CanAm Spyder Roadster: A Motorcycle for the Masses?
Best known for its Sea-Doo watercrafts and ATVs, Canadian company BRP is trying to create and conquer a new segment: the three-wheeled roadster. In three states — California, North Carolina and Delaware — you don’t even need a motorcycle license to drive one, despite the roadster’s open-air setup.
The CanAm Spyder Roadster is a three-wheeled, two-passenger motorcycle that weighs in at just under 700 pounds and uses a 106-hp, fuel-injected, 998-cc Rotax V-twin engine to provide 77 pounds of low-end torque. Its power-to-weight ratio propels the roadster to a company-claimed zero-to-60 time of 4.5 seconds. That makes it faster than most muscle cars sold today, and quite a few super sport bikes as well.
Unlike traditional motorcycles, the Spyder rides on two wheels up front for added stability. There are also some car-like features, including antilock brakes via a single foot pedal, and a Bosch stability control system.
BRP has a thumb-shift five-speed sequential-electronic automatic transmission (with Reverse) available, as well as a five-speed manual. The friendly controls and upright “snowmobile-like” seating position, along with its safety features, makes the Spyder’s learning curve much easier for non-motorcycle riders to negotiate, and it may attract a wider audience that otherwise might not have considered a motorcycle at all.
It’s because the Spyder is so easy to operate that those states don’t require a special license to drive one. The other 47 states require a Class M license (any motorcycle with 150 cc or greater displacement). Pricing for the CanAm Spyder Roadster starts at $16,199 for the manual-transmission model, and the automatic transmission adds another $1,500.
Cars.com spent a week evaluating the Spyder, and we’ll have a full report tomorrow on whether this three-wheeled speedster deserves to fall into the motorcycle or car camp.
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I bet the crash rate of these are very low.Anything to make cycles safer is a big plus.If I was in the market,there would be no other choice.Great product,great idea,and guess what...Harley Davidson didnt think of it! Even better!
Unfortunately, my Kia Spectra is more fuel efficient.
Idaho Guy,
Too bad it takes 20 sec for your Kia to get to 60 and not to be mean. Your Kia is downright not welcoming. At least this will turn some heads and gets the gas mileage. Terrible comparison.
would Honda S2000 owners look at this I wonder?
I would like to hear from owners of the Spyder. I and wondering about maint. costs, (can I change the oil & filter myself, etc.) how much maint. has to be done @ the dealer, how does it ride, etc. I ride a HD Ultra Classic but my wife wants her own ride, she says she is tired of looking at the back of my helment. She id 5' tall and slight built and I wonder how well she will be able to control the machine. I like the sound of the assisted stearing. A friend we ride with has a sister who picked hers up yesterday. He rode the machine for a few miles and really thinks it is going to be great. (he rides an HD Ultra Classic as well)
i love mine. bought it off craigslist last september. it has 10,000 miles on it now. go to spyderlovers to learn all about the ROADSTER. :)