The Can-Am Spyder... I think i know they have targeted them to...

The Can-Am Spyder... Obviously built for a specific group of people...

I finally saw one up close in person at the Reading PA Motorcycle Expo (waste of 13 bucks!) and one thing instantly popped in my head. I did a quick photoshop for comparison.

Fans of the Never Ending Story???

 

Fat dudes?

Maybe folks with physical "challenges" or whatever term is currently PC

David Hough who just got inducted into the AMA Hall of fame has a yellow one.

 

don't knock 'em too much. They are for someone that wants the open air of a motorcycle, but either don't feel balanced, or just want something different. There is one parked next to my VFR....yellow, with a nice Hindle pipe.

 

Just poking some fun at the front end aesthetics a little bit. Not the owners of them!

I would like to try one out sometime. I only got to sit on one but they seem to have a relaxed riding stance.

Does the Spyder have to be registered as a vehicle???

If the GG Quads weren't 50K I would imagine more of those would be spotted on the roads.

 

No sweat. Just sat on Dave Hough's m'self. They are well made in fit and finish and go good. Not my type machine yet..

I can sure see uses for a ride like that for some folks. Friend of mine lost a foot 4-5 years ago when a drunk hit him on his Moto-Guzzi.

Dave is I think about 70 and I hear he rode his Can Am from the boonies of coastal Washington to Vegas.

 

I was reading about that a while ago... apparently in some states they fall into a "gray area" of registration. To the point of where some places didn't even require a motorcycle license or helmet to operate them...

EDIT:
I think this is what I was reading, I can't vouch for the legitimacy but here it is anyway:
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/97/1329/Motorcycle-Article/2009-Can-Am-Spyder-SE5-First-Ride.aspx

But in response to your question, yes it has to be registered as a "vehicle"... but your local DMV/MVC/equivalent can tell you which kind :wink:

 

Illinois requires a Motorcycle licence. Now how they expect you to take the test on it is beyond me. Wife already had a m/c class from having a 95 F3. Hear Illinois will be getting a special licence for trikes only. And a different test. Licence plates are m/c class. $48/year is all.

They really are pretty neat. I hope that she & I can go touring this coming summer. I did find out that I can get them both in the trailer that I ahve access to. Pretty happy about that. It was a bitch, but once I figured it out,no problem.

I will say that it runs hard. 990 vTwin Rotax can do a heck of a burnout. Until the traction control kicks in at least. Anti-lock brakes, stability control - brakes you and automatically starts decreasing the power if you are coming in too hot into a corner. But according to her, at the spyder lovers forum, that others are saying it will tackle an off ramp at 80+ without issues.

 

Regardless, that aint bad for a quick photoshop. That would take me more then an hour.

 

You see them quite a bit up here, they are pretty cool machines. Would be fun to do up the suspension and so on...

 

I think they are cool. A mate and I spent about 4 hours on them and we had a ball. We had a demo day here so we registered just for the hell of it, after the instructions on how they differ from a bike then we did a course to see if we could handle them. We started carefully but the instructors said you have done well now go harder till others in group are ready. Passed that bit then we hit the road, it was a really different feel. We got back and there wasnt many for next group so we went again, this went on all afternoon as people didnt show up on the Friday being that it was a work day.
Dont think I would trade my gen 6 on one but then again its something different.

 

something like this may be my next bike - when i am too feeble to ride a motorcycle. more power, please and let's go!

 

lol that maybe closer for me than I want. Have busted my knee up to much and now require a replacement. To early for me as Im only 37

 

I think that bike is the "sporty" answer to a Harley or Goldwing Trike. I agree, when the two wheels get to be too much than this will be a great alternative.

 

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me too!

 

Do you guys mean never ending stories about bikes or never ending stories like Harry Potter?

 

it only averages about 20 - 25 mpg. 5 gal tank. 990 twin sucks in the go juice.

 

it isn't underpowered. Just look for videos on youtube of it smoking the back tire. There is plenty of torque to it, being a twin. She takes me off the line (SE5) and probably thru 1st,half way into 2nd, but after that the weight of it kills her. Plus it is only a 5 speed gearbox. I'm sure if it had the 6th it would help that much better.

It's also limited to 105, so top end is no. SHe's had it up to 80 and just layed into it and it reallllllllly took off, to the point I had to start playing with the gears and get the Vtec to kick in to get caught back up.