Spyder....A Poor Performer?

[mrfilovirus]

To compare the spyder with 3 wheels to a 4 wheeled vehicle isn't exactly right - 4 points of contact compared to 3. Not exactly sure why they did that but I would also have to agree with others here - it seems to stop on a dime when I hit the brakes.

Also, with performance - admittedly I have put on the new O2 sensor, the high performance air filter, the hindle, and took out the air jam - but anyone who has "revved" by me at a stop light where I was waiting at the red and they were giving me the "ha ha ha" as they drove by - well, they all ate my dust. I had a woman on a harley bike next to me at a light today on the way home - i was just taking it easy.. gave her a wave... nothing from her. The light turns green and I move forward and I hear her really winding up in first and I think "oh really.." - she moves ahead because I was just doing a normal start but by the time she hit 50 I blew past her doing 75. I then slowed down so she could catch up (and pass actually - the speed limit was closer to 45 than 75 ) and I just smiled and waved again. Disclaimer: no one in front of us, fairly empty road - safe driving conditions. I don't ever challenge but if somone wants to test the spyder, who am I to resist. :firstplace: :spyder:

 

[Smylinacha]

Well..... mine keeps up more than enough w/ the Harley dudes I ride with.

 

[BRPjunkie]

I would not want my Spyder to stop any shorter. The few times I have tested it in parking lots in case I need to do an emergency stop, I had to fight to keep from going over the bars. Hard stop in a car is aided by four wheels, seated position behind a steering wheel, seat belt and feet braced on the brake and floor. Trying to counteract hard braking forces on the Spyder from the perch above the handlebars is completely different. I just give myself extra room ahead whenever I can and even though it's not a two wheeler, know that I have some maneuverability I don't have in a car.

 

[docdoru]

I suspect that perhaps the MSN tester's Spyder was not yet broken in. New brakes and tires would effect stopping times and a tight engine would effect acceleration. I picked up my yellow SE5 last Saturday morning with 3 miles on the odo and the initial impression as I rode it home was that it seemed sluggish in both accleration and braking. Now that I have almost 200 miles on it, it seems like an entirely different (better) machine. Some of that of course is my gaining confidence in my ability to ride it more fully to it's potential.

In any case, it suits me just fine. I did not buy it to race it or attempt to out brake BMW's.

Dennis in Maryland
The Krusty Old Phart
Still burnin' turnin' and lurnin'
2008 Can AM Spyder Yellow SE5
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9949290@N02

:agree:

 

[retread]

Seems like most "tests" are one day things, where the tester gets on, rides for a while, gets off, and writes the article. How can they possibly know what a Spyder is capable of? Ryde it for a month, or two, or six, and come back and tell people what you think. Most of us here have taken time to get used to our rydes; I for one will admit I'm still finding out what I can do with mine, and no test rider will come close in one day.
Wow, all this and no soap box!

 

[IMRU3]

We do not live in a race track. It's all about the ride. It's all relative to every individual. I have a lot of toys, faster than my Spyder... but I drive my Spyder with so much fun and pride. And yeah, I also beat a HD rider revving his bike to annoy the hell out of me during Street Vibration here in Reno. He too, ate my dust and crushed his ego.

 

[AMTJIM]

I love me some M109 and that red SV650N in those pics.

 

[Greg H.]

Anyone that thinks the Spyder is a slow vehicle must come from crotch rockets, or similar. The number wills tell you right away that the Spyder can run with any HD, BMW, and any other sport cruiser out there.

What's the seat of your pants tell you? That's all that should matter, unless you just plan on your Spyder spending time at the drag strip.

It's quick enough! And, it's fast enough for this guy! :thumbup: I have never reached speed limits soooooooo fast! And, the torque is great!

There is nothing out there like the Can-Am Spyder. Plain and Simple! :2thumbs:

And, I am tired - really tired, of my Spyder being called a bike, too! :shocked:

 

[SpyderMark]

As a matter of fact, the only one I was able to locate was the test by MSN Autos...First Ride BRP Can-Am Spyder.

Getting a motorcycle-type vehicle thru the quarter mile in the shortest/fastest time possible is not a matter of hopping on and running thru the gears. The testers that ride motorcycles for a living run bikes down the track a number of times with different pressures in the tires and different suspension settings looking for the best numbers.

When was the last time you read about an MSN motorcycle review? I suspect one of their regular automotive testers -- who also happens to own a motorcycle -- "tested" a Spyder. I also suspect if one our average, run-of-the-mill Spyderlover forum members took their Spyder out to the track they would see similar numbers.

Put an experienced track rider on a Spyder who knows what he/she is doing at the track and I'd be willing to bet a six-pack the numbers would change dramatically.

Regards,

Mark

 

[ld271]

this conversation sounds about like the one i posted a few days ago about the msn write up called would you ride this spyder i will agree with the rest if you dont like it sell it :agree:

 

[Putt-Putt]

This was the first "official" test I have seen, and it was disappointing. I have seen another 14 second run reported, several 13s, and one high 12. All were at slightly less than 100 mph. I am not surprised at the variation in ETs, as the Spyder would be a handful to get out of the hole smartly, without burning the tire, or kicking in the VSS. Handling the launch with kid gloves has to hurt the times.

