Who or what inspired you

[Questions]

Hardley started getting top heavy in parking lots, huh? Maybe drugs that go with a couple coronary stents? Search was on for trikes(I'm thinking Gold Wing or Harley) on cycletrader.com, saw SpYder, found dealer, did test ride, bought SpYder, happy ever after - well 30k mi so far. When they put a bigger engine in RT I'll buy one of those also!!

Can't remember which of many, many searches brought me to spyderlovers.com, but I feel lucky to have found such an extensive knowledge base and what a great bunch of people you are. I look forward to meeting many of you in colorado.

 

[jvicker]

First it was the Today Show

Then it was this guy showing off his spyder.

 

[murphybrown]

My Story

At age 70 was looking over my bucket list...on there was a motorcycle and tattoo...said wow can do tattoo while I think thru if I want to leave motorcycle on list....knew 2 wheels would get me killed and quickly. I had only in my first 70 years been a passenger on motorcycle. First trip no rain gear..5 hr. ryde...dang near froze to death...Second ride..driver laid it over in the gravel...third ride must have been good 'cause I don't remember anything about it...all of that occurred before age 40...
The idea of a 3 wheeler came up so went to next town (40 mi) that had a HD dealership...of course with my no experience the salesperson (wise man he was!!!) would only take me for a ride...asked me what I wanted to do with this just drive grandkids around town? Said HECK no..I'm going to run the wheels off of it...so he took me out to the dam's parking lot...gave me a quick lesson (ha..killed the sucker about 15 times before I could shift and that was not anything to brag about :yikes..he asked me what I wanted from the trike...told him stability...he said don't tell my boss but go check out those front wheel trikes...he didn't have a name just said dealer might be hard to find...so I come home about same time friends drive in and say "well did you buy your HD"...told them the start of my story and they said hey we saw this front wheel thingy!!!! Since I like to live life on the edge...I say to self...ah ha, 2 people same day talking about this front wheel thingy (oh yea the husband had said you buy I'll bring it home and teach you to ride--he was a dedicated 2 wheeler)....so decide how to find...ah my "friend" the internet...find Can-Am Spyder...decide right then I want and I want NOW and it must be silver...find dealer in Spokane...does not have, can't find...same with dealer in Enumclaw...find 4 dealers on internet with what I want..CA, IL, NY, FL...I love to deal...IL liked to deal...we made deal...I call friend and say was your husband serious..she said oh my God Karyl what have you done...I said tell him to pack his bags..I just next day'd a check to IL...

As a side note I did not tell or ask my adult children's opinions...I knew what they would be on the Spyder and tat: HELL NO...what are you thinking???? Whole other story for another time about their reaction when they saw Ms Spyder and the tat!!!!! And I raised 'em to be live life to the fullest kind of people...they just didn't want MOM doing such wild and crazy stuff....but I gave them the option of encouraging my sitting on Ms Spyder or I could sit on their couch!!!! Didn't take long for Ms Spyder to get the go ahead Mom nod...:thumbup:

Spyderlovers...I don't know some type of google search brought me here and you awesome folks have been my absolute reason that I am so totally in love with and addicted to Ms Spyder ryding...I am soooo non motorcycle, non mechanical ...thank you thank you.

 

[joe schmoe]

Speaking for my wife, as she is the Spyder owner in our house...I still ride my Victory Vision.

After surviving three (3) different types of cancer in 7 years (Thank you Lord ray, having done, chemo/radiation for two cancers and chemo for the other. Betty Boop was to weak to keep up her motorcycle and ride it safely. We had seen Spyders out while she was riding with me (2 up). We talked to a buddy who had a "normal" trike and told us about the pros and cons of riding a trike.

The day Betty Boop sold her HD Nightster; she said "lets go look at those 3 wheel things"...I said "those things called Spyders", she said "Yes"...So off we went...Looked at one at a local dealer, they had a Red RT-S sitting in the parking lot when we pulled up and she fell in love with the color...She did a 360 in the dealers parking lot (that's all they would let her do)...I Google'd Spyders and found "SpyderLovers.com" and started researching...Within 2 months we found a Red RT-S at Cowtown, talked to Len a few times and then it was a road trip to Cuba, MO. After 2 days in Cuba. MO. and riding around and then back home (600 miles by the way) she now loves her Spyder and rides it every chance she gets except when it's cold...

Thanks Len and Lamont!!! Betty Boop is a happy camper on her Spyder!!! :yes::yes::yes:

 

[chickridin]

Truthfully..I first saw the Spyder at a Motorcycle Rally, back in 09 I believe it was, just after they came out. Don't remember who it was, either Can-Am or a dealer, was there demoing them. I hated it!! I thought they were the most hidious thing I'd seen in years. I even told hubby, "you couldn't give me one of those." :gaah: Then they left my mind until...........

