Spyders Throughout the Years

[MrSchaefer]

Hey SL!

I've been trying to put together a model history (surprisingly difficult to do, lots of conflicting information out there). I think I have it now pretty solidly defined, please take a look and let me know if I missed anything (intentionally omitted color packages like the Dark edition)

178455

While we're on the topic.. the letter coding used. I can make up a bit of logic for the letter codes but it's not consistent at all. Using other manufacturers the letters would mean something of the following..

GS - Grand Sport
RS - Rally Sport
RS-S - Rally Sport - Special Edition
RT - Rally Touring
RT-S - Rally Touring Special Edition
ST - Sport Touring
ST-S - Sport Touring Special Edition
F3 - yeah... kinda just a motor designation?
F3-S - F3 Special Edition


For the most part that works.. but there was one year where Can Am shows a "F3-S Special Edition" which loosely translates to "F3 Special Edition Special Edition"

[safecracker]

I am probably wrong on this. I thought the RT LTD came out in 2011. Bruce

[BajaRon]

I believe that the GS moniker was only run during the 1st production 2008 Spyders. It is my understanding that the same model was called an RS beginning in the 2009 model year. But at worst, I think you are very close.

[MrSchaefer]

I am probably wrong on this. I thought the RT LTD came out in 2011. Bruce

I think you’re right - I’ll update my grid. Thanks Bruce!

[MrSchaefer]

I believe that the GS moniker was only run during the 1st production 2008 Spyders. It is my understanding that the same model was called an RS beginning in the 2009 model year. But at worst, I think you are very close.

I think there might be some revisionist history out there too - found one BRP doc that claimed the GS was never a thing and the first model was the RS. It was somewhere in the 09/10 year they swapped it when the RT became a thing.. could have been a mid-model change? :dontknow:

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I think there might be some revisionist history out there too - found one BRP doc that claimed the GS was never a thing and the first model was the RS. It was somewhere in the 09/10 year they swapped it when the RT became a thing.. could have been a mid-model change? :dontknow:

I had a 2008 ( first year of production ) my Vermont State DMV title said it was a GS …. I think Ron can confirm this …… Mike :ohyea:

[BajaRon]

I had a 2008 ( first year of production ) my Vermont State DMV title said it was a GS …. I think Ron can confirm this …… Mike :ohyea:

Yes, I have an original 2008, which is definitely a GS. I don't know why BRP seems to be so embarrassed by this designation. Frankly, it really doesn't matter.

Don't know if you care. But the SE5 was not introduced until the 2009 model. That's also why it seems right to me that the GS/RS designation changed at the same time. Could be wrong.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

This is probably as close as you're going to get for an official BRP chronological listing of the models. This is from the 10th Anniversary Homecoming book they sent to all attendees after the spring 2017 Can Am Homecoming Event. It covers up through 2017. I chopped the two page image into eight smaller images so they would show up better here. They go as shown here, left to right, top to bottom, of the two page spread in the book. What it doesn't show is when a particular model was discontinued.

178445 178456 178447 178448


178449 178450 178451 178452

[BajaRon]

Glad you cleared that up... I stand corrected. Better that than walking around WRONG!

Loved the 2012 RS Blue and the RSS Lime Green. Don't have either!

[pegasus1300]

That is great Idaho, Thanks for those pictures.

[MrSchaefer]

This is why I love you guys (and gals)!

Thanks Idaho! That’s perfect! I’m pretty solid on the decommission dates.. they make a little sense when you step back and look at it from a market standpoint. It’s interesting how all the chaos of models in the middle years points pretty directly to the unified model look and feel of the 2020 lineup.

[Jdr00ejr]

My wife started on an '09 GS. Sold it and bought her an '11 RTL. Traded it in on a '19 RTL. And I now have a '15 F3S. Looks like the book posted above does a good job of showing history. They've definitely been evolving.

[ARtraveler]

I am probably wrong on this. I thought the RT LTD came out in 2011. Bruce

:ani29: RE: 2010 RT:

The "top of the line" in 2010 was called the RTS. No dashes, etc...just like I printed it.

I bought a 2010 RTS Premier edition #474. I am guessing Premier was in lieu of Limited. And that year...the top of the line color was Black. Next year, black became the bottom of the line color.

:ani29: RE: 2008 GS:

The 2008 that I purchased had the GS designation. I got the first one sold to a customer in Alaska. It was a 2008 GS, SM5.

:ani29: RE: 2009 RS:

Could not even get the SE5 (semi auto) until 2009.
Got one of those for my spouse. The one I purchased had an RS designation. We bought a 2009 RS, SE5 that year.

Sorry for the "edit." I pushed the wrong button. Should have been a quote.

This information may add a bit of controversy to the mix because of differing information concerning GS and RS printed by others.

In the early days of Spyder, I studied everything I could. I did know more about Spyder than the dealer and the sales staff. The designations for GS and RS did appear on my MC registration and titles in the years I indicated.

So I guess you can take this additional information however you want. :bowdown:

[ARtraveler]

I am noting that they are calling the 09 version a GS. I would disagree with that one. :dontknow:

I have NOT fine tooth combed the rest of the pictures.

[Jdr00ejr]

:ani29: RE: 2008 GS:

2008 was the ONLY year of the GS designation. I got the first one sold to a customer in Alaska. It was a 2008 GS, SM5.

:ani29: RE: 2009 RS:

Could not even get the SE5 (semi auto) until 2009.
Got one of those for my spouse. That was the year the RS designation came in. We bought a 2009 RS, SE5 that year.


