Can-Am Spyder

[Lion_Lady]

They cannot be tagged in MD. So not legal on the roads here. Not even if it has a legal out of state tag.

P

[storysunfolding]

Why can't they be tagged in md? I know guys who ride them to work in Silver Spring and Bethesda with no issue.

Looks like they also have dealers in md...

[Lion_Lady]

Status may have changed. But at the last MD MSF Instructors conference, in March, it was stated that the CanAm Spyder is not legal on the roads MD.

As I understand it, the MD powers that be can't figure out how to classify the thing. It isn't a motorcycle or a scooter or a car. So which laws/regs apply?

In MD, to get a license plate/register a vehicle, it must first pass a state safety inspection...

Hmmm, which inspection checklist to use? There's the problem.

P

[mydlyfkryzis]

In NJ, it's a motorcycle.

If I have a legally registered one in NJ, they can't stop me at the border.

There are other three wheelers, so why is MD having a problem?

[RhadamYgg]

Hard to get around here even when paying $4-5k over MSRP. Used ones are selling for $19k

Oh damn! I was thinking more along the lines of the MSRP of $16K or so... But that's ok, I can wait, either demand will go down, or a competing similar item will go on sale.

Or I'll just wait for the Aptera (technically a motorcycle/three wheeler).

Who knows how much that will sell over sticker, of course, when it comes out.

RhadamYgg

[RhadamYgg]

What do you guys think of this vehicle?

Spyder

I'm thinking of it for a replacement for my car. It gets 40 mpg, which is better than all non-hybrid cars I can find out there lately (which is really weird, even cars like the fit don't get 40mpg, but my 1992 Honda Civic had 40 mpg on the sticker for highway - and actually got 40 mpg - no matter what I did to it).

Anyway, I'd split commuting duties between my Ninja 250 and this. Bad weather - I'd ride the Can-Am. Terrible weather, I'd take the train.

RhadamYgg

Is the car already paid off? If so, every bit of your MPG savings with this will go out the window with the first payment on the Spyder. If getting rid of the car would be getting rid of the car payment, I'd make sure that the payment on the Spyder was considerably less than the car payment, otherwise, again, the savings just isn't there.

Also, while I'm sure it'd be a bit more stable than a motorcycle in inclement weather, you'd still be getting wet, unlike you'd be in a car.

All of this is not to say that the Spyder isn't cool. I test rode one locally when they were having a demo day and it was definitely cool. Rides 100% different than a motorcycle, very responsive, lack of front brake lever took some getting used to, and you feel like you are going to get thrown off when you take a sharp turn very fast.

If I had the extra funds, I'd get one, but I can't see it being a replacement for a bike (unless I became physically incapable of riding) or a car.

Well, the car is paid off for - has been for two almost three years. I tend to keep my cars 10 years - so I've got three years left when you look at it that way.

However, I also tend to keep my cars for 200K miles. I have about 65K on the car right now. Maybe I'll only keep it until 100K miles. Its a Honda, I could go either way on this, but I don't see me keeping a car for 20 years.

I don't mind getting wet, even when I don't have the waterproof liners in my Ranger II pants. I seem to only get wet on the crotch in heavy rain in those, anyway. I might actually enjoy the inclement weather on that thing.

I do wonder though, if they designed one more for mpgs instead of horsepower - how much mileage you could get out of it.

Of course, when the time comes, I could not trade-in my car - keep it and have three vehicles - used based on classification of weather, mood and how exhausted I am. The payments would be higher, and insurance would be the real loser there, but that might not be a bad idea.

Of course, where I'd put all of this stuff - who knows?

RhadamYgg

[Thumper]

$20000 is reasonable

Wow...now I feel a whole lot better about the price of the MP3...

[suzuki500]

$20000 is reasonable

Wow...now I feel a whole lot better about the price of the MP3...

lol good point, how much was that mp3 anyways?
seems interesting!
its almost the same thing accept more scootery! 3 wheels rock!

[Thumper]

With taxes and fees, it's going to run me $10,000. Since it's in high demand there's no negotiating room, which kind of bites. But that 20K for the Spyder makes it seem like a bargain!

[Lion_Lady]

In NJ, it's a motorcycle.

If I have a legally registered one in NJ, they can't stop me at the border.

There are other three wheelers, so why is MD having a problem?

In Maryland, a three wheeler is defined in the law as "having two wheels in the rear." The Spyder has two front wheels and a single rear, so it doesn't fall within any licensing/registration guideline currently on the books in Maryland.

Oh, and by the way. Those Maryland Can Am "dealers" have had their allocation of Spyders re-alloted to other states because they cannot be registered/tagged in MD at this time.

I'm not arguing that it seems stupid. I'm just stating the regs as I understand them. The state may not be able to stop you at the border. But it isn't inconceivable for a State Trooper to tell you you needed to find a different method of getting back home, if you were stopped for something on your Spyder. Just like Virginia can give you a ticket if they catch you using a Radar Detector in the state.

P