Tell your story. What was the moment you knew you had to have a Spyder?

[summerdawn]

It was May 2012 and I had 49,754 miles on my '07 Harley. I loved the bike but my husband had just gotten a new Harley Street Glide and urged me to trade too. I thought that if I wanted a decent trade in value for my bike, I should trade before I turned over 50K miles. We drove to the nearest Harley dealership one Saturday morning so I could look at the new models. The Harley shop wasn't open, so to pass the half hour until it opened we went next door to Lexington Motor Sports. Looking around I saw a 2012 RT, the first I had ever seen. I had never even seen a Spyder on the highway before. I walked around and around it, sat on it, opened all the storage compartments, learned about the safety features. I was interested in this thing but it wasn't a motorcycle. Could I give up riding a motorcycle? We went to the Harley shop and I did not like any of the new bikes. My husband tried to get me to buy a new Street Glide in a color I liked but I knew it wasn't for me. A few days later I came back to test ride the Spyder and liked it until I took it on the interstate. That scared me but I bought it anyway. I bid a fond fairwell to my Harley and became the proud owner of a red RT semi-automatic. No clutch! No front brake! Paddle shifter! I figured if I was going for a change, I may as well go whole hog!:roflblack: I shocked my friends and neighbors but they like the Spyder and I have had a ball on it. Wait until they see what I've done to it over the winter!

 

[Bob Ledford]

I knew I was hooked when

I knew I was hooked when I felt the fresh clean air in my face and I was able to run through the gears and NOT HAVE TO PULL A CLUTCH HANDLE. I had to give up riding our last GW when I was facing my second upcoming CUBITAL TUNNEL SYNDROME operation and being faced with sitting in 5 PM Jacksonville FL traffic on I-295.

I had just undergone a military unit deactivation in JAX and transferred to St Augustine to the State Headquarters of the Florida Army National Guard to be the head Non Commissioned Officer In Charge of the newly activated Medical unit. So we sold the GW and put. myself in a 1996 Silverado pickup truck.

I was forced into retirement in March 2001 from that duty position and the military relocated us to home. Which was to be Ormond Beach for us.

During July 2011 BRP was running Can Am tv ads and my spouse called me into to living room one night saying lets go by Daytona Fun Machines after breakfast one morning. I promptly ran the idea through memory erase and went back to building my new web site. She did not forget it. So soon afterwards she brought the idea up again and I said, OK DEAR! Is that not what your supposed to do?

We went in one day after lunch and were met by the floor sales guy who gave us the FAQ routine and followed that with a reintroduction to the owner who promptly remembered us from our GW days. They set us up with the time and date towards the end of the week on what they decided was a low traffic day, we got there and got the walk around preflight instructions. Had to sit on it and start it up etc. had to go to the Accessories Dept for a helmet fitting, I had boots and gloves, combat boots and yard gloves!

Then we moved it outside to the parking lot where I had to make laps, starting, stopping, backing up, shifting gears and shutting down. When the sales instructor was satisfied we broke for fortifying cup of coffee and the four of us talked about a route. When the owner, Chris, finally said, Bob knows how to ride, just go and enjoy we got your wife as a hostage.

Two hours later I called her cell and said, I am OK and this is more fun then sacking monkeys! I still have gas to burn. When she reminded me I needed my 11 AM pills that she had. So call it time out! Reluctantly I gave in and headed back. When I got back I was grinning so much it would have taken an undertaker days to get rid of the smile.

we rode home with a paid receipt and a new 11 RTTL in Pearl with zero miles and a full tank of gas

 

[jvicker]

Saw it on the Today Show back in '08 and had to have one.:thumbup:

 

[bhfromme]

These stories are awesome. Keep 'em coming!

 

[NoJive]

Hmmm....well I had always liked them, but told myself there was no way I would pay that much for one. Had a Suzuki C50 that I loved, but had a couple scary moments on road gravel including a slow speed drop at a railroad crossing. I also did not like to ride it in the rain, period. I started looking around for a Spyder for a friend, and my local dealer had one for under $12k. The Mrs. and I went by to look at it, and much to my surprise, she LOVED it. Next day, it followed me home. I will say this, I have never had any "toy" that I have been this enamored with. Got it June of last year, and I still get the same feelings of amazement/excitement that I had when it was driven out of the showroom. I rode last year in some massive downpours and had a blast and I've ridden in 19F morning temps, which I would've never done on the C50. I tell everyone I meet that it is a lot of money, but well, well worth it.

