Poliaris Slingshot

[Bob Denman]

That'll give him the time he needs to save up some more pennies!

[sledmaster]

I find it most curious that anyone who owns and rides a Spyder would be so intrigued by the Slingshot. It is a car that you drive, not a machine (like a bike, sled, ATV or PWC) that you RIDE. This is a very different interaction between the driver/rider and the vehicle. Far less interactive for the rider, you can just sit there, shift and steer. Do that on a Spyder and it takes so much away from the experience, at least for me.

Sure it will be fun as hell, especially for those who used to race/drive go-karts, low cg and super wide stance, sure to rail around the corners. But will other vehicles be able to see you? That might be scary.

Why three wheels? Likely to escape federal crash standards for a 4-wheel vehicle. And all other laws regarding 4-wheel vehicles. This will be considered a motorcycle.......curious to see how the helmet laws play out in each state. I sure wouldn't be in one without a helmet!

The comment about this vehicle causing BRP to loosen their grip on the nanny fails to consider the vehicle differences - the Spyder is MUCH narrower so the Spyder will lift and tip far easier. The nanny is set the way it is to keep you from flipping on your head! So you can just forget about getting rid of the Spyder nanny, foolish wish. It is there for a very good reason. To keep you alive.

I did not catch the part about being able to turn off the stability control on the Slingshot. This might pose many issues, other than people getting in over their heads - curious to see how this pans out. Might tend to spin out instead of flip over, that would be nice, no fun to have a 1700 pound machine land on you, bad deal, even at 700 pounds.

The Slingshot pricing is lower than I expected, my guess was $30,000. Seeing how it is Polaris, I believe they will sell a boat load of them. Personally I see it as an even more dangerous machine to be out on a public road with than a Spyder, but that is what thrill-seekers want - danger - and adrenaline. This machine should satisfy them on both fronts. So far one has to applaud Polaris for doing something fairly different - not that a machine like this hasn't been done before, but nobody with a track record like Polaris and the resources of Polaris has done it. Now, for their sake, let's hope the thing is ready for mass consumption. They have had some miserable product launches over the past ten years or so, at least with sleds, so maybe they have learned their lesson with this new market.

Fun to watch.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I think that the right scenery can be marvelous!
In fact; I ride past where the Olympic Bikini Championship Try-Outs are being held, at every opportunity!

She's not behind me; is she?

Bob, wave to Dee when you see her ............................. Mikeguyver

[Bob Denman]

I always do!!

[Dan_Ashley]

I want one. I can drive it on Sundays and Mondays and Tues.....

I can Ryde on those days too.

I NEED ​one. To sit next to my beloved Spyder!

[Bob Denman]

A Supplement; NOT a replacement!

[Kratos]

I can see how having this AND the Spyder can be the ultimate Toy's R Us in the garage. Want to ride like a motorcycle today with the handlebars....ok get on the spyder. Want to ride it in a car like fashion, get on this. I see Polaris and Can Am as complements to the industry on this, instead of competition.

[wyliec]

The Can Am dealer I purchased my spyder from new also sells the slingshot now. I wonder how many other Can Am dealers also sell the Polaris slingshot.

[flaggerphil]

What I find interesting is that on its website Polaris says that the Slingshot is a "motorcycle", not a "car." It doesn't have airbags and other things cars have to have. At the same time BRP calls the Spyder a "roadster", not a "motorcycle."

Ah, well.

It looks pretty neat and I don't think it will actually be competition for the Spyder since they're ridden in totally different ways. But what do I know?

Well, I do know I won't buy one. It looks like a lot of fun, but with my legs there's no way I'm going to try and get in and out of that thing. I'll stick with the Spyder. I do think they'll sell a lot of them, though, and I think you'll start seeing them at a lot of road courses for use in track time.

[Laila's Dad]

A Supplement; NOT a replacement!

Full disclosure Bob, I don't have any money for the SlingShot, even if I wanted it but I ride my Spyder 6 to 7 days a week. I don't know when I would ever make time to be in the Sling Shot...

[Paula(Butch2025)]

One was driving around town tonight not impressed to plasticky

[JerryB]

Hi Phil,

Re: At the same time BRP calls the Spyder a "roadster", not a "motorcycle."

BRP can call them microwave ovens if they want. It is what each state declares what they are.

Here in Oregon, if it has less than four wheels, it is registered & titled as a motorcycle.

Jerry Baumchen

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

I think that the right scenery can be marvelous!
In fact; I ride past where the Olympic Bikini Championship Try-Outs are being held, at every opportunity!

She's not behind me; is she?

Not anymore!

[Bob Denman]

Hi Phil,

Re: At the same time BRP calls the Spyder a "roadster", not a "motorcycle."

BRP can call them microwave ovens if they want. It is what each state declares what they are.

Here in Oregon, if it has less than four wheels, it is registered & titled as a motorcycle.

Jerry Baumchen

Amen...

[sddinnh]

I might consider one someday to replace my Corvette, but for now I'll stick with it. It has a roof I can put up if it rains and enough luggage capacity for longer trips.

