2011 Can-Am Spyder RT Comparison

[docdoru]

Can-Am's premium grade three-wheeled touring steed faces off against the Honda Gold Wing and BMW K1600 GTL motorcycles:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/831/10937/Motorcycle-Article/2011-Can-Am-Spyder-RT-Comparison.aspx

 

[chris56]

thanks for the link ..really intresting side by side test .. but - if they make a test of "touring-machines" I`m missing following ..

two persons & luggage for a 3day weekend trip
halve the time its raining (brake-tests on wet streets ..)
parking in/out for lunch in small restaurant in the mountains - (without a reverse ??)
panic-brake in a curve (=called elk-test here in europe)
whats the feeling of the passenger after 1000 mls ??
effective costs of service aso ..

 

[docdoru]

 

[GloryRyders]

Just an opinion.............you aren't having fun until you have been Spyder bitten:spyder:!

 

[Bob Denman]

The 'Wing definitely knows all about "grunt"...
To actually even be compared to those two Horizon-chasers is an acknowledgement of just how good the RT is...

 

[chris56]

in april we got a BMW 1600 for a weekend .. dream-bike !! ... but shure not a "tourer" - lifts the frontwheel if you want to be as fast as the spyder .. the one-for-all-button electronic is a secret-desaster ... but the Bosch ideas about our VSS are one step over our ones ..
no problem for me to follow .. (starts at 3 minutes ..)

 

[packbuckbrew]

Not exactly a fair review. 110 miles! Really, then why did I just put 160 miles on my last tank while pulling a trailer. Not saying that the range of the Spyder is good, but at least be fair, 110 miles a tank is just a lie. Is it a motorcycle? Hell no. I hate it when motorcycle editors, whom have no clue how to drive a spider, ride it for 100 miles and then review it and say that it handles like crap. I have ridden with motorcycle groups that drive really fast and have no trouble holding my own on a RT. What they need to do is take people whom have never driven a motorcycle, in particular snowmobilers and ATV riders and have them ride test between a wing and a Rt. Let's see how that review goes. I do not mind the 3rd place, but the comments were ridiculous.

 

[effgjamis]

For an ole mans view point.
Put a 1600 cc in the RT and then compare. 990 cc vs 1600 is not what I would call apples to apples. As to the seating,, yep Honda STOCK 1st class. MPG is a number of horses pulling a 10 ton wagon ( or pushing a brick wall ) would make a big big differece if Spyder had more CC's. Audio... well Honda's on top, absolutely no comparison between the low low end sound quality of the Spyer vs Honda, ( unless of course you change speakers and add other expensive items). For me, if I had a choice, I would take the best features from Honda and BMW and put them in the Spyder, Thereby giving me great power, great sound, and GREATER MPG's.

Of course Just an ole peeps opinion, after riding both, 2 wheels for years and now 3 for 3.

 

[Lamonster]

I just went out to the shop to look for the heated seat button and I can't find it.

The seat and hand grip heaters all work well and on a level comparable to the other bikes. Passenger comfort was also rated highly and second to the Honda.

I would agree that the RT is lacking in the power department compared to the BMW and Goldwing but it does get the job done. If all you had to go on was this article you more than likely would thing the Spyder couldn't get out of it's own way. I would love to have BMW power in the RT, that would be great but like I say it just fine for getting me cross country and back.

Not sure why they were getting 22.6 mpg, I get 28 to 31 without the trailer. This is the biggest drawback to the RT in my opinion. I would like to see a range of 250 miles but would be happy if I could make it 200 without going into panic mode.

Something is up with the ipod too, they should have been able to use it on the RT.

All and all I guess it was a fair report for a little over a 100 mile test ride. I'm glad I don't buy my bikes based on these type of comparisons. That's the great thing about forums like this is you can talk to the guys and gals that own the machine and have more miles than the guys that have a short test drive and then are expect to write an article as if they are experts on that machine.

 

[retread]

Someday, somebody is going to do a comparison between an RT, a TriGlide, and a triked anything, and it'll be a long term thing. Preferably by people who have experience with reverse trikes or at least quads. I might take something like that seriously, or I might decide that prejudice and other lacks on the part of the writers affected their articles. I've ridden other trikes, given a choice, I got my Spyder.

john

 

[effgjamis]

I just went out to the shop to look for the heated seat button and I can't find it.

Not to be a smartie but, the seat button is on the RT not in your shop..:roflblack: :roflblack:

I think when you turn on the hand heaters the seat seat also comes on. In other words same control, controls both hand and seat. But I could be wrong and it would not be the first.

 

[NancysToy]

The article was off a bit in a few areas, like the iPod thing...and it was biased, as they all seem to be. It was good to see the Spyder included in an in-depth comparison, though, with some real data...like 1/4 mile performance and braking figures. I agree that it shows that the Spyder has become mainstream, if it is included in a test with the big boys. Granted, it was a bit "apples & oranges", but the Spyder was on the playing field at long last. BTW, just so the reviewers know, I am one of those "older" riders they talk about, but I am still very capable of playing with the big boy's toys. The Spyder is my choice...not a necessity.

 

[Lamonster]

Not to be a smartie but, the seat button is on the RT not in your shop..:roflblack: :roflblack:

I think when you turn on the hand heaters the seat seat also comes on. In other words same control, controls both hand and seat. But I could be wrong and it would not be the first.

I just looked at the spec sheet again just to make sure I didn't miss something and I don't see any heated seat option and I don't remember anyone pointing out a heated seat at the dealer show. Now my Corbin does have heat but we're talking about the stock seat right?

 

[STUNMUN]

Can-Am's premium grade three-wheeled touring steed faces off against the Honda Gold Wing and BMW K1600 GTL motorcycles:

http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/831/10937/Motorcycle-Article/2011-Can-Am-Spyder-RT-Comparison.aspx

Arent we talking about touring. A 2 wheel test against a 3 wheel test is horse puckey. Trike the other two bikes, then make a comparison. Go touring and sightseeing with frequent stops and make a comparison. I explore a lot and it has been sooo much easier with 3 wheels. Pull a trailer which I did with a Wing and a Beemer then with a Spyder and consider how much safer you were with the Spyder. Pick up the 2 wheelers after they fall over. This was no fair comparison.

 

[boborgera]

Someday, somebody is going to do a comparison between an RT, a TriGlide, and a triked anything, and it'll be a long term thing. Preferably by people who have experience with reverse trikes or at least quads. I might take something like that seriously, or I might decide that prejudice and other lacks on the part of the writers affected their articles. I've ridden other trikes, given a choice, I got my Spyder.

john

I had a Spyder 3+ years 19 thousand miles, I NOW have A Tri Glide you can't compare the two.
If you love your Spyder you will Not like the TRI Glide.
The Tri is as close to a heavy Motorcycle as you can get with out being on two wheels.
Also if you have any hip, knee, replacements, or Arthritis in your hand's or slight of statue, The Tri is NOT for you.
They shouldn't be compared to each other. Two different machines for two completely different missions.

 

[ThreeFeet]

I never got the front wheels off the ground!!! BUT I never got run over getting on the freeway when everybody else was doin 75 and 80! I hit the the on ramp and gunned it and hit the 75 mph by the time I got to the bottom of it, and that was probably in 3rd gear hit 4 and 5 and gOONNNNE!!!!! I guess I am a LITTLE? hard on gears and tranny getting on the freeways but like I said I d on't get run over either!! Who were the wooses that rode the bikes again??? Not somebody who REALLY wanted to ryde the Spyder I guess. I agree with the idea that 3VS 3 is the only way to test the Spyder. This BS of going 3 to 2 just doesn't make for a "test" it's an opinion.

 

[Bob Denman]

I agree with the idea that 3VS 3 is the only way to test the Spyder. This BS of going 3 to 2 just doesn't make for a "test" it's an opinion.

I'd like to think that they were testing the 3 best bikes with which to go chase horizons... :thumbup:

 

[Firefly]

Arent we talking about touring. A 2 wheel test against a 3 wheel test is horse puckey. Trike the other two bikes, then make a comparison. Go touring and sightseeing with frequent stops and make a comparison. I explore a lot and it has been sooo much easier with 3 wheels. Pull a trailer which I did with a Wing and a Beemer then with a Spyder and consider how much safer you were with the Spyder. Pick up the 2 wheelers after they fall over. This was no fair comparison.

:agree:

And they really missed the mark by not rating SAFETY FEATURES.

Let's see how safe they feel doing 75 mph on one of those 2 wheelers in the pouring rain and strong winds......

 

[Tonga]

Good test results

I liked what I read but I did not buy my Spyder becaue I needed three wheels or was to old! I bought it because I liked what I saw and liked the feel of riding it. Yes it needs more power and a smoother engine, (multi cylinder) but it does the job. I hope BRP does something in that deptment because I will not buy another until they do. Guess that means I'm happy with what I got!

 

[boborgera]

:agree:

And they really missed the mark by not rating SAFETY FEATURES.

Let's see how safe they feel doing 75 mph on one of those 2 wheelers in the pouring rain and strong winds......

hyea:Two wheel testers don't care for safety features, They add extra weigh. :roflblack::roflblack:
And every oz. counts when your trying brake 186 mph