Here is my take on the Spyder

[Motorcycledave]

Hi Everyone

I have had a bunch of you want me to report on what I (being a motorcyclist for 56 years ) think of the new ride I
just bought... Not wanting to spend 30K on an experiment, I bough a used machine in almost new condition.
The reason I did this is... I have had my knees replaced with new ones and also was run down by a drunk driver
while on my ST1100 and big damage to my right shoulder.... so my wife using that information and my age 70 feels
I need more than 2 wheels...bah humbug I say, but to keep happiness in the family I decided to buy a
CanAm Spyder RS/SE5,
It has almost the same exact seating to handlebar position as an ST has....
I bought it used from an owner in Rio Linda CA. for 10K it had 9,206 miles on the clock when I got it.
Being a very experienced motorcyclist that I am I got right on and down the road I went heading home about 70
miles to the south on Hwy 99... with my wife following me. EVERYONE was so nice to wave at me...most with their middle
finger and pass and honk all the while my wife is blinking her head lights and such at me. I continued about 30 miles south
to Lodi, CA to a Starbucks just off the freeway where at that point my wife began to tell me what a hazard I was to every living thing including myself on that damn thing....
I was riding in my lane like I would on a bike with the left front wheel hanging out over the line, it's wider than you think.
If you grip the bars like you would on a motorcycle and counter steer like you would you will make everyone around you very unhappy as well as scare the hell out of yourself... THIS IS NOT A MOTORCYCLE !!!!
I finished my iced coffee and headed home on back roads NOT the freeway. I read the owners manual and watched the video/CD of how to ride the thing and I know now what I was doing wrong.... everything.
Do not counter steer or try to counter steer... when turning lean into the turn and use the old push push method
Do not hold on to the bars and grip them tightly. sit back relax and drive it like a car...
it has power steering and power ABS brakes that work fantastic.
I spent the next few days out riding around on every type of road fast slow twisties up hill and down getting acquainted with how it handles and such.... So now my take..
If you have never ridden a motorcycle you could get right on and go just fine but if you have redden a motorcycle you better when you ride one of the Spyders... forget most everything about how to ride because it will mess you up plenty.
the ride and handling is smooth and secure cornering is great. It's very powerful the Rotax engine is super and it likes to rev high. There is more storage than any of my GoldWings the touring model has even more storage than the RS.
All in All it super fun and very different than any bike I have ever owned.... I plan on riding it plenty but fear not
I will NOT PART WITH MY BELOVED ST1100....
Ride Safe
Dave
[email protected]

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome: to the site and :congrats: on the new ryde.

Great write up of your experience with the introduction to the :ani29:.:2thumbs::2thumbs:

 

[btcherm]

:agree::clap::chat::spyder2::shemademe_smilie::thumbup:

 

[currin20fan]

Spyder

:welcome: You're in for alot of miles with smiles! Thanks for the write-up. Everyone should read this and learn.:yes::yes::thumbup:

 

[Ivorspyder]

:shocked::congrats:Thank you for the write up.You seem to have got it just right.Enjoy your new Ryde.:thumbup:


Ivor:spyder:

 

[shrubs]

Thanx for the info. I'm picking mine up as soon as the dealer receives and installs some options. Look forward to riding and will pay attention to what you mentioned.

 

[Bob Denman]

Thanks for a great write-up, Dave! :thumbup:
Now hit the road, and start piling up the miles and smiles! hyea:

 

[NoJive]

Good post! I have a friend that has an ST1100, and it is one awesome bike. We have even thought of starting a "Can-Am/Pan-Am" riding club.

(the ST1100 is also known as the Pan American)

 

[Motorcycledave]

almost right

Good post! I have a friend that has an ST1100, and it is one awesomHi

bike. We have even thought of starting a "Can-Am/Pan-Am" riding club.

(the ST1100 is also known as the Pan American)

_____________________________________________________________________
You are almost right my ST1100 is really a european model it is a Pan European
I was going to put a picture of it here but I am having trouble doing it....
Dave

 

[Knarfoh]

Being a very experienced motorcyclist that I am I got right on and down the road I went heading home about 70 miles to the south on Hwy 99... with my wife following me. EVERYONE was so nice to wave at me...most with their middle finger and pass and honk all the while my wife is blinking her head lights and such at me. I continued about 30 miles south to Lodi, CA to a Starbucks just off the freeway where at that point my wife began to tell me what a hazard I was to every living thing including myself on that damn thing....

If no one else will say it, I will -- its scary you couldn't figure out something was up long before you did. You ignored your own wife "blinking her headlights and such at me" for another 30 miles? And all those "middle fingers"? And a few feet down and in front of you, the center line passing under your Can-Am?

Your parable is a good story on "not what to do" as a new Spyder owner. And it is important you posted it.

