Test Riding with FG: The Can-Am Spyder

[Fastgirl]

Afternoon punters...well I finally did something Ive been wanting a crack at for a while..test riding. The aim being to do a comprehensive test ride and subsequent write up of the experience for you lot.

As with most things this review is my impression only...im not a professional....im just your average punter...so do your own homework if you find your interest piqued after reading my reports.

Now to kick of my innaugural test ride...I went outside my comfort zone of sportbikes...and decided on this little machine

2009 Can-Am Spyder Roadster



Now this little number had me interested from the get go. Its sexy to look at and not your average cruiser.....Its been designed for a young market which I think they have done a great job with ..but nor have they negated the older market either. After a very helpful rundown on the operation of the Spyder of I went.

Starting Out:

Initial feedback was it was very comfortable and lighter than expected in the steering. It does have steering assist..not quite power steering...but you certainly notice it working in light traffic. I found the visibility very good...and due to the size, the cagers also take notice which is a nice change. The good thing for its size it doesnt feel big when riding it.

The Gearbox:

I chose to take the sequential manual 5 speed Spyder as opposed to the auto version as I really wanted to know how it pulls under power and what it feels like to pull it through the gearbox near redline, which was very nice I must admit. Its very smooth in the gearbox and the clutch feels nice and light.

The Brakes:
One thing I did have to get use to was the foot-actuated brake. No hand brake on this at all...so make sure you drill that into your brain before going riding and wanting to grab a handful. The brakes are awesome and I put it through 3 hard emergency brakes...from 100kms to full stop in 20m. The brakes are a fully intergrated hydraulic 3 wheel braking system which works like a charm to pull this up in that distance, and with ABS. It has a park brake you can apply with ease when parked up located behind the left foot peg.






The Suspension:

Worked a dream. I purposley made myself aim for pot holes and bumps (things I try to avoid on my roady) and it absorbed it all with out a complaint or any feedback to me. No bump unsettled the feel of riding, a very nice change indeed.

The engine:
Now for power you have at your disposal a 990 v-twin BRP-Rotax sitting under your bum that humms away rather quietly. It puts out 106hp( taken from manufacturers STATS mind you so could be a little less). Whilst it wont ever break any land speed records...it does the job nicely once again. It sat at 120km's very comfortably(all on a private road of course)without sounding like it was trying.

Handling:

Now as for handling under hard cornering, this is probably the one place where I found I had to ''muscle'' it around a bit. Lets face it you arent buying this to race so its not been designed to handle like its on rails. Having said this however it has VSS (Vehicle Stability System) which I felt did come into play and kept the front wheels nicely grounded. There is no counter steering the Spyder...it feels very much like a front wheel drive car going around corners..the steering does lighten up and you find that even if you twitch a little bit...the front will respond, and for me this was a little tricky to get use to. Like a quad bike you do have to weight the pegs to get around the corner, which was a little hard seeings the whole bike just sat flat. No swaying or rolling what-so-everso the VSS is very valuable.

Comfort Factor:

No engine heat to bother you and your pillion which a lot of the new sportsbikes fail in today . In looking at the side cowling on the Spyder they have cleverly designed its sides to distribute the engine heat to the ground. Being WA and riding this bike you wont have to worry about sweating your arse of and neither would your pillion

Ergonomicas:

The trike is a great head turning cruiser..Id recommend it for anyone really...from the learner lady just starting out on her R class to the seasoned vet wanting something a little more funky than a harley immatation, and with the added bonus of good brakes. Id say its very pillion friendly...great ergonomics and vision for the pillion with a neat little back rest for extra comfort. The Spyder has fantastic storage in the nose and has optional side storage bags that can be fitted. You can also have a towball added to the Spyder, making it a great option for that all around Oz trek adventure for you and the Mrs. Which this bike and you would do comfortably.




The Spyder also feature a very user friendly control panel with both a digital and analogue speedo, a tacho, temp guage and huzzah!! a fuel guage!! plus the obligitory trip counter.


To access the front boot or the fuel cap you simply depress the key and turn either left or right making it very easy to access both these features..making loading up and fuelling up easy to do.


So for me I give the 2009 Can-Am Spyder roadster a thumbs-up and a 4/5 star rating.

If you would like to know where I picked the Spyder up from pm me. Im not going to promote any bike shops in my test rides.

Pleas let me know if there is anything Ive missed out in my review, this will be the first of many every month..or more. Also if there is a particular brand of bike you would like to hear more about also let me know.

[Lefty]

Now to kick of my innaugural test ride...I went outside my comfort zone of sportbikes...and decided on this little machine

Pleas let me know if there is anything Ive missed out in my review, this will be the first of many every month..or more. Also if there is a particular brand of bike you would like to hear more about also let me know.

/nazi

Ummm, costs maybe?

Actually, is insurance on these things different? I imagine that it's hard to put them into the m/c class (what with them being somewhat less prone to vertical stability issues and all).

Also, will you be taking suggestions for your future test rides or is it entirely your prerogative?

[Twinks]

Great review fastgirl, I like how you sectioned everything out.

I just don't understand the Spyder. Seems to be that someone put the worst parts of a bike (getting wet, no protection, less safety, no luggage room) and the worst parts of car (can't split traffic or park wherever) together into one package.

That said, i've always wanted to have a go.

[Fastgirl]

/nazi

Ummm, costs maybe?

Actually, is insurance on these things different? I imagine that it's hard to put them into the m/c class (what with them being somewhat less prone to vertical stability issues and all).

Also, will you be taking suggestions for your future test rides or is it entirely your prerogative?

As for costs the dealer was very keen to let me know (when arent they keen though?) for about 26k onroad ride away.

As for insurance...I have no idea. Im not willing to spend the money and ring around with insurance places. If the review has interested you enough to want to have a ride yourself...you can chase that up yourself.
Im willing to take suggestions onboard. There isnt anything I cant ride on two, three or four wheels so I will take any suggestion onboard and do my best.

[Lefty]

As for costs the dealer was very keen to let me know (when arent they keen though?) for about 26k onroad ride away.

As for insurance...I have no idea. Im not willing to spend the money and ring around with insurance places. If the review has interested you enough to want to have a ride yourself...you can chase that up yourself.
Im willing to take suggestions onboard. There isnt anything I cant ride on two, three or four wheels so I will take any suggestion onboard and do my best.

I'm not remotely interested in purchasing one, just thinking/rambling.

How about you test one of the new yamahahaha 125's then?

[Murley]

What times do you estimate this beast would achieve over the 1/4 mile?

[Fastgirl]

What times do you estimate this beast would achieve over the 1/4 mile?

Just a quick search of some 1/4 mile footage of the can-am...its not a speed record holder in the making Murley thats for sure
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaIHoBAzeaA&feature=related"]YouTube- can am spyder quarter mile drags[/ame]

[Cip]

the taco is the wrong way around :\

can it powerslide?

[Fastgirl]

the taco is the wrong way around :

can it powerslide?

I reckon it would with enough momentum and the right rider

[Lefty]

Will it wheelie?

[Murley]

Re: Vid

So it has a fair bit more oomph than say, an average 4 stroke 250, and the average car. This is an interesting vehicle, if I had my license I'd definitely give it a go but that's a long way away! So I pose this question to you, dear reviewer

Pop Quiz!

If you could only ride/drive one vehicle for a year, and only had the choice between something like a GPX or the Can-Am, which one would you choose?

[themadone]

I rode one at the bike show and was pretty unimpressed. For that sort of money you are buying a gixxer thou and a v-strom 650 which pretty much covers every base. It was WIERD not countersteering into corners. It seemed pretty well built. Wheelies are definitely out and with the traction control powersliding it is out. With the traction control off the thing slides everywhere under medium acceleration. I couldn't stand the semi auto box and found the manual much better. I'd give it 1/5 as a bike and 3/5 as a vehicle for getting around on as an alternative to a car. It has all the probs of a car like no lane filtering and all the probs of a bike like fuck all carry space and you get wet when it rains. It is a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist.

[lee]

I rode one at the bike show and was pretty unimpressed. For that sort of money you are buying a gixxer thou and a v-strom 650 which pretty much covers every base. It was WIERD not countersteering into corners. It seemed pretty well built. Wheelies are definitely out and with the traction control powersliding it is out. With the traction control off the thing slides everywhere under medium acceleration. I couldn't stand the semi auto box and found the manual much better. I'd give it 1/5 as a bike and 3/5 as a vehicle for getting around on as an alternative to a car. It has all the probs of a car like no lane filtering and all the probs of a bike like fuck all carry space and you get wet when it rains. It is a solution looking for a problem that doesn't exist.

People with leg strength disabilities?

[Rich]

I think its great for people who fall off regularly...

Oh...and drunk riding...no more falling over at stop signs...

[alank]

those things are so pointless i cant understand why anyone would hand over any money for one, plus ud look like a right twat on it!

[Fastgirl]

At the end of the day this bike has its market. Like Harleys...there is a market for them. May not be to your liking....just like others might not like your bike, even if you think its shit doesnt stink.

And a stunt bike it will never be, but the buyers of this vehicle arent looking for that when they purchase it. Not eveyone wants to wheelie or power slide.

As for the choice between the GPX and th Can-am....well I'll have to test ride the GPX first and let you know.

[Sprint]

Extra grunt is only a few $$$ away...



S.

[Deb]

FG, thank you for this informative post, it reminds me of a favour I have long wished to ask of you: can I ever be your pillion?

I can pay you (in your choice of cash, travellers cheques, loose gemstones or PayPal).

[Fastgirl]

FG, thank you for this informative post, it reminds me of a favour I have long wished to ask of you: can I ever be your pillion?

I can pay you (in your choice of cash, travellers cheques, loose gemstones or PayPal).

LOL...sure mate

Disclaimer: Rider takes no responsibility of returning any pillion intact...both mentally and emotionally. Pillion forfeits any right to sue rider due to mental anguish.

[Cip]

+ve