For some unexplained reason, I'm not sure what happened, but I started thinking about them again, thinking "they're not so bad after all." In 2009 I decided to take the MS Class and get my motorcycle endorsement....which I did, even though I did not have a motorcycle. Due to my health issues, RA and FMS, hubby was against me getting my own bike, so I continued to ride with him on our HD (which I still love). He started warming up to the idea of me riding and in 2010 he started looking at motorcycles with me. I bought a 2006 Honda Shadow....it was a beautiful bike too. It didn't get much attention though...he hadn't warmed up enough I guess. In comes the Spyder.......:spyder:

I started talking about how nice it would be to have a trike. Hubby and I talked about maybe getting an HD Trike but, after taking one for a test ride, we quickly changed our minds. I started talking about the Spyder again. :shocked: Rest of the story..........

This past summer we went to a HD dealer that we visit sometimes that has another shop down the road from that that sells Hondas and other brands, including the Can-Am Spyder. It's the same dealer that I bought the Honda from! Hubby was thumbs up with me on 3 wheels so....I test rode one and bought it!
:cheers:

Yes, I love it! I wouldn't trade it for anything! I didn't get a lot of riding in this summer but I'm going to kick butt in the spring!!! :yes:

 

[WackyDan]

My old kindergarden and neighborhood buddy Alex and I would often talk about our past bikes. In September of 2008 I was talking to him about buying something more civilized... Was looking at FJR 1300's, BMWs, etc.. Knew I wanted to get something designed for touring.

He told me about the Spyder, and reminded me to look it up... so I did. I was intrigued. I love weird stuff, and the Spyder was so different than anything else I'd seen. I started researching them... Visiting some dealers to look at them and sit on them... Put off a test ride. Finally in March of 09, I test rode one after seeing one at the dealer with full side and top Givis and a touring shield.

Needless to say, I took delivery of my new in box 08 at the very end of April 09.

I'd probably be on two wheels still if not for Alex.

 

[ARtraveler]

As an avid reader of 3 different MC magazaines at the time, I saw a blurb about the new Spyder in a fall issue. It was yellow. I read the piece and determined I had to have one of them

I went to my dealer and was told--they were going to be rationed out and that there would be availability limited to a select few states. Alaska was not one of them.

My dealer is one of the SkiDoo retailers that sells the most in the US--so I guess he had some pull when it came to Spyders.

I put down a $1000.00 deposit in December of 2007. In June of 2008, the first Spyders came to AK. I got the second one--guess who got the first? Full moon and beautiful she was. PS, I was not gouged on price either.

My first summer was spent answering questions to everyone, everywhere I went.

 

[Arr MiHardies]

I guess motorcycling is in my blood. my dad used to ride. In fact, tomorrow marks the thirtieth anniversary of his death in a motorcycle accident. Poorly done road construction cones led him into oncoming traffic. Always kind wanted to ride, but didn't want to upset my mom. Saw the RS when they first came out and liked it, but couldn't afford it. A year later I took the motorcycle safety course and got my license, intending to buy a Spyder that I still couldn't afford (my mother was very upset when she found out I wanted to ride). Almost bought a yamaha cruiser that winter. All i had to do was sign the paper and the deal was done. My instincts we screaming at me not to do it. So we walked out of the dealership. A month later we find out that the escrow on our house was caluclated using one a quarter of a year. So in addition to having to pay a years worth of escrow shortage, our mortgage was going to go up significantly. Would have had to sell the bike (i love my instincts). Rented a victory vegas 8 ball. Loved the bike, but could not get comfortable on two wheels. A few years went by with me popping into the same dealer for the occasional test drive or just to sit and dream. Dealer was always great to me, and i felt immensely safer on the spyder than i ever did on the two wheelers. Between my not being able to afford it, and basically watching my son alone due to different work schedules with my wife, I had given up on ever being able to ride. I figured I'd either never have the time or money. Not for fifteen years at least till my son moved out anyways. After I released a program on the apple app store that does fairly well, and paying off my credit card debit,I found I had the money. My son was 7, growing more independent and his new ADHD medicine was really working. One night my wife and I went on one of our rare dates to a local BBQ place. Spent half an hour trying to find parking. After eating, we left, and saw a parking section right up front just for bikes. My wife said if we had a bike we could have parked there. That got me doing something I hadn't done in well almost 2 years... Thinking about bikes.... I had money, and a son that required much less constant supervision. Went back to the dealer and found the RTs had come out. Still was aiming for an RS mainly due to the lower price. But my wife and I decided my son would probably be fine riding with me (assuming we had a seat back), but my wife would feel more comfortable with him riding the rt. I went back and forth several times between going for it and not. Eventually figured out how I could handle it financially without wiping out my savings. Got approved for the loan at my credit union and bought my RT. didn't tell my mom for almost a week. She wasn't happy, but accepted I needed to live my life and that she couldn't stop me. After actually seeing the bike, she actually warmed up to it quite a bit. Didn't want to do much more lights on my Ike than halos and maybe wheel lights. But I keep finding more and more ways to mod my bike at doesn't make it too flash or gaudy ( I hate chrome, and usually dislike directly visible led lights). Got a rather sizable order in with Reggy right now I hope to be installing next week.

 

[Jesse]

I saw one in the parking lot of Cabela's April 2011. It was the first one I saw standing still. I like the look of this machine and just had to have one. Went home looked on craiglist found a 2008 GS/RS with 1200 miles on it and bought it two days later. No regrets. Now thinking about keeping the RS and buying an RT for a more comfortable two up riding with the wife.

Did some searching on the net and found a couple of forums. It did not take long to figure out that SPYDERLOVERS was the place to be. I don't post much but feel I know many of you through reading all your posts and the wealth of information on this site is priceless. Thanks to all of you!

 

[Clicker1944]

Who says advertising doesn't work.
Saw an ad for the :spyder2n tv and fell in love. That was April 2010. Went looking for a 2009 leftover and got a great deal on a black & silver RS (GS) SE5. Had it since 4/15/2010 and love it.

Did a little searching on the computer and found 3 Spyder forums. This one is light years ahead of the others.:2thumbs:

 

[Derk]

I had never owned or ridden a motorcycle before, but then I saw a Spyder in a grocery store parking lot. I waited until the owner came out,asked him all the questions we now get asked ourselves and fell in love with the saftey concept and looks. I went to a HD dealership and took my endorsement, and went to DMV for written test. I then went to a Spyder dealership in N.C., took a test ride to see if I liked SE5 or SM5 better, and purchased a 2010 RT-SM5. I put a few thousand miles on it and then took off for cross country trip to Washington State, 10,604 miles. I've never had so much fun and met so many nice people. I'm looking forward to meeting everybody at the Spyderfest in Cuba this April. This summer I'll be doing a trip across Canada and hope to meet more Spyder riders along the way. Safe riding to all.

 

[Boriken]

A couple of years prior to retiring from police work and approaching empty nest status (2002) I purchased a Honda Rebel 250 and learned to ride on it. When I attempted to move up to a larger bike (my son's HD) I found out that my bad knees gave me problems holding the bike up so I got me a 1983 Goldwing Interstate with a Voyager kit and dicided that was the way I wanted to go.

While looking around for triked out bikes I became aware that the prices that I could afford would only put me on a used trike. While checking out trikes on E-Bay in 2009 I came upon the Spyder and fell in love with the "Roadster". After several months of research, reading Spiderlovers forums I pulled the trigger and purchased a new '09 Phantom thru the Internet from a dealer in Minnesota. At the time I had never seen one in person, my first ryde on one was at the Wildwood, NJ "Roar to the Shore" three weeks prior to having mine dlivered to my house.

 

[DynamoBT]

I've had the yearn to ride for a long time. My husband was against it for years. After my career with horses was over, I was really missing some adventure in my life. So, signed up for the MSF Beginner Rider class. Got a Honda Nighthawk. Everything was going well enough but I was feeling that my skills on two wheels should have been progressing more. I moved to a bigger bike BMW F650 GS single. That was nice but showed upa weakness I had in my left leg from a spinal injury. Needless to say, the first time I heard about the Spyder I knew I wanted one. Took me a year to convince myself, and sell my bikes. Found SpyderLovers about the same time I took a BRP Demo Ryde. One ryde was all it took. I could RYDE this thing!!!!!! Looked for a used one while bargaining with local dealers over new. Found my '08 SM5 RS and have been happy ever since. Most of my ryding is two up with hubby on the back. The Spyder has become our new joint activity in retirement. It really is a wonderful thing!! We just love going out on the roads together. My only wish is we could travel more. But we have a dog at home who wouldn't kennel well. We generally have someone live in our house with him. But, one day I hope to do longer rydes. I may be 60 but feel I have years and years left ryding the Spyder. My only regret is that BRP didn't invent it sooner!!

 

[Firefly]

Some really great stories ----- mine's pretty boring....

In late 2005 or 2006 I saw a quick write-up on the Spyder in Popular Science-- think it was in their 'what's new' section. Went to the website and read what very little they had to say about it at that time... but signed a thing that said "If they have a demo in your area, would you be interested, yada yada...."

A year goes by and I never really gave it another thought.... then I get an email in 2007 saying they had demo rides in Kalamazoo, MI..... So I confirmed it and called a buddy and said-- hey-- let's go check out these goofy bikes.

