Can Am Spyder

So I got the opportunity to drive / ride a Can Am Spyder last weekend. It was the fancy touring model with heated seats, an electric windshield, and an automatic transmission. It was fun, kind of twitchy, and reasonably quick (I didn't push it though).

I may be the only one on the planet who managed to stall one too, much to my dismay. It has an AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION and I came to a stop like I did a few other times on that ride when I was about to make a U-turn. Well, this is when it bucked a few times and conked out, just as if I had forgotten to pull a clutch lever in (which it doesn't have). The owner said later that this has never happened to him and he laughed at me.

Um, to start it, you are supposed to be in Neutral (or this is what I was told), then you need to turn the key on, then push "MODE", then switch on the ignition, then push the starter. Nothing happened. I noticed that the indicator kept saying 1st Gear, so I was trying frantically to switch it to Neutral. Nothing. Fortunately, I left my cell phone at home, so I couldn't call the owner and ask him. So I sat there with the owner's manual going through the starting procedure (while bikers kept stopping to ask if I was OK... how embarassing). The starting procedure was vague, so the book was useless, except that it did state that the bike would automatically switch to neutral upon startup so it doesn't matter which gear it is in. I did figure it out, though.

Starting procedure. First, turn off the key and wait for computers to shut down. Second, turn the ignition switch from RUN to STOP. Third, turn on key and wait until the computer boots up. Fourth, press "MODE". Step five, switch ignition switch to RUN. Step six, step on brake pedal. Step seven, press ignition switch and VOILA! It runs! Easy, right? It took me 20 minutes to figure that out.

Overall, it was fun ride. I'd like to ride the sport one as well to see what the difference is.

I had a "parking lot" test ride on a sport model with the manual transmission. even in the rain, you can lift both front tires a few inches under hard acceleration. But, I dislike how they corner, feels like a car vs a bike.

I'm split on these. They look like fun, but not as much fun as a "real" bike. They look comfy, but not as comfy as say...a Miata.

Spyder= Motorcycle vulnerability + Miata nimbleness* + Toyota MR-S storage capacity?

*- I'm not sure what the failure mode is when you reach the limits of traction, so this is probably a best-case example.

Doesn't quite compute for me, but the folks I see riding them seem to be enjoying themselves. Thanks for the input!

Something in my head gets twitchy when I think about hitting a corner too hot and not being able to lean it over.

Dan

I like them better than the Harley and Gold Wing trike conversions, but I'm not sure I'd want to own one.

For one thing, they take up nearly as much garage space as a small car.

Saw something on Speed I think this weekend - Tommy Kendall (of TransAm fame) was the host and they did a whole episode on the Spyder. No real technical info, track times or performance numbers or anything but it was interesting.

I love bikes and I love cars, but I gotta say I just don't get the appeal of the Spyders. I honestly don't understand the demographic they're targeting, and beyond the novelty factor, I can't see the appeal of a Spyder over a car/bike.

Like Dan, leaning the wrong way in a corner creeps me out, not to mention steering vs. countersteering feels entirely unnatural to me. I don't really like riding quads for that same reason.

Seems like the worst of both worlds to me, but to each his own. Sidehacks pose the same dilemma in my mind, but they tend to win out just because they're so cool.

When you retire (at 79 years old due to the sux economy) and you finally have the money and the time to enjoy some motorcycle touring, your knees can't support an 800 pound bike. So you go with a trike or a Spider. Then, you add a trailer to carry all the Viagra you need. Then you outfit it with all kinds of drink holders, GPS, audio system, and upgrades. Then you ride in fair weather only, and stay at Hilton Hotels where you can park your $40,000 ride in a garage.

Then you realize, you should have got a nice little 250cc bike to scratch the itch to ride, and a Boxter for "touring".

When I'm 79 years old I'll have one of these BMW powered hot dogs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbdkZB9-Sd4

This looks better.

http://brudelitech.com/product_654.htm

I've seen the Spyders around here, and they seem pretty neat, but I'll agree the inability to lean might freak me out a bit. Which is kind of funny, because I'd love to have one of those old VW-based trikes from the 60's-70's.

Were I to buy a modern three wheeler that is available in the US, it'd probably be an MP3.

Grtechguy wrote: even in the rain, you can lift both front tires a few inches under hard acceleration.

Pics or id never happened.

Sounds cool though haha in an awkward way

I've always figured Bombardier is targeting the people who buy their Ski-Doo snowmobiles, so they have something to ride year round.

The less than 30MPG kills it for me. Heck, a Triumph Rocket III gets better fuel economy than that, and it has a 2.3l.

Also, the model that I test rode (good 45 minute ride, through some back roads in Central VA) told me that it doesn't corner nearly as well as my Miata, and that was when I had never had better than all season tires on the Miata. Now that I have UHPs, it's not even close.

Also, a Goldwing isn't far off in the luggage capacity, is less expensive, handles MUCH better, and is quite light feeling, due to the engine being a flat six.

I've spent a lot of time on quads (off road mind you) so I don't think the "leaning the wrong way" would really be that tough for me to adapt to. I think they're neat. Most of the wind-in-your-face/bugs-in-your-teeth of a true motorcycle, but easier and more relaxing to ride. Definitely seem more like a cruiser than a sport machine though. I like them, and I'd like to try a ride on one.

stuart in mn wrote: I've always figured Bombardier is targeting the people who buy their Ski-Doo snowmobiles, so they have something to ride year round.

Thats kind of what I was thinking too. My first thought when I saw one for the first time was that a snowmobile had made an evolutionary jump to adapt to global warming.

I just watched the top gear with the Vandenbrink Carver and it reminded me of this thread.

The 'can't lean' thing spooks me too and is why I don't like 'conventional' trikes either. There's some sort of trike running around here that looks like a Spyder but it's narrower with taller tires. I think it's one of these: but I'm not sure. It doesn't look very nimble to me.

I don't have a problem with countersteering a quad etc, but that's because it's possible to predict fairly well how the rear tires will slip based on the surface you are riding on and you can base your body position/throttle etc on that. On pavement it's a different deal, it's not as predictable and if that rear tire manages to grab traction bad things are going to happen.

That's a Piaggio MP3. Comes in 250, 400 and 500cc versions. They lean fairly nicely, though I haven't played with one other than in a parking lot, so I can't comment on how nimble they are. Look a LOT more nimble than the Spyder though.

I saw one of those MP3's on the road for the first time yesterday. It looked... awkward.

I have talked to some of the Can Am guys. On had knee surgury and could not hold a bike. Another had equilibrium issues. Both loathed traditonal trikes and were both sportbike guys. The Can Am was as close as they could get. If I was in their situation, I could see the appeal.

At least its not this:

^^ Went to a party a while back, there was one of those in terrible condition under a tree in the back yard.

I think there's a recall from canam right now on those things BECAUSE they DO stall...

Appleseed wrote: At least its not this:

I'd rock that big time...