Post Can Am Spyder group ride test
#1
05-24-2009, 03:41 PM
Post Can Am Spyder group ride test
Early in the year I reserved a handful of slots for a test ride of the Can Am Spyder in Hammond, and yesterday was the day. In attendance were friends from a Chicagoland based forum... jhu321, outlaw1028, Bossman John, xyphois, Bill English and his friend Katrina, and myself.
The overall experience was really good. The ride to get there from 55 & Lemont took a little over a half hour, and that was with encountering traffic here and there on 294 and 80. Once there we had to register on computer terminals and answer some survey questions about the kind of bikes and riding we do, income level, etc. Then there was a 15 minute video explaining the various automatic control assistance systems there were on the machines including ABS, traction control, and a stability control system which is pretty cool. It can essentially predict when the bike is cornering too hard and will be at risk of lifting the inside wheel, and will counter it by retarding the power and braking the outside wheel. Pretty cool to see it in action, really... the inside wheel never leaves the ground and there isn't even a fraction of a second where the operator loses control. Traction control also only kicks in when there is lateral force on the bike - so you can't drift (though it does look damn cool on the bike that had it disabled)... however you can light it up in a straight line (as Xyphois tested for us LOL)
After the video we were given a tour of the controls for the bikes - there were 2 models... a manual and a semi-automatic. 1 down 4 up for the manual - like a touring bike - and the semi-auto has trigger-finger down and thumb up on the left hand. It will downshift for you below 1500rpm, and will prevent upshift below 2500. You also do not have to roll off the gas when shifting - it will retard it for you while conducting the shift. Both bikes also have reverse. There is also a parking brake where a kickstand would normally be, and the auto insists you engage it when you power off the bike by beeping at you incessantly. There is NO handbrake - only the foot pedal, which does take a little getting used to - but it does apply the brakes properly and balanced to front and rear. All the other controls are the same as on a bike, and are properly located.
The seating position is relaxed, but leaned forward just a bit to give it a bit of a sport feel - more like a sport-tour like an ST or an FJR. The seat and position feel identical to the REV chassis snowmobiles from Ski-Doo. For 2-up riders there is an optional backrest which adjusts fore and aft and looks to release with a pin. THere is a "trunk" at the front of the bike which is quite large - enough for a good sized carry-on bag, and is under the front cover/hood. All the bikes we had had short windscreens that were about the same level of effectiveness as what is on a typical sportbike, but there are several factory windshield options including a full, goldwing sized screen.
The engine is a 990 V-twin Rotax and has plenty of torque and oomph, especially for the size of the bike and it's weight (about 675 dry).
After the intro, we were all asked to take one of the bikes around a small course to get a feel for both the brake and how the steering handles. At first it feels like they turn really wide - but I found that once you learn *how* it corners, it can turn incredibly sharp considering it has the front width of an import car.
Once everyone did a lap on the little test course - 2 escorts joined us (one in front and one in back), and took us on the streets. We did some residential streets and business, then hit a curvy frontage road along I80. The suspension was butter - soaking up lots of chop like it wasn't even there, and the steering was very tight, responsive and sports-car/go-kart in feel. Halfway through the ride, some us switched autos and manuals.
Though you didn't _have_ to lean in like on a quad or sled as the stability system won't let you upset the bike - pretty much everyone did, I noticed. jhu312 has never ridden a quad, sled, or jet ski before - only bikes - so it was rather counter-intuitive for him, and he said he was even trying to counter-steer. He said he didn't like it as a result, as it was opposite of everything he has learned on a bike for steering and control. I think with some time spent on a quad or sled or even the Can Am he would get more acclimated to it however, and hopefully enjoy it more.
Acceleration was quite quick, but in the first couple gears you hit the torque curve pretty quickly and have to shift. At a couple points I got to 80 or 85ish and the front few bikes were still pulling away from me - it certainly did not feel like 80+ at all. No idea what the top speed is, and while it won't get there as quick as a regular bike - it is by no means a slouch. The general consensus afterwards was that having 1 or 2 in a group of sportbikes might not be the best situation, but a group of Can Ams riding together would be a lot of fun.
