How many of you ride a Can Am spyder??

Burnerboy

2000+ Posts
Sep 2, 2016
2,420
1,064
Springfield, MA
Name
Ronnie
I now ride a 2010 Honda Goldwing w/ a Roadsmith TRIKE kit

it now has 75,500 miles of happy miles on it...{and running great}

I am now 73 yrs old and lucky enough to be good health.... (heck I still walk 3-6 miles everyday) and go to an exercise class, every T &Thurs.

BUT I've been thinking about purchasing a Can Am spyder for my next bike'n adventure.... The nearest Spyder salesroom is only 7 miles up the road...

Now that I've gone three wheels , I'll never go back to 2

I can buy another Goldwing and have it converted to another R/Smith... BUT the nearest R/S installer is over 135 miles away.. and I had alot of B/S with this installer, and I really don't want to be involved with that installer ever again..Plus the Down/time, of waiting for my bike to be TRIKED out, is also something that I don't want to have to do.... I just want too buy and ride!!!

So anyways, HOW MANY CAN AM SYPDER rider'rrrr do we have on this board??? and r u happy with it??

Ronnie

2/4/24
 
I owned/rode one for 3 years before going to a Goldwing trike. Your area may be different from mine. But here, the biggest downside for Spyder ownership is lack of dealer support/knowledge/abilities/honesty. Spyders are built with a LOT of electronics. They purposely have a propriety system named BUDS that is required in order to do virtually anything on their bikes. Independents and non-factory dealers won't touch a Spyder around here. If you like 3-4 hundred oil changes, get a Spyder. Most dealers have 1 or maybe 2 technicians qualified and trained to work on Spyders. Booking service time can be many weeks out. Then, parts availability is non-existent. Even common minor parts can take weeks for the dealer to get. I had 3 different warranty claims in 3 years. The most major was a faulty fuel pump (That was billed against my warranty at MORE than 1K). My Spyder was at the dealership for more than a month for each of the warranty claims. Very frustrating! I sold the Spyder 1 week after the warranty expired.

As far as riding/handling, the spyder is completely different and unique from a 2 wheeler and even a traditional 3 wheel trike. Spyders require more rider participation than a regular trike. Lots more leaning, body movement, and shifting weight. They can be a lot of fun but I found my CSC Goldwing to be MUCH more relaxing and comfortable. If I had a new Spyder and a new Goldwing trike sitting in my garage, I would choose the Goldwing 10 out of 10 times for going on tour. For me, the Goldwing always felt more stable on the road. There are those who claim the front wheels of the Spyder provides better stability. I disagree. And I have owned and ridden both for many thousands of miles. Good luck..... Jim
 
I now ride a 2010 Honda Goldwing w/ a Roadsmith TRIKE kit

it now has 75,500 miles of happy miles on it...{and running great}

I am now 73 yrs old and lucky enough to be good health.... (heck I still walk 3-6 miles everyday) and go to an exercise class, every T &Thurs.

BUT I've been thinking about purchasing a Can Am spyder for my next bike'n adventure.... The nearest Spyder salesroom is only 7 miles up the road...

Now that I've gone three wheels , I'll never go back to 2

I can buy another Goldwing and have it converted to another R/Smith... BUT the nearest R/S installer is over 135 miles away.. and I had alot of B/S with this installer, and I really don't want to be involved with that installer ever again..Plus the Down/time, of waiting for my bike to be TRIKED out, is also something that I don't want to have to do.... I just want too buy and ride!!!

So anyways, HOW MANY CAN AM SYPDER rider'rrrr do we have on this board??? and r u happy with it??

Ronnie

2/4/24

Ronnie have you ridden a Can-Am Spyder?

I test road one twice before deciding on my 2022 DCT Tour CSC Trike....it's a different animal and just not in the same league as a Goldwing Trike IMHO. Some people like them but I didn't care for it at all......and you sure can't beat the smooth Flat-6 Goldwing engine for smoothness and reliability.

The newer Goldwing Trikes are even much nicer than the earlier models......my CSC Encore is a dream to ride and so smooth.

Of course, depending on what you get a Goldwing Trike will cost more......take several rides then decide for yourself.

Roadsmith and CSC dealers are all over the USA.......nothing wrong with a fly and drive or renting a trailer and hauling it home.

I got my '22 CSC Encore 800-miles from home, picked it up with a 16' enclosed trailer.

IMG_0687.jpg
 
I had a Spyder…Put 60k on it..And also had a Slingshot 18 k on that… but as much as I hate Harley corporative, I gotta say that nothing feels like a Harley.!
 
I came from a Honda Goldwing Trike, a 1500 with an older solid axel conversion, but with an automatic leveling system. The Goldwing was very comfortable and did everything a Goldwing should do. I had it 4 years and put 50,000 miles on it. A Can Am Spyder came up for sale locally at a price I couldn't pass up. I sold the my Mustang and the Goldwing and bought it. That was 9 years and 80,000 miles ago and I have never looked back. At 77 This is probably my last motorcycle. Neither my health nor my finances are what they used to be. But.... I love my Spyder and am very happy with it, and if I could, I would buy another in a heartbeat. I have ridden Triglides, both Freewheelers and Triglide Ultras. They are beautiful and nothing sounds like a Harley or is as well finished. I'll Still take my Spyder and ride off into the Sunset.
 
I ride a F3S, and I look forward to riding it more than any other bike. I've been riding 2 wheels since the mid 60's. I've toured, commuted for 100k, Harleys on down. Never owned a goldwing.

It's definitely different and takes a bit to get used to, but I find it extremely stable. I love the G force feel it gives when it's going around tight curves. It's very addicting. Road conditions don't really matter. I've never rode in ice or snow, but rain is a non issue. Never have to put your feet down. The 3 cylinder 1330 cc 6 speed semi-auto trans with a real reverse gear and belt drive is awesome. The engine also has hydraulic lifters, so no valve adjustments. It's pretty quick also. I'm hooked. I actually rode a BMW 1250 GS a few months ago for about 60 miles and the whole time I was missing my Spyder. image.jpg

If your considering a Spyder don't base your decision on a short test ride, or someone's opinion who doesn't own one. It took me about 300 miles to get comfortable on it, but now it feels normal. When I say "normal" I mean no anxiety concerning cornering or general riding. I forgot to mention braking. This F3S stops faster than any vehicle i have ever been on or in. Fantastic brakes. It just feels good throwing a leg over. It's like an old friend now.
 
Thanks guys,

I have test ride, one, once, at the Lake George Americade Motorcycle Rally.......... And had to say that I did enjoy it, BUT I'm now ride'n my 2010 Goldwing with 75,700 happy miles... @ 73 years old, I just don't want to go through all the bull shi# involved in trike'n out another one....



At this time in my life, all I want is easy pessy... Like I mention above the Spyder dealership is only 7 miles (walk'n distance{ish} )up the road from me, and a Honda D/ship is 30 miles away.. my Honda is still running great, although it's still up on jacks in my garage wait'n till it warms up a bit..



Not sure how I'll feel when it actually comes time to actually purchase one.. I guess I can only wait and see.............(and I hope it's a long wait...lol)

Ronnie

2/24/24
 
I reckon keep your current ride or upgrade to a newer one.

The crap from Can Am has been mentioned

If upgrading just tell them you want a deal where they do the work, you turn up and hand over the cash and ride away. No bullshit involved.

Dont like the nearest installer, go further afield.

Or buy one already done and get it delivered.
 
I own a 2021 RTL. Now have 22K on it. No issues other than needing a software upgrade. I really like how it rides, performs, the packing and comfort. What I don't like is dealer support, or lack of. I personally do all my own basic maintenance , not that hard if you're mechanically inclined and have the desire. Lot's of good info on the Spyder form.
 
Thanks guys,

I have test ride, one, once, at the Lake George Americade Motorcycle Rally.......... And had to say that I did enjoy it, BUT I'm now ride'n my 2010 Goldwing with 75,700 happy miles... @ 73 years old, I just don't want to go through all the bull shi# involved in trike'n out another one....



At this time in my life, all I want is easy pessy... Like I mention above the Spyder dealership is only 7 miles (walk'n distance{ish} )up the road from me, and a Honda D/ship is 30 miles away.. my Honda is still running great, although it's still up on jacks in my garage wait'n till it warms up a bit..



Not sure how I'll feel when it actually comes time to actually purchase one.. I guess I can only wait and see.............(and I hope it's a long wait...lol)

Ronnie

2/24/24

Ronnie….I had a Spyder and the dealer was great…He also sold Hondas….over the years I bought no less than ten Honda ATV/ATC’s Two Sidebuys and a few Motorcycles 🏍️…..The problem was with BRP The manufacturer not the Dealers they were impossible to deal with so much my dealer gave up the Spyder line and I know a few other dealers that also drop the Spyder line because of that ..
 
Thanks guy,

My Honda TRIKE is running great, w/o any problems (or it was before I put her into hibernation last november) BUT I do believe that my next trike just may be the Can Am... I went through way to much B/Shit trike'n the wing out, with the trike building dealership in Keene New Hampshire............. and the Can Am dealer is just up the road from my home (five miles) and not 125 miles away where I had my wing built...........

let the ride'n season begin!!!

Ronnie

5/3/24
 
My girlfriend really wants a Can Am. Before the I got the the Harley trike I went and did another test ride on the Can Am's, Ive had done several test rides and my even took a Can Am sponsored 3 wheel training class. I just couldn't get over the feeling they felt more like riding a snow mobile than a motorcycle. The Can Am was not for me.

Riding down the freeway my Harley trike feels like riding a Harley touring bike. In the turns is where it feels different. Man I still miss leaning in the turns. I would like to try a Tilting motor works leaning trike. Good luck on your adventure into the Can Am world. Enjoy the ride.
 
My girlfriend really wants a Can Am. .


That reminds me of when i had a Spyder...(One of the first ones registered in NJ 08?)....And i would get all kinds of questions about it...Mostly curiosity...One time a guy i never met walks up to me as i was just driving off and i could sense that he just wanted to rag on it, So he stops me and said thats an interesting toy, I think i'll get one for my Girlfriend, So without skipping a beat, I said you should i took her out for a ride the other night and She loved it..:D...Then i just drove off and left him standing there with a very confused look on his face...:laugh:
 

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