Prelude

August 2018

After more than 30 years riding motorcycles (with some breaks, of course…), I decided to switch to a Thing with one more wheel.

I don’t call it a motorcycle because that would offend the sensibilities of the purists, but also because it really isn’t one. The correct term is reverse trike… Reverse because the two-wheel axle is at the front, not the rear. Which, by the way, actually makes more sense.

During my time on two wheels I did some amazing rides with good friends — Pyrenees, Alps, Grossglockner, Stelvio, Sahara, among others — so I’ve clocked enough miles/kilometers to have a solid understanding of what riding a motorcycle is and isn’t.

The decision wasn’t taken lightly. I’m not usually someone who acts on impulse without being well informed.

For the past 7 years I’ve been riding a Triumph Tiger XCx 800, a fantastic European adventure bike that suited me perfectly. I liked it so much that I swapped my first 2011 model for a 2016 (new generation, updated). The Tiger really is a divine machine, from the finish to its vigorous, elastic engine. I loved that bike, which for me remains a benchmark.

But time passes, you gain "sense" and you rethink risks… Over all these years I also owed my partner a series of trips together. My motorcycling life was 99% solo, which was how I enjoyed riding the Tiger. With a passenger I never felt comfortable. The change in dynamics (a common "problem" to all two-wheelers), combined with the responsibility of carrying someone very close to me, made me avoid riding two-up.

That’s when I started looking for better options for traveling as a pair. After considering what was available in the two-wheel market, I focused on the RT offered by BMW. But I concluded that this big cruiser, full of comfort and electronics, suffers from the same issues. A heavy beast (even more than the Tiger), with a surprisingly high seat height that makes it even harder to handle. Then, somehow, I remembered the Spyder. In fact, in my whole life I’d only seen two or three, years ago. That concept of two wheels at the front deserved a closer look.

I looked for dealers… Not easy. The Lisbon dealership seemed to have closed, and the nearest one was 62mi100km away. Another hurdle: the importer is based in the North, and test models were only available there, in Matosinhos… Driving 497mi800km for a test ride wasn’t in my plans, and buying from a catalog wasn’t either.

So I sent an email asking to be notified when Spyders were available for testing at the nearest dealer, and waited…

Until the day I stopped by the Rio Maior dealership (Benimoto) to get an appraisal on the Tiger… And from there everything snowballed. The trade-in value was within my expectations, plus a considerable discount on accessories.

By then I had already spent four months "researching" the Spyder. During that time I devoured forums, blogs, and all the YouTube videos. In theory, I knew everything. I only lacked practice. At that point, faced with a reasonable offer, I decided to jump in headfirst and not wait for the test-drive units arriving in September. So, the following Saturday I went there and ordered a Spyder F3-S… Without ever having ridden one or even seen this latest model (F3) in person.

The current Spyder lineup is essentially divided into two families, totaling six models.

The F3 family corresponds to the new generation of Spyders (launched in 2015) and is subdivided into F3 (base), F3-S (Sport), F3-T (Touring), and F3-T LTD (Touring Limited).

The RT family consists of the RT and RT LTD (Limited), essentially versions prepared for grand touring (large fairings and integrated luggage).

Update [September 2020]:

At the end of 2020 the RT family was updated with a new generation. A more modern design with full LED lighting, electric front screen, ergonomic improvements, and more cargo space. The engine remains the same as the previous generation.
Also the F3 base is no longer offered.

That said, I was undecided between the F3-S and F3-T models. But I eventually chose the Sport model for aesthetic reasons (the rear’s bobber-style look) and because the integrated cases of the T are too small — they don’t even fit a helmet.

The optional cases offered for the S (made in cooperation with SHAD) are removable, integrate perfectly with the F3’s aesthetics, and most importantly: they’re 36 liters each, easily fitting a large modular helmet. In addition, I installed a front windshield (standard on the T), a generous removable passenger backrest, and heated grips.

And even with all that, I still spent well below the €3,000 difference between the S and T models. Of course, the T comes with a few extras (radio, 16:9 instrument panel, wide footrests), but none that I considered important for me.

Of the three available colors (blue, yellow, and black), I chose Black Monolith Satin, a matte (or satin) black. Actually, it’s mostly matte, composed of a mix of matte and glossy black panels. It’s my first black bike, though initially I leaned toward metallic blue. But apparently anything other than black, gray, or white bikes has lower resale value. And I don’t mind it being black — I actually like it. This matte black gives it an even stronger look, which has already earned me street comments from kids like: “Daddy, look, it’s Batman’s bike!”

And speaking of that, another thing I had to get used to was being the center of attention wherever I go. The Spyder really stands out (especially to the young and the elderly). Probably because they’re rare in Portugal and also because the design is so striking… Reactions range from curious head-turns, to wide smiles, to enthusiastic honks and waves. Overall, very few people remain indifferent