Spyder Demo Ride

[49Reo]

The one I rode in the test ride had real hard acceleration from a standing start, and excellent acceleration in any gear. Noisy.... can't argue that. The semi-auto trans (only one I rode) felt a lot like putting a 4-wheeler in gear; a big CLUNK! then no movement until acceleration. Shifting the Semi-auto trans on the go is a lot like shifting a 4-wheeler with the exception you don't have to let off the throttle. I know a 4-wheeler shifts much faster with letting off the throttle when shifting than the Spyder. I did find the paddle shifter awkward; I have large hands and found I was stertching my hand to shift. Steering was easier than my Harley trike, but different. It was a totally different riding experience than my trike. I found the storage minimal, and the lids very flimsy. Fun, but not my 'cuppa tea'.....

[greenbarn]

So.....   You getting one??? 

[Troll]

Where do I begin? Let's start with some of the obvious problems...fit and finish...terrible. A Royal Enfield or a Chinese bike is done better. The engines they use, Rotax...are, especially for a "new" liquid cooled "modern" engine are mechanically noisy. Putting the trans (if you want to call it that) in gear makes a louder clunk than a Hardly...The semi-auto trans is reluctant to get the machine moving, feels like it's "slipping" The clutch on the manual...makes an H-D cable clutch feel absolutely "Japanese". Put a tennis ball between the lever and the bar on your Drifter, and squeeze....you'll get the idea. The steering is numb. My Buick turns easier with the engine off. It's supposed to be power assisted, but it's harder to turn than an old semi tractor. The front wheels go lock to lock with about a 2/3 turn of the bars....They get crap fuel mileage...35-40 mpg..7 gallon fuel tank, so it goes as far as my Drifter on a tank of fuel that's 2 gallons larger.(premium only)..turning 5,000 rpm at 70 mph....that's a grand more than my W-650 and 2,000+ more than the Drifter!.....Cornering...a very different experience. You will be thrown to the outside by centripetal force...you need to hang on with your legs and arms. This is not a "motorcycle" to help handicapped rider back into the wind....Now..the brakes....numb, no feedback. All 3 work with the foot pedal. No way are you going to do any kind of trail braking with this thing...You get all or nothing. When you get all, the ABS might kick in. Maybe more use would help getting more comfortable with it, but for $30,000 I shouldn't have to get used to it...it should be.....well....better! Maybe if I rode a snowmobile, I'd be more used to it, but I don't and this thing seems to me to be the answer to a question nobody asked.....After all the years this has been in production, you'd think they would have refined it more....crude and FUGLY...

[49Reo]

Okay, so let's have it....the detailed critique....can't wait to hear it.

[Troll]

    Ok, so today I went to the Can-Am dealer to test ride a Spyder. They sent me an invitation a few weeks ago, so I decided to take them up on the offer. They had at least one of each model , and several of some, so you could test fit yourself and decide which one you'd like to try. If you get a chance, you should all try one out....There was a demo video telling you what to and what not to expect...with the emphasis on this is NOT a motorcycle...
There is a small course with cones set up in the back of the lot so you can get a chance to familiarize yourself with the controls. Now, to my opinion, after a test ride........If you can't say anything nice, say nothing at all...................................................................................If you want a detailed critique, ask...