Article in our local paper

[MisterP]

Saturday, 12 September 2015

CanAmSpyder: Newbiesmay dig it, serious bikers, not somuch
By CHARLES FLEMING
LOS ANGELES TIMES
The CanAm Spyder is one of the most eye-catching vehicles on the road, a Batmobike that elicits squeals of delight from people who don’t ride motorcycles and sneers of disdain from people who do.
Non-bikers like its futuristic, forward-leaning looks; its wide, stable stance; and its ease of operation. Motorcyclists dislike it for the same reasons — dismissing it as a dim, dull variation on the glories of two-wheeling.
The F3-S is CanAm’s sportiest Spyder.
Powered by a 1300cc, 3-cylinder Rotax engine, and belt-driven through a fat, 15-inch rear tire, it offers 115 horsepower and 96 pound-feet of torque.
It’s CanAm’s equivalent of a “naked” bike. Sold stock without windshieldor side bags — though those are available— this is an around-town cruiser designed more for stylish point-to-point acceleration than for long-distance touring.
In an apparent attempt to appeal to non-motorcycleconsumers, CanAmhas made the Spyder extremely easy to ride.
Gone are the traditional left-hand clutch, righthandfront brake and leftfoot shift levers.
Instead, the transmission is automatic and braking to all three wheels is done through a single, right-foot brake pedal, just like in a car. A manual version is an option.
The state of California makes the Spyder approachable too.
Though operator and passenger must wear helmets— as they do with the three-wheeled Harley-Davidson Trike and TriGlide, Polaris Slingshot and Campagna T-Rex — no motorcycleendorsement is required to buy, register or ride any three-wheeled motorcycle, according to the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
CanAm says that 25 percent of Spyder purchasers have no prior on-road riding experience, and that 25 percent of them are women. The company expects the F-3, newly introduced for 2015, will increase sales among cruiser riders.
They’re paying a premium price for the experience. The Spyder line starts just below $15,000 for the RS model. The FS-3 sells for about $21,000.
The CanAm line, manufactured and marketed by Canadian powersports company BRP, is getting a sales boost from increased interest in three-wheeled motorcycles. The company moved its 100,000th unit in May, and claims its RT and ST machines arethe top-selling touring bikes and sport touring bikes in North America, surpassing venerable two-wheelers like the Honda GoldWing, BMW K1600 GTL and Kawasaki Concours.
Around town, the Spyder is an amusing commuter.
Like most heavy motorcycles— this one weighs 850 pounds— the Spyder is clunky when it’s stationary but nimble when it’s on the move. On the freeway, speeds above 50 miles per hour feel quite stable. For twisty roads and canyons, CanAm has improved the Spyder’s traction control and stability control over previous models. In a sharp turn, these systems increase braking to the outside wheel and even cut power to the engine to reduce the danger of tipping over— a realconcern with some three-wheeled vehicles.
The Spyder F3-S comes standard with Brembo brakes, ABS and cruise control. It also has a reverse gear, which is extremely helpful in maneuvering this heavy trike in and out of parking spaces.
And, though fuel economyisn’t usually a sellingpoint on bigger bikes, CanAm boasts the Spyder F3 can go 252 freeway miles on a single tank of gas, getting upward of 35 miles per gallon from the 7.1-gallon tank.
It’s an eye-catcher.
Its aggressive forward stance, muscular shoulders and sinister Batman styling turn more heads than anything with a mere two or four wheels.
People who don’t know anything about motorcycles, and who don’t ride, will stop and say, “Whatis that thing?” and “Iwant one!”
People who do ride may feel different.
Motorcyclists approaching the Spyder may experience a slight sensation of arachnophobia. For some two-wheel veterans, a three-wheeled motorcycle offers only a few of the pleasures associated with motorcycling.
Yes, you’re riding free in the breeze, but a three-wheeler doesn’t lean or float like a motorcycle.
Even though steering is done with handlebars, it requires some shoulder and armstrength.
Important for California riders, you can’t lane-split with a wide Spyder, or sneak into narrow parking places. Caught three-wheeling in traffic, on a hot summer day, you might wish you were in a car, enjoying air conditioning and sipping a cool drink.
The 2015 Can-Am Spyder F3-S is an offshoot of the snowmobiles made by parent company BRP.
It’s powered by a 1330cc, 3-cylinder engine thatmakes 115 horsepower. Price starts at $20,999.
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY MYUNG J. CHUN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/TNS
The 2015 Can-Am Spyder F3-S rides on a 225/50R15 rear tire. Anti-lock brakes are standard. The engine is a 1330 cc, 3-cylinder that makes 115 horsepower. Price starts at $20,999.

