ItsNthaBlood
New member
I'm new to motorcycles & don't know much about Spyders besides wanting one. I came across a 2017 F3S SE6 with 4500 miles. Should I get it? Pros & cons?
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Found a 2017 F3S - Should I get a used one? Pros & Cons??
- Thread starter ItsNthaBlood
- Start date
Snoking1127
Well-known member
I just bought a 2018 RTL with 4100 miles, and replacing the tires was first on my list do to the age of the tires. It was always garaged and the tires looked like new. But in my book they had aged out. Check on recalls, mine had gotten the sprocket recall competed, and on the 16th it goings in for the Transmission output shaft recall 24V728..
2017 F3 is on the list for the Sprocket recall number The sprocket recall also applies to the 2017 F3 22V352.
mecsw500
Active member
That's 9 years old with only 4,500 miles. I'd want a service history with oil changes done by time rather than miles. I'd also factor in things can perish and corrode if not ridden frequently so I'd want it checked out for obvious time related problems. If it actually clocked up miles in recent years I'd be more likely to be happy than if someone stopped using it like 4 years ago and just stored it. Four hundred miles or so per year would suggest there were times in its history it wasn't used at all.
Assuming it's got good bones, I'd put money aside for a complete service as a baseline. That's oil, both filters, a battery, brake fluid and I'd certainly be looking up the manufacturing date on the tires. You can Google on how to read tire date codes. I addition, the drive belt may be dry and a little perished.
You can look up the Kelly Blue Book for Motorcycles to get an idea of its value. I looked it up and it said private purchase is around $10,000.
The elephant in the room is to check if your local dealer is willing to work on Spyders over 10 years old. some will, some won't and some will but only 1330 cc triples like this one, not the earlier 998 cc V-Twins.
If it were me and it checks out and your local dealer is willing to service it, I'd be a buyer under $10K, the further under the better. I'd expect a full service with changing perished items to run properly perhaps up to $1,500, or more if it needs tires, and depending upon its usage history. You might also factor in that in your state you may need a motorcycle endorsement on you driving license to ride one. WA actually requires a trike specific license. I'd get somebody who owns a Spyder to test ride it for you to see if everything functions as it should, being a new rider you probably won't be able to make that call.
Assuming it's got good bones, I'd put money aside for a complete service as a baseline. That's oil, both filters, a battery, brake fluid and I'd certainly be looking up the manufacturing date on the tires. You can Google on how to read tire date codes. I addition, the drive belt may be dry and a little perished.
You can look up the Kelly Blue Book for Motorcycles to get an idea of its value. I looked it up and it said private purchase is around $10,000.
The elephant in the room is to check if your local dealer is willing to work on Spyders over 10 years old. some will, some won't and some will but only 1330 cc triples like this one, not the earlier 998 cc V-Twins.
If it were me and it checks out and your local dealer is willing to service it, I'd be a buyer under $10K, the further under the better. I'd expect a full service with changing perished items to run properly perhaps up to $1,500, or more if it needs tires, and depending upon its usage history. You might also factor in that in your state you may need a motorcycle endorsement on you driving license to ride one. WA actually requires a trike specific license. I'd get somebody who owns a Spyder to test ride it for you to see if everything functions as it should, being a new rider you probably won't be able to make that call.
TheMariner
Well-known member
Howdy,
I own a 2017 F3-S purchased in 2024. From experience I offer these tips.
Before Purchase, check for:
1).. Good service records as @racoon said.
2).. Make sure everything works, especially the LH handgrip controls (as they can be a known issue), the brakes & cruise control.
3).. Budget for immediately changing all fluids & filters. This includes the fuel filter & brake fluid as corrosion in the master cylinders is not uncommon.
4).. Check if the drive sprocket & output shaft recalls have been completed. If they haven't... plan to have them done. Its zero cost to you but is an inconvenience.
5).. Check for error-codes being shown on the dash. If they do, they could be genuine problem or a sign the battery is past it's use-by. A battery going bad is well known to start throwing errors where there may not be any.
