engine spyder vs. the old one being under 1000cc engine?  How do you rate the new design/engine over the old design?

When those spyders first came out they were unique and selling well.  Now,  the under 1000cc older engines are very easy to buy for what I feel is a good used price and most with lower mileage on them.  I think if and when the time comes  I would consider one as well being on 3 wheels vs. 2.   Still in the wind and with reverse easier to move around as well, but will take up more space in the garage being wider than our Valks. 

[RDAbull]

David,
I had both of my knees replaced also.  The legs just aren't as strong as they used to be.  Moved from an I/S to the I/S trike and ride more now than I have in several years.  Getting out in the wind is where the fun is.  No regrets on my part.  Riding is fun, getting older, not so much.
Ride safe

[Warlock]

Hers still has the 990 engine like mine. It has 2 brothers exhaust and a juice box. Mine is stock, that way I can listen to my music. She loves the exhaust and I tell her ride in the back with it. There isn't a lot of difference is speed between the new motor and the old. But it is a lower rev engine and has more torque. You have to keep the old ones rev up. With the SE5 you don't shift until 5000 rpm or higher. Once you ride them a little not hard at all. Very fast up to 110 mph. It is just a tad slower than the Valkyrie to give you and ideal on it. You can run some curves with it also. Can't wait to get it up in the mountains and ride it. Will probably be next year before that happens.

David

[Warlock]

David,
I had both of my knees replaced also.  The legs just aren't as strong as they used to be.  Moved from an I/S to the I/S trike and ride more now than I have in several years.  Getting out in the wind is where the fun is.  No regrets on my part.  Riding is fun, getting older, not so much.
Ride safe

I had bought a 1500 Goldwing trike and liked it. Wife said after riding all them years on the Valkyrie nothing else will do. She used to ride a Spyder a few years back and wanted another one. So I sold the Goldwing and the M50 and got these and never looked back. I rode the M50 a few days back and the vibration was bothering my knees. I really wanted another Valkyrie, but I was afraid the knees wouldn't allow it. You know if you ride enough you will drop it. And that is where it would get me. My knees are doing great and getting better every day. Love your trike.
David

[Crazyhorse]

David good hearing from you. Hope to see you guys soon.

[Mr Whiskey]

Read the board daily, but don't post a lot. Have meet a bunch of good folks here. On long term disability at present and will chances are I will not return to work in the gulf. Might have more time to ride now.
David

Come on up for FCR Brother! Ground zero might be sold out but there's still rooms in town.
We'd love ta see ya

[Warlock]

Read the board daily, but don't post a lot. Have meet a bunch of good folks here. On long term disability at present and will chances are I will not return to work in the gulf. Might have more time to ride now.
David

Come on up for FCR Brother! Ground zero might be sold out but there's still rooms in town.
We'd love ta see ya

Would love to, but only 4 1/2 months since surgery. Need a tad more time before a long ride. Still setting up the Spyder also. Just about there. Need a Utopia backrest. Not in the money as I use to be. On disability at present and will probably stay there.
David

[cookiedough]

Hers still has the 990 engine like mine. It has 2 brothers exhaust and a juice box. Mine is stock, that way I can listen to my music. She loves the exhaust and I tell her ride in the back with it. There isn't a lot of difference is speed between the new motor and the old. But it is a lower rev engine and has more torque. You have to keep the old ones rev up. With the SE5 you don't shift until 5000 rpm or higher. Once you ride them a little not hard at all. Very fast up to 110 mph. It is just a tad slower than the Valkyrie to give you and ideal on it. You can run some curves with it also. Can't wait to get it up in the mountains and ride it. Will probably be next year before that happens.

David

thanks for the insight on the spyders.  I hear the power is adequate but how has reliability and any issues arise with them you have had?   Not a biggie, but hear the mpg is not any better either than the Valk, if not worse under 35 avg mpg. 

Riding season in the upper northern states is almost over anyways only 1-2 months left tops,  so rest up for next spring. 

[Jack]

  As long as ya'll are having fun, David. 

[Warlock]

Hers still has the 990 engine like mine. It has 2 brothers exhaust and a juice box. Mine is stock, that way I can listen to my music. She loves the exhaust and I tell her ride in the back with it. There isn't a lot of difference is speed between the new motor and the old. But it is a lower rev engine and has more torque. You have to keep the old ones rev up. With the SE5 you don't shift until 5000 rpm or higher. Once you ride them a little not hard at all. Very fast up to 110 mph. It is just a tad slower than the Valkyrie to give you and ideal on it. You can run some curves with it also. Can't wait to get it up in the mountains and ride it. Will probably be next year before that happens.

David

thanks for the insight on the spyders.  I hear the power is adequate but how has reliability and any issues arise with them you have had?   Not a biggie, but hear the mpg is not any better either than the Valk, if not worse under 35 avg mpg. 

Riding season in the upper northern states is almost over anyways only 1-2 months left tops,  so rest up for next spring. 

So far only issue with mine was the power steering unit and position sensor it was bad. Of course it was bad when I bought it and he dropped the price on the bike for what it cost to replace it. Didn't know the sensor was out, but still got a great deal on it. Gas mileage depends on the right wrist. They do like gas. Mine is getting around 30 to 32 mpg. Haven't checked my wife yet. Now the new ones with the 3 cylinders are getting 40 to 44 mpg. One guy was complaining about his KIA was getting better mileage than his spyder. So one member told him to take the KIA next time. My Valkyrie was getting around 36 mpg when I had it. Having too much fun with it to worry about gas mileage. Now if it drops aroung 25 mpg it's time to look into it. Usually new plugs, plug wires, and air filter takes care of the problem.
Davi