After the 25 minutes ride we went down the block to a family diner and ate good food at super cheap. CHeaper than CHinatown!
We fed 7 people for $37, including 2 burgers and 2 fries for one person. Turns out they are open 24 hours too, so possible new destination for food Bring cash - no plastic. It was on Kennedy Ave - north of 80, 1 block south of Extreme Powersports... John - what was the name of it again?
While there - Xyphois brought up the idea of the usability of the Can Am in the snow. It was like light-bulbs went on over everyone's head. It would be like snowmobiling on the highway
Put some Blizzaks on that thing, and you'd be all set!
In short - it is worth a test ride for sure if you get the chance. I'd do it again, and i would like to take one on a longer ride once to try it in a variety of situations - and also take it to a parking lot to see exactly how it behaves under really tight, hard cornering before hitting too hard of twists on the roads. Pricetag was 14-16 depending on transmission, lighting, and a couple other things, but there is an extensive factory accessory catalog including wheels, clothing, luggage, exhausts (Jardine I think? Sounded sweet!), and there are even hard side bags for it ala ST/FJR. Could be a blast on a long ride or weekend tour.
Anyway enough rambling... here come the pix.
Part of the course and registration area
Part of our fleet - the others left shortly after we got there on their own ride
Checkin it out
Xyphois posin it up. This one had HID's, foglights and the exhaust (on the other side, sorry)
"...and right here is the NAAAWWWWSSSSSS"
jhu321 on the test track
Bill
Outlaw1028
Xyphois
Bossman
Som fat, old guy
Hittin the road
Expert photography of the ****ing sky and the dash while underway... LOL Dammit...
G@y - can only put 20 inline images...
The overall experience was really good. The ride to get there from 55 & Lemont took a little over a half hour, and that was with encountering traffic here and there on 294 and 80. Once there we had to register on computer terminals and answer some survey questions about the kind of bikes and riding we do, income level, etc. Then there was a 15 minute video explaining the various automatic control assistance systems there were on the machines including ABS, traction control, and a stability control system which is pretty cool. It can essentially predict when the bike is cornering too hard and will be at risk of lifting the inside wheel, and will counter it by retarding the power and braking the outside wheel. Pretty cool to see it in action, really... the inside wheel never leaves the ground and there isn't even a fraction of a second where the operator loses control. Traction control also only kicks in when there is lateral force on the bike - so you can't drift (though it does look damn cool on the bike that had it disabled)... however you can light it up in a straight line (as Xyphois tested for us LOL)
After the video we were given a tour of the controls for the bikes - there were 2 models... a manual and a semi-automatic. 1 down 4 up for the manual - like a touring bike - and the semi-auto has trigger-finger down and thumb up on the left hand. It will downshift for you below 1500rpm, and will prevent upshift below 2500. You also do not have to roll off the gas when shifting - it will retard it for you while conducting the shift. Both bikes also have reverse. There is also a parking brake where a kickstand would normally be, and the auto insists you engage it when you power off the bike by beeping at you incessantly. There is NO handbrake - only the foot pedal, which does take a little getting used to - but it does apply the brakes properly and balanced to front and rear. All the other controls are the same as on a bike, and are properly located.
The seating position is relaxed, but leaned forward just a bit to give it a bit of a sport feel - more like a sport-tour like an ST or an FJR. The seat and position feel identical to the REV chassis snowmobiles from Ski-Doo. For 2-up riders there is an optional backrest which adjusts fore and aft and looks to release with a pin. THere is a "trunk" at the front of the bike which is quite large - enough for a good sized carry-on bag, and is under the front cover/hood. All the bikes we had had short windscreens that were about the same level of effectiveness as what is on a typical sportbike, but there are several factory windshield options including a full, goldwing sized screen.
The engine is a 990 V-twin Rotax and has plenty of torque and oomph, especially for the size of the bike and it's weight (about 675 dry).
After the intro, we were all asked to take one of the bikes around a small course to get a feel for both the brake and how the steering handles. At first it feels like they turn really wide - but I found that once you learn *how* it corners, it can turn incredibly sharp considering it has the front width of an import car.
Once everyone did a lap on the little test course - 2 escorts joined us (one in front and one in back), and took us on the streets. We did some residential streets and business, then hit a curvy frontage road along I80. The suspension was butter - soaking up lots of chop like it wasn't even there, and the steering was very tight, responsive and sports-car/go-kart in feel. Halfway through the ride, some us switched autos and manuals.
Though you didn't _have_ to lean in like on a quad or sled as the stability system won't let you upset the bike - pretty much everyone did, I noticed. jhu312 has never ridden a quad, sled, or jet ski before - only bikes - so it was rather counter-intuitive for him, and he said he was even trying to counter-steer. He said he didn't like it as a result, as it was opposite of everything he has learned on a bike for steering and control. I think with some time spent on a quad or sled or even the Can Am he would get more acclimated to it however, and hopefully enjoy it more.
Acceleration was quite quick, but in the first couple gears you hit the torque curve pretty quickly and have to shift. At a couple points I got to 80 or 85ish and the front few bikes were still pulling away from me - it certainly did not feel like 80+ at all. No idea what the top speed is, and while it won't get there as quick as a regular bike - it is by no means a slouch. The general consensus afterwards was that having 1 or 2 in a group of sportbikes might not be the best situation, but a group of Can Ams riding together would be a lot of fun.
After the 25 minutes ride we went down the block to a family diner and ate good food at super cheap. CHeaper than CHinatown!
We fed 7 people for $37, including 2 burgers and 2 fries for one person. Turns out they are open 24 hours too, so possible new destination for food Bring cash - no plastic. It was on Kennedy Ave - north of 80, 1 block south of Extreme Powersports... John - what was the name of it again?While there - Xyphois brought up the idea of the usability of the Can Am in the snow. It was like light-bulbs went on over everyone's head. It would be like snowmobiling on the highway
Put some Blizzaks on that thing, and you'd be all set!In short - it is worth a test ride for sure if you get the chance. I'd do it again, and i would like to take one on a longer ride once to try it in a variety of situations - and also take it to a parking lot to see exactly how it behaves under really tight, hard cornering before hitting too hard of twists on the roads. Pricetag was 14-16 depending on transmission, lighting, and a couple other things, but there is an extensive factory accessory catalog including wheels, clothing, luggage, exhausts (Jardine I think? Sounded sweet!), and there are even hard side bags for it ala ST/FJR. Could be a blast on a long ride or weekend tour.
Anyway enough rambling... here come the pix.
Part of the course and registration area
Part of our fleet - the others left shortly after we got there on their own ride
Checkin it out
Xyphois posin it up. This one had HID's, foglights and the exhaust (on the other side, sorry)
"...and right here is the NAAAWWWWSSSSSS"
jhu321 on the test track
Bill
Outlaw1028
Xyphois
Bossman
Som fat, old guy
Hittin the road
Expert photography of the ****ing sky and the dash while underway... LOL Dammit...
G@y - can only put 20 inline images...
#5
05-26-2009, 06:31 PM
Join Date: May 2008
Location: West By God Virginia!
Posts: 6,656
Dude thats awesome,, Thanks for sharing.... So you think there alright,, I mean Ive seen a few but I just dont know how to think about this new unit.. I guess it will grow on me though.. I would like to get out and at least test one!
#6
05-26-2009, 07:29 PM
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Washington
Posts: 21,060
Awesome Sro, that was a good writeup. Yea I hate the 20 pic max per post. I had to make 4 posts just to get all my latest pics in one thread. Grrr. Oh well, those machines look cool, that's getting closer to what it would be like to ride a quad on the streets. Thanks man.
#8
05-26-2009, 09:07 PM
#9
05-28-2009, 08:41 AM
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Roswell, NM
Posts: 5,432
cool write up Sro....seems like, it would kind of be a novelty thing. cool to ride for a bit, but seems like you would want to get back on two wheels....would be interested in test riding one myself tho.
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