 

[cyclelover63]

I am 59 I hadn't owned or rode a motorcycle for 40 years..An 82 yr old man brought his Spyder to where I work to show me..He was a regular customer of mine..I had only seen one at a car show and thought it was awesome looking..He told me to take it for a ride..I did,and it brought back all of the old feelings of riding..A couple months later,he wanted to know if I wanted to buy it,because he was going to buy an RT..Knowing my wife would never ride with me,I just mentioned it to her in passing..I got her to at least go look at it..It was funny to see her go down the road on the back of it behind that 82 yr old man..That was the very first time she had ever ridden..They came back in about 15 minutes,she got off and said "Let's get it!!!"...Now I can't get her off of it,she is even learning to drive it..She even says it has changed our lives..:cheers:

 

[GaSpyd3r]

Things happen for a reason...

I'm not a spyder owner yet but I do have plans on buying one hopefully this year. February 19, 2012 I was out riding my girls Yamaha 1100 when I went down in an accident. I broke my left ankle and have been laid up for a month now. Days after the accident I started thinking that I wouldn't ride again because I couldn't afford to be off of work like this again. Feeling sorry for myself and stupid :banghead:, I started thinking it had to be a safer and better way to enjoy riding. Then alone came the spyder. I have been researching the spyder for the last 3 weeks and have became excited about the thought of owning and riding one. I figured with 3 wheel and all the safety features the spyder has to offer, that it might be possible for me to stay on it upright and not break any more bones. I have plans to schedule a test ride once I can walk again and I'm lean towards a 2012 RS SE5 ($14,300). Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it! It could have been worst but I think I will survive a broken ankle and I also feel that the spyder was made just for me.

The only downside to this is that I have to save up more money because I'm using my savings now to pay bills and I think I will miss the beginning, if not all of this year riding season.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

. . . and have been laid up for a month now. . . . I have been researching the spyder for the last 3 weeks . . . I figured with 3 wheel and all the safety features the spyder has to offer, that it might be possible for me to stay on it upright and not break any more bones. . . .

Isn't it something how a lot of spare time and and internet connection can get things started?

As to staying upright, I always say that when ryding my Spyder, I may fall off, but I won't fall over!

 

[Bob Denman]

Weebles wobble; right? :thumbup:

 

[2 Stricklands]

Spyder Story

I rode on 2 wheels in the 1970's, then moved to DC and met and married Barb. She had maybe been on the back of a bike a couple of times. We moved to Colorado for 15 years and then to Virginia and in 2011 starting to notice the weird bikes. One day we looked at them at a dealer and I could tell she was interested. On her birthday, we went back and wrote a check for 1/2 the cost and made it a BD present. We picked it up about a month later and she followed me in the car. On the way home, I pulled into a parking lot and gave her some directions and let her drive around the lot. She was hooked. I set up a test course on the driveway at home and she practiced. After a little while, (a few weeks) had her follow me to DMV and she got on the Spyder and the Spyder passed the test for her. Now we are both qualified, although she generally rides behind me. We try to ride every week, but we get out at least once a month in the winter. We have owned a 2011 RT, SE5 since August 2011 and now have about 8500 miles on it.

See everyone at Spyderfest and at Maggie Valley and at Lamont's BBQ

Steve & Barb

 

[Harley]

Back in the summer of 2010, the wife and I were on a nice little Sunday drive. We wound up at Johnson's Shut Ins State Park. As we were getting ready to leave a strange looking thing with three wheels came into the parking lot along with two two-wheelers. We strolled over to where they were dis-mounting, and I could not take my eyes off the three-wheeled thing. The lady riding the Spyder asked me if I wanted to take it for a spin, which I promptly declined. I did sit on the bike, she informed me that it had reverse, very stable, etc. She owned a HD, but she said she liked the Spyder much more, and was going to sell the HD. After a short visit (with my jaw hanging down, and drool dripping off my chin), I informed my wife I was going to own one of those "Spyders". All I had owned before were two-wheelers, the last one a GW. We now are the proud owners of a 2012 Limited, Pearl White.

 

[bhfromme]

Weebles wobble; right? :thumbup:

Weebles wobble but they don't fall down!

Hey Bob it sounds like your kids are about the same age as mine!

Bill

 

[Yazz]

Did lots of road trips on my Springer. Loved being out in the wind. Then something happened and I couldn't ride two wheels any more. Tried being a passenger, but it's just not my nature. Hubby even put a Queen Seat on his Deuce for me. It's just not the same as being the rider. This went on for three long years.

Finally decided to get a little four-wheelie to putz around the rally we go to every year. Was on the internet and saw the most beautiful, awesome contraption in the world. A Spyder Phantom. Droooool... Oh yes, it will be mine...

Called all over town and only one dealership had a Phantom on the floor. (The rally was in a couple weeks.) Went to the dealership and they let me take it out by myself for a test ride. The power of the engine, the roar of the pipes, the wind in my face again, that Spyder was mine!

And so the next chapter of my life began...

 

[smoky]

It just sorta happened...