Had a 2009 GS - written on the title, and owner's manual as such. Many people wanted to correct me and say it was a RS. I would pull out the owners manual and title and show it said GS.

[ARtraveler]

Had a 2009 GS - written on the title, and owner's manual as such. Many people wanted to correct me and say it was a RS. I would pull out the owners manual and title and show it said GS.

It does indeed sound like the 2009 was marketed under two different designations. I am thinking it depended on when and where a person made the purchase. There was a change over from GS to RS...but only BRP knows when and why.

It is sounding like BRP had some naming issues. :roflblack: It will not be the first time there has been information errors between models, printed information, specs, and catalog stuff. When comparing between marketing departments and engineering we sometimes get conflicting information.

Let's blame it on BRP and let it ride. Sometimes, it is hard to trust but verify. :roflblack: The issue is kind of moot anyway. My 08 and 09 are long gone.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

It does indeed sound like the 2009 was marketed under two different designations. I am thinking it depended on when and where a person made the purchase. There was a change over from GS to RS...but only BRP knows when and why.

It is sounding like BRP had some naming issues. :roflblack: It will not be the first time there has been information errors between models, printed information, specs, and catalog stuff. When comparing between marketing departments and engineering we sometimes get conflicting information.

Let's blame it on BRP and let it ride. Sometimes, it is hard to trust but verify. :roflblack: The issue is kind of moot anyway. My 08 and 09 are long gone.
Well, I just spent too much time trying to verify it to let it ride! Here is what I found. On this page, https://motorcycles.autotrader.com/motorcycles/2009/can_am/spyder_gs/200858526, is an ad for a 2009 GS with the VIN in the ad. Here is what comes up when I do a recall VIN check on the BRP site.

178454

The recall verbiage clearly distinguishes between the 2009 GS and 2010 RS. Is it 100% accurate? Who knows! Two other 2009 Spyders check out the same. I think one of the reasons for the confusion is BRP doesn't refer to GS or RS as far as I can tell looking at 2007 to 2009 brochures listed for sale on eBay. The designation didn't really become meaningful until 2010 when the RT was introduced.

[ARtraveler]

Well, I just spent too much time trying to verify it to let it ride! Here is what I found. On this page, https://motorcycles.autotrader.com/motorcycles/2009/can_am/spyder_gs/200858526, is an ad for a 2009 GS with the VIN in the ad. Here is what comes up when I do a recall VIN check on the BRP site.

178454

The recall verbiage clearly distinguishes between the 2009 GS and 2010 RS. Is it 100% accurate? Who knows! Two other 2009 Spyders check out the same. I think one of the reasons for the confusion is BRP doesn't refer to GS or RS as far as I can tell looking at 2007 to 2009 brochures listed for sale on eBay. The designation didn't really become meaningful until 2010 when the RT was introduced.

Thanks for the additional info. All the info I got on the 09 said it was RS. Mine arrived in June or July of 09. Glad I am not compiling information for the archives. We all know what we bought, so I do not have any arguments with what has been said about particular machines.

Based on further information from IMS, I have edited my information posted earlier. It appears that both flavors were sold in 2009.

BRP did it. :roflblack: :roflblack:

[ARtraveler]

Had a 2009 GS - written on the title, and owner's manual as such. Many people wanted to correct me and say it was a RS. I would pull out the owners manual and title and show it said GS.

Based on further information, I have edited my information posted earlier. It appears that both flavors were sold in 2009.

[MrSchaefer]

This is probably as close as you're going to get for an official BRP chronological listing of the models...

Idaho - It looks like the pictures for 2 and 6 were identical. Do you have the picture that should be in spot 2? The one that shows the second part of the 2010 model year?

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Idaho - It looks like the pictures for 2 and 6 were identical. Do you have the picture that should be in spot 2? The one that shows the second part of the 2010 model year?

I was just going to post a question, "Didn't anyone catch my mistake?" :dontknow: You are so correct! I was trying to figure out earlier today why don't I see a 2013 group? I just a few minutes ago pulled out the book and looked and sure enough, I had a copy of 6 in the 2 spot. All is fixed now!

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Hey AR, please fix the invalid link in the quote in your post #14. My fixing my earlier post broke the link in the quote. The whole page turns dark if you click on the pics in the quote.

[Jdr00ejr]

Based on further information from IMS, I have edited my information posted earlier. It appears that both flavors were sold in 2009.

BRP did it. :roflblack: :roflblack:

It's okay - Jeep did one worse - they didn't just do a naming change - they did a whole model refresh in the middle of the year. You can buy a 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JK) - old body style or a 2018 Jeep Wrangler (JL) - brand new body style - different look/feel/different after market accessories/etc.

I guess MFGs just do what they want and we consumers get to figure it out as needed. LOL! :roflblack:

[MrSchaefer]

It’s tricky too because model years for cars, etc run on a modified fiscal year instead of a calendar year.. that’s why you can buy 2020 model year cars in late 2019. Most recreational vehicles are the same way. We once bought a travel trailer from Cherokee in April of 2015 that was technically a 2016. We sold it a year and a half later as a basically brand new (on paper) camper. Anyway, This odd modifies production year can lead to some weird confusion when a major update happens in a calendar cycle.

I remember my VW Jetta was that way.. it was technically the previous year model year but the latter years body style.. I believe they called it a 2004.5 or whatever the year of it was.

[seaweed]

Do not forget the 1964 1/2 Mustang

[ARtraveler]

Hey AR, please fix the invalid link in the quote in your post #14. My fixing my earlier post broke the link in the quote. The whole page turns dark if you click on the pics in the quote.

I took the quote and the link out of my post #14 as requested. Hope that solves the problem.