Article Comments 2008 BRP Can-Am Spyder First Drive

63 messages, Last post on Jun 18, 2008 at 7:41 AM

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Article comments for First Drive: 2008 BRP Can-Am Spyder Grand Sport Roadster - The Can-Am Spyder is a strange-looking vehicle, and when we had a test ride on the West Coast of Florida just south of the Kennedy Space Center, there were questions. Always questions. (more)

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#34 of 63 Re: gas milage [way2faststv] by stevecebu Jun 06, 2007 (2:06 am)
Replying to: way2faststv (Jun 05, 2007 9:08 am) Thanks, I guess all that additional tread gives it a lot more friction on the road. I will have to try one when I get back to the US next year. I would like a bike but I just don't manage to drive the big bikes well due to being only 5'7" tall with short legs. This looks like it might be a good answer for me. Be even better if Honda made one for $6,000 or so.
#35 of 63 Spyder Second Test Drive 6/16/07 by nexus1 Jun 16, 2007 (9:55 am)
I've had a second chance to take the Spyder on another test drive. This time it was on lonely backroads on a very warm sunny day.The dealer had two demos to test but that day when I got there only one of them was running. Apparently the other one had some glitches in the computer that when it got hot it would only run about 50 miles an hour and the limp home mode would be digitaly displayed on the screen. I had brought another coworker who was very excited and I believe a little nervous since it had been awhile since he'd been on a motorcycle. I went ahead and let my friend take the first demo drive with the dealers representative leading the way on the other Spyder. Even though it had problems he felt like as long as he didn't run too long and get it very hot it might be okay. He was waiting from the factory to give him some information on how to fix the problem but they had not gotten back with them on time we had gotten their for our ride. As I patiently waited and looked around the place that I had come to take the demo ride it was sort of unusual to see nothing but boats other watercrafts and crates of jet skis stacked up as high as the building. I thought this was a very unusual place to be selling a product that drives on the highway. But again the company that makes this Spyder it's their first time on the pavement at least in a while so maybe it's not that much of a stretch also since they also have the Rotax engine in the watercrafts and jet skis here that may give them an advantage over others who don't have this engine in anything they sell as far as serivce and repair. Finally my friend returned and of course a smile from ear to ear, only comment that he would give me was awesome again the negative side was the sharp turns. The only other negative comment was that he felt a shimmy or wobble in the front and mostly when he changed gears. Well now it was my turn and as I sat back on the Spyder with a little more confidence than the first time. I knew this time it was going to give it a workout. My guide who was also there mechanic and very good person I may add took us down some backroads some sharp turns over some rough terrain a couple hard uphill grades if you call going up a bridge a grade. This time I was able to stretch this thing out on some long straightaways the power curve seems to be unending I can say that for its weight this thing moves very fast. As I shifted into second gear and pop the clutch I could've swore the front two wheels came off the ground for just a moment my rear end slip back in the seat a couple inches and I heard a little voice in my head say Oh Yeah. Between second and third it's almost an instant it's almost the same shift without stopping almost as fast as you can shift to second your already shifting into third. I stretched it out through fourth and fifth and I can't really say how fast it went but I did get into three digit.By no means is it the fastest I've been on two wheels but it is the fastest I've been on three. That little thing on the front they call a windshield is hardly big enough even in the crotch rocket position to do much good. I tried some of the sharp curves a little faster than I should have to see what would happen if the anti- brake system kicked in I did not notice it nor did the engine throttle back. I still leaned which helps a lot but you still get that throwed off feeling and you truly have to fight a little more since the bike trike doesn't lean.I had wanted to do another test I had a urge to see what would happen and how hard it would be to recover if the right wheel fell off the edge of the pavement so I let my guide sort of get out of sight but I chickened out at the last minute I had a vision of me cart wheeling through the woods bad idea. The negative parts, I'm going to miss weaving through traffic,and the sharp curves are going to get a little hard to get used to also in slow speed the wide turns you have to make just to get out of the parking lot is something you can have to learn how to judging but overall I have no regrets ordering one, again I can only say this is not a motorcycle not even close for people to compare this have not driven it. This is a four wheeler missing a wheel that is the best way I can describe it and how it handles. The appeals of this type of vehicle is probably going to be widespread for many different reasons the hard-core motorcyclist will not like it because they will try to compare it to a motorcycle but on the other hand the guy who has driven a snowmobile or a four wheeler will love it. I just wish patience was one of my virtues. NEXUS1
