The first, and biggest, problem is that it's in the wrong bike.
I've got my RS as setup for touring as one can get it, and even I don't want to be on my bike for longer than 120 miles or so without stopping to stretch my legs. I'm hoping I get a little more iron in my butt with this year's riding, but for now, the gas tank matches the RS quite well: when the bones begin to ache, it's time to get gas.
The RT, however, could definitely use greater range. Plus, as discussed elsewhere here, it's a far bigger seller.
The logic of this makes me think the hybrid RS is just marketing, but the hybrid engine will ultimately go either in both, or if in only one, only the RT.
Of course, given the certain increase in weight from the hybrid, BRP may be focused on putting into the lighter RS first. Then again, that just means we'll get a heavier RS, which who would want?
Anyway, I was happy buying a year-behind new RS for the price I paid for it. I can barely imagine buying a brand new model RSS for the price they charge for one. I absolutely can NOT imagine paying even more than that for a hybrid RS.... but I could see paying a (slight, very slight) premium for a hybrid RT.
I just want to tear the tupperware off one of them and see how they're doing it all......:thumbup:
Magnets. And lasers, definitely lasers.
Oh, I don't disagree, I'd love to have better range (and MOAR POWER!!11! while we're at it), but let's be honest: hybrids are expensive. They *barely* make economic sense as commuter cars, and often they only get over the hump with generous tax subsidies or perks (like HOV privileges) that likely won't be around for ever. A Prius barely makes sense as anything other than a status symbol; something more advanced, like the Volt, doesn't make sense at all at that price.If they could sell a hybrid RS at the same price as a gas one, then sure, it makes sense. A couple thousand dollars more? Sure-- I'd pay a premium for greater range, as long as I didn't sacrifice performance. But the closer you get to, say, $10,000 more? No way in heck. Yes, it's nice to save on gas, but c'mon: even for those of us who use the Spyder as a daily driver (like I do now!) don't look at the thing as a way to save money on gas. For the overwhelming majority of Spyder owners, however, this thing is a weekend and trip machine, which means you'd have to ride it a gazillion years to make the money back on gas savings. I just don't see the economic argument there.That said, from BRP's marketing, it seems to me they're really instead emphasizing the increased range, which *is* a sales point for a bike that already underwhelms in that department. Still, I don't see them selling like hotcakes-- or, frankly, at all-- if the price is too unreasonable, which seems to me to be nigh unavoidable given the track record of all other hybrids on the road (Uncle Sam ain't gonna give us tax credits for our Spyders, is he?).Hey, maybe my cynicism is misplaced, maybe BRP "cracked the code" and will floor us with it. Right now? It's still shiny vaporware on a showroom floor.I agree with your premise but have to disagree with the range (body wise). I understand that everyone is different, and there is no arguement that the RT is more comfortable. But I've done just short of 200 miles (196 miles) on a single leg of a long trip on my RS and it wasn't all that bad. Plus I've done a 1,100 mile + day (after a 850 mile day) and that wasn't all that bad either.It would be nice to have just a bit more range on the Spyder. Better MPG would be preferable to a bigger tank though.
....I'm guessing very high dollar rodents......:thumbup.... and magnets! :thumbup:
....I'm guessing very high dollar rodents......:thumbupn a special little wheel with a big mean predator video playing right behind them....the more you twist the throttle the bigger the predator gets.......run little buddys run:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:
....I'm guessing very high dollar rodents......:thumbupn a special little wheel with a big mean predator video playing right behind them....the more you twist the throttle the bigger the predator gets.......run little buddys run:roflblack::roflblack::roflblack: