Can Am Spyder ! Is it ok for beginner?

My wife is only 5'3" so it is hard to find a bike or even a scooter that will allow her to be flat foote


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I am 5'00" with a 27" inseam. I have NEVER been able to flat foot a motorcycle. I come closer on my factory lowered F700GS than anything I've owned. If being able to flat foot a motorcycle is a deal breaker for her, I think there might be other issues such as confidence. You only can get that by experience. Sometimes it is just a matter of how badly you want to ride, therefore you take the time to get the proper training, then put those things you learn into practice regularly. It is no business of mine, but I just do not get a good feeling about her riding at this point. Kindest regards....Gail

You might want to check with your state Motorcycle Safety Training program. I teach at three different sites in the Mid Hudson Valley of New York that offer specific training and drivers license endorsement for three wheel rigs. The courses are conducted on Spyders, though you are welcome to bring your own registered, inspected and insured three wheeler, except a sidecar rig, if you wish. It is a one day program conducted on a local MSF range. Not sure what the cost will be this season, but last season the price was very reasonable due to partial sponsorship from Can Am.

They do take some upper body strength to operate in evasive maneuvers or slow speed tight turns. The units we use are automatic transmission equipped. Hardest thing for me to get used to was no need to squeeze the clutch when shifting or stopping.

Friedle
MSF 27713

boxerrider said:

Paul F, good suggestion we'll see if we can rent one for a week or a month, maybe.

BTW, my wife is from Londo, she grew up near Calrk Rd and Trafalgar. She's a graduate of Western.

Small world.

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Turns out that your wife and I have two things in common; London and being Western Alumni. She grew near where one of our sons now lives.

I hope that she masters getting onto the open road with the wind in her face.

boxerrider said:

Hello all, I've been married for 22 years, and my wife has never had an incline to learn riding motorcycles. Although recently, she's now enjoyed watching videos I've taken on long trips to Canada and out west and now wants part of it. She is not the type to ride in the back, she says she wants control,.. whatever that means.
Over a year ago we looked into getting her started and she got her motorcycle permit. She has not gotten her endorsement yet, but we keep on practicing. We debated at length what she should start riding with, but she was adamant about "No clutch" and No shifter. So, we purchased a Suzuki Burgman 400. She did well for a while in parking lot, school yard and such but she feels really unsettled on the roads. She's now dropped it 3 times and is afraid of climbing on it again. The Burgman 400 is a respectable 474 lbs bike and not to be taken lightly, I managed 92 mph on it.
Talking to friends and coworkers, she now decided she wants a Can Am Spyder. I never ridden a Spyder, but a 1000cc sport beast,.. I’m not sold on that idea. I've read many blogs that says that it is the most popular choice for women ridding for the first time, so it has to speak volume.

Any on here with first hand driving experience on a Can Am Spyder and willing to provide insight on whether it's appropriate for a first time rider?

Thanks
Stephane

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Your story sounds almost identical to my wife, Paula, and my story. She had ridden on the back of my bike for years, couldn't get comfortable on the back of my '05 GS so I thought "I can fix this" and bought a 2014 GTL-E. That helped but after a year or so she realized her "discomfort" was because she wanted to be in control. She took and passed the BRC, we practiced in the pasture but she just never felt comfortable on the road. About that time we met a very nice lady at the MOA Rally who was riding a Spyder. She and my wife vanished for several hours as she took my wife for a ride and went through everything about the Spyder.

After returning home, we found a great deal on a lightly used 2015 Spyder RT Limited and she hasn't looked back. For a "motorcyclist" the sensation of riding a Spyder is very different. When you enter a corner it does provide the sensation that it will "throw" you off the bike. I think this is purely a sensation and doubt you could create enough centrifugal force to actually throw you off the bike. If you simply move your butt to the inside of the corner the sensation goes away. Like your wife, mine didn't want to deal with a clutch so she got the semi-automatic and she loves it. You only have to up-shift, the bike will down-shift for you (or you can do it manually by pushing the other side of the paddle). She no longer rides with me and I've gone back to a GSA. She follows me when we ride together and it brings a smile to my face to look in my rear-view mirror and see my bride following along. We have and use helmet comms and I often hear "weeeeee" as she exits a corner.

I'm going to turn the keyboard over to Paula and let her give you her thoughts (she's a member but it's easier to let her go from here):
I love my Spyder! I definitely recommend your wife get one. It took me awhile to get comfortable to ride long distances. For me to gain confidence we rode short distances with Wes as a passenger guiding me over the comms. Then I graduated to short rides with me following him. Now I am comfortable on long rides and curvy roads. Before venturing out on long rides together I would recommend you ride the Spyder yourself on a few curvy roads. It is a different ride than a motorcycle. Wes could never understand why I was so tired after long curvy rides until he rode the Spyder by himself on a few curvy roads. I have enough confidence now that I ride my ride and I let him ride his. I'm okay with him going a little faster on the curves and leaving me a bit behind. He has a good ride and so do I. I always make sure I know the next step in our trip in case he gets too far ahead of me. It was definitely a great purchase and gave me the freedom I wanted.

As far as what to purchase- you want to buy the bigger engine. With the Spyder you need to pay close attention to the gas stops. We usually stop between every 100 and 150 miles for fuel depending on the speeds we are riding. When I ride consistently at 70 mph or above my gas mileage drops quite a bit. The 2015 has a little bit of an airflow issue for the rider. It has poor airflow around the gas tank area (about where your thighs are on the bike). Riding in Arizona and Utah with temps well over 100 degrees I had to ride basically sitting on a ziplock bag of ice and that was with my cooling vest on. To help with the heat I ride with the windshield as low as it goes for the most part. I recently looked at a 2019 Spyder RT limited. When I talked to the salesperson about the issue he said Spyder has fixed this issue with the newer Spyders. I did not test ride it to see if it has been fixed. A plus is the Spyder's storage capacity- it is fantastic. I highly recommend the back rest. I love the Spyder and would recommend to anyone. - Paula

I will add we also love it when we get to our destination and are going to ride to the grocery store, dinner, etc. It's so easy for both of us to jump on, ride in traffic and park.

Wes - with the current available options on the market, when I'm no longer comfortable riding on 2 wheels the Spyder will be my first choice.

One of the things we learned in a cross-country trip along 2-lane roads. Paula was complaining of the Spyder pulling to the right, my initial thought was it was due to the crown in the road. I had checked the pressure in her tires before leaving and all were within a few pounds of each other. At a gas stop in NM I had an ah-ha moment. When we left the right tire was about 3 pounds less than left. I switched that and put about 3-4 pounds more in the right tire than the left and, voila, bike rode straight as an arrow.

I hope this helps
Wes & Paula Fitzer

A few years ago Fred Rau dropped by the house riding a Spyder. I took it for a ride for a few miles. I concluded it didn't handle like a motorcycle at all. To me it handled like a 4 wheel ATV. There were also some similarities to the handling of a snowmobile but mostly like an ATV.

I am of the opinion that transitioning from a two wheeler to a Spyder may well be more difficult than simply learning to ride the three wheeler from scratch because the handling is so different. I also suspect that up to a point the more two wheel experience a person has the more difficult the transition is to three wheels because of muscle memory and trained habitual reactions.

Sorry, have to ... when you're driving a three-wheeler like this and there's a pothole in your lane, you will hit it.


But really, isn't it an accurate analogy to compare graduating from a tricycle to a bicycle? Is this necessary for adults?


For scaring yourself as an adult, try riding a skinny-tired, suspensionless, nearly brakeless racing bicycle following lots of years motorcycling. I have a bicycling friend who claims to have passed Harleys coming down our mountain here--not for me!

I do have a Spyder RT-S and also teach the S/TEP 3-wheel course here in WA state. As above, most have given you great advice.
The Spyder F-3 and also the Ryker both have adjustable foot pegs. Very easy to move. We've had 4'10" females in the class that did fine.
The Ryker does have a CVT, so no shifting, though putting it in reverse is a PITA sometimes. The Ryker is low enough that it almost feels like you're sitting on the ground. The Ryker can be outfitted with a windshield, top case (or passenger seat) and 1 side bag.
It's weird getting off my BMW and jumping on the Spyder because of the different riding dynamic. Have to tell myself to relax.......

Wes and Paula, thanks for providing your experience; this was very helpful and eaxactly the sort of feedback we were looking for. My wife also read your write up and feel more comfortable now, knowing that even though the Spyder is a more massive machine, it can be still manageable.
We were planing on going to our local dealer this weekend to take a look, but the weather in the northeast didnt quite cooperate. It's supposed to be nicer this coming weekend and will make the trip to Harrisburg, and look at a few units they have on their showroom floor.

Thank again for taking the time to respond.

crna59 said:

I do have a Spyder RT-S and also teach the S/TEP 3-wheel course here in WA state. As above, most have given you great advice.
The Spyder F-3 and also the Ryker both have adjustable foot pegs. Very easy to move. We've had 4'10" females in the class that did fine.
The Ryker does have a CVT, so no shifting, though putting it in reverse is a PITA sometimes. The Ryker is low enough that it almost feels like you're sitting on the ground. The Ryker can be outfitted with a windshield, top case (or passenger seat) and 1 side bag.
It's weird getting off my BMW and jumping on the Spyder because of the different riding dynamic. Have to tell myself to relax.......

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Bruce do you know if the S/TEP 3 wheel program is given in other region/area?
We are in Southeast PA.

boxerrider said:

Bruce do you know if the S/TEP 3 wheel program is given in other region/area?
We are in Southeast PA.

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Course is offered in Newburgh, NY (off Rt 84 near the Hudson River) through Motorcycle Training solutions. Not that far from Harrisburg and very reasonable course cost with small class size Lots of lodging in the area.

info@ridemts1.com 845-784-4911 for schedule information or to register. Tell them I sent you.

Friedle
MSF 27713

shortythorne said:

My wife is only 5'3" so it is hard to find a bike or even a scooter that will allow her to be flat foote


QUOTE]

I am 5'00" with a 27" inseam. I have NEVER been able to flat foot a motorcycle. I come closer on my factory lowered F700GS than anything I've owned. If being able to flat foot a motorcycle is a deal breaker for her, I think there might be other issues such as confidence. You only can get that by experience. Sometimes it is just a matter of how badly you want to ride, therefore you take the time to get the proper training, then put those things you learn into practice regularly. It is no business of mine, but I just do not get a good feeling about her riding at this point. Kindest regards....Gail

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Oh Gail - where art thou when I need you.

Every year, I encounter dozens of perspective students that would benefit from your commentary.

I get it.

Friedle said:

Course is offered in Newburgh, NY (off Rt 84 near the Hudson River) through Motorcycle Training solutions. Not that far from Harrisburg and very reasonable course cost with small class size Lots of lodging in the area.

info@ridemts1.com 845-784-4911 for schedule information or to register. Tell them I sent you.

Friedle
MSF 27713

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Just received an text from MTS informing me they will be doing a 3 wheel course in May, but no specific date yet.

Friedle

Friedle said:

Just received an text from MTS informing me they will be doing a 3 wheel course in May, but no specific date yet.

Friedle

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Friedle, thanks for the tip. My wife and I have registered for the 3Wheel course in Lancaster, PA. Not sponsored by Can Am, but hosted by the PAMSP.
We purchase a used 2012 Spyder this weekend and she found it very easy to manouver, without the fear of falling.

boxerrider said:

We purchase a used 2012 Spyder this weekend and she found it very easy to manouver, without the fear of falling.

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Good deal
Post a picture when the weather improves.

boxerrider said:

Friedle, thanks for the tip. My wife and I have registered for the 3Wheel course in Lancaster, PA. Not sponsored by Can Am, but hosted by the PAMSP.
We purchase a used 2012 Spyder this weekend and she found it very easy to manouver, without the fear of falling.

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Excellent !! Enjoy the training, but take it easy at first. The Spyder won't fall over, but the rider can indeed be thrown off if not aware of the vehicle dynamics.

Friedle

Friedle said:

Excellent !! Enjoy the training, but take it easy at first. The Spyder won't fall over, but the rider can indeed be thrown off if not aware of the vehicle dynamics.

Friedle

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Yup.

Friedle said:

Excellent !! Enjoy the training, but take it easy at first. The Spyder won't fall over, but the rider can indeed be thrown off if not aware of the vehicle dynamics.

Friedle

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Absolutely, I agree. I grew up in Quebec racing snowmobile "Skydoo", and felt immediately at ease when I test drove the can am. My wife though will need a bit more training. I should have taken her to my homeland this past winter for some Skydoo training.

beemerphile said:

It seems to combine the worst attributes of a car with the worst attributes of a motorcycle. I'd pass on it and find a nice Mazda Miata.

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I've said this 1000 times.
It is absolutely true.


another way of looking at it...………...

I think a Spyder feels like an ATV, personal watercraft or snowmobile.

Friedle said:

Excellent !! Enjoy the training, but take it easy at first. The Horse won't fall over, but the rider can indeed be thrown off if not aware of the vehicle dynamics.

Friedle

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FTFY
Enjoy what you ride.
OM

Let me comment on three-wheelers. There are at least three main types: two wheels in front, two wheels in back, and sidecars.

It is a pure matter of physics which is most stable. Just draw the triangles and the vector forces. Two in front is less likely to tip than two in back. Remember the trike on Laugh In? And since the Harley Servicar of the 50's or earlier we have had these types of trikes, including a fleet of Hannigan Wing and K1200LT based trikes. Sidecars are somewhere in the middle with "flying the car" possible, even to the point of planting the passenger on his or her head.

All three are totally different than countersteering a two wheel motorcycle faster than 10 or 15 mph. So any such vehicle requires training and practice = experience.

And I continue to believe it is harder for a highly experienced two-wheel rider to transition to the handling of a three wheeler than for a new rider to master that handling. On three occasions I did major maintenance or repair work on side car rigs. And on three occasions I had major trepidations taking them for a post-service checkout ride.

And Miatas are for wimps. Corvettes, Chargers, Mustangs, M3s or F350s are for the aged-out two wheel jockies. As always, YMMV if you have a Miata.