This is my 1st post. I have read SL for several years, but never thought I had anything of importance to add. There have been complaints about how BRP makes the Spyder and there have been praises. I want to praise BRP for building a sturdy and safe machine.
Yesterday, I was following a 18wheeler (100ft or so behind, 65mph), He served to miss a 4x4x8 post that bounced out of a truck in front of him. He missed with his front wheels but the rear drivers caught the end of the post. The impact broke the post into 3 pieces (5ft,2ft,1ft). The drivers ejected the pieces backward across my lane. I hit the brakes and managed to miss the largest and smallest, but hit the 2ft straight on at 50+ mph with my left front wheel. The wheel jumped at least a foot upward nearly tossing me from the saddle, but I was able to maintain control and pulled to side a 100ft or so forward.
After I cleared the road of the post, I checked the Spyder, I expected at the very least a shattered front rim, but found only a bad dent. The tire was still inflated only loosing 5lbs of air (22 to 17). I was surprised to find I could still drive. I drove the 40+ miles home at 30mph. There is damage because the left front has a bad vibration. I will trailer the Spyder into CentralTexasMotorsports today.
I have be riding 60 years and know that the hospital or morgue would have been my destination on any other motorcycle and some cars yesterday. So, I am writing this so you know that what ever faults you find in a Spyder, you must know that BRP has made the safest machine that they could make.
God Bless and ride safe.
mudmarine
Yesterday, I was following a 18wheeler (100ft or so behind, 65mph), He served to miss a 4x4x8 post that bounced out of a truck in front of him. He missed with his front wheels but the rear drivers caught the end of the post. The impact broke the post into 3 pieces (5ft,2ft,1ft). The drivers ejected the pieces backward across my lane. I hit the brakes and managed to miss the largest and smallest, but hit the 2ft straight on at 50+ mph with my left front wheel. The wheel jumped at least a foot upward nearly tossing me from the saddle, but I was able to maintain control and pulled to side a 100ft or so forward.
After I cleared the road of the post, I checked the Spyder, I expected at the very least a shattered front rim, but found only a bad dent. The tire was still inflated only loosing 5lbs of air (22 to 17). I was surprised to find I could still drive. I drove the 40+ miles home at 30mph. There is damage because the left front has a bad vibration. I will trailer the Spyder into CentralTexasMotorsports today.
I have be riding 60 years and know that the hospital or morgue would have been my destination on any other motorcycle and some cars yesterday. So, I am writing this so you know that what ever faults you find in a Spyder, you must know that BRP has made the safest machine that they could make.
God Bless and ride safe.
mudmarine