The mile per hour readings, which translate into weight vs. horsepower are the most bothersome. We all complain that the Spyder is geared too low, but it doesn't approach its possible, or rated, top speed in the quarter. Seems if it is geared too low, it would be optimal for the strip. Odd! All-in-all, it makes you wonder how the heck anyone could manage 0-60 in 4.5 seconds, or if BRP merely made that up. I have always thought it would be difficult to achieve due to lack of traction.

As to stopping distances, I have to agree that the stopping ability sure seems to be better than that in real life. I don't think I have a motorcycle that will stop in the same distance and remain stable. I'm certain my F-150 pickup won't, but maybe I am misjudging that since I don't have to hang on for dear life. Sure would like to see test data from another source to confirm such lackluster numbers.

The rambling ends here...you may return to your regularly scheduled program.
-Scotty

:agree: I think you hit the nail right on the head. It has power enough to do better but the VSS will effect it and make it tricky to launch off the line. Every bike tested, that they come out with a E/T time that is not what the real world performance is. It is always slower production STOCK.

 

[SpyderDog65]

dam that posting sure got alot of responses lol Spyder Ryders are so passionate roflmao

 

[Way2Fast]

Not sure why you feel there's an argument here. Just comments in regard to performance. Ypu have pulled together some interesting information for us to compare. I certainly feel the way you do. Why are there no more independent tests than this one? If you took offense to anything I said, I apologize. I'm not sure why, but I'm sorry anyway.
-Scotty

Scotty; I definitely did not take offense to anything you said (nor have I ever) I'm sorry you thought I did. I didn't even see your latest post until after I had posted again myself. We are both in the same age bracket and I think we agree on a lot of things. You always seem to bring "common sense" to these pages. Something that seems to be lacking in the world these days.

Richard

 

[Way2Fast]

No one seems to have come up with an answer to my question regarding the speeds of the manual vs the auto Spyder. Is the SE5 slower than the manual? Faster? Has anyone had the opportunity to compare them neck to neck?

Richard

 

[ataDude]

I have an SM but have ridden both. There are no material differences except that maybe... maybe... the SE up-shifts faster for a newbie on an SM.

.

No one seems to have come up with an answer to my question regarding the speeds of the manual vs the auto Spyder. Is the SE5 slower than the manual? Faster? Has anyone had the opportunity to compare them neck to neck?

Richard

 

[spydeebike]

just ride and enjoy
:yes::yes::yes::agree::agree::yes::yes::yes::2excited:

 

[NancysToy]

OK, I decided I would do the calculations, and see how this all shook out. The are lots of drag strip calculators on the Internet, formulas, and even my old Isky calculator wheel (slide rule). Very disappointing, to say the least. If the few performance numbers we have been seeing are correct, the Spyder only gets about 70 hp to the rear wheel. If they are telling the truth about flywheel horsepower, there is more than a 30% drivetrain loss! The normally accepted standard is 17%. If this standard number is correct for the Spyder, then it actually makes only about 85 hp at the flywheel. I used 950 lbs wet, with rider, 98 mph, and 13.89 secs for the calculations. A 106 hp vehicle should theoretically be capable of as much as mid to high 12s, at around 105-109 mph.

Why the discrepancy? Well, as far as ET goes, the VSS and traction problems may enter into the equation, as we have discussed. When I was racing, we always felt mph was a more reliable indication of horsepower for any one vehicle. If it is, the Spyder has substantial drivetrain losses. The excessive tightness of the factory drive belt spec could be a big contributor. So could dragging brakes, which would also account for the noise some of us hear when pushing the Spyder. Beyond that, I am clueless. This thing needs to go on a dyno to verify these numbers. Magic better hurry with his black box. LOL Anyway, the initial assesment was correct, the numbers are disappointing for sure, and now they are verified, in a way.
-Scotty

 

[DragonSpyder]

Piston, cams, and fuel control is about $2500 but adds around 40HP. I would guess that should get us to 11secs at a minimum.

 

[Spyderman62]

All technical stuff aside for a moment - But you got to admit, that when the rear tire squeals, and the bikes tach jumps towards the 9000 range, and the wind in your face, fast or not, the feeling is electrifying! Not to mention , more fun than a person should be allowed to have on the public roads. I know it is not as fast as a VMax or other high horsepower superbikes, but the fun factor makes up for what the numbers don't show. I too would be interested to see a rear wheel horsepower figure - like you said, a 30% loss seems a bit high - Thanks for the tech info

 

[hondaman]

its about the cool factor..........there is allways someone bigger and faster but its hard to be just coool......spyders rule............99% of lets say sportbikes,ie suzuki gsxr 600 bikes will never see the limit they can do.Buy one,take it to a roadcourse and find out really how fast your not.When the tires are blue,rubber chunks roll off the edge of the tires,draging knees and sliding the bike around the corners.then you will see what fast is.its a rush ill never forget!I respect the road much more now.Just have fun and be safe:spyder: