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Is a Spyder a motorcycle, trike or something else?
- Thread starter broderp
- Start date
I rode 2 wheelers for several decades, but traded in my Goldwing for an RT two years ago when I was 78. I love my Spyder and despite steering rather than leaning I find it very much a motorcycle experience. But I think that deep down I know that my RT is not a "real" motorcycle the way most of this think of it. I also own a 2 wheeler, and between the leaning, the manual transmission, the need to put a foot down when stopped, etc. the experience of riding my "real" motorcycle is not exactly the same as when I ride the Spyder. And I do think we have our share of folks in the Spyder/Ryker community who want to think of themselves as motorcyclists but never were willing or able to go through the learning process to confidently ride two wheels. I'm not sure if the only bike I had was my Spyder if I would still feel that I was genuinely still a part of the "Bike" community, and someday I likely will find out if this is true. As I get older I realize that I well might reach the point of needing to give up on 2 wheeling totally, and just have the stable, reliable 3 wheel Spyder to keep me in the wind.
In a way this is all similar to when I owned just a scooter. It did pretty much anything that a motorcycle could do, including going over 100 mph. The main difference between that Silverwing and a motorcycle were the size of the wheels, the automatic trans, and the seating position. But good as it was, I found that I yearned to return to riding a real motorcycle. Maybe this was all in my head, but it was real for me. I ended up trading that Honda mega-scooter for a Triumph America, a mid size cruiser that really was far less capable and with less features, but I was happy to be back on a real bike.
In a way this is all similar to when I owned just a scooter. It did pretty much anything that a motorcycle could do, including going over 100 mph. The main difference between that Silverwing and a motorcycle were the size of the wheels, the automatic trans, and the seating position. But good as it was, I found that I yearned to return to riding a real motorcycle. Maybe this was all in my head, but it was real for me. I ended up trading that Honda mega-scooter for a Triumph America, a mid size cruiser that really was far less capable and with less features, but I was happy to be back on a real bike.
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AndysF3S
Member
I owned a 350 Yamaha XT back in the early 80's but rode it offroad because I didn't like the highway feel on 2 lane roads by cars and trucks. I did a test ride of the Canam trike when they first came out and finally decided to buy my F3S because it was looking lonely in the show room this summer.
I maintained my motorcycle license since the 80's and the Spyder is registered as a "motorcycle". My first (long highway) ride was with a friend who was riding a 2020 HD Roadglide that he bought new.
I currently own a 2019 Defender XT Cab, 2013 Outlander and a 22 Renegade XRS Turbo R that I will be taking out to the lake to do some ice riding, trace of snow. Basically SkiDoo, SeaDoo, Skidoo offroad and now Spyder.
I maintained my motorcycle license since the 80's and the Spyder is registered as a "motorcycle". My first (long highway) ride was with a friend who was riding a 2020 HD Roadglide that he bought new.
I currently own a 2019 Defender XT Cab, 2013 Outlander and a 22 Renegade XRS Turbo R that I will be taking out to the lake to do some ice riding, trace of snow. Basically SkiDoo, SeaDoo, Skidoo offroad and now Spyder.
In Canada the Spyder is considered a motorcycle for insurance purposes. I have had a few people say to me that I'm wrong however my insurance states that it is indeed a motorcycle! Having ridden bikes for most of life I consider it a bike, my sidecar combination is also a bike both have three wheels and I have to wear a helmet to ride both.
Dasmoetorhead
Active member
Motorcycle
Calimusjohn
Member
Not to be picky, BUT . . . Harley-Davidson produced a trike from 1932 to 1973 known as a Servi-car. Many police departments used them for traffic control and meter-maids. In the 30s and 40s, car dealerships would hook a Servi-car to a clip-on bumper hitch and pick-up at, or deliver a serviced automobile to your home. The trike took the dealer employee back to the shop.
A bike with a sidecar has three wheels and no one doubts it is a motorcycle. Whether the third wheel is in front, the side, or on the rear, they are all motorcycles.
I had my first motorcycle ride while lying in a cardboard box in my dad's 1937 Harley-Davidson's sidecar. I've been riding the 84 intervening years on a variety of machines with all of the wheel combinations listed.
Long live motorcycles!
P.S. I was two weeks old on my first ride!
Motorcycle riding is never boring.
A bike with a sidecar has three wheels and no one doubts it is a motorcycle. Whether the third wheel is in front, the side, or on the rear, they are all motorcycles.
I had my first motorcycle ride while lying in a cardboard box in my dad's 1937 Harley-Davidson's sidecar. I've been riding the 84 intervening years on a variety of machines with all of the wheel combinations listed.
Long live motorcycles!
P.S. I was two weeks old on my first ride!
Motorcycle riding is never boring.
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Motorcycledave
Active member
In California.... the CanAm Spyders All Models, A motorcycle with a SideCar, and a standard Trike type unit are considered to be
an ( AUTO CYCLE ) none of them require a motorcycle license your standard car driving Lic. is all you need.
I Do not agree with that law but it is what it is...
Peteoz
Well-known member
Yes, I can’t be bothered with the pettiness of the “is it a motorcycle”, debate, 2dogs. Life’s too short
I just tell people I ride a trike. If they show further interest, I mention reverse trike.Pete
NorwegianRT
Active member
If people ask what I ride, I say it is a CanAm Spyder.
That usually triggers more questions about the brand and what kind of engine or is it good to ride?
I answer the best I can and people are usually very nice and curious about it. When I mention that i use my car license only to operate it they seem to get more interested and the usual reply is "hey, my wife/girlfriend could ride one of these instead of hanging on my back "!
And my registration papers says it is a "motorcycle with 3 wheels"
As a good friend of mine said once:"The best motorcycle is the one you have right now!" It took a while before I understood the deeper meaning of what he said. (some like this and some like that)
Stay safe all
That usually triggers more questions about the brand and what kind of engine or is it good to ride?
I answer the best I can and people are usually very nice and curious about it. When I mention that i use my car license only to operate it they seem to get more interested and the usual reply is "hey, my wife/girlfriend could ride one of these instead of hanging on my back "!
And my registration papers says it is a "motorcycle with 3 wheels"
As a good friend of mine said once:"The best motorcycle is the one you have right now!" It took a while before I understood the deeper meaning of what he said. (some like this and some like that)
Stay safe all
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I go with the designation in practically all jurisdictions in North America, that being it is a motorcycle. Yes, there are a few exceptions, but motorcycle works for me, though if others refer to is as a trike, reverse trike, three-wheeled vehicle etc., makes no difference to me. When people ask if I'm still a biker after trading 2 wheels for 3, I tell them hell ya! However, being called a motor cyclist works too. As a blanket statement for me, it doesn't really matter, so long as I can still ride.
DrillSgtDon
New member
I'm a US Disabled Veteran with an Indiana Hoosier Disabled Veterans motorcycle license plate on my Spyder. I guess to me, they're all just different kinds of motorcycles, right handle only different; but we all generally seem to think it belongs to the same piece of wind therapy.
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ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
:welcome: Your post is right on. :yes:
