ItIsWhatItIs
Banned
That is exactly what it is.
Can-Am Spyder...a motorcycle?
- Thread starter BeautifulDeviant
- Start date
Cause riding seasons over everyones jonesing already and this is the gtam!!plus add a little confrontation and voila
rmemedic
Well-known member
I think that people who are hard core sledders would enjoy it. It's so similar to having a sled. Only you're not getting frost bite.
To those that have ridden it and hated how it rode... Sure, it's not going to handle like your SS. But, I would think that in the hands of an experienced snowmobiler, and an afternoon of play time, that they would really be able to get one of these haul through the twisties. I have been snowmobiling for longer than I've been riding, and body position is a huge part of being able to turn. When I'm being an idiot on the trails, I'm leaned so far off the side of the sled that its the back of my lower leg gripping the top/side portion of my seat holding me on (outside foot is off the foot bed) and I'm able to rail it through the corner with the inside ski about an inch off the snow... Faster than I could take a similar turn on either of my bikes, depending on the snow.
So leaning in on a spyder actually serves a bit of purpose if you're riding in any spirited manner.
That said, I would much rather be on 2 wheels in the summer!
To those that have ridden it and hated how it rode... Sure, it's not going to handle like your SS. But, I would think that in the hands of an experienced snowmobiler, and an afternoon of play time, that they would really be able to get one of these haul through the twisties. I have been snowmobiling for longer than I've been riding, and body position is a huge part of being able to turn. When I'm being an idiot on the trails, I'm leaned so far off the side of the sled that its the back of my lower leg gripping the top/side portion of my seat holding me on (outside foot is off the foot bed) and I'm able to rail it through the corner with the inside ski about an inch off the snow... Faster than I could take a similar turn on either of my bikes, depending on the snow.
So leaning in on a spyder actually serves a bit of purpose if you're riding in any spirited manner.
That said, I would much rather be on 2 wheels in the summer!
Griffin
Well-known member
A friend of mine has one. It's not my bag.
A couple of things my friend has pointed out to me:
A couple of things my friend has pointed out to me:
- It has three wheel paths, not one like a motorcycle or two like a car, therefore it's nearly impossible to avoid hitting road debris.
- Steering through corners at any speed at all is very hard on the shoulders. If you have any shoulder issues you should consider this before buying one.
rmemedic
Well-known member
Wasn't that a feature after the second year of production?
They might have had them from the get go, but I can't remember.
Derek Paisley
Well-known member
Here's my personal feedback, as I've owned one for just over a year now.
I've owned some sweet Conventional Motorcycles in the past. Loved each one. Of the years I rode conventional motorcycles I was asked maybe 4 times to allow a someone to take a picture of it.
When I initially got my 2012 Spyder-RSS (SE5 - Semi Automatic); on average per day, while riding in fairly busy areas (such as North York through to DownTown TO) everytime I stopped at a traffic light, iPhones came out and they started taking pictures.
The number of times I've been asked if someone could sit on it and have their picture taken is a Pain in the ***. (Just to give you an idea).
The assumption that one who rides a motorcycle could just hop aboard a Spyder Roadster (the actual designation. Not a Motorcycle) and be as agile as they are on a motorcycle is idiotic and they are looking to hurt themselves.
It took me close to 500K to become as agile as I am on a Motorcycle.
It is on par with someone who NEVER rode a Motorcycle hoping on one and gunning the throttle. They have no business doing that and their reaction would most likely be "that thing nearly killed me! What a piece of crap!"
Like many of your motorcycles out there, my Spyder is Tuned. With as much invested in it (Fuel modifiers, Filters, after market exhaust....etc..etc..) as I have done in the past with my Motorcycles.
I can easily say that aside from a SS, I am as fast, if not faster then any other bike out there.
I sure as hell don't make 100K a year and I am 100% able bodied.
I was just sick and tired of seeing the same Bikes over and over and over. I wanted someting Unique that no one else had, and I got it.
I'm usually in the North York area and frequent the Yonge/Sheppard area often. Feel free to come by and check it out and see for yourself.
This ain't your sisters vespa!
View attachment 31155
I've owned some sweet Conventional Motorcycles in the past. Loved each one. Of the years I rode conventional motorcycles I was asked maybe 4 times to allow a someone to take a picture of it.
When I initially got my 2012 Spyder-RSS (SE5 - Semi Automatic); on average per day, while riding in fairly busy areas (such as North York through to DownTown TO) everytime I stopped at a traffic light, iPhones came out and they started taking pictures.
The number of times I've been asked if someone could sit on it and have their picture taken is a Pain in the ***. (Just to give you an idea).
The assumption that one who rides a motorcycle could just hop aboard a Spyder Roadster (the actual designation. Not a Motorcycle) and be as agile as they are on a motorcycle is idiotic and they are looking to hurt themselves.
It took me close to 500K to become as agile as I am on a Motorcycle.
It is on par with someone who NEVER rode a Motorcycle hoping on one and gunning the throttle. They have no business doing that and their reaction would most likely be "that thing nearly killed me! What a piece of crap!"
Like many of your motorcycles out there, my Spyder is Tuned. With as much invested in it (Fuel modifiers, Filters, after market exhaust....etc..etc..) as I have done in the past with my Motorcycles.
I can easily say that aside from a SS, I am as fast, if not faster then any other bike out there.
I sure as hell don't make 100K a year and I am 100% able bodied.
I was just sick and tired of seeing the same Bikes over and over and over. I wanted someting Unique that no one else had, and I got it.
I'm usually in the North York area and frequent the Yonge/Sheppard area often. Feel free to come by and check it out and see for yourself.
This ain't your sisters vespa!
View attachment 31155
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Derek Paisley
Well-known member
Yes I do.
As it does fall under the same classification (MTO) as a motorcycle, the same conditions apply.
As it does fall under the same classification (MTO) as a motorcycle, the same conditions apply.
wearelopey
Well-known member
I took one for a demo last season.
Gunned it from a stop and the rear tire started spinning like no tomorrow, it's true that it takes some getting used to.
Thing I didn't like was that it tracked like a car, aka it would follow dips in the road, I felt like I had to put constant pressure on the bars to keep it going where I wanted, which is something I don't feel on my motorcycle.
I road the harley davidson trike as well, and it tracked a lot better, due to the one front tire.
can am was definately more hooligan-esque.
It was an experience let me tell you with the rear fishtailing like no tomorrow as i gunned it from stop lights.
Gunned it from a stop and the rear tire started spinning like no tomorrow, it's true that it takes some getting used to.
Thing I didn't like was that it tracked like a car, aka it would follow dips in the road, I felt like I had to put constant pressure on the bars to keep it going where I wanted, which is something I don't feel on my motorcycle.
I road the harley davidson trike as well, and it tracked a lot better, due to the one front tire.
can am was definately more hooligan-esque.
It was an experience let me tell you with the rear fishtailing like no tomorrow as i gunned it from stop lights.
Derek Paisley
Well-known member
The feeling of it tracking like a car is due to the Death grip that most riders have at first. Feeling like it will pull you into the curb.
It's a VERY common response that most new riders have with a Spyder.
Once you pass that stage in which, 1) You instinctively look for a front brake 2) you squeeze the heck out of the tank with your legs 3) you relax and ease up on the death grip
Your good to go.
The 500KM rider-break in is somewhat Universal amongst all Spyder owners. It's one of the most common feedback from all new riders.
Another reason why taking one for a "test" ride and from that judging it is just plain ignorant. It's not a motorcycle and should not be ridden like one.
BTW: You can get a conventional hand brake installed on the Spyder. It's a Very common aftermarket accessory. (Albeit, it does not operate the Front Brake; it operates the brake to all 3 wheels)
BTW, I love spinning the rear tire! You get well accustomed to the Throttle threshold in order to avoid it and retain maximum traction. Similar to gunning a conventional Motorcycle at a green light and not lifting the front too much.
The reference about the on board Nanny Traction control "interfering" with the ride is BS. It keeps you in line.
Example: I can "Gun" it from a Red light turning green making a left and get the Rear tire to drift out as I turn.
Believe me.. It's fun a sh|t. Something that I was never able to do on a bike without putting myself in danger.
When it comes to turning... Yes, I have got to hang off the side as I would on a SnowMobile, otherwise I will get tossed off. This is just gravity, can't get around that! When doing this, you do not squeeze the tank with you thighs. You push off the foot peg with the opposite foot and lean to the side/front. The more you lean off, the tighter the turn you can make. It takes getting used to.
Believe me, no Miata can take a corner like an experienced Spyder Rider can.
The ONLY thing that does piss me of regarding the Spyder is that I have to sit in traffic. I can't split lanes.
It's the only thing that I don't like.
Surely there are some pretty special bikes out there. Suzuki GSXR750R, Yamaha YZF750SP, Kawasaki ZXR750K, ZXR750M, ZX7RRN, Honda RC30, RC45 just to name some of the Japanese homologation specials of the mid 90s... Each one of those bikes were limited run productions of around 1500 (sometimes less depending on who you talk to)... half of which were bought by the public, the other half bought by privateers and turned into race bikes... and then out of the half that were sold to the public, you get special factory builds like the Muzzy Raptor and the Yoshimura X1 (althought this was based on mass production machine).
Then there's exotica like anything made by Bimota DB2, DB4, DB6 etc.
I've even seen some GP bikes out there Honda NSR's, Suzuki, RGV's ... in fact someone on these very forums buzzes around on an Aprilia RS250.
