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Bikers - just test rode a Can AM Spyder !

fidjit

fidjit

Spyder was organising test rides of the Spyder all around Australia....even Tasmania :wink2:

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For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about more info here:

http://spyder.brp.com/en-AU/

Very interesting ride. The guys don't push it as a motorbike, they put it in it's own category and.....indeed IT is .

Comes in Auto or Manual.

Weird to ride at first, you don't counter steer, you don't lean on corners.

Takes a bit of getting used to especially on off camber corners.

A very enjoyable hour and a half.

I'm not sure that I can justify the $27k + :)w00t: ) cost at the moment but this would be great for those older or disabled bikers who still want to ride, and it really would make a wicked tourer !.

Anybody else ridden or got one ????

:001_smile
 
VolpeVerde

VolpeVerde

I don't have one but it looks pretty sweet. I've seen several around town and there is a Harley dealer about 40 miles away that carries and services them. You are right though as for the price, they are expensive compared to other bikes. But if I were independently wealthy, I'd have the RT touring model in my garage. Untill then, I'll make do with my old but trusty '74 CB360G
 
blackfoot

blackfoot

I followed something that looked like that through Fort Wayne on my way to work a couple of months ago. If that rider was any indication of it's abilities, it sucks! I mean, they were taking corners so stinking slow and couldn't seem to accelerate for anything. I know it couldn't be the machine, but that is what I think of when I see them now.
 
82R100

82R100

As a two track vehicle, it is very different from a motorcycle. I owned a sidecar rig for about 10 years (BMW K100 hooked to an EML sidecar) and it's a totally different beast.

That being said, I imagine that the Spyder is much more agile and competent than a typical sidecar combination, which is asymmetrical in every conceivable way. :smile:

- Chris
 
Newfie

Newfie

I pass by a dealer for those nearly every day and keep looking for demo rides.

I've ridden offroad trikes & quads before and hate how they handle, and I can only assume these would be the same.

What was the power like? And what do you ride now as a comparison?
 
airplanedoc

airplanedoc

It is a sno mobile on wheels.

I had one behind me on the interstate not long ago It had no trouble sitting on my rear bumper at 80 in traffic as we wove our way thru the greater traffic in Chicago area. So I don't think handling is much of a issue.
 
fidjit

fidjit

Newfie said:
I've ridden offroad trikes & quads before and hate how they handle, and I can only assume these would be the same.

What was the power like? And what do you ride now as a comparison?
Click to expand...

Sadly at the moment I'm bikeless.

My last bike was a Ducati Supersport 600 and before that a Suzuki SV650s , so yes I have a thing for V Twins.

With a 998cc V Twin in the Spyder it had HEAPS of low down torque.

I ended up with a automatic which has flappy paddle gear shift. You have to change up but if you don't manually change down it actually automatically changes down for you :001_smile

You never put your foot down when stationary like a two wheeler.

Even has a park break and a reverse.

I suppose it's most similar to ridding a quaddie , it was fun but I think I can get more fun out of a two wheeler and at a cheaper price. For a "bike" like this I was a bit disappointed in the storage space. It's front storage ( like a VW ) and holds 44l ( about 66 cans ). There's no storage under the back. My Gearsac holds 45 ( albiet not part of the bike or lockable )


With the group ride there wasn't really much chance to open it up and have some real fun. I reckon after the second ride you'd really have the hang of it. 1 1/2 hours just isn't enough to adjust off a normal two wheeler.

Pretty sure my next bike will be a new sub 700 Twin, sub $10k. Think that's money better spend.
 
DeaconKC

DeaconKC

How was the ride on that beast? I broke my back 4 years ago and had to give up my beloved Jeep. How does it feel? Touring, cruiser, stiff, etc? Thanks, every time I see one I think Han Solo should be on it!
 
fidjit

fidjit

DeaconKC said:
How was the ride on that beast? I broke my back 4 years ago and had to give up my beloved Jeep. How does it feel? Touring, cruiser, stiff, etc? Thanks, every time I see one I think Han Solo should be on it!
Click to expand...

To keep the front wheels from bouncing around, you need to sit pretty far forward on the seat and you need to keep your arms bent and steady.

So seating is pretty much "sit up and beg".

As mentioned you don't countersteer like a bike, it's all about pushing the bars to change direction. Wasn't overly hard to do though as it has power steering.

Think it'd make a good tourer, cruiser, though as I mentioned above I thought I'd have better "internal" storage. The factory panniers weren't that big either.

citizensoldierny said:
fidjit,
I have a suzuki 600 I'd be willing to sell you for way under 10k but I'm pretty sure the shipping would be a killer.
Click to expand...

mmm, I can feel a travel documentary coming on ...."Shaving across the continents"
 
Newfie

Newfie

fidjit said:
SNIP<<<<yes I have a thing for V Twins.>>>>SNIP
Click to expand...

As do I my friend.

My last sport bike was a 2001 Suzuki TLR. I miss that bike so much, but after I bought the Wing, I hardly used it. In the first year I had the Wing, I put only 500 kms on the Tiller. So with $1000 insurance, a chain, couple of oil changes and a set of tires, it was about $4 a km to ride the thing.
 
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