#36 of 63 Jackets are arriving by way2faststv Jun 17, 2007 (9:38 am)
I got a letter yesterday from BRP thanking me for my Spyder deposit and informing me that the free Spyder jackets will be arriving at the dealerships this month. Just in time to wear it in the 90 degree summer weather while waiting for the trike to come next fall. Replies to this message: nexus1 (Jun 18, 2007 1:22 pm)
#37 of 63 Re: Jackets are arriving [way2faststv] by nexus1 Jun 18, 2007 (1:22 pm)
Replying to: way2faststv (Jun 17, 2007 9:38 am) Like you way2faststv I also received in the mail today that my Special Edition Spyder jacket is on the way.It will be here sometime in July before your dealer receives it. Just in time for the summer heat wave so wear it proudly, because this jacket tell the other that you're one of the Spyders original's,,,,,,,,,, the "Spyders Riders"! I laugh so hard after reading that letter I almost fell off the chair. Now why are they shipping it to the dealer? My dealer is 120 miles away.Now I know this letter made it to my home address, why not the jacket? I'm not complaining at least it's something to look forward to even if I do look like a retard wearing it in the summer hot hot Ha HA.
#38 of 63 jackets by way2faststv Jun 20, 2007 (9:12 am)
Nexus...what state are you in? I'm 70 miles from the dealer where I purchased my Spyder. I'll be going there next month to take another test ride on one, so I'll pickup the jacket then. I guess they don't mail the jacket to the customers as a way to drag them into the dealership where they might spend some more money !! I'm hoping to be able to get the various Spyder accessories at dealer cost. If that is the case, perhaps I can save people money on them. Richard
#39 of 63 Jacket has arrived by nexus1 Jun 22, 2007 (1:33 pm)
I do appreciate the offered way2faststv but I was pleasantly surprised when I got home this evening. On my porch with a box from my dealer when I opened it up there was the jacket and two caps.I do have to commend my dealer for taking it on their own to sending it to me without me asking. Also the two hats were sent as a free gesture, can't really ask any more than that. Now this jacket is a lot nicer than I expected, this one is a light gray with dark gray stripes on the sides it has a tightly woven nylon or plastic coating on the outside there is a liner inside. The tags on it say waterproof breathable and impermeable,above the right-hand front pocket is a insignia that says Spyder first owner's group. Besides that there is a black plastic patch in the shape of a handheld CB microphone in the middle of that there is a cutout spot it looks like something might go in it may be a number or some sort of badge when you get it you'll see what I'm talking about. Also on the right-hand sleeve there are three white stripes that start at the collar and go all the way down with three red squares near the neck probably represent the Spyder. On the other side above the other pocket in large white letters it says Can-Am underneath in bright yellow with black letters it says Spyder.On the back of the neck collar it has a BRP insignia and below that three red squares in the shape of y sort of what's on the website somebody put a lot of thinking into this jacket design. This jacket was specifically made for BRP I'm impressed. I was really not expecting this until much later especially after I called their factory number and was told it was coming with the Spyder in the fall. Let's only hope that they ship out the Spyder Roadster just as early. Nexus1
#40 of 63 HID headlights by znolo Jun 24, 2007 (9:35 am)
My dealer told me when I put down my deposit that the Spyder came with HID high and low beams. I see on an options list that HID lights are ~$1100. Does anyone know whether they are standard? Have other dealers mentioned anything about HID lights? Replies to this message: nexus1 (Jun 24, 2007 5:31 pm)
#41 of 63 Re: HID headlights [znolo] by nexus1 Jun 24, 2007 (5:31 pm)
Replying to: znolo (Jun 24, 2007 9:35 am) When I took my second demo ride the dealer's guide told me that he had driven one of the demo Spyder at night.I had told him that I had ordered the fog lights($399.99)that were not on these units as a option.And I was thinking about the HID Xenon Lighting ($1,299.99)he said that he had plenty of light on low beam and when on high he didn't see much differentence. So I would say no to standard HID. NEXUS1
#42 of 63 Jacket by violator1 Jun 26, 2007 (1:43 pm)
I was wondering if anyone know what sizes they where sending to the dealer? I found it funny that no one ask me what size jacket I where. So was anyone else wondering the samrthing. Nexus I assume that you had no problem with the size. Replies to this message: znolo (Jun 26, 2007 3:49 pm)
#43 of 63 Re: Jacket [violator1] by znolo Jun 26, 2007 (3:49 pm)
Replying to: violator1 (Jun 26, 2007 1:43 pm) The dealer asked what my size was. He didn't say when I'd get the jacket though, or what it looked like.