What about Riders 1st motorcycle being a Spyder?

[DDT]

My wife and each have our own spyder and came with no 2 wheel experience other than the DMV Motorcycle class which we took on motorcycles. Spyders drive like a 4 wheeler which I have a lot of experience. We took the class for the head knowledge. That alone was worth the money and the things I learned have saved my hide several times in the last two years.
I have to admit that every once in a while I would like to give a two wheeler a ride just to do it.

 

[Raprider]

:agree:

It should not be a requirement.

I took the MSF course years ago after I already had my license and years of 2-wheeler experience. I learned some things and felt that I was a better rider for it.

Fast forward to the Spyder, I would love to take a 3-wheeler MSF course, but I can't seem to find one here. The wife and I will have to look into a road trip to join one! :clap:

Tony and others interested...you may be able to find some info re a 3-wheeler course here (copied from the BRP site).
I'm taking the 3WBRC course here in NJ in 2 weeks...and happy to have about 450-odd saddle smiles plus whatever I rack up this weekend.


For a limited time, learn to ride for only $75[SUP]*[/SUP].[h=3]Choose your location and sign up to a class available near you.[/h]A Can-Am Spyder will be provided for the duration of the course at no extra cost.
For questions about the Can-Am Spyder Rider Education Program, call 1 (855) 257-3563.
The program is rolling out in several states. If you want to be informed when the offer is available near you, click here.

 

[Buckeye Bleau]

My RTL was my first motorcycle, I never 2 wheeled. My father hated motorcycles for some reason, I mean he was not nice when driving around them.

On the note of training, I have ridden behind some people that have taken the course that should not be allowed to drive or control ANY kind of vehicle on the highways. I mean that shortcut in front of a semi after passing, they take forever to pass a vehicle, no signals, and they pull out in front of anyone with the attitude that they were there first.

A mandatory course, I don't think so that is BS. So you pay someone good money to sit there for a day or two and even if you don't learn anything that you use later you pass. Crapazolla! Follow the money.

Just a raw uncut opinion, but it is mine, I own it.

Joe

 

[Stogeylink]

First post this site. Saw the thread and am intrigued with everyone's responses. I rode 2 wheels for decades while in the military and later in civilian life. Had to get the 'M' endorsement on my license in Texas but also had to take a safety course while in service to be allowed to ride on base. Helmets weren't an option they were mandatory. Due to injuries in an accident (hit by a car as a pedestrian) I thought I was off the road forever except in a 4 wheeler. I finally was able to get the wife to allow another "in-the-wind machine" at the house. She actually surprised me with a 2008 Spyder with 8800 miles on it for my last birthday. All maintenance records and upkeep were documented. It is an awesome machine and I love that I can get back on the road again. It took a bit to get acclimated to the idiosyncrasies of this bike but, now that I have about 500 miles on it, I am beginning to get the feel for it and am enjoying the ride again. Hope to see some of you on the road here in Texas. Wish all of you fair skies and clear roads!

 

[RapidSpyder]

First post this site. Saw the thread and am intrigued with everyone's responses. I rode 2 wheels for decades while in the military and later in civilian life. Had to get the 'M' endorsement on my license in Texas but also had to take a safety course while in service to be allowed to ride on base. Helmets weren't an option they were mandatory. Due to injuries in an accident (hit by a car as a pedestrian) I thought I was off the road forever except in a 4 wheeler. I finally was able to get the wife to allow another "in-the-wind machine" at the house. She actually surprised me with a 2008 Spyder with 8800 miles on it for my last birthday. All maintenance records and upkeep were documented. It is an awesome machine and I love that I can get back on the road again. It took a bit to get acclimated to the idiosyncrasies of this bike but, now that I have about 500 miles on it, I am beginning to get the feel for it and am enjoying the ride again. Hope to see some of you on the road here in Texas. Wish all of you fair skies and clear roads!

Welcome to the forum!

 

[bhern]

Another 3-wheel-only ryder

About 7 years ago, my wife and I were talking about motorcycling in a sort of vague way -- we'd moved to Arkansas, and driving the state's roads in a car and seeing so many people clearly having a good time on their bikes really registered and resonated with us. The kids were about to leave the nest, so we were thinking it would be something we could do to fill up some of that time previously devoted to (insert sport here) practice, (insert activity here) events, etc...

My son and I decided to take the basic MSF course (2-wheel) to test the waters -- him because he's bulletproof and going to live forever, so we wanted him to be prepared if he decided to go further with it, and me because I wanted to see if it was something my wife and I would enjoy.

Loved the course, felt it really helped me gain confidence and basic skills, but it also confirmed that a trike made more sense since our posture was for this to maximize relaxation fun vs. out on the edge fun. A trip overseas intervened, so it wasn't until late last year that we decided to go for it, aided and abetted by the Can-Am course subsidy. Getting to essentially test drive a Spyder for two days for $50 with a motorcycle endorsement coming out the back side of that seemed to be a good deal, and it was. We both loved it, and a week or so after finishing the course, drove over to Boerne to pick up our Spyder. (So Can-Am/BRP obviously got a good return on their $200 investment, too!) That ride back to Austin was really fun/exciting/scary all at once, and we are loving that sense of adventure that you get outside the cage.

To some of the various points made to date:

- Philosophically, I'm not a fan of mandating courses, etc., but am definitely in favor of incenting their use to make everyone safer. The problem with a total libertarian approach is that not all crashes/accidents are limited to one vehicle. The problem with a totally dictatorial approach is that some people... just don't get it even after they get it.

- For us, the BRC in both cases (2 + 3 wheel) was truly beneficial. Would recommend the Spyder-specific courses to anyone, whether total newbie like us or an experienced 2-wheeler wanting to make the shift.

- Definitely agree with the notion that newbies like me have less to unlearn, and all of my instinctual responses are and will be Spyder-specific. On the other hand, I still have a long way to go to get to a seriously safe place in terms of situational awareness, which only comes with repetitions. I make up for it by ryding "hyperdefensively" because I'm seeing so much for the first time.

And this forum is a huge reason why we took the plunge. Seeing how so many people were really enjoying their experience at so many different entry points and levels of engagement, and being able to absorb the collective wisdom (and wit) of so many people ahead of us on the same road is a huge benefit. I'm grateful to everyone who chips in with insight or opinion here, because we're still strangers in a strange land in many respects, and this forum makes the strange a lot of fun as opposed to scary.