Can Am Spyder - take the poll

[jid]

I’m a nut when it comes to toys.  I love having first world problems like ‘which toy should I drive today?’.    Before purchasing a Trophy I sat on a Can Am and actually thought it would be like a Jetski on wheels.  Different.   Not a bike.  But different.  Then I started telling my friends and they were going to disown me.  It made me think of this for a poll.   So I’d love to hear the consensus!

[Coconut]

None of the above :

• I know what it is but have absolutely no interest in it !

[jid]

Originally Posted by Coconut

None of the above :

• I know what it is but have absolutely no interest in it !

I bet you picked 'no judgement' then.   You seem like that kind of guy! 

[Bespoke]

When I first saw one in person I was surprised how big they are. It would take up too much garage space for me to consider one.

Plus, they're expensive - here in Canada the top of the line variants are well over $30k

[BigPoppa]

I've been following the Can-Am Spyder since they first came out. If I picked one up, it would definitely be a touring model. I'm waiting for an engine with a bit more power though before seriously considering picking one up. I would need at least 150HP (especially for the touring models) before it moves into my "really want" list.

[atrophy]

I have a friend that is a retired helicopter pilot.  (flew for 30 years)

He turned 72 about 4 years ago and someone told him he was too old to be riding a motorcycle.  So he decided they may be right and he traded in his BMW R1150Rt for a Goldwing trike.  I know this is not a spider but I think there are important similarities. 

About three months later we took a trip together.  A 7900 mile trip.

We spent a day riding west through Kansas.  It’s always the same.  It’s about 600 straight miles with a 20 mph wind coming from the southwest.  At the end of the day he observed… “When the wind is blowing your bike just automatically leans into the wind to go straight.  I’ve been pushing on the handlebars all day long to go straight.  I’m exhausted!”

The next day we spent riding through the rocky mountains.  At the end of the day he observed… “Riding through all these curves all you have to do is lean left or lean right.  I’m pushing these handlebars one way or the other all the time.  My arms are tired and my chest is tired!  I am not looking forward to more curves.”

Being a pilot (helicopters and fixed wing) we had talked about how motorcycling is probably the closest thing to flying.   He observed that the trike was a completely different experience.

At the end of the trip he also observed how much more fuel he burned.  His final observation was… he really likes it and plans to keep if for a long time.

We have taken several long trips since but not as long as that one.

[HACKLE]

I have a number of friends - 3 - in my town that ride Spyders. One wife is starting to not go on the Spyder. Her reasoning is that she has to work harder [leaning her body into bends to counter centrifugal forces] more so than she did on their ST1300 Honda solo. Unlike some trikes that have independent rear ends, the Spyder doesn't and the rider/pillion have to work a lot harder. So it appears that the pleasure is going out of hopping on the rear. 

[Theo]

Before I'd put money into a Spyder I'd buy a small sports car - something like a Mazda Miata. I don't quite get the attraction of the Spyder so, to each his own.