spyderryderone
New member
There seems to be a lot of confusion out there as to exactly what a "Spyder" is. Some compare it to a revised snowmobile. Others to some sort of an ATV. Many just lump it into a general name like "Roadster" or "Adventure Machne." All of that is wrong.
I'm thinking of what must have been said in the 1930's when the first single-winged airplane came of of some mehchanics hanger. "That's no airplane, it only has one wing!" some surely said. Or when the Germans took to the skies in the mid-1940's with the ME-262, the first jet engine powered aircraft. "Can't be an airplane" some exclaimed, "it doesn't have a propeller!"
Or how about this more recent situation. When Harley-Davidson unveiled it's first new engine in almost 20 years, the air-cooled Revolution, Harley purists almost puked in unision. The uproar was - and in some quarters still is - monumental. "Betrayal!" they screamed. "Not a Harley" other moaned. And so on. Some still feel that way even though the Revolution is a much better powerplant that the Evolution or it's predecessors. Traditional design dies a hard and long death in many minds. Even now, four or five years after it's introduction, H-D uses the Revolution in only one of it's sixteen or so production models. Fear of losing it's primary market holds them back.
So what is this thing we ride? The Spyder is a motorcycle. Yep, a motorcycle. OK, so it doesn't look like any motorcycle you've ever seen, I'll give ya that. But are "looks" the defining factor? NO. Does a MotoCross bike look much like a Gold Wing?
Spyders are motorcycle trikes .. with a new design of having the two wheels up front. There is good reason for this change of positioning as you all know. You can bet your bottom dollar that Spyder won't be the last of it's configuration. As the general biking public comes to recognize the inherent advantages having the two wheels up front offers, and the styling possibilities it presents, others will follow. But I get off point.
Spyder is a motorcycle first and foremost because the VIN identifies it as such. There are strict guidelines used to classify a vehicle when a VIN permit is requested. Insurance companies are keenly interested in seeing that a vehicle has a proper VIN identification as this greatly affects rates. Govenments also watch this closely because a VIN will affect the taxes the owner pays, the tag and license fees, and the places where the vehicle can be lawfully ridden. Our VIN's say "MOTORCYCLE." End of discussion ... for legal purpose. But let's look further at why we ought care.
On this site and others there is a lot of discussion of accessories, both existing and wished for. Eventually, BRP will provide all of it. But they are limited as to how much resource and production they alone can carry out. To fill this gap, in will come the aftermarket suppliers, and then things will start to get heated up for sure. Different designs, different colors, innovatiove stuff you haven't even dreamed of will be offered. But it will ONLY BE OFFERED if these aftermarket suppliers think of the Spyder as a MOTORCYCLE! They don't do ATV's and Snowmobiles and little fun vehicles. They do MOTORCYCLES! So, if you want some real options and accessories on down the road, you'd better do all you can to tell people that this is a MOTORCYCLE, not some other thing.
Next, to prove my point, I contacted one of my favorite - and most demanding - motorcycle organizations, The IronButt Association (WWW.IRONBUTT.COM). This is a long-distance and endurance Motorcycle Association which can't be "joined" without earning the right. And even the basic qualifications are difficult. More to the point, they deals ONLY with motorcycles and their riders. I have had comfirmed that the Spyder will qualify within the IronButt Assn. as a motorcycle and can be used to attempt and complete their rides.
Then consider, and I accept that this is not definitive and/or necessary as a motorcycle, Spyder is powered by a V-Twin engine. I know not all motorcycles use that configuration, but some of the most recognizible (can you say Harley-Davidson) do. It's a hallmark of motorcycling, and we've got it.
The reason behind my writing this today was a phone call I got this AM from a supplier of aftermarket automatic shifting devices. Since I don't have a left leg, I had made inquiry of them a few weeks ago about having their device installed on my Spyder. The owner was talking and said " .. when you get your bike, ... well, it's not really a bike, let's just call it an adventure machine, .. ". See? They've got the wrong idea already. We need to fight that if we want them to accept us as what we are ... motorcyclists riding a new, non-traditional motorcycle!
Jim S.
Royal Palm Beach, FL
Member, IronButt Association
Member, American Motorcycle Association
Member, National Harley Owneers Group
Member, Ft. Lauderdale, FL H.O.G.