THIS IS NOT A MOTORCYCLE !!!!

No truer words. You will get a lot of attention from passerbys and other motorcycle riders. That is the 1st thing I tell them.

 

[Motorcycledave]

Good post! I have a friend that has an ST1100, and it is one awesome bike. We have even thought of starting a "Can-Am/Pan-Am" riding club.

(the ST1100 is also known as the Pan American)

Hi... not wanting to sound like a know it all... it is really called the Pan European.
I know this because my 1100 is a Pan European from England see photos. mine is a
1991 model. Note the HMW logo everyone thinks it's a BMW so this is an in your face joke
Honda Motor Works hahahha.
I hope they upload...
View attachment 53561View attachment 53562

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

YOUR NEW TO YOU SPYDER

So the person who sold you the Spyder told you absolutely nothing about how to operate it...If that's true that person is an IDIOT ......However if " you " paid no attention to what they told you about "how" to operate then guess what.?????????pps:......Mike........and by the way you have been operating Motorcycles for 56 yrs. and you didn't notice the Can-am has Three Wheels and can not "lean"......I'm glad you are still alive tho......WELCOME ABOARD...:welcome:

 

[Motorcycledave]

New to me Spyder

OKOKOK I was stupid and thought I knew everything about how to ride.... I was told to ride it different than a
motorcycle but who listens to that crap..... Will I should have... I have now as of 5:00PM today Sept.19, 2012 logged
562.2 miles on it since the 11th. when I got it.... I even went on a ride with the local Spyder group last Sunday
now it seems normal and it has become fun to ride...You know old habits are hard to brake but I'm working on it .
Dave
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

So the person who sold you the Spyder told you absolutely nothing about how to operate it...If that's true that person is an IDIOT ......However if " you " paid no attention to what they told you about "how" to operate then guess what.?????????pps:......Mike........and by the way you have been operating Motorcycles for 56 yrs. and you didn't notice the Can-am has Three Wheels and can not "lean"......I'm glad you are still alive tho......WELCOME ABOARD...:welcome:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Blueknight911 has a mean streak in him, picking on that poor fella. LOL


Sent by morse code from a hidden bunker

 

[jScotD]

that was a good read MCDave,, I've 50+ years logged on to MC's at 64.. first time I got the Can-Am out.. I was rolling backwards.. didn't know it was a centrifugal clutch.. scared the **********out of me.. then I almost rode into a ditch because I was leaning and putting my feet down for balance, er foot.. left one , right one's just there to keep me from falling sideways .

I have a lot to UNLearn..and all the roads where I live are narrow.. and to think I almost bought a Ural.. but it wasn't fast enough for the slabs to the lake.. it would have been backraods all the way. which isn't a bad thing as you know..

 

[NoJive]

Hi... not wanting to sound like a know it all... it is really called the Pan European.
I know this because my 1100 is a Pan European from England see photos. mine is a
1991 model. Note the HMW logo everyone thinks it's a BMW so this is an in your face joke
Honda Motor Works hahahha.
I hope they upload...
View attachment 53561View attachment 53562

Interesting. I had seen it called Pan American online, but you are correct, it Pan European. Either way, fantastic bike!

Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

MEAN STREAK STREAK

Blueknight911 has a mean streak in him, picking on that poor fella. LOL


Sent by morse code from a hidden bunker

Joe you are clueless as to my "MEAN STREAK". I think he's lucky to be alive and I think he also realises this too,,, and is "MAN" enough to admit it......and for that I salute him. As for you however........:cus:............Mike ....who does not hide in a hidden bunker:b2b:

 

[Motorcycledave]

Yea I have a lot to learn on the Spyder however..... if you get out to California some time I will show you what a real motorcycle can do in the twisties heading up to and in to Yosemite and the gold country.... bet you cant catch me
how ever I will be on my ST way in front of you maybe even having coffee waiting for you to catch up to this ole guy...
hahahahah I do love 2 wheels. but tonight for the first time I took my wife to dinner on the Spyder and she likes it...
so how do I drift the corners with this thing.... ???????
MC Dave

Joe you are clueless as to my "MEAN STREAK". I think he's lucky to be alive and I think he also realises this too,,, and is "MAN" enough to admit it......and for that I salute him. As for you however........:cus:............Mike ....who does not hide in a hidden bunker:b2b:

 

[Cruzr Joe]

Joe you are clueless as to my "MEAN STREAK". I think he's lucky to be alive and I think he also realises this too,,, and is "MAN" enough to admit it......and for that I salute him. As for you however........:cus:............Mike ....who does not hide in a hidden bunker:b2b:

OUCH, OUCH, OUCH. Did we take our MEDS this morning? :doorag::doorag::doorag: