Can-Am Spyder - three wheeled thing

[QuietMonkey]

It's been a long time since Canada had a bike to announce, even though the parent company Bombardier-Rotax has been building some awesome motors over the years for dirt-trackers, Aprilia (RSV1000 and there RS250 GP bike, etc), etc...

And as a Canadian I would be proud if the damn thing had 2-wheels, but the Ski-Doo/Sea-Doo freaks at Bombardier decided to make this WACKO thing. Well, as they say, leave it to the French...

Can-Am Spyder


http://spyder.brp.com/

Brochure:
http://spyder.brp.com/NR/rdonlyres/06EC ... ochure.pdf

Edmunds article:
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Dr ... eId=119581

MC USA:
http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/Article_P ... 279&Page=1

Montreal Gazette:
http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/n ... 0ed1e4a886

Press Release:
http://www.can-am.brp.com/en-US/Media.C ... .02.05.htm

BRP GOES ON THE ROAD

Can-Am Spyder roadster: the next dimension in open-road riding
Valcourt, Québec, February 5, 2007 – BRP introduced today its first "on-road" vehicle, the 2008 Can-Am™ Spyder™ roadster. This three-wheel vehicle, with two wheels in the front and one in the rear, offers a completely new and stunning look. Powered by a proven 990cc V Twin engine designed and manufactured by BRP-Rotax, Spyder roadster, with its unique Y-architecture, can be described as part motorcycle and part convertible sports car.

"Our Can-Am Spyder roadster is the next dimension in open-road riding. A true paradigm shift, the Spyder roadster offers a balance of performance and peace of mind with features like the Vehicle Stability System (VSS), engineered in conjunction with Bosch†, which includes anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control systems," said José Boisjoli, president and CEO, BRP.
BRP's reputation was built on its ability to innovate and design products for powersports enthusiasts. After more than five years of research, the Can-Am Spyder roadster is now delivering on the company's promise to offer a complete line of recreational motorized products in four segments: on snow, on water, as well as both off and on road.
While confirming that the Can-Am Spyder roadsters would be assembled in Valcourt, Boisjoli added: "This is a historic event for BRP, particularly for our Valcourt and Austrian employees, as it confirms the strategic role of BRP's Québec manufacturing facilities for assembling complex and sophisticated vehicles, and BRP-Rotax's leadership in engine development. With Can-Am Spyder, we are redefining the roadster category by bringing the powersports experience to the road through this new generation of vehicles. BRP is entering a new era that will provide growth opportunities for our company worldwide and potentially create new jobs,'' he concluded.
Plans are to start manufacturing units by fall 2007 with a progressive ramp-up of the production over the next three years to meet market demand.

"This event also marks BRP's first truly global launch," said Chris Dawson, vice-president, Strategic planning & Head of Can-Am Spyder Program. "In 2007, BRP will deploy the first phase of its go-to-market strategy: twelve selected American states and four Canadian provinces will offer Can-Am Spyder roadsters through BRP's existing dealer network, followed by France and Spain in early 2008. In its second phase, BRP will expand its Can-Am Spyder offer to more North American states, Canadian provinces, Europe and other countries, and expects to be present worldwide within three to four years," he concluded.
Among those participating in the event were Jean Charest, Québec Premier, Raymond Bachand, Québec Minister of Economic Development, Innovation and Exports, as well as Yvon Vallières, Québec Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The Premier confirmed a reimbursable financial contribution of $17.8 million from the Government of Québec, through Investissement Québec, to support the development of the Can-Am Spyder roadster.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), a privately-held company, is a world leader in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and marketing of motorized recreational vehicles. Its portfolio of brands and products includes: Ski Doo® and Lynx™ snowmobiles, Sea Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Evinrude® and Johnson® outboard engines, direct injection technologies such as Evinrude E TEC®, Can Am™ all-terrain vehicles and roadsters, and Rotax® engines and karts.
www.brp.com
®, TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. or its affiliates.
† Bosch is a trademark of Robert Bosch GmbH
- 30 -
For information:
Corporate:
Johanne Denault
Manager,
Communications & Public affairs
450.532.5173
johanne.denault@brp.com
Product:
Marc R. Lacroix
Manager, Product and Marketing
Can-Am Spyder Roadster
450.532.5023
marcr.lacroix@brp.com
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[BuzZz]

I've always wanted to love Can-Ams, starting back in the 70's when they were ugly orange bikes with top-grade components and very good engines.... and that still wouldn't work right. Adjustable streeing head angles? Good idea, except on a dirtbike with a foot of travel leveraging the steering head around like rubber, decent suspension components with factory-dictated valving from Mars, and ergo's from..... still trying to figure out what genetic freak they used for a model.... end result has always been, I can't love Can-Ams, much as I tryed.

Now they slapped the name on atv's and this assbackwards trike.... I still can't manage to change my opinion of them. I foresee Quebec demanding the government legislate Canadians having to buy a Can-Am in addition to any other bike they buy, kinda like they did with bilinguisim. Except in Quebec, where buying another brand would be illegal, like English on signs is now.

At this piont, anything coming out of that factory would have to be Ultra-fantastic for me to want one..... I wonder how many of my tax dollars are being pumped into that place these days? Bombardier should be finacially profitable enough these days to let go of the government teat, should it not? Maybe they have, I'm not sure. But I would not be surprised to find out that they still have their hand out....

But I'm not bitter.....

[QuietMonkey]

Now they slapped the name on atv's and this assbackwards trike....

shiite, i didn't know they were putting "Can-Am" on the ATVs... only noticed the Bombardier name on the 650 I looked at, but looking at the web-site now I either missed the Can-Am or they've changed the sale pitch and that Can-Am logo is right there!

http://www.can-am.brp.com/BRPHTML/CanAmReborn/en-CA/

Ah well. The ATVs seem decent enough, maybe this Spyder thing will die like it should and they'll wake up and develop a real bike. It's probably in the works right now. The TNT name has gotta land on a Motard or something.

If that trike leaned from side to side, like some of those Euro sidecars rigs do, then it might have something, but the way I look at it, it's gangly looking and dorky.

In Quebec the competition for trikes are a couple guys who developed the T-Rex, which have always used 1000cc+ 4-cylinder bike engines, with seating like a car, etc. They pass emissions, weigh under 1000lbs, and look good too... or at least interesting, like Fast Frogs (in both sense of the word)... the designer was the lead for Callaway (Corvettes).

http://www.go-t-rex.com/

frick --- i noticed the thing pulls 1.9Gs!!! Jesus!! (my mexican pal) ... anyway they've been making this thing for about 10 years and it's definitely something Bombardier shouldve bought the rights to instead of building that bug.... and the Trex boys even have optional saddlebags now (hilarious!) and optional windshield for those who think you need more "eye" protection than a full coverage helmet and roll-cage - hah- wusses!

[Christina]

Well, I like the look of it. But not in yellow - yuck! I am waitinig to get to ride one and see how it rides. No matter what, they get points for a new approach!!

[celt]

i bet they'd be fun to drive really fast.

[NorthernPete]

That looks like itd be fun to tool around on.