6).. Tyre age. Check & if they are old, budget for replacements.
7).. Condition of the drive belt & sprockets. Is the belt split/cut/damaged ? Are the teeth on the rear sprocket in good condition ?
After purchase:
1).. If it needs new tyres and/or still has the OEM Kenda's on it, plan to replace them with car tyres. Search the forum to see why.
2).. Immediately change all fluids & filters as above. The fuel filter is in a shocking location, requiring a lot of dismantling just to find it, but it's important to change it because you can also inspect the fuel lines at the same time. The fuel lines are crammed-in & have been known to start splitting at bends. The HCM filter is not cheap... but soooooo easy to replace compared to RT's & spyders with all the extra body panels around the engine.
3).. Ride and enjoy !
I own a 2017 F3-S purchased in 2024. From experience I offer these tips.
Before Purchase, check for:
1).. Good service records as @racoon said.
2).. Make sure everything works, especially the LH handgrip controls (as they can be a known issue), the brakes & cruise control.
3).. Budget for immediately changing all fluids & filters. This includes the fuel filter & brake fluid as corrosion in the master cylinders is not uncommon.
4).. Check if the drive sprocket & output shaft recalls have been completed. If they haven't... plan to have them done. Its zero cost to you but is an inconvenience.
5).. Check for error-codes being shown on the dash. If they do, they could be genuine problem or a sign the battery is past it's use-by. A battery going bad is well known to start throwing errors where there may not be any.
6).. Tyre age. Check & if they are old, budget for replacements.
7).. Condition of the drive belt & sprockets. Is the belt split/cut/damaged ? Are the teeth on the rear sprocket in good condition ?
After purchase:
1).. If it needs new tyres and/or still has the OEM Kenda's on it, plan to replace them with car tyres. Search the forum to see why.
2).. Immediately change all fluids & filters as above. The fuel filter is in a shocking location, requiring a lot of dismantling just to find it, but it's important to change it because you can also inspect the fuel lines at the same time. The fuel lines are crammed-in & have been known to start splitting at bends. The HCM filter is not cheap... but soooooo easy to replace compared to RT's & spyders with all the extra body panels around the engine.
3).. Ride and enjoy !
Snoking1127
Well-known member
If it gets the transmission recall or has had it recently, then oil, both filters, and anti-freeze will have been or is going to be changed as part of the recall.Howdy,
I own a 2017 F3-S purchased in 2024. From experience I offer these tips.
Before Purchase, check for:
1).. Good service records as @racoon said.
2).. Make sure everything works, especially the LH handgrip controls (as they can be a known issue), the brakes & cruise control.
3).. Budget for immediately changing all fluids & filters. This includes the fuel filter & brake fluid as corrosion in the master cylinders is not uncommon.
4).. Check if the drive sprocket & output shaft recalls have been completed. If they haven't... plan to have them done. Its zero cost to you but is an inconvenience.
5).. Check for error-codes being shown on the dash. If they do, they could be genuine problem or a sign the battery is past it's use-by. A battery going bad is well known to start throwing errors where there may not be any.
6).. Tyre age. Check & if they are old, budget for replacements.
7).. Condition of the drive belt & sprockets. Is the belt split/cut/damaged ? Are the teeth on the rear sprocket in good condition ?
After purchase:
1).. If it needs new tyres and/or still has the OEM Kenda's on it, plan to replace them with car tyres. Search the forum to see why.
2).. Immediately change all fluids & filters as above. The fuel filter is in a shocking location, requiring a lot of dismantling just to find it, but it's important to change it because you can also inspect the fuel lines at the same time. The fuel lines are crammed-in & have been known to start splitting at bends. The HCM filter is not cheap... but soooooo easy to replace compared to RT's & spyders with all the extra body panels around the engine.
3).. Ride and enjoy !
TheMariner
Well-known member
Good point... I should have considered that. 
Lets just hope dealers do the right thing and change everything like they should.
Lets just hope dealers do the right thing and change everything like they should.Similar threads
