As some of you will be aware, BRP Australia have been taking a collection of Can Am Spyders around the country and having a demo learn & ride days.

I went along to one of these in Adelaide today just to make sure that I was doing the right thing in wanting one of these toys.

My rational for wanting one of these is it would be great if on one of our long distance trips, the good wife could get on the bike and take over some of the riding duties. We havent been able to do this on prevouse trips due to the long distance weapons of choice have allways been big & heavy tourers (Ultra's or Goldwings) and there is no way Julies '5'5" stature will hold up a big bike.

Anyway, I found that riding these CanAms is very different to a motorcycle, no countersteering on one of these babies. You must pull on the bars (no pushing) So, to turn left, lock the left knee against the side of the tank drop the left shoulder and pull the left bar in.

After a 10 minute, around the car park, getting to know you ride, we ventured out onto the freeway and twistier sections of the Adelaide hills.

They can really handle the twisties, and an experienced pilot would give any ricer a hurry up in the bends. I found the traction controll a bit intrusive in that it stopped the arse from sliding out too far when you are on the gas hard

The brakes and ABS are awsome, and pull the bike up from big speeds in a hurry, very stable and even if braking hard in a bend.

Comfort wise, the foot pegs are  a bit high (funny considering the bike doesn't need to lean)  but the rest of the ergonomics are great.

My stealthy looking matt black one had the hindle sports exhaust on it and sounded fantastic.

Wash up, very different, but a hell of a lot of fun to ride, and isn't that what lifes about?

Red & Black sports pack CanAm with hindle pipe, back rest, 6 spoke wheels and touring screen on its way to the Lofty garage next week.

Good job Lofty, those things look like great fun.

Its Not a motorcycle, just like a Goldwing isnt. More a car.

And Geez double bugger the part about letting the missus take control.

 

Always been a fan of trikes or reverse trikes.

Mate...I haven't been on one yet, but have been following some friends that have one (have been on some long rides) ...& boy, don't they get along, even 2 up. Handle great, even around the twisty bits, without having to back off. It surprised me how hard it goes without any apparent effort. Good luck. Owners said the traction control came into its own on some wet, gravel surfaces.

Thanks Lofty, good report.

I really took to outfits a few years ago. I know they're not Spyders, but they're similar
and I found that they had lots of cons and very few pros

Pros:
They're fun
Bikers still talk to you.
You can carry more stuff than on a bike
They're more stable in the wet/mud/etc


Cons:
You still get wet
You still get blown around
You still have to wear a lid
It's still noisy
It's more tiring than a car (and I found it was more tiring than a bike)
You take pretty much the same space on the road as a car
You can't lean.

In the end, I think you've hit the nail on the head. They're just for FUN. But not in the same way a bike is fun.

Trying to justify them for any other purpose is futile.

Gonzo

Local bloke who lost his Ultra in a crash has just bought one, same as the one shown, matt black with the exhaust and longer screen. Sounds pretty good.

agree with ya lofty they are a freakin ball of fun and go holy shit they hookin the only thing i didnt like was the direct steering .ya only gota move the bars a smidgen and its turning or movin off line quickly ,,but after a run up mt stuart here in townsville ya get used to it and then ya start having fun , if i had the cash id be gettin one for sure and a bloody camper trailer too!

hmmm sounds like me ! only my left nut so i always fall to my right !!!

I was able to demo one of these last year and I can say they are different.  Kinda like a bike, kinda not but still fun none the less... and now like you said you can go on the longer rides.  Have fun and ride the wheels off it. 

Not crazy on the look of them...........

3 wheels does not do it for me.........

But have heard they handle well.

TB

They grip like shit to a blanket Signed on the dotted line today and pick her up next Wednesday morning

Same colour combo as this one with a pillion back rest as well as a touring screen.

Got the seat cowl thrown into the deal as well as the performance pipe, and custom wheels.

Bought it from Bills Motorcycles in Adelaide.

Looks great Lofty - congratulations - sounds like a lot of fun will be had. Have to visit and check it out and show you mine when I get it. Safe riding. Craig

if only the wife would get here license, she said she would ride one but no license.

Changed my mind again  (how rare) and got the Phantom Black Spyder.

Got it home last night and had a blast riding back via the hills.

How much are they ?

Interesting looking thing. I have seen a few on the roads round Sydney always wondered what they would be like to ride looks to me like a seadoo on land. Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

Hey Lofty,

Can you feel the stability controls working their magic? The Spyder website has a pretty impressive rave about it.

Gonzo.

good onya bud im as jealous as fuck now hope ya have a freakin top time on it tho

I can see a fan and radiator in the pics, what sort of engine do they run, and do they have reverse gear?? northey