Just rode the Can Am Spyder

**The Lone Rider** · 28th November 2010, 08:46

The staff at the magazine all had a go on them recently; once on a Saturday in pouring rain and again on the Sunday on warm sunny day.

Article and photos will be in the next issue.

I was the only one who didn't like them.

Great engine though.

**Psychrn** · 15th February 2011, 01:05

Ive had a Spyder Since Dec 21st 2010
I have had a Honda VT 750 c ( Shadow) for the last 18 months.

I went to Bat out of Hell to pick it up. I was told it was going to be a different riding experience and by the 1st Round about I nearly freaked out.
As the bike doesnt lean into corners you the rider has too. It appears quite exagerated at times.
Ive already done 2800 kms on it and thoroughly love it. I feel a lot safer on it. My Ulysses colleagues tell me that they noticed I look a lot more confident on it.
It has a 998 cc Rotax engine ( used in high end Aprillia bikes) so it has some grunt. Can leave 2 wheelers for dead at lights)
it has a 25 ltre tank. 95 octane is recommended. 300 km + is what I get out of it. some folk reckon they just manage 220km.
My mods on it:
1. 1 " Riseres on the Handle bars- more comfortasble riding position
2. Bigger windscreen
3. Hindle exhaust. 5 HP extra and more noise !!

Its got all the safety features you can imagine. ABS,VSS and sensors everywhere on it that take into consideration pillions etc.

Id like to contact other Spyder owners on this forum and be a resource for others about this bike

**jonbuoy** · 15th February 2011, 03:46

I don´t really get them, you still get wet when it rains, you can´t really use it for carrying anything more than a bag of shopping, you can´t lane split, you can´t lean and you still have to find a decent size parking spot. For me it seems to be a bit like a jetski, might rent one for half a day but I wouldn´t want to own one.

**scumdog** · 15th February 2011, 07:01

Originally Posted by jonbuoy

I don´t really get them, you still get wet when it rains, you can´t really use it for carrying anything more than a bag of shopping, you can´t lane split, you can´t lean and you still have to find a decent size parking spot. For me it seems to be a bit like a jetski, might rent one for half a day but I wouldn´t want to own one.

Slippery surfaces don't affect you the same as it does a bike

And you can get luggage kits that have way more capacity than a bike.

And you won't topple over 'cos you forgot to put your stand down - or your foot slips.

**Nasty** · 15th February 2011, 07:44

Originally Posted by scumdog

Slippery surfaces don't affect you the same as it does a bike

And you can get luggage kits that have way more capacity than a bike.

And you won't topple over 'cos you forgot to put your stand down - or your foot slips.

Yup I took one for a test ride .. and bloody hell I loved it. He is right about it not leaning .. but it can take corners at a better speed than a bike ... and its just a great and comfortable ride

**R-Soul** · 15th February 2011, 14:39

I am afraid I just dont get it. No leaning, no body positioning, no filtering ability.

The only thing going for it is its ability to pass cars quickly- effectively a (really) fast sports car without safety, or really comfortable seating. I think I would rather go for an Atom then.

I do, howver see a lot of potential for teh Yamaha Tesseract (when it comes out). 4 wheels, thin, bike like weight and power, leaning ability, high braking ability, high cornering ability, additional safety and no highsiding/lowsiding. But no roll cage.

http://listphobia.com/wp-content/upl...-tessaract.jpg

I would give that serious consideration.

**imdying** · 15th February 2011, 15:09

Originally Posted by Psychrn

about this bike

You mean this trike don't you? Bikes have two wheels.

**imdying** · 15th February 2011, 15:10

Originally Posted by R-Soul

I am afraid I just dont get it. No leaning, no body positioning, no filtering ability.

And no balls required... getting it yet?

**Psychrn** · 15th February 2011, 23:04

To ride the Spyder efficiently takes actually quite a lot of work.
As I mentioned in my last post the bike doesnt lean the rider has too. It feels like you are going to be thrown off the opposite side of the bike.
So on a left turn you move your body over to the left. If you are going faster you lean more.
Some of my fellow Ulyssians commented after our last ride how much work I had to do on the twisty bits.
It certainly has some grunt .

**Psychrn** · 15th February 2011, 23:09

Originally Posted by imdying

You mean this trike don't you? Bikes have two wheels.

Someone else used the term Brike also elsewhere

**Taz** · 16th February 2011, 08:23

KB's come a long way since back in 2005 or 2006 I got infracted by Joni for answering a guys post about where he could get a trike made.

Her words were - This is kiwiBIKER not kiwi TRIKER!! and some shit about spank not liking trikes etc blah blah. She was a dick.

**James Deuce** · 16th February 2011, 08:27

Originally Posted by Taz

KB's come a long way since back in 2005 or 2006 I got infracted by Joni for answering a guys post about where he could get a trike made.

Her words were - This is kiwiBIKER not kiwi TRIKER!! and some shit about spank not liking trikes etc blah blah. She was a dick.

Nah. She's not.

I agree with the sentiment too. Trikes are neither fish nor fowl and have no advantages over bikes or cars and a lot of disadvantages. The Spyder is a symptom of a society going wrong, not a solution.

**Taz** · 16th February 2011, 08:31

Originally Posted by James Deuce

Nah. She's not.

Well she was that day. But then I've been a dick at times too

**White trash** · 16th February 2011, 08:44

Originally Posted by Psychrn

To ride the Spyder efficiently takes actually quite a lot of work.
As I mentioned in my last post the bike doesnt lean the rider has too. It feels like you are going to be thrown off the opposite side of the bike.
So on a left turn you move your body over to the left. If you are going faster you lean more.
Some of my fellow Ulyssians commented after our last ride how much work I had to do on the twisty bits.
It certainly has some grunt .

Interestingly, BRP are set to launch the next generation Spyders which DO lean like a bike. This'll be interesting.

**R-Soul** · 16th February 2011, 09:00

Originally Posted by Psychrn

To ride the Spyder efficiently takes actually quite a lot of work.
As I mentioned in my last post the bike doesnt lean the rider has too. It feels like you are going to be thrown off the opposite side of the bike.
So on a left turn you move your body over to the left. If you are going faster you lean more.
Some of my fellow Ulyssians commented after our last ride how much work I had to do on the twisty bits.
It certainly has some grunt .

It also doesnt use counter steering - it will steer like a car.