Sure these arn't bikes that you can just pop into the dealer and buy (the vast majority of dealers these days won't even know what a homologation special is) but isn't that the point?
Not saying the Can Am Spyder is good or bad, just pointing out there's some very VERY special bikes out there.
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Derek Paisley
Well-known member
Believe me. I spend a great deal of time looking at those bikes, because like you; I love motorcycles.
What I said was that I was looking for something Unique. Personally, I don't want to look part of a herd riding a similar bike to another 20 feet away.
There are definitely some unique bikes out there; however the majority are all the same if not very similar looking cosmetically.
Again don't get me wrong, I will continue to buy and ride conventional motorcycles in the future. Even more so, I look forward to the new Innovative rides that inevitably will come out in the next 10-20 years.
If the insurance situation was not what it is.....Like most of us here, we would amass quite a collection. That however is not reality, as the costs to insure what we WANT to ride are either outrageous or simply un-insurable.
Bleeding edge my friend...
What I said was that I was looking for something Unique. Personally, I don't want to look part of a herd riding a similar bike to another 20 feet away.
There are definitely some unique bikes out there; however the majority are all the same if not very similar looking cosmetically.
Again don't get me wrong, I will continue to buy and ride conventional motorcycles in the future. Even more so, I look forward to the new Innovative rides that inevitably will come out in the next 10-20 years.
If the insurance situation was not what it is.....Like most of us here, we would amass quite a collection. That however is not reality, as the costs to insure what we WANT to ride are either outrageous or simply un-insurable.
Bleeding edge my friend...
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All the bikes I listed are cosmetically similar in that they are fully faired, have twin spar frames, and two wheels... to claim otherwise would be saying all bikes look the same?
Here's a RS250
Here's a ZX7RRN (albeit a pimped out one with questionable gemometry setup)
Here's a run of the mill GSXR600 (the herd as you call it)
Derek Paisley
Well-known member
As previously noted, I love them as well.
I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the friends who ride various GXR's for example.
When I pull up along-side of a row of bikes, the majority being (for Example) Black '08 R6's it's a bummer.. Sweet looking bike, but the market and streets are over saturated.
I am clearly talking about what is most common amongst the bikes on the street. Not the track, not the showroom and not something to which someone such as yourself spends hours on end working on. Stripping down and rebuilding.
It's like when Honda Civic's were the sh|t back in the day. Kit's, lowered suspension, Low Profile tires.. They were still Civics. Far too many of them.
Nothing I would ever drive at that time, for the exact same reason.
Individuality. This is what deviating from the Herd is all about.
I don't have enough fingers and toes to count the friends who ride various GXR's for example.
When I pull up along-side of a row of bikes, the majority being (for Example) Black '08 R6's it's a bummer.. Sweet looking bike, but the market and streets are over saturated.
I am clearly talking about what is most common amongst the bikes on the street. Not the track, not the showroom and not something to which someone such as yourself spends hours on end working on. Stripping down and rebuilding.
It's like when Honda Civic's were the sh|t back in the day. Kit's, lowered suspension, Low Profile tires.. They were still Civics. Far too many of them.
Nothing I would ever drive at that time, for the exact same reason.
Individuality. This is what deviating from the Herd is all about.
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silverbullet132
Well-known member
I guess the one you got handles better vs the touring version I demo'd last season. It tried to throw me off mid corner, at the marked recommended speed 
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I would say they look a lot more the same than not. Sure there's little differences, but to my eye 99% of dirt bikes look the same and 99% of cruisers or sport bikes look the same, obviously they're not, but they LOOK the same.
I don't know what your definition of "cosmetically" is, but it really is just another word for "looks".
I get what he's trying to say, but IMO the Spyder is ugly.
remember seeing one of these up in georgian bay when they first came out. It only gets a lot of attention due to it being different than anything on the road. I think their styling is unique, but no matter what, I still think it looks kind of goofy for adults to be riding it. How do I put this nicely...I don't think they're sexy at all. The sitting position is too upright and let's face it...it's a backwards tricycle for god's sake. Then again, I do like the look of the t-rex, but the t-rex has a wheel and bucket seats so its really more of a car, and also has a much higher msrp. To be honest I'd much rather ride a scooter (which i have zero qualms about) than this, simply because they're practical.
You neither get the lean nor kneedragging experience you do from a bike nor the performance or even the practicality or an entry level sports car. It's a summer toy for the folks who want to take the risk out of riding on two wheels.
inb4 "well you haven't ridden one so you don't know what you're talking about". Take this as a bystander's opinion.
You neither get the lean nor kneedragging experience you do from a bike nor the performance or even the practicality or an entry level sports car. It's a summer toy for the folks who want to take the risk out of riding on two wheels.
inb4 "well you haven't ridden one so you don't know what you're talking about". Take this as a bystander's opinion.
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