the most dangerous motorcycle on the road

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I have a 2009 can am rs se5 and dearly love the bike. I also own a Harley Electraglide. They both have their place on the road. However the Can Am has a horrific brake problem, that being finding the brake pedal especilly in an emergency situation. I have install floor boards and the hinged brake entension. This has improved the braking situation by at least 50 percent. However fun it is to ride, the braking situation, in my opinion, makes it the most unsafe bike on the road. I won't sell it because it is too much fun to ride. The dealer wants $1700 to install a hand brake which would probably make it one of the safer bikes out there. I just wish BRP would not be so stubborn and install the handbrake on the new models. How many people have died because of this. I know of one.

I know this has probably made a lot of people mad, however, one should not have to ride wondering where the brake pedal is.

 

[warp10]

I always ride with my feet on the pegs and the edge of my right shoe is just under the brake pedal. Have rode this way on all my bikes, always know where the brake pedal is.

 

[zrc]

Never had any issue braking. Matter of fact, when I have needed to stop more often than not my spyder would stop faster than I would. I do not miss a hand brake from the 2 wheel life. I am confident in my ryde and my ryding style.

 

[Lamonster]

Seeing you decided to bring this same comment you sent me to the board I post the same answer I emailed you but I'm sure you get a lot more responses here but most likely not what you're hoping for.

Sounds like your life is worth less than $1700 to you. The Spyder stops better than any motorcycle on the road of that size and you knew it didn't have a front brake when you bought it. I would love to have one too but I've been riding bikes for 40+ years and I got use to it. If it's that big of a deal to you then you should pony up the money or sell the Spyder. For sure BRP is not going to give you a discount for an aftermarket product that they have no control of and don't feel is necessary, that's just silly.

 

[Bob Denman]

I'm real sorry to hear that you feel that way about your GS...
I always kind of figured that the most dangerous bike on the road was the one with the overconfident rider... :shocked:
It's good that you're aware of this situation and are looking at the options to make it safer...
I was given a larger brake pedal that is sold by TricLEDS... that might help you... :thumbup:

 

[Pennyrick]

. I just wish BRP would not be so stubborn and install the handbrake on the new models. How many people have died because of this. I know of one.

I know this has probably made a lot of people mad, however, one should not have to ride wondering where the brake pedal is.

The brake pedal on my RT measures 2-3/4" x 2" and that is just a bit smaller than the brake pedal in my car. I have no problem getting my foot on either one... even in an emergency.

 

[lyonsden]

I don't agree. I think it is one of the safest on the road. I have no problem with the braking on my 2011 RT. hyea:

 

[ARtraveler]

I have also never had any issue braking. I don't miss a handbrake and I have been driving motorcycles for over 47 years.

I have seal floorboards and recently installed a brake pedal extender from one of the vendors on our forum. Cost $35.00 and it makes the brake pedal twice as wide. That might be a cheap fix for you if your not wanting to spend the $1700.00.

 

[Littlebadwolf]

Absolutely zero problems with the brakes on my RS...as a matter of fact they're excellent and I like them better than any 2 wheel I've had...the synchronized disc brakes are terrific and will stop on a dime..

 

[dave01]

I think the braking on the Spyder is great. I added the hand brake just because I ride 2 wheels a lot and am used to using that more than the foot brake. It may take you a little to get used to the foot brake, but the Spyder WILL stop very quick, some times quicker than I am ready for.

 

[bullant12]

Seeing you decided to bring this same comment you sent me to the board I post the same answer I emailed you but I'm sure you get a lot more responses here but most likely not what you're hoping for.

Sounds like your life is worth less than $1700 to you. The Spyder stops better than any motorcycle on the road of that size and you knew it didn't have a front brake when you bought it. I would love to have one too but I've been riding bikes for 40+ years and I got use to it. If it's that big of a deal to you then you should pony up the money or sell the Spyder. For sure BRP is not going to give you a discount for an aftermarket product that they have no control of and don't feel is necessary, that's just silly.

:agree: 100% My Spyder stops on a dime without a handbrake. In fact, when I took the MSF courses I really had a hard time using the handbrake. In one of the scenarios I didn't apply the handbrake and fell bad on a curve. Although I learned my lesson, I have learned to appreciate the Spyder's brakes a whole lot more. Lamont is right, BRP has been doing the Spyder's now for years now and they gotten the braking issue right (so far). If there was something mechanically wrong with the brakes, I'm sure BRP would revise the issue. But it doesn't make any sense for a person to say that the Spyder is an unsafe ride simply because the handbrake is not there. The aftermarket handbrake works as an actuator for the Spyder's brake, so if you press the handlebar brake it will do the exact same thing as the foot brake pedal. The ones who have purchased the hand brake are a) riders with disabilities (missing an limb) or b) veteran riders who need the handbrake for habit. Adding the handbrake will not do any brake overhaul except to your hand coordination.

 

[Ronsam]

Safety

I strongly beleve the problem is on the seat:banghead:

 

[M109Dreamer]

Wife has the RTS (1K lbs) and I have a M109 (750 lbs). She has never complained about the braking and or travel of the brake pedal. For the weight and type of bike she has out braked me on a few occasions. To the point that I had to increase my interval between us. Could it be brake, fluid level, or brake pedal adjustment issue?

 

[mxz600]

I have a 2009 can am rs se5 and dearly love the bike. I also own a Harley Electraglide. They both have their place on the road. However the Can Am has a horrific brake problem, that being finding the brake pedal especilly in an emergency situation. I have install floor boards and the hinged brake entension. This has improved the braking situation by at least 50 percent. However fun it is to ride, the braking situation, in my opinion, makes it the most unsafe bike on the road. I won't sell it because it is too much fun to ride. The dealer wants $1700 to install a hand brake which would probably make it one of the safer bikes out there. I just wish BRP would not be so stubborn and install the handbrake on the new models. How many people have died because of this. I know of one.

I know this has probably made a lot of people mad, however, one should not have to ride wondering where the brake pedal is.

:crackpipe:

 

[StanProff]

I have a 2009 can am rs se5 and dearly love the bike. I also own a Harley Electraglide. They both have their place on the road. However the Can Am has a horrific brake problem, that being finding the brake pedal especilly in an emergency situation. I have install floor boards and the hinged brake entension. This has improved the braking situation by at least 50 percent. However fun it is to ride, the braking situation, in my opinion, makes it the most unsafe bike on the road. I won't sell it because it is too much fun to ride. The dealer wants $1700 to install a hand brake which would probably make it one of the safer bikes out there. I just wish BRP would not be so stubborn and install the handbrake on the new models. How many people have died because of this. I know of one.

I know this has probably made a lot of people mad, however, one should not have to ride wondering where the brake pedal is.

"Finding the brake pedal" should be easy as it can't go anywhere, it's always in the same spot. I'd say the foot is the part that is wondering around. The replys here on this thread say it all so no use in me repeating what has already been written. I will say that I have no issues with the brake pedal as I have driven with one in every car for the last 45 years. You will get use to it, just remember that your not on a motorcycle everytime you get on the RS. (I have a half dozen bikes so I am qualified to address this issue), When you get used to the Spyder you will more than likely be riding it more than the Harley. The spyder is without a doubt the safer machine to ride. You Will have much more visual impact than a two wheeler, cars DO notice the Spyder with the much larger frontal area and footprint coming towards them.
Anyway good luck and I hope you get comfortable with the brake issue.

 

[jmcbow]

If you take a MSRC or read the manual for the Spdyer, they both stress being familiar with the machine you are riding, be it 2 wheels or 3. Every machine is a little different, and you simply have to learn the characteristics of the machine you intend to ride. I have let experienced (2 wheel) riders ride my RT, and yes, they do have a tendency to grab air on the right handle bar. But that certainly doesn't make the Spdyer "unsafe". I have been fortunate enough to only have to make 1 panic stop and that was on my GS after only having ridden for a few months. I had no problem finding the brake and staying in control of the Spyder. I'm sorry you feel that way about yours, but I really think your off the reservation on the Spyder being unsafe. As an engineer myself, I truly appreciate all of the safety that BRP designed into the Spyder. I know there is no such thing as a "safe" motorcyle, but IMHO I think the Spyder is as close as you'll ever get.

 

[dannymax]

Mmmm, gotta go with the flow on this one....I think Can Am did a great job with the :ani29: braking system. I have over a half century of 2 wheel experience and had no trouble at all getting used to the set-up on my GS.

But I'll be honest with ya, if I really felt my machine was the least bit unsafe, I'd either modify it to my liking or it'd go down the road without me on it! There's already far too many dangerous distractions out there without that mental 'black dog' lurking in the sub-conscious too. :shocked:

 

[Pandy]

Well now you've done it. But, I will, for a fair exchange, take that dangerous machine off your hands.22K miles and counting.
Patrick

 

[daveinva]

I also own a Harley Electraglide.

Huh. Most Harley riders I know LOVE the foot brake. I mean, they spend all that time telling everyone in earshot how that front brake will KILL ya'... :roflblack:


While I disagree with the OP and agree with the other comments here, allow me to be contrararian for the sake of discussion: the lack of handbrake doesn't make the Spyder unsafe, but it sure is darn inconvenient.

1. In situations requiring the rider to push themselves off to the left of their Spyder (i.e. sharp left-hand turns), it's difficult at best to apply the footbrake given that your right foot is pushing off a peg or floorboard. Having a handbrake in these rare-but-not-unheard-of situations would be helpful.

2. I have floorboards, I love them. Trouble is, I rarely feel safe using them for long stretches of time or in high-traffic situations (keeping my right foot on the board = my right foot underneath or to the side of the brake). Oh, and you can forget about safely using highway pegs with the footbrake. (Note I said "safely"-- I have highway pegs too, but I hate using them for very long seeing how far away they keep my foot from the footbrake, my only means of stopping).

Basically, if I had a handbrake, I could be lazy and leave my tired, barking dogs on the floorboards all the time versus staying on the pegs as much as possible. Seriously, I could be LAZZZZZZY

Anyway, I'm sure there are other disadvantages but I'm not thinking of any right now (I know there are critics of linked-brake systems but I don't see those as problematic on a trike, you don't have to worry about using front brake at slow speeds, or braking upsetting the suspension, or favoring the rear brake in the dirt, etc.).

Bottom line: Personally, I've never had any issue at all with the footbrake. And any motorcycle rider with experience at all must admire how fast and safely the Spyder stops on three wheels versus two. Dude, we can panic stop in turns. Try THAT on two-wheels. (Actually, erm, please don't...)

 

[SpyderMeLucky]

I believe my RS has a great brake system. However, the most dangerous motorcycle on the road, imo, is the one who takes his/her bike out and tries to show off, or who is too confident and doesn't pay attention to what he/she is doing.

Personally, I don't like crotch rockets b/c I've seen a lot of them on the highways where the rider is doing C R A Z Y stuff.