Good Deal or Not?

[desaun]

I Have Arrived!!

Picked this baby up yesterday and have been loving it since. I took a half day yesterday so I could get a feel for her. Drove her about 30 miles from the dealership to home, dig some tooling around town running some errands. Boy does this thing get a lot of attention. I've had two people stop me at stoplights asking questions about it. Had a couple of folks stop me at the store to ask questions. Luckily, I'm a people person so I have no problem becoming a Spyder Ambassador.

Was nervous leaving the dealership as this is my first time driving anything that wasn't 4 wheels with doors. Thankfully, it only took me a few minutes to get use to the ride and shifting. I'm still getting use to the reverse gear and taking turns. I tend to throttle too hard in and out of the turn, but this morning I did a little better.

All in all, I'm happier than a pig in slop. I rode it in to work this morning and it felt great!!

:yes::yes::yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

:congrats: :nopic: :2thumbs:

 

[desaun]

:congrats: :nopic: :2thumbs:

For some reason the picture I posted originally didn't take. Should be fixed now.

 

[Michael211_2000]

Hey man take it easy with this machine if it's your 1st vehicle on less than 4 wheels! These are NOT as forgiving if you get into an accident... you will get hurt, bad!

I took 3 months to learn mine, staying on local neighborhood streets and back roads where there was little to no traffic and keeping well BELOW the speed limit. Get very very used to it before you put yourself into harms way... and harm will do it's best to find you I promise!

Also get used to people stopping to ask you questions, I had a guy at my local post office earlier today that I had to remove my helmet to talk with about mine (I usually just run in check the mail and never bother to remove my helmet, but too hard to carry on a question and answer session with helmet on so... ). Also I've had my photo taken at least once (that I'm aware of) while stopped in traffic; this guy rolled down his window and stuck his cell phone out at me and clicked a pic, then turned it around and honked his horn to get my attention so he could show the pic to me... lol!
Wish chick's digged my Spyder half as much as guys seem to! :banghead:

Be careful though 1st and foremost! Other drivers will try to run you over whether intentional or thru their carelessness it's a fact of life when you are riding on less than 4 wheels! :lecturef_smilie:

- Michael

 

[Michael211_2000]

ps. Your Spyder's color scheme is often referred to as the "Silver Moon" Spyder. :thumbup:

- Michael

 

[cptjam]

Congratulations!

Please call the DMV. When we lived in Michigan (3 years ago) you needed a motorcycle endorsement on your driving license. Without that endorsement, you are not legally allowed to ride your Spyder. Worse, if you are involved in an accident, your insurance company can deny your claim; they don't like outlaws! Be safe, get legal, be covered! A MSF basic riders course would help, too. Enjoy your new bike! Joe

 

[Michael211_2000]

...if you are involved in an accident, your insurance company can deny your claim; they don't like outlaws! Be safe, get legal, be covered!

Joe... not that I want to hijack this thread, but if you're speeding (as some do I'm sure... not you or I obviously, but other people) and you're in an accident does your insurance then not cover you since you were breaking the law by speeding and are therefore an outlaw (or at the least, you're a law-breaker)? :dontknow:

I don't have my Motorcycle Endorsement either and don't know when I will, but I do have my driver's license. These courses aren't cheap I'm not wealthy particularly and haven't been paid for my last 3 months worth of programming work so I have no idea when I may be able to afford a safety course (either time or money always seems to be in short supply around here), the DMV doesn't want to test me themselves they want me to get the certificate from a safety course (I went by and asked them when I got my Spyder), and I haven't even found a course in my area that I could attend and take with my Spyder even if I had the spare cash to pay for the thing right now. This Spyder is not and can not be an expensive paperweight parked under my carport. I'm probably a much better rider BECAUSE I don't have the endorsement and so am extremely obsessive about how I ride down to the letter.

2 riders were recently on the news for being killed down in Houston TX, within a day or two of each other... both had their endorsements apparnetly, but both were speeding and ran into other traffic (literally) flying out of control and ending their own lives. Another rider made the news earlier this month for taunting then fleeing from police (actually kicking a patrol officer's door with his foot at one point and then speeding away running thru red lights at over 100 mph)... don't think they've found that idiot yet, but his number is coming up I bet.

