Can-Am Spyder (merged) threadfest...

At that price point, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I'd probably sell my little Scion and replace it with one of these. I've been seriously considering either a trike or a side hack so I can keep riding when the snow flies.

Exactly, as long as it has enough juice to power my electrics...throw a set of Nokians on it for the winter...I'd ride it year round

Since they do apear to be 'car' type tires, that brings up the interesting option of having street legal studs on it, too. Good bet that bombardier will be bringing their snow mobile experience to this endeavour, and it'll have lots of juice available to power farkles.

+1, Bombardier is much more than just snowmobiles....

http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?id=3_0&lang=en&file=/en/3_0/3_1/3_1.html

They do jets, trains....

As to this new machine, I think its great! I wouldnt ride one, but who knows what the future will hold.

I worked for Bombardier for 9 years and am aware of their diversification. The money does not flow between internal divisions smoothly, each product line must be self-supporting. The most recent clean break between BRP and Transportation makes this worse.

I guess I should have been more specific and referred to BRP having limited resources. I'll clarify by saying, yes they are doing a very good job in the North American market, but they cannot afford the massive losses of tooling up for a failed product line (again). BRP uses some of the most modern manufacturing techniques on the planet, and they don't come cheap.

Compared with other world players Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha etc. the motorcycle division of BRP has a very limited R&D budgets for new product ventures.

Having worked for them you obviously have more insight and understanding of their inner workings than most here. I would dare say that bigger heads then you or I sat down at the table and after much research and development, pulled the trigger on this product.

Now comes the interesting part, how will the marketplace respond?

This board may not be a good representation of the general market for this product, as we are biased to two wheels (hackers, don't flame me...I love them...).

IMHO the price point is right and there may be some "hidden" and cross over markets out there for which this might be right on target. I wonder how many current snowmobilers don't ride motorcycles? How about jet skiers?

I give them kudos for taking the risk!

I asked the boss about them today. He said we should have some in around fall. Hopefully it's not close to the end of "riding season".

We of the 2 wheeled persuasion seem to see this as a walk to death's door for Bombardier, but I think it's more a matter of us not being the target market.

Harley Davidson recently bought a trike manufacturer, and if you check out CycleTrader you'll see a ton of them on there. Other people are making outriggers that drop down when stopping.

Obviously there is a need for "bikes" that don't fall over.

You are a grumpy sod.

I need something like this for the winter.
Those of you that think it's a snowmobile, good on 'ya... I'm getting tired of doing this...

Good points...Harley used to make three wheelers...traffic cops (we used to have three wheelers here)...and ice cream sales come to mind.

The full web site is up now....106HP and 77ft/lbs of torque. Didn't see a full spec sheet so don't know the weight.

There's a PDF spec sheet hidden somewhere on the site. Don't remember where.

Listed dry weight is 697lbs.

800 lbs

In the USA, the baby-boomers still have all the money. They will continue to have it until they start dying in about 15 years, or so.

Baby boomers start turning 62 in 2008 at the rate of 10-million to 15-million people per year, for 15-years.

If you look at the popularity of HD and Goldwing trike conversions in the USA, you