2014 Can-Am Spyder RT - Coolness Factor = 41.7%

[ceemes]

When they first came out, I thought the Spyder was the answer to a question nobody had asked. I figured they would quietly go away in a year or two from a lack of sales, but several years later they're still around and I see more of them on the roads every day. As a dedicated sidecar enthusiast, I find the concept of a trike hard enough to fathom, but the "2 up front, 1 at the rear" layout of the Spyder just makes absolutely no sense to me. It is inherently unsafe and difficult to steer, but Bombardier has managed to counteract the bad handling traits by injecting the platform with all kinds of gee-whiz technology and transform it into a very fine handling machine.

However. It is not a "bike" by my definition and as such it does not get a vote. I do still wave to them whenever I see one, though.

Actually, the two upfront and one behind is inherently more stable then one upfront and two behind. The Morgan I posted was tested by Richard Hammond of Top Gear (UK) on one of their challenges. He demonstrated it cornered well with out tipping over and could even do donuts.


The same could not be said of that other icon of British three wheelers, the Reliant Robin, which like the Bay Class Mine Sweeper I served on, would roll on a wet teabag, in the case of the Robin, it would roll to one side in a turn, nose in and flip over.


But I agree with you, Sypder is not a bike, nor is it a car, it is something else all together. Closest other vehicle I can think of is a snow mobile, only instead of having a drive track and ski's, its got wheels.

[Grey Thumper]

I voted cool just because the next is uncool. Its not a motorcycle. If you are too old or have a disability then it would be a better than a car. I like the new engine and updates.

Hmmm, if I was disabled in some way, I'd rather get a 3 wheeled leaning scooter like a Piaggio MP3, or a convertible car (Miata, Z4, etc). As has been mentioned before, a Can Am has none of the advantages of a bike (filtering, lane splitting, leaning), and none of the advantages of a car (safety cage, protection from the environment).

Fail.

[Gummiente]

Actually, the two upfront and one behind is inherently more stable then one upfront and two behind. The Morgan I posted was tested by Richard Hammond of Top Gear (UK) on one of their challenges.

The difference here is that the Morgan has a longer wheelbase and places its side-by-side occupants behind and on the same level as the motor. The made in Quebec T-Rex has a similar setup, only the occupants are placed side-by-side in front of and on the same level as the motor. These two configurations keep the C of G lower and the handling characteristics better than the much shorter and taller Spyder with its occupants seated in line and above the motor. I spent some time last night unsuccessfully trying to locate and quote from an article I'd read a while ago about the Spyder, but the gist of it was that the Spyder is useless without all the technology in place. A test was done where all the gee-whiz stuff was disconnected; the drivers found they had much difficulty keeping it on the course as a result. Compare that with an out of the box traditional trike from a Harley dealer (or any trike conversion by Hannigan, Champion, Lehman) that has nothing more than ABS and kicked out triple trees pinned to it and you'll find the trike's handling characteristics are much better.

However, WITH all the technology the Spyder is arguably the safer ride than the traditional trike. But, and you may agree, the Spyder is more "2/3 car + 1/3 bike" while the trike is "2/3 bike, 1/3 car". And, of course, sidecars are a whole new argument.

[Hanson]

I almost never give an Awesome or a Fail, but this is not a motorcycle so a fail on the Total Motorcycle Cool Wall.

[ceemes]

However, WITH all the technology the Spyder is arguably the safer ride than the traditional trike. But, and you may agree, the Spyder is more "2/3 car + 1/3 bike" while the trike is "2/3 bike, 1/3 car". And, of course, sidecars are a whole new argument.

Personally, if I had to go the three wheeler route for whatever reason, I'd go with the traditional sidecar rig. Trikes, the Spyder and MP3 are not bikes.

[jstark47]

However, WITH all the technology the Spyder is arguably the safer ride than the traditional trike. But, and you may agree, the Spyder is more "2/3 car + 1/3 bike" while the trike is "2/3 bike, 1/3 car". And, of course, sidecars are a whole new argument.

Personally, if I had to go the three wheeler route for whatever reason, I'd go with the traditional sidecar rig. Trikes, the Spyder and MP3 are not bikes.

I would give the MP3 a free pass as a motorcycle. It leans, and it feels, well, "bike-ish" for lack of a better word. The Spyder however does not. (Traditional trikes I can't say, never ridden one.)

[totalmotorcycle]

Wow, lots of great discussion on the Spyder! I love it.

The Spyder sure is unique, is it truly a motorcycle? Is it more a car? Does it even belong on the Cool Wall or TMW at all? These are question's I've wrestled with myself over the years. Some years I find myself on one side of the fence or another.

Like Gummi, I do shake my head thinking in disbelief that the Spyder line keeps on going on, I honestly do see a few parked (that's about it) in Houston, and only seen 1 or 2 on the road, but BRP keeps on selling (and improving them) each year. There is a market for them, but I didn't think the market would have lasted this long; after all, it's starting price is a decent new car!

If there is a market for these, there MUST be a market for so many other things (retro bikes, naked bikes, comfortable spotbikes, V-Twin sports, inline-4 cruisers, etc)

Mike

[Gummiente]

but BRP keeps on selling (and improving them) each year.

Bombardier, actually. You know, that Canadian company.

[BRUMBEAR]

This is a 3 wheeler well it could be if I ever get round to doing something with it. I really do not like the 3 wheel experience and even though I like quadding but not on the street The servi car is more a death trap than a motorcycle. If I ever finish it it will be parade only...

[JackoftheGreen]

I can't help but be baffled by this level of opposition to the Spyder. What's particularly interesting is that the general opinion changes yearly and by trim level. (-:

If we're going to accept bikes with sidecars and trikes as 'real' bikes, I fail to understand why the Spyder doesn't get a pass too. I'll agree it's not the sort of bike I'd consider riding given my youth and general good health, but the same goes for a trike, and I feel the Spyder would fulfill the mission of a sidecar equipped scoot with a fair measure more competence. And I'd certainly attribute a lot more 'cred' to a rider on one of these than someone pulling a trailer with their full-dress.

That said, the price of one of these makes it tough to give an Awesome. So I'll say Cool.