Can-am Spyder...

[clearviewx]

Leaping deer knocks 80-year-old woman off motorcycle (Three wheel Spyder) in New Hampshire.
http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2...ar-ol.html

[the Ferret]

They couldn't locate the deer? What were they going to do cite it?

[MM300_imp]

The Can-am, my opinion, isn't a motorcycle. I'd guess that a ride on one would leave a good percentage of actual, experienced riders a bit cold towards them, if not somewhat freaked out. The Can-am cannot be driven like a bike and does not provide the full experience of riding one. That said, for someone who can't, or won't, ride a motorcycle the Can-am will provide nearly all of the joy of riding.

[Cormanus]

They couldn't locate the deer? What were they going to do cite it?

Just smack it around a bit and send it on its way.

[ride4now_imp]

Does anyone on this forum have experience with a Can-am Spyder? My initial reaction was always "That's not a motorcycle" but lately I've been looking for a way for my wife to join me on rides. She has her MC endorsement but has never felt comfortable with anything on two wheels. I test-drove a Harley three-wheeler but don't think that's the solution for her; cornering was vastly different from a two-wheeler...

I've never driven a Spyder -- at least not yet -- but would like to hear any opinions -- good or bad. If I went this way for her, I'd be thinking used, in the $10-12K range, with automatic (paddle shift?) transmission.

Thanks.

Frank

I test rode a Spyder at bike week a few years ago on an 8 mile over the road course including a run down i95. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Yes, cornering was a chore especially at slow speeds but it put you out in the wind like a 2 wheeler does so that was good. I test rode a Harley 3 wheeler about a month ago at a dealers open house. It felt about the same as the CanAm... no lean and a chore to steer at slow speeds although I think the steering was a touch easier because you're turning 1 wheel instead of 2 as on the CanAm. And I am concerned about high speed cornering... lifting a wheel off the ground would be frightening although they both say that it rarely happens. Rarely? My wife won't ride with me but says that she would IF we owned a 3 wheeler. As yet, I've not made the plunge feeling that I'd need to free up something before I bought one and I'm not ready to do that.
Plus I'm not really sure she means it...(a 'hair and a/c thing', LOL). I don't know if I'd buy the CanAm or the Harley. My experience with Harley's has been very good and I like the fact that they have plenty of dealers whereas CanAm dealers seem to be few and far between at least in my experience. Before you buy, make sure you test ride both so you can get a real world feel for them. Good luck!

[the Ferret]

How about a triked wing?

[decarmine_imp]

How about a triked wing?

But a triked 'wing would be WAY over my comfort price range...

[ride4now_imp]

I'd be careful buying something like that from a third party. If Honda built it, great! If not, I'm running far away.

[Lord Popgun]

Motor trike makes nice conversions. The service manager/head mechanic at my Dealer installs them. Its a BIG job and the kit is ~12 grand, I think he said.

When done it looks like a factory job. I've watched a little bit of the install and it is not something I'd want to try. YMMV.

[ClassicVW_imp]

I can't recall the name of the company, but one will "trike" your Wing for around $10-12K. You get two closely-spaced front wheels that stay in contact with the ground like a Piaggio MP3 and you lean it just like a two-wheeler bike.

EDIT: The name of the company is Tilting Motor Works.