Anyways, just saying... 12,500 miles 2.5 years no safety course no endorsement and no accidents whatsoever probably the safest Spyder rider on this entire site. Would I prefer to have the endorsement, you betcha! But I don't yet at least... if I can get paid the substantial sum of money I'm owed for work done this summer I may try finding a course not long distance from me again that is ok with my riding a Spyder... :dontknow:

I do find it a little disturbing that the OP is taking his Spyder around town and to work and back and it's his 1st time on "less than 4 wheels with doors and stuff"... I wouldn't even leave my neighborhood for over a month on my Spyder (speed limits 35 and less here on my local neighborhood streets with little traffic to deal with) just because I wanted to make damn sure I knew the machine better than the back of my hand before getting it out in traffic and at highway speeds! I'm cautious and careful by nature... I want to live! :bowdown:

OP is taking risks that I would not take when I was as new to this as he admits to being. But that's his choice, to each their own.

Regards!

- Michael

 

[Bob Denman]

You've only got to get stopped once... :shocked:
Since you can't legally ride the bike; the Police will be forced to impound it...
They'll come with a flatbed, and take it to a storage yard. :yikes:
Do you think that they're going to be looking out for your vehicle??? :roflblack:
Get legal; prevent potential problems in the future! :thumbup: nojoke

 

[Michael211_2000]

You've only got to get stopped once... :shocked:
Since you can't legally ride the bike; the Police will be forced to impound it...
They'll come with a flatbed, and take it to a storage yard. :yikes:
Do you think that they're going to be looking out for your vehicle??? :roflblack:
Get legal; prevent potential problems in the future! :thumbup: nojoke

Well that may be the case in New York, idk and won't be riding there in this lifetime. I have it on good authority that I may get a ticket but more likely a stern warning in Texas if I get pulled over without the Motorcycle endorsement, as long as I have a valid state drivers license on me.

Isn't Can-Am always harping on the fact that it's a Roadster and NOT a Motorcycle anyways? I plead the 5th! :dontknow:

- Michael

 

[desaun]

Please call the DMV. When we lived in Michigan (3 years ago) you needed a motorcycle endorsement on your driving license. Without that endorsement, you are not legally allowed to ride your Spyder. Worse, if you are involved in an accident, your insurance company can deny your claim; they don't like outlaws! Be safe, get legal, be covered! A MSF basic riders course would help, too. Enjoy your new bike! Joe

Yes, Michigan does require a Motorcycle Endorsement. Taking an MSF course qualifies you for the endorsement. Courses here can run between $25 upwards to $300. The $25 courses are given a couple of local colleges that are subsidized by the state. The $300 courses are usually given by dealerships or private instructors. I will be taking the $25 course in the Spring as they are already done giving those courses for the season and I REFUSE to pay $300 for something that I can pay $25 for. In the meantime, the state will issue you an Temporary Instruction Permit that lasts for 180 days with restrictions (must wear helmet, ride with an endorsed rider). I have a buddy (the guy who pretty much convinced me to buy one) who rides with me most of the time and gives me riding tips. I figured this would be the way to go since I've only got another couple of months before I have to put her up for the winter anyway. I plan on getting into the first course they have this Spring to get my full endorsement.

 

[Michael211_2000]

Kewl beans, sounds like a plan to me! :thumbup:

- Michael (Advantage to living in Texas: Ride all year long! LOL!) :clap:

 

[desaun]

I do find it a little disturbing that the OP is taking his Spyder around town and to work and back and it's his 1st time on "less than 4 wheels with doors and stuff"... I wouldn't even leave my neighborhood for over a month on my Spyder (speed limits 35 and less here on my local neighborhood streets with little traffic to deal with) just because I wanted to make damn sure I knew the machine better than the back of my hand before getting it out in traffic and at highway speeds! I'm cautious and careful by nature... I want to live! :bowdown:

OP is taking risks that I would not take when I was as new to this as he admits to being. But that's his choice, to each their own.

Michael,

Much like you, I'm not driving on roads that go above certain speed limits (45 has been the max). My ride in to work is normally a 30 minute drive in the car, but take an extra 15 minutes when I'm on the Spyder because I'm taking much slower, surface roads. The ride is much more exhilarating, though, even at the slower speeds. And trust me, I have no plans on getting myself hurt/killed on this thing. I am overly cautious and hyper aware when I'm on this baby.