Powered by TECNAVIACopyright (c)2015 Sun Coast Media Group, Edition 09/12/2015

[wiredgeorge]

Heavy bike clique: "the Spyder is clunky when it’s stationary but nimble when it’s on the move." How the heck can a 3 wheel vehicle be clunky with stationary. Sit on mine and it just, well sits there. No clunks. What a dumb thing to say by a journalist.

[ingramwc]

This guy has obviously not experienced degenerative joint issues like some of us older folks which makes it difficult, even painful to balance any bike especially 500-900 pound ones.
My Spyder lets me enjoy the ride, I don't have to worry about loosing my balance when I stop or the pain in my knees while doing same. I get to ride pain free and enjoy the ride!!!!
May he remain blissful in his ignorance!!!! OK, soap box closed.
Y'all ride safe!!!!!

[ARtraveler]

A typical closed minded, biased report by someone that does not know diddly. Early reviews in the motorcycle magazines were very similar.

We know something they don't know. Articles like these also tend to keep the riff raff out.

[Chupaca]

love how some people love to show their ignorance...and even publish it... he was absent for all that homework and research stuff...

[Orange Spyder Man]

opinions are like elbows... everyone has some..

osm

[beadaholic]

Yeah but but but.....how could he say: Gone are the traditional left-hand clutch, righthandfront brake and leftfoot shift levers. Instead, the transmission is automatic and braking to all three wheels is done through a single, right-foot brake pedal, just like in a car. A manual version is an option.

??? I have a manual version, but I have yet seen an Automatic one? They are semi-automatic right? Or is there now an Automatic one? He sounds so stupid to me, he really has no clue....

[Deer Slayer]

At least the uninformed writer did not bring up the 200 MPH spedo. They never have a clue, clunky my ass

[900Dave]

I just got home from Spyderquest and had the unfortunate experience of reading this lame article in my local news paper. The 4 people I most commonly ride with are experienced riders and they all made the switch from a Harley. 3 of them ride an F3-s (not an FS-3) and they are all manual shift and the other is on an RS. There is no basis for this comment.

This journalist is an idiot!

[Deanna777]

My spyder lets me enjoy the ride, where ever I go have people, asking me questions about my spyder, and I tell them all about it. I don't get any clunking from my spyder. Deanna

[latony007]

while i agree with the journalist that the perception from bike riders (of which i still own and ride a sport bike, yamaha fz6r) is that its not "as fun or cool as 2 wheels" i certainly dont believe its true. Its just a different kind of fun than two wheels. I bought it because i have my sport bike for when i am alone and i had a big heavy cruiser for taking my wife or kid on a ride. With the spyder they are safer not having to worry about an errant sand or oil patch or tipping over in any way and compared to a cruiser the spyder is faster and handles better than any i have ridden. I think they biggest issue with the spyder getting more mainstream is the cost. What i find most interesting about this article is the idiot never even bother to try one before writing it, he could have rented one and had the paper pay for it but he was too lazy.

[ThreeFeet]

YA CAN'T FIX STUPID!!!!.................EVEN WITH DUCT TAPE!!!! clunky??? my tush!!!

[Bob Denman]

It's amazing what gets printed these days...

[SPECTACUALR SPIDERMAN]

maybe when he said clunky he means bulky since it is larger then the average bike when parked

[Cavman]

Sharon...you have a clunky tush?

[ThreeFeet]

Sharon...you have a clunky tush?

OF COURSE!!!! But the bike isn't CLUNKY!!! BULKY looking maybe. this so called journalist is as dumb as a stump. I am guessing he never took the bike out for a ryde. Just spouted BS.

[MisterP]

Mr. Fleming -


As a Can Am owner, I found your review of Can Am's F3 and comments about the product line misleading. As a freelance writer, I found the writing style disturbing.


Riders and non-riders alike approach Can Am owners regularly with questions about the product. Sure, some bikers look at almost any other bike with a negative view, whether it has two wheels or three. Your comment that only non-riders have "squeals of delight" while it receives "sneers of disdain from those who do" (ride) is disingenuous. This is where my opinion changes to disturbing, because your article is clearly a mix of some facts and then repeated bashing of the product when you inject your personal opinion.


As a writer and reviewer, you should be able to maintain some detachment from the product, or at least reference a positive or negative opinion as being yours, rather than misrepresenting the dislike of Can Am by every "legitimate" biker out there. You should be better than this.


I rode a Suzuki cruiser for several years, until back surgeries made it difficult to hold up a 650 lb. two-wheeler. I did not find the Honda or Harley trikes to my liking, partly because of handling and cornering control issues that are well documented for classic trikes. The Can Am products solve these issues, partly due to the two wheels in front, and partly due to accelerometers that monitor for excessive cornering forces or a wheel leaving the ground, and help maintain control. Trust me, once an owner understands where the safety devices kick in, they can keep up with any but the fastest sport bikes in the twisties.