Dealer, Amsoil Motorcycle Lubricants (www.lubedealer.com/biker)
I'm thinking of what must have been said in the 1930's when the first single-winged airplane came of of some mehchanics hanger. "That's no airplane, it only has one wing!" some surely said. Or when the Germans took to the skies in the mid-1940's with the ME-262, the first jet engine powered aircraft. "Can't be an airplane" some exclaimed, "it doesn't have a propeller!"
Or how about this more recent situation. When Harley-Davidson unveiled it's first new engine in almost 20 years, the air-cooled Revolution, Harley purists almost puked in unision. The uproar was - and in some quarters still is - monumental. "Betrayal!" they screamed. "Not a Harley" other moaned. And so on. Some still feel that way even though the Revolution is a much better powerplant that the Evolution or it's predecessors. Traditional design dies a hard and long death in many minds. Even now, four or five years after it's introduction, H-D uses the Revolution in only one of it's sixteen or so production models. Fear of losing it's primary market holds them back.
So what is this thing we ride? The Spyder is a motorcycle. Yep, a motorcycle. OK, so it doesn't look like any motorcycle you've ever seen, I'll give ya that. But are "looks" the defining factor? NO. Does a MotoCross bike look much like a Gold Wing?
Spyders are motorcycle trikes .. with a new design of having the two wheels up front. There is good reason for this change of positioning as you all know. You can bet your bottom dollar that Spyder won't be the last of it's configuration. As the general biking public comes to recognize the inherent advantages having the two wheels up front offers, and the styling possibilities it presents, others will follow. But I get off point.
Spyder is a motorcycle first and foremost because the VIN identifies it as such. There are strict guidelines used to classify a vehicle when a VIN permit is requested. Insurance companies are keenly interested in seeing that a vehicle has a proper VIN identification as this greatly affects rates. Govenments also watch this closely because a VIN will affect the taxes the owner pays, the tag and license fees, and the places where the vehicle can be lawfully ridden. Our VIN's say "MOTORCYCLE." End of discussion ... for legal purpose. But let's look further at why we ought care.
On this site and others there is a lot of discussion of accessories, both existing and wished for. Eventually, BRP will provide all of it. But they are limited as to how much resource and production they alone can carry out. To fill this gap, in will come the aftermarket suppliers, and then things will start to get heated up for sure. Different designs, different colors, innovatiove stuff you haven't even dreamed of will be offered. But it will ONLY BE OFFERED if these aftermarket suppliers think of the Spyder as a MOTORCYCLE! They don't do ATV's and Snowmobiles and little fun vehicles. They do MOTORCYCLES! So, if you want some real options and accessories on down the road, you'd better do all you can to tell people that this is a MOTORCYCLE, not some other thing.
Next, to prove my point, I contacted one of my favorite - and most demanding - motorcycle organizations, The IronButt Association (WWW.IRONBUTT.COM). This is a long-distance and endurance Motorcycle Association which can't be "joined" without earning the right. And even the basic qualifications are difficult. More to the point, they deals ONLY with motorcycles and their riders. I have had comfirmed that the Spyder will qualify within the IronButt Assn. as a motorcycle and can be used to attempt and complete their rides.
Then consider, and I accept that this is not definitive and/or necessary as a motorcycle, Spyder is powered by a V-Twin engine. I know not all motorcycles use that configuration, but some of the most recognizible (can you say Harley-Davidson) do. It's a hallmark of motorcycling, and we've got it.
The reason behind my writing this today was a phone call I got this AM from a supplier of aftermarket automatic shifting devices. Since I don't have a left leg, I had made inquiry of them a few weeks ago about having their device installed on my Spyder. The owner was talking and said " .. when you get your bike, ... well, it's not really a bike, let's just call it an adventure machine, .. ". See? They've got the wrong idea already. We need to fight that if we want them to accept us as what we are ... motorcyclists riding a new, non-traditional motorcycle!
Jim S.
Royal Palm Beach, FL
Member, IronButt Association
Member, American Motorcycle Association
Member, National Harley Owneers Group
Member, Ft. Lauderdale, FL H.O.G.
Dealer, Amsoil Motorcycle Lubricants (www.lubedealer.com/biker)
