Hitcher
15th November 2010, 20:13
On Saturday we did something a little different. We took a trike for a ride – a Can-Am Spyder RT to be precise. The inimitable Mrs H was the designated rider and I was her pillion.
The event, featuring a team of Australian Can-Am Spyder specialists, was one of several Wellington regional sessions coordinated by local Spyder dealership TSS Red Baron. Jane and I had been plied about a week earlier by Stu's offer.
Having completed the requisite paperwork, Mrs H was whisked away for a training session on a top-of-the-range RT model Spyder, resplendent in gloss black metallic with more headlights than Battlestar Gallactica.
“It's not a motorcycle. Pull the handlebar to turn, don't push it.” Other instruction was given about the ABS brakes, operated exclusively by a pedal, the semi-automatic transmission, electronic park brake and so on.
Shortly Mrs H was out negotiating a slow-speed course set up in the Gateway Motor Inn's back car park, gaining confidence with the controls, “pull to turn” steering and the ruthlessly efficient brakes.
That completed, it was my turn to mount what has to be the best pillion space found anywhere, and be transported around an interesting route involving the twists and turns of Newlands, the back road from Johnsonville to Tawa and then a burst back down the motorway to the Gateway at Newlands.
Mrs H nailed the riding. The semi auto is activated by a rocker switch on the RH hand grip. The Rotax 998 v-twin is more famously known as the mill in Aprilia Tuono 1000Rs, but has been detuned somewhat for its role in the Spyder. Churning out a whisker over 100 horses but not feeling underpowered despite the 420kg weight, plus riders. Steering seems to be predictable and responsive. The suspension is magnificent and able to cope very well with ambiguous suburban roads and Newlands' corners and intersections.
The Spyder RT isn't cheap, but neither is a brandnew Goldwing or a Roadking trike. And I know which one has been purpose built as a trike and had considerable Canadian expertise invested on its engineering, construction and onboard equipment. The others are just motorbikes that somebody has added a rear differential to.
Don't knock Spyders. Take one for a test ride.
The event, featuring a team of Australian Can-Am Spyder specialists, was one of several Wellington regional sessions coordinated by local Spyder dealership TSS Red Baron. Jane and I had been plied about a week earlier by Stu's offer.
Having completed the requisite paperwork, Mrs H was whisked away for a training session on a top-of-the-range RT model Spyder, resplendent in gloss black metallic with more headlights than Battlestar Gallactica.
“It's not a motorcycle. Pull the handlebar to turn, don't push it.” Other instruction was given about the ABS brakes, operated exclusively by a pedal, the semi-automatic transmission, electronic park brake and so on.
Shortly Mrs H was out negotiating a slow-speed course set up in the Gateway Motor Inn's back car park, gaining confidence with the controls, “pull to turn” steering and the ruthlessly efficient brakes.
That completed, it was my turn to mount what has to be the best pillion space found anywhere, and be transported around an interesting route involving the twists and turns of Newlands, the back road from Johnsonville to Tawa and then a burst back down the motorway to the Gateway at Newlands.
Mrs H nailed the riding. The semi auto is activated by a rocker switch on the RH hand grip. The Rotax 998 v-twin is more famously known as the mill in Aprilia Tuono 1000Rs, but has been detuned somewhat for its role in the Spyder. Churning out a whisker over 100 horses but not feeling underpowered despite the 420kg weight, plus riders. Steering seems to be predictable and responsive. The suspension is magnificent and able to cope very well with ambiguous suburban roads and Newlands' corners and intersections.
The Spyder RT isn't cheap, but neither is a brandnew Goldwing or a Roadking trike. And I know which one has been purpose built as a trike and had considerable Canadian expertise invested on its engineering, construction and onboard equipment. The others are just motorbikes that somebody has added a rear differential to.
Don't knock Spyders. Take one for a test ride.