So it's called the Ryker!

[Firefly]

Hello old friends... saw all the hub-bub and figured I'd read up on the latest addition to the Spyder family.

I won't revisit what everyone's written about it, but I have yet to see anyone in any thread mention what I imagine may become a critical market for the Ryker: urban stunters.

Yeah, a lot of these kids are riding bikes and quads of questionable provenance-- and definitely breaking a host of laws in doing so-- but many aren't, i.e. these are bought and re-built and farkled and blinged out the same as any other legal bike and quad. There are a lot of stunters in the Washington, D.C. area-- I mean A LOT, the video below is about Baltimore but the same could be made about Washington-- and some of their rides are damn impressive for what they are, i.e. the Ryker will be far more expensive than a beat-up used ATV, but given its super customizable nature, I can see plenty of younger men with money to spare trying to impress their peers with what is, in effect, a street-legal version of the quads we see riding around illegally.

Is it a huge market? Probably not-- but it's a market, and one that's unserved by the existing Spyder designs, and-- *more importantly*-- unserved by ANY major manufacturer, as quads are illegal in every city in America... but the Ryker won't be.

So, that's my bottom line assessment: the Ryker isn't meant to compete with Spyders, nor is it meant to compete with motorcycles-- it's meant to compete with *quads*. You won't be able to ride it off-road like mad like a real ATV, but you *will*, but even better, you'll be able to ride it everywhere on the street-- a place you *can't* ride ATVs today.

There's a market there, folks. We'll see how large.

Quads are legal in many areas.. northern Michigan has many areas where they're legal.
With the low HP and low torque of the Ryker, CTV tranny, etc.... don't expect many of these sport riders to go for one.

If they would have given it more HP and an 8-10 inch clearance... then they just might have something more off-road friendly....

 

[maxxheadroom]

I thought that was a bunch of typos until I saw the author's name.
T-That Ex-xplains it.

I did not give enough info.... IF you do not have facebook, when it asks you to log in or create an account at the bottom of that pop up is a link that says "not now". Just click that to v-view the video....

 

[Sarge707]

https://www.facebook.com/pitbullpowersport/videos/231516234210943/

Or I you don't just click not now.

Open the Facebook link for the Best Video yet on the functions and follow Pitbullsport for other video's? You don't use Facebook then just keep fighting it out in the Off Topic area which is Just as Bad?:roflblack:

 

[daveinva]

I don't think so. Quads are a whole different animal! Actually they are legal on streets and county roads in many western states. But they are not legal on state and federal highways.

Quads are legal in many areas.. northern Michigan has many areas where they're legal.

Yes, thank you, I was aware of the road legality of quads in select rural areas. I wrote that they're illegal in cities. Perhaps there are some smaller cities in the West that I am unfamiliar with that allow them, but those are very few. In the most populated parts of America, however, it's illegal to ride one on a street, whether they are a traditional quad ATV, or a side-by-side like a RZR. You can ride two wheels, and you can ride three wheels, but you can't ride four, period.

Which returns me to my point, which was that, in addition to being cheap, the Ryker's advantage is that, while road-biased, it can be taken onto gravel, fire, and dirt roads without risking destruction of your vehicle. For people who live "in between" ATV-friendly lands and areas where ATVs are illegal on the roads, having something that can handle both is just as handy as having a dual-sport motorcycle that, while spending 90% of its time visiting Starbucks, is still happy as a clam riding the backroads from time-to-time. To rural markets, the Ryker says, "Hey, you like riding your ATV off-road, but wouldn't it be fun to take it into town? Now you have a legal option." To urban/suburban markets, the Ryker says, "Hey, would you like something lighter that rides like an ATV on the street but is faster and, oh yeah, won't get impounded by the police?"

Much like the Spyder, the Ryker is neither fish nor fowl, but that's where its potential appeal lies. A heavy and expensive BMW GS can be a lousy off-ride bike, and there are better street bikes out there, but it's *versatile*, and it allows its owners to believe that the only limit to where they go today is how dirty they want to get. The Ryker brings that same versatility to three-wheels-- legal on the road, but also able to have fun on the dirt roads when the fancy strikes. Or, for ATV riders, they can enjoy a day out on the dirt roads without towing their vehicle from their house to the country, yet stay aboard on a ride into town for dinner, no need to switch to your car or truck.

For urban markets, trust me, do NOT underestimate that appeal, for cost and logistics prevents ATV sales from being a thing in most cities. For you can't just buy the ATV, you also need to afford the tow vehicle and trailer and have enough space to park and store everything and oh yeah hook everything up for the hour hike out to the country. With the Ryker, you don't have to do any of that now. That's a big sales hook for BRP right there.

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

For urban markets, trust me, do NOT underestimate that appeal, for cost and logistics prevents ATV sales from being a thing in most cities.

I see your point. The Ryker could very well become the "urban ATV"! That is for sane people! Probably not for the nuts like in the video! :roflblack:

 

[Kratos]

Definitely got me interested. BRP may have hit a homerun on this one! The used market is where it's really gonna get the brand going. People buying really fun motorcycles for 6-7K.......phenomenal.

All it has to do is not break, and I'm sold.

 

[Firefly]

Yes, thank you, I was aware of the road legality of quads in select rural areas. I wrote that they're illegal in cities. Perhaps there are some smaller cities in the West that I am unfamiliar with that allow them, but those are very few. In the most populated parts of America, however, it's illegal to ride one on a street, whether they are a traditional quad ATV, or a side-by-side like a RZR. You can ride two wheels, and you can ride three wheels, but you can't ride four, period.

Guess it depends on what your definition of a city is. Also, a RZR can be plated as 100% street legal in many states. In Michigan you can drive them anywhere-- including our big cities if you have them properly equipped and licensed. I see one drive by my business quite often.

 

[Pantera]

How are the belts holding up?

 

[Peter Aawen]

ldpost: You might want to ask that question in a new thread all of its own, rather than tagging onto the end of an older & 'not clearly related' thread.