Your comment that implies a Spyder is only good for a local trip around town is also erroneous; Spyders have crossed many continents, owners have Iron Butt certificates, and a group just took theirs from the West Coast to Alaska and back. Some simple research on Spyder usage would quickly dispel the notion that any Spyder is only good for a short trip.



I hope your future reviews of products you personally don't care for will be more objective. I will choose to ignore your opinion and go ride my "clunky" Can Am Spyder.


Regards,


Paul R

[latony007]

Mr. Fleming -


As a Can Am owner, I found your review of Can Am's F3 and comments about the product line misleading. As a freelance writer, I found the writing style disturbing.


Riders and non-riders alike approach Can Am owners regularly with questions about the product. Sure, some bikers look at almost any other bike with a negative view, whether it has two wheels or three. Your comment that only non-riders have "squeals of delight" while it receives "sneers of disdain from those who do" (ride) is disingenuous. This is where my opinion changes to disturbing, because your article is clearly a mix of some facts and then repeated bashing of the product when you inject your personal opinion.


As a writer and reviewer, you should be able to maintain some detachment from the product, or at least reference a positive or negative opinion as being yours, rather than misrepresenting the dislike of Can Am by every "legitimate" biker out there. You should be better than this.


I rode a Suzuki cruiser for several years, until back surgeries made it difficult to hold up a 650 lb. two-wheeler. I did not find the Honda or Harley trikes to my liking, partly because of handling and cornering control issues that are well documented for classic trikes. The Can Am products solve these issues, partly due to the two wheels in front, and partly due to accelerometers that monitor for excessive cornering forces or a wheel leaving the ground, and help maintain control. Trust me, once an owner understands where the safety devices kick in, they can keep up with any but the fastest sport bikes in the twisties.


Your comment that implies a Spyder is only good for a local trip around town is also erroneous; Spyders have crossed many continents, owners have Iron Butt certificates, and a group just took theirs from the West Coast to Alaska and back. Some simple research on Spyder usage would quickly dispel the notion that any Spyder is only good for a short trip.



I hope your future reviews of products you personally don't care for will be more objective. I will choose to ignore your opinion and go ride my "clunky" Can Am Spyder.


Regards,


Paul R

Nice, i wish you would have mentioned he should actually try riding one before writing on one lol

[MisterP]

Nice, i wish you would have mentioned he should actually try riding one before writing on one lol

Rarely do reviewers have an opportunity to operate what they discuss. I write automotive descriptions all the time (not reviews) that can be very specific, and I never see the cars. My problem was after a few facts, he bashed the product line. Then rinse and repeat. It was unbalanced, and I took him to task for it. That is how I designed my response, since actually riding one was unlikely.

[arntufun]

Overall, IMO it wasn't written as a negative article towards the Spyder at all. There were a lot of positives in there, but If you think you are going to be accepted by some die hard two wheelers as a real motorcyclist, you are sadly mistaken. The word "clunky" was in reference to the Spyder's size.


The Spyder and Slingshot are both misfits that are not motorcycles, and I'm proud to be on the isle of misfit toys with you !!!!!!!

[MisterP]

Overall, IMO it wasn't written as a negative article towards the Spyder at all. There were a lot of positives in there, but If you think you are going to be accepted by some die hard two wheelers as a real motorcyclist, you are sadly mistaken. The word "clunky" was in reference to the Spyder's size.


The Spyder and Slingshot are both misfits that are not motorcycles, and I'm proud to be on the isle of misfit toys with you !!!!!!!

I see you removed your comment about us needing to relax. I'm very relaxed, but as a professional writer, I can tell when another writer is wrapping their personal opinions, most likely without any factual basis in having ridden a Spyder, with enough facts about the product to make his opinions seem real and supported by the general market.

An example you might relate to would involve me reviewing your Slingshot. I might write "this oversized Tonka Toy belongs on a playground for the kids to jump on, not on the roads with the rest of us. By the way, it comes with an engine displacement of blah blah..." That's exactly what he did with his Spyder review, and it's unbalanced and poorly written from that standpoint.

He also stated how expensive Spyders are, without a comparative fact about the high prices of Honda or Harley trikes. I didn't even get into that, but it was another example of tailoring the facts to support his negative view.

I'm done here. Let's all enjoy our rides!

[latony007]

lol, im relaxed too, but i follow the old writers adage of write about what you know. And if you have never been on one then you should have no opinions to offer. If you want to write up the spec sheet i guess you could but people can get that from the manufacturer. As for the slingshot they are not getting my waves on the road lol. We have to draw the line somewhere and since you sit in it instead of ride on it thats where i am drawing mine. Otherwise we might as well wave to convertibles too

p.s. Spyders are expensive!