Can Am

[flaya564]

I was riding with my buddy and his relatives yesterday, when his aunt got a wild hair to test the ride the Can Am Spyder. Let me tell you, that was weird! If you've ridden a four wheeler, you'd be right at home. If I were 60, I would think about getting the deluxe with the automatic. Fun to ride but not really a motorcycle feel to it.

 

[RT Performance]

some guy here in michigan is doing wheel conversion and converting snow mobiles.
they are differnt

 

[AudiXB12R]

Thats what those Can Ams basically are, snowmobiles without skis/track, wheels!

 

[Phazernut]

I rode one last year for a test ride. Not for me but I can certainly see the attraction. They definately have the cool factor going on.

 

[Alfatango1]

My best friends brother in law had a sales pitch from HD at his work. He filled out a credit app and the dealer never called him back so he went out and got one of these. He asked my friend if he could ride with us if he came to California, my friend said "Hell No"!

 

[24_7]

I followed one of these today for a short distance. It was funny cause the guy and the passenger kept leaning the opposite way in corners. One of those times I wish I was recording.

 

[NorwayBuell]

These gremlins are packed with electronic devices that stops all the fun... Should have been perfect for powerslides, but not! Tractioncontrol, abs and everything... Stick to the Buell!! Fun as hell!!

 

[Baal]

I followed one of these today for a short distance.  It was funny cause the guy and the passenger kept leaning the opposite way in corners.  One of those times I wish I was recording.

That's how you end up riding one. The driver leans into the turn (which has no effect on steering), and the passenger (unless they've practiced a good bit) reacts to the centrifugal force of the turn and is pushed away from the turn, just like a someone in a car.

The ride is rough for the driver, and it's pretty physically demanding, even with the "power steering." The passenger is pretty comfy. The bikes have some "issues," the most worrysome is with the steering itself. There are failures where the bike "steers itself," with the result being going off the road or into oncoming traffic, or just being very difficult to hold the line/lane. They're also a pile of money, and can be expensive to insure. They're also pretty big, so they take up a buncha space in the garage.

Pass.

 

[Balrog]

Cool: i think so. Practical: i dunno

 

[AV8guy]

I would much rather have one of these guys!

 

[AV8guy]

The T-Rex I mean, not the fat guy

 

[7Mary3]

That would be a fun ride (not the fat guy)...LOL

 

[icepop77]

I think if I was physically compromised and I had to face the reality of giving up 2 wheeled motorcycling, I'd be all over the Can-Am well before I'd ever consider a H-D based trike. They seem pretty cool, kinda sporty, functional, etc.

 

[pur pony]

The can ams are cool... but the T-Rexs are insane. Been in a T-rex many times.... My friend owned one for the last 3 years up until yesterday. He just sold it

 

[fishgutz]

Can Am (may have) ripped off the idea from a guy that lives in the Lowell MA area. He developed a kit for converting snow mobiles for the street and back for snow in the winter.
He holds a bunch of patents and presented his drawings at Can Am. They told him they were not interested. Not long after that the Can Am three wheelers came out.
Another corporation rips of the little guy.

 

[konarider94]

i was just saying i wanted to test ride one. not to buy but just interested in trying one out

 

[nineronesix]

Can Am (may have) ripped off the idea from a guy that lives in the Lowell MA area.

Not sure when that guy presented to Can Am, but I saw them testing that bike as early as 2002, at one of the tire proving grounds I was working at. The bike was pretty complete at the time, so the design was at least a couple of years old at the time.