I call mine Spyder. Whenever someone ask me if I'm going to ride today, they always say are you going to ride the Spyder today? When i had my Honda, they would ask are you going to ride your bike today? The Spyder is in a class all by itself. Whenever i refer to it as a roadster, they always look at me funny. They be like uhhh what's that? So i just say i'm riding my Spyder today? I will say in GA my insurance company classifies it as a motorcycle.
Regardless of any state's requirements, I consider it a motorcycle, and often call mine "my bike," though I concede it's not a "bike" since it has 3 wheels.
Well fellow Spyder owners, I say a big thank you to you all. You, as usual,you have answered my question.
So from Speedbuggy to all of you, A BIG THANK YOU for your esteemed answers.
May you all ride with the wind at your backs and keep the sunnyside up.
In Wa. one need a motorcycle endorsement that also includes a trike endorsement to be legal. We figure it's another way for the state to make money. They "grandfathered" in the trike add on a few years ago and if you went to the local DMV it was free for a while. I was grandfathered so I saved around $50.
Here in SoCar, you aren't required to have a motorcycle endorsement on your drivers license to operate a SPYD3R... but the state of South Carolina neither classifys it as a motorcycle nor a car.... so it's whatever you want to call it...
Dan P
SPYD3R F3-S
Florida considers it a 3 wheel motorcycle. One needs either a two or three wheel motorcycle endorsement to be legal. I consider it a motorcycle (trike) and call it "the bike" because that's what I've called all my motorcycles and I'm lazy.
Phil
I may be old, but I got to see all the cool bands.
The matter will never be settled because it depends on perspective. Of course it isn't a motorcycle but DMV's nation wide have to pigeon-hole it somewhere. It's easier to stick the Spyder into a spot that has already been created so 'Motorcycle' is usually the default.
Some states break categories down further and so have a more accurate designation for the Spyder (and other 3 wheeled vehicles).
But a "Rose" by any other name....
Besides, if you own it, the Spyder is whatever you decide to call it. Regardless of what anyone else thinks!
I have a question for everyone. Our Spyders are 3 wheeled machines. Here in Ontario Canada, our Ministry of Transportation classifies the spyder and ALL 3 wheeled bikes as Motorised Tricycles.
Our drivers licence says - M -for motorcycle.
Now, some of us call our Spyders: Bikes, motorcycles, trikes, motor trikes, 3 wheeler. What is the standard everyone goes by?
I told my friend that it is still a bike. I am sure no drivers licence says - Spyder.
Am I wrong or right? Help me out here.
Everyone always says, Like your bike.
What do all you wise riders say.
Looking for answers.
Hi Whatever you call it, by virtue of the word 'BI' ke, it certainly can't (although often is referred to as) a bike.
You could say my machine.
I guess it's a UFO.......U FIGURE IT OUT Ron
I think California and Deleware are the only states not to require a motorcycle endorsement on your license. In CA our test involves taking your motorcycle in a very small circle and in between the lines so there is no way they could test you on a spyder and hence why they dont require a motorcycle endorsement. Of course i dont know how other states do their test. I have both a 2 wheeler and the spyder so when im going out on my Yamaha i say my "bike" and when i take the spyder i say im taking the "spyder"
Last edited by latony007; 03-13-2015 at 01:03 PM.
Tony From Los Angeles
Current
2015 Spyder RT
2012 Yamaha FZ6R
Previous
2008 Premier GS #588
2005 Suzuki C50
2007 Susuki S40
Officially, in Pennsylvania it is considered a trike. Our motorcycle endorsement covers riding both two and three wheel vehicles.
Traded in - 2013 RT SE5 Limited - Pearl White Mods Mods
Tri Axis handlebars
GPS mount for the Tri Axis handlebars
Ultimate seat with driver backrest
Driver cup holder
3rd Brake light -truck
Spyderpops bumpskid
Bayaron swaybar with Heim links
Lidlox
Of course it isn't a motorcycle but DMV's nation wide have to pigeon-hole it somewhere.
Why? Why isn't it a motorcycle?
Websters defines it as "a motor vehicle similar to a bicycle but usually larger and heavier, chiefly for one rider but sometimes having two saddles or an attached sidecar for passengers [thus 3 wheels present]."
Wikipedia: "A motorcycle (also called a motorbike, bike, moto or cycle) is a two or three wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport including racing, and off-road riding. Motorcycling is riding a motorcycle and related social activity such as joining a motorcycle club and attending motorcycle rallies."
Even Motorcycle Dynamics (Second Edition) includes a trike as a motorcycle.
Motorcycle is just an umbrella term of which trike is a specialty. In fact, most sources call it a motor [short for motorized or motorcycle] trike. It's the same principle as dementia is an umbrella term of which there are many types (such as Alzheimer's).
I never understood why people claim it isn't a motorcycle. It is. It just isn't a bike as bi = 2.
Websters defines it as "a motor vehicle similar to a bicycle but usually larger and heavier, chiefly for one rider but sometimes having two saddles or an attached sidecar for passengers [thus 3 wheels present]."
Wikipedia: "A motorcycle (also called a motorbike, bike, moto or cycle) is a two or three wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycle design varies greatly to suit a range of different purposes: long distance travel, commuting, cruising, sport including racing, and off-road riding. Motorcycling is riding a motorcycle and related social activity such as joining a motorcycle club and attending motorcycle rallies."
Even Motorcycle Dynamics (Second Edition) includes a trike as a motorcycle.
Motorcycle is just an umbrella term of which trike is a specialty. In fact, most sources call it a motor [short for motorized or motorcycle] trike. It's the same principle as dementia is an umbrella term of which there are many types (such as Alzheimer's).
I never understood why people claim it isn't a motorcycle. It is. It just isn't a bike as bi = 2.
I call mine bike/trike or spyder interchangeably. Noone really identifies with roadster.
Personally I hate spiders so the whole aftermarket arachnid thing just gives me the creeps and totally misses the point anyway! Spyder wouldn't have been my first choice but the three wheel Y block logo chassis thing is quite cool and works well for their marketing identifying this as a sort of open top (spider) Y chassi'd roadster. How about TrYke lol.
Moto Terza Ruota!
Last edited by Nito; 03-13-2015 at 03:34 PM.
1330 RT SE6 Timeless Black...
"Tre Pistoni, Tre Ruote, Tre Mendo"
I have a question for everyone. Our Spyders are 3 wheeled machines. Here in Ontario Canada, our Ministry of Transportation classifies the spyder and ALL 3 wheeled bikes as Motorised Tricycles.
Our drivers licence says - M -for motorcycle.
Now, some of us call our Spyders: Bikes, motorcycles, trikes, motor trikes, 3 wheeler. What is the standard everyone goes by?
I told my friend that it is still a bike. I am sure no drivers licence says - Spyder.
Am I wrong or right? Help me out here.
Everyone always says, Like your bike.
What do all you wise riders say.
Looking for answers.
In Winnipeg, Manitoba, we call our spyders motorcycles- Most people agree or say cool bikes!!
Doesn't seem to be an argument on this one. You bought it and paid for it. It is to you what you want it to be. You can't argument with the government as to what they want to call it. I usually refer our Spyder as our "bike". A lot of people would have no idea what you would be referring to using any other name but "bike". Even "bike" is vague as to it's look, but I least they could vision you as "riding a bike", aka. motorcycle. .
2008 GS SE5 in 2008
Traded at 43,000 miles for a left over
2010 RT SM5 in 2011
Traded at 57,000 for a left over
2014 RTS SE6 in 2015, which has 35,000 miles
Oct 19th, 2017, totaled 2014 RT while killing a Javaline
Dec 12th, 2017 drove a 2017 F3L home. What an awesome machine!
So i just say i'm riding my Spyder today?
I will say in GA my insurance company classifies it as a motorcycle.
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Originally Posted by Trbayth
it's a bike!!