December of 2011 the wife and I were both at the dinner table when a commercial for Can Am came on featuring the Spyders. We both simultaneously said "That's what we need!" And we did. Four months later, March of 2012 we had our red 2011 RTS-E5...no more two wheeling and twice the fun...(she rides now.):bowdown:

 

[bhfromme]

Call me selfish but I love reading these stories so much I am bringing this thread back to the top. Keep the stories coming. It's good reading!

Bill

 

[Blue Star]

Okay, your selfish

Call me selfish but I love reading these stories so much I am bringing this thread back to the top. Keep the stories coming. It's good reading!

Bill

and I really enjoy these stories too :yes:

 

[ElkSpyder]

Sometime in 2007

Appleton Post-Cresent newspaper had a short story about the Spyder, early fall of 07. By April 08 I had all of the literature Rob's Performance had on the bike. Took a test ride in May, wanted the yellow version and waited for BRP to get more out to the dealers. Rob's called me in early June and reported they had 2 yellow Spders available. Paid for her on a Thursday, and left her at the dealership as a 100 Year rain storm was hitting. Flooded the roads south of Robs, and I-94 heading west out of Milwaukee, so I waited until late Friday and was able to work some back roads to bring her home. Went almost 18 years without a bike as the wife was "no bike -we have two kids to raise". The safety features of the Spyder won her over. 56,000 miles later and WAITING on Spring to finally get here.

 

[asp125]

Needed a pack mule for longer trips, and too young for *shudder* a Goldwing or Harley.

Went to a dealer to look at a VFR1200 sport tourer, and the wifey spots the yellow RS and says.. "I like it, let's test ride that." :banghead: So we two-upped it from the dealer and I had a browse through the accessories catalog, and the rest is history. I still ride my two wheelers, but for long day trips, overnighters and beyond, the Spyder is it.

 

[jtpollock]

Just had to have it

I saw my first on the net back in 2000 still on the drawing board but I knew that I wanted one then late 2007 or 2008 I got a notice that there would be one in the Denver Metro area so a buddy and I took off work and went 45 miles north of downtown Denver to see this thing and it looked better than it did on th net WOW at that time you could order a yellow one for $15000 I told the guy if I could afford it I would buy 2 but it was not to be ya know how that goes then later in 2008 we got the Truck loaded with Spyder for a CAN AM test Ride day so the Buddy and I took off work and went down to Castle Rock Colorado for the test ride turns out it was just a ride around the block maybe 10 miles. I was very dissapointed with the distance but very excited about the Spyder So I got back in line 4 more times then I went home and got the better half to see what she thought we did that same 10 mile ride the Boss enjoyed the ride so we looked at the cost and finances again it was not to be :banghead:. Well its 2012 things are looking up and the Boss says we can do it know so it will be payed off before I retire SO I went out the the Dealer 48 miles from home and made my purchase a Neutron Green Matilic/Satin Black RS S SE5 tour windsheld 4.5 inch bar risers Rack and Back Rest I picked up Saddle Bages from a shop in Canada the same one I got my Trailer Hitch from Wow things are realy shaping up so sad I just missed Durango. We took a ride from Colorado to Mt Rushmore then over to Devils Tower
and home We found we needed a trailer so I got a Harbor Freight Tag along and, WE ARE READY FOR SPYDERFEST :yes::yes::yes: Heading out from Castlr Rock on the 22nd stop over in Pratt Kansas then on to Springfield on the 23rd Cant wait.

 

[xGreenxMeaniex]

Here is my story:

I am a youngin' and a newbie to motorcycles and my boyfriend LOVES them. He was always a cruiser kinda guy and last year he bought a Ninja 250 and let me drive it around a parking lot for a bit. I had never ever driven anything manual but I was intrigued by the open air feel of riding a motorcycle so about 2 weeks later I went and got myself a Red and black Ninja 250.....

The bad thing: I was so worried about remembering clutch: upshift, downshift- what gear am I in? Eeeek here comes a curve! This Ninja was just not for me. My boyfriend was not happy- he wanted to ride and ride WITH me (you don't find that very often these days) and I was just too chicken to do it. I only put 450 uneasy miles (NO SMILES) on the Ninja in 1 year.

I had seen commercials for the Can Am and luckily just paid my car off and I said 'Hey let's go get me a Can Am and I will always ride with you!' So we went up to our Honda dealer and there she was a BEAUTIFUL satin green/matte black RS just calling my name. I put a deposit on it so I could do some research into my budget and how much it would set me back and the next weekend I brought Green Meanie home with me. She's only been mine for almost 3 weeks but already has 250 miles on her and just waiting for it to warm up this weekend so I can put many more miles on her!

Yay for the :spyder2: my Dad is sooo jealous of me now (and he is a strict Harley lover)!