Sunday, November 9, 2008

Gini's Spyder Web

So, I went to test drive the Y-factor. Which is marketing hype for a 3-wheeled motorcycle, called the Spyder.

We have Kawasaki Ninjas (mine is a 250, my husband's is a 600), but I'm still riding down the streets and highways going, "Ahhhhhhhhhh!" in my mind. The entire time. Every ride. I think I'm too aware of how easy it is to die on a bike.

I'm also too aware of the fact that I dropped my bike the first day I had it. Going 3 mph.

Of course, it dropped because I was going 3 mph. But, still, the healthy fear is there. And every corner said healthy fear rears its head and goes, "Gini...you're gonna die!" What can I say? My healthy fear has a life, and a big mouth, of its own.

I know that dropping the bike is my biggest fear. I also know that I love riding. So, the big motorcycle show was in town, and I decided to test drive a Spyder. A three-wheeled, traction-awesome, you-can't-drop-it, nor-can-you-flip-it bike.

The difference between a Spyder and a tricycle is that the two wheels are in the front on a Spyder, hence the Y-factor thing. The Spyder also looks like a modern Batcycle. It's very cool. You don't look stupid or scared on it, you look like you're about to go to the Bat Cave and change into your Kevlar Batsuit and then go fight crime in a totally cool manner. So, obviously, I like the way the Spyder looks.

I had a few challenges, of course. I mean, nothing can be easy, at least for me. I wanted to test drive their semi-automatic and essentially forced them to bring one to me for the mini-test. Because I panicked and went totally blank and could not, for the life of me or anyone else, remember how to shift. But, once that was past, I was good. Terrifying the instructors and salesmen, but still good. Slower than everyone else, but still good.

Hey, I feel the need for speed just like everyone else, but we were testing on city streets and the police force were out and cruising. About the last thing I wanted to do was get a speeding ticket during this test drive. I'll save that for when I get one and let 'er rip on the open road.

The big test, of course, wasn't the power. This thing has, easy, triple the engine power of my Ninja. I needed to catch up to the rest of the test driving herd, so I just revved it and flew, almost literally, through the intersection. No, power is not an issue. Neither is handling. Some of the guys testing with me felt it was bulky and didn't handle like their bikes. I was going, "I can't drop it!" I loved the way it handled. Especially around corners.

Oh, the corners. I was fine on most of them, but there was one right turn where I was going far too fast and I knew it. Had I been on my Ninja, I probably would have wiped out. But I felt the Spyder go, "Oh, she's taking this one too fast. Better slow us down a tad and engage the traction control. There we are, little lady. All safe, sound and speeding along." The Spyder also told my healthy fear to shut up and leave me alone. It was like driving the motorcycle version of KITT, only the Spyder has a sexier voice.

Needless to say, I want one. Preferably in black. Or silver. Maybe even the red. But the black is the coolest, and the most like Batman or Robin would drive. However, the yellow one is out. After all, I want to be Batgirl, not the Yellow BumbleBee.

Love,
Gini

P.S. Check out my Playlists page to see a picture of me on the Batcycle.

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3 Comments:

Blogger WKEverhart said...

Okay, Miss I'm-Riding-a-Hot-Bike! There are no fender-benders on motorcyles, even Spyders. There are, however, leg-benders, neck-benders, arm-benders...Do you catch my drift? So, be careful out there. :D

November 10, 2008 at 4:59 PM  
Blogger WKEverhart said...

P.S. Revision: motorcycles.

November 10, 2008 at 5:00 PM  
Blogger Gini Koch said...

LOL, girl, I ride a crotch rocket already. The Spyder would be a safer choice. (Really. I swear. At least, that's what I'm telling the husband. ;-D) And I ride in full gear, every time, even if it's just around the block.

(But I can't drop the Spyder, ever...whoo hoo!)

-- Gini

November 10, 2008 at 9:51 PM  

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