jamming
05-20-2007, 05:14 PM
I was supposed to be in Heber AZ for the rally this weekend but I was invited to ride to Can-am Spyder. I'm close to getting the business off the ground so I bit the bullet and stayed home got some work done AND got to test the Spyder.
The Spyder:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479200-M.jpg
Engine left side:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154473128-M.jpg
Front luggage area..my guess is 40 liters or so:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479171-M.jpg
Me riding around the track:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154474148-M.jpg
Seat view:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479454-M.jpg
Other photos:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479276-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479421-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479348-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479376-M.jpg
For the last 2, sorry about the neck kinks:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479329-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479392-M.jpg
The whole slide show:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479392-M.jpg
Now my thoughts:
I really liked it. Dean here's Ms Pam's bike. I'm buying one for my wife, but not this year. I'll let them work out the bugs first. It's a hoot to ride, way different than ANYTHING I've ever ridden. Now I've never ridden a snowmobile but one of the other guys said that's what he thought it rode like. Not like an ATV either but close, I got it to turn pretty quick with a little lean, but you STEER this with the bars. Took me once around the track and I had it. The brakes work pretty good, ABS and all, however all are controlled by the right foot, no hand brake..weird to me.
The shifting is standard 1 down and 4 up on the 5 speed. Its pretty peppy, got it to 85 PDQ, not as fast as the ST by a ways but plenty for real world. It'll outrun a HD no problem. 106 HP at the crank, however it is 700 lbs dry. It's gearing is spot on IMHO. It'll leave a nice blackie, they asked me to quit doing that :icon_redface: , from a stop I hammered it around a corner and it will defuel the engine AFTER it slides a bit, but, you cannot turn this thing over it has sensors to prevent that and a stability controller as well. The steering is power assisted, I turned off the engine coasting to a light to simulate an engine failure and had to muscle it a bit but have no qualms that the wife could do it also. It is sensitive but not twitchy, I simulated an emergency swerve and it was not an issue.
It's fun as hell to ride, I spent a couple of hours on it, 15 min on the little track getting used to it and the rest on the road. It's freaking awesome, a real head turner, way different than ANYTHING else on the road. I'd ride it across the country today. It was comfortable, enough power, although you almost can't have enough. The sport shield on it was good to 80 for me, I had my face shield open until then. There is a touring shield available, I'm not sure I'd get it, air flow off the fairing was great, nice bubble of calm air around you.
The drive belt is supposed to be good for 50,000, and that 990 V-twin is a tested motor. They had no info as to maintenance intervals and I'm hoping the valves are hydraulic, it's pretty tight in there. It uses car tires so the mileage on those ought to be impressive, good thing as the soft compound it will require and the size of them will cost you about 250 minimium a tire. I know the EML side cars on the K1100 LT get about 40 to 50 grand out of a set. I'm pretty sure they are close to the same size as the fronts on the Spyder, the fronts are a 65 series 14 incher. The back is a 50 series 15 incher, it's a monster.
It does have a reverse, once again they told me to quit riding around in circles...backwards, what can I say, never done that on a motorcycle, uh intentionally.
It also will have lockable hard bags but as these are all prototypes they were not avaiable to see. I'd add them. With the bags and front storage it'll be a great commuter and tourer. 3 wheels and ABS you could ride in the snow.
Gravel roads, no problem, Deans's road, maybe problem...the ground clearance is 4.5 inches.
Now understand no way I'm giving up 2 wheels, I want to use it as a company bike, and for the wife to ride. It's the perfect motorcycle for someone who can't ride a motorcycle due to health or disability reasons or for someone like my wife who at 5 foot tall has a problem riding a bike big enough to ride on the road for any distance. It IS a motorcycle according to the State of Arizona, but it's my understanding some states say 2 wheels are motorcyles and 3 are autos. I'm not positive about that and neither were the Can-am folks. It will have an electronic 5 speed as an option, so no clutch.....Dean...you paying attention here?
I'm thinking Can-Am has a real winner. Not as much skill to ride as a 2 wheel motorcycle, but still in the wind. No clue as to gas milage, but who cares. 7.5 gallon tank even at 40 MPG thats not bad and it'll take 87 octane.
That's all I can think of, sorry I'm not as elquont as most, I'm a state the facts kind of guy.
All I have to say is....IT'S FREAKING COOL!
The Spyder:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479200-M.jpg
Engine left side:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154473128-M.jpg
Front luggage area..my guess is 40 liters or so:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479171-M.jpg
Me riding around the track:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154474148-M.jpg
Seat view:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479454-M.jpg
Other photos:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479276-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479421-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479348-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479376-M.jpg
For the last 2, sorry about the neck kinks:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479329-M.jpg
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479392-M.jpg
The whole slide show:
http://jamming.smugmug.com/photos/154479392-M.jpg
Now my thoughts:
I really liked it. Dean here's Ms Pam's bike. I'm buying one for my wife, but not this year. I'll let them work out the bugs first. It's a hoot to ride, way different than ANYTHING I've ever ridden. Now I've never ridden a snowmobile but one of the other guys said that's what he thought it rode like. Not like an ATV either but close, I got it to turn pretty quick with a little lean, but you STEER this with the bars. Took me once around the track and I had it. The brakes work pretty good, ABS and all, however all are controlled by the right foot, no hand brake..weird to me.
The shifting is standard 1 down and 4 up on the 5 speed. Its pretty peppy, got it to 85 PDQ, not as fast as the ST by a ways but plenty for real world. It'll outrun a HD no problem. 106 HP at the crank, however it is 700 lbs dry. It's gearing is spot on IMHO. It'll leave a nice blackie, they asked me to quit doing that :icon_redface: , from a stop I hammered it around a corner and it will defuel the engine AFTER it slides a bit, but, you cannot turn this thing over it has sensors to prevent that and a stability controller as well. The steering is power assisted, I turned off the engine coasting to a light to simulate an engine failure and had to muscle it a bit but have no qualms that the wife could do it also. It is sensitive but not twitchy, I simulated an emergency swerve and it was not an issue.
It's fun as hell to ride, I spent a couple of hours on it, 15 min on the little track getting used to it and the rest on the road. It's freaking awesome, a real head turner, way different than ANYTHING else on the road. I'd ride it across the country today. It was comfortable, enough power, although you almost can't have enough. The sport shield on it was good to 80 for me, I had my face shield open until then. There is a touring shield available, I'm not sure I'd get it, air flow off the fairing was great, nice bubble of calm air around you.
The drive belt is supposed to be good for 50,000, and that 990 V-twin is a tested motor. They had no info as to maintenance intervals and I'm hoping the valves are hydraulic, it's pretty tight in there. It uses car tires so the mileage on those ought to be impressive, good thing as the soft compound it will require and the size of them will cost you about 250 minimium a tire. I know the EML side cars on the K1100 LT get about 40 to 50 grand out of a set. I'm pretty sure they are close to the same size as the fronts on the Spyder, the fronts are a 65 series 14 incher. The back is a 50 series 15 incher, it's a monster.
It does have a reverse, once again they told me to quit riding around in circles...backwards, what can I say, never done that on a motorcycle, uh intentionally.
It also will have lockable hard bags but as these are all prototypes they were not avaiable to see. I'd add them. With the bags and front storage it'll be a great commuter and tourer. 3 wheels and ABS you could ride in the snow.
Gravel roads, no problem, Deans's road, maybe problem...the ground clearance is 4.5 inches.
Now understand no way I'm giving up 2 wheels, I want to use it as a company bike, and for the wife to ride. It's the perfect motorcycle for someone who can't ride a motorcycle due to health or disability reasons or for someone like my wife who at 5 foot tall has a problem riding a bike big enough to ride on the road for any distance. It IS a motorcycle according to the State of Arizona, but it's my understanding some states say 2 wheels are motorcyles and 3 are autos. I'm not positive about that and neither were the Can-am folks. It will have an electronic 5 speed as an option, so no clutch.....Dean...you paying attention here?
I'm thinking Can-Am has a real winner. Not as much skill to ride as a 2 wheel motorcycle, but still in the wind. No clue as to gas milage, but who cares. 7.5 gallon tank even at 40 MPG thats not bad and it'll take 87 octane.
That's all I can think of, sorry I'm not as elquont as most, I'm a state the facts kind of guy.
All I have to say is....IT'S FREAKING COOL!