[Scotts8826]

I know motorcycles as a whole do not offer much protection in an accident. However, based on what I'm seeing on the slingshot I would be a little concerned. It looks like your sitting position puts your head right on the bumper of the truck ahead of you. At least with the Spyder I am riding higher up and just have to worry about getting flattened by the semi's back door.

[Bob Denman]

I've yet to buy a vehicle with the intention of wrecking it...
In a head-to-head match with a Semi; you'l lose regardless of what type of vehicle you're in anyway.

[dguisinger]

I'm tempted to buy one, especially with all the problems I've had with my RS-S... but its not a direct replacement...
I'd feel the need to have both an RS-S and a Slingshot...

[billrob71]

Definitely see your point there.

I also think that when introducing a new model like this companies are very cautious with horsepower. There gonna give it "just enough" to have some fun factor but governed down to see how the public responds to it safety wise. After a good 5 years of no big issues, I believe they'll start opening up their reserves on putting out 200+hp versions.

Whether or not they do it, this is the same engine in a Chevy cobalt , there are aftermarket turbo and super charger kit available right now for that eminent and there looks to be plenty room to add one and the horsepower is well over 200

[Dragonrider]

The Slingshot has a standard GM drivetrain - that means that in addition to 1700 dealers, most GM dealers would be able to help if something happened on a trip. This is a huge difference from the Spyder. I don't know if I'll like the experience after a few hundred miles, and the exotic feeling wears off (same thoughts I had when I picked up my original RS), but I have a red SL headed to my garage.... I'll keep you posted.

[sledmaster]

All of the Minneapolis TV stations had a report on the slingshot last night, as there is a Polaris dealer show going on and they had some of the vehicles out at a local test track, so local TV reporters were obviously invited to go for a ride. The reps kept repeating the same catch-phrases, things like "surfing asphalt".

Just after that, I was outside and had a Camaro convertible drive by, going around a corner. At that moment it struck me that this would be about the closest thing. It was an open-air experience but down in a cockpit, driving instead of riding, wide front end and plenty of power.

Obviously Polaris is trying to expand upon the popularity of their side-by-side off-road vehicles, as the slingshot is quite similar to that, but with a REAL engine instead of the little mills they build themselves. I doubt there would be many Indian or Victory riders that would go for it, nor would there be many Spyder riders that go for it. Don't really see the off-road side-by-side guys going for it, but then when I saw the convertible Camaro I think that might be the primary target buyer? An inexpensive thrill ride?

I think it would be FAR more fun to drive at a closed-course environment than to take it out onto public streets. Think big boys go-kart track experience, I can see that as being huge. But going out on public streets? I dunno....

[Kratos]

All of the Minneapolis TV stations had a report on the slingshot last night, as there is a Polaris dealer show going on and they had some of the vehicles out at a local test track, so local TV reporters were obviously invited to go for a ride. The reps kept repeating the same catch-phrases, things like "surfing asphalt".

Just after that, I was outside and had a Camaro convertible drive by, going around a corner. At that moment it struck me that this would be about the closest thing. It was an open-air experience but down in a cockpit, driving instead of riding, wide front end and plenty of power.

Obviously Polaris is trying to expand upon the popularity of their side-by-side off-road vehicles, as the slingshot is quite similar to that, but with a REAL engine instead of the little mills they build themselves. I doubt there would be many Indian or Victory riders that would go for it, nor would there be many Spyder riders that go for it. Don't really see the off-road side-by-side guys going for it, but then when I saw the convertible Camaro I think that might be the primary target buyer? An inexpensive thrill ride?

I think it would be FAR more fun to drive at a closed-course environment than to take it out onto public streets. Think big boys go-kart track experience, I can see that as being huge. But going out on public streets? I dunno....

I definitely see all of your points. I don't think any of us have a clue who the target demographic is, lol......but it fits someone, just can't pinpoint it.

One thing that I do see that's different from a convertible, and that was said by testers, is that you're so low to the ground that it feels like you're riding on the ground rather than in a car.....if what they are proclaiming on the "rush" is true, this would be why, and it is something that you can't mentally visualize in your head. The only way to know how "fun" this thing is would be to sit in it in person.

But this also makes your point true on if this thing is safe on the street. So low to the ground means barely visible.

[Dan_Ashley]

I definitely see all of your points. I don't think any of us have a clue who the target demographic is, lol......but it fits someone, just can't pinpoint it.

One thing that I do see that's different from a convertible, and that was said by testers, is that you're so low to the ground that it feels like you're riding on the ground rather than in a car.....if what they are proclaiming on the "rush" is true, this would be why, and it is something that you can't mentally visualize in your head. The only way to know how "fun" this thing is would be to sit in it in person.

But this also makes your point true on if this thing is safe on the street. So low to the ground means barely visible.

Target group is probably something similar to: under 45, male, college educated, income greater than $100,000, and driver/owner of luxury cars...possibly single or soon-to-be empty nester.

[Yol Bolsun]

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/933/18...de-Review.aspx

[Kratos]

Target group is probably something similar to: under 45, male, college educated, income greater than $100,000, and driver/owner of luxury cars...possibly single or soon-to-be empty nester.

Well that fits me, lol.......except the single part. Haha