We went. Both rode prototypes.. went really fast..... buddy left... I stayed longer.... dropped down a $2,000 deposit..... then waited 10 months to get the thing in March of 2008.

Still trying to find that Popular Science issue with the article in it.........

 

[mowin]

Always wanted a MC when I was younger, but new I would get in alot of trouble, or worse. 30 some yrs later, and after spending a LOT of money to make money( worked some of the time), I wanted something that didnt involve work. I could have purchased another peice of equipment, to try to make money, but that would have involved more hrs at work. I wanted something to have fun with, that didnt involve work. Not that runing a skidsteer isnt fun. There is a dealer about 15mi from me that I buy a lot of equipment from that is also a Can-Am dealer. I went there to look at a skidsteer, and looked at a spyder instead. After pleading with the wiferay:, and since the spyder was 1/3 the cost of the skid:yikes:,
she approved.:2thumbs:

While the dealer was preping the bike, I went online and found a few spyder forums, and Spyderlovers is by far the best of em...

 

[DragonLorD]

Addicted

Always rode a bikes, loved choppers for comfort and size, loved sport bikes for performance.
Had a few chopps - all rice burners and very reliable, rode 600cc sport once and tipped it when stopping :gaah: - test ride went wrong and cost a lot so I stick with my chopps and rode like I stole it all the time. My buddies always used to say that there is no such a bike I would be 100 happy with. 2007 came across BRP web and kept watching their intro with yellow Spyder - "Y- factor" over and over again. That thing didn't let me sleep and I thought - Man this beast is going to be 50k but I must have it. It never left my mind since. In 2009 there was a Bike Show/expo which only happens every 2 years so I could not miss it. Walked around several times and see it all, cross bikes never had my attention but I was not in hurry so I went to see them too and there she was , hidden between goats, silver moon color. Spent there rest of the day, guy took my details that he'll call me when ready for test ride, no dealership set up, nothing. Went home with Spyder intensively in mind. Two days later got a phone call, meet me at such and such parking lot near Dublin, wow, it's happening, so off I went and couldn't even ride it because of insurance ect, went as a pillion. Loved it. This guy was only an agent of UK Dealership. They've got a great interest but since there was no Dealership in country, no one gave a credits nor loans for purchases, next thing recession hits the field and game was over before it started. I still managed to get my Spyder, paid cash on the spot, got her in red/black + all the extras available and waited 5 longest months for delivery. June 2009 I rode my Spyder first time and that grin it did to my face is still there ever since. Love my RS to bits and won't go back to two wheels full time.

 

[ronv]

Started riding in the mid 60's. A couple of years later met x-wife, couldn't afford both on a junior airman's pay. Bye to the bike....

Jump forward 40+ years. The urge to ride again has become overwhelming, but there are a couple of problems, need to have storage for oxygen tanks so I don't turn blue when walking around, and somewhen I had to have fingers on left hand partially amputated so clutch lever is going to be a problem. Looked, but couldn't find anything that I was comfortable with and that could solve my two little issues.

Sitting at a stoplight, the strangest looking yellow thing I've goes by, did some research and found out it was a Spyder. Had storage space and an electric paddle shifter. The rest is history, did a lot of looking, took delivery of a red 09 SE5 in Nov 09.

Wife an I went to Spyderfest last year and had a ball. Will go again this year also.

When will I get rid of Spyder? Oh, about 3 days after the plant me!

Ron

 

[coz]

tv

i saw the ads on tv and got very interested, then started to do the research, ended up here . if there wasn't spyderlovers, i don't think i could have learned enough about spyders to buy one. but i did, and i did. it's been a blast ever since:thumbup:

 

[retread]

Started riding in 1954, had bikes most of my life, sometime in there, my back decided to retire, got to the point I had trouble getting the Virago on the center stand. Then I saw a write up in Cycle World, two guys on a weird looking backwards trike, forgot about the Ural side hack, went to Michigan to try one out, then had to go to a different dealer to buy one, no dealer in Indiana in early '08. Looking forward to an RT soon.

john

 

[Squadcarman]

Bucket list

I used to ride back in the 70's and 80's. I got married, sold the bike, raised a family. Recently I was having some serious issues with my heart. After getting my problem under control, and realizing how precious life is, I decided I wanted to ride again. My wife is my best friend and companion, but she would not ride with me on 2wheels. I took her to a local Can Am dealer and had her sit on a RT. The salesman at the dealership turned out to be a guy I worked with 20 years earlier. He let me take her for a ride, and the rest as they say is history. After seeing a few other riders around, I started surfing the net for owners groups. I joined a few other forums before joining Spyderlovers. This group is by far the most informative, funny and caring group of all of the forums I have visited. Lamonster should be commended for the way he has structured and organized this group. I am glad to be a "Spyderlover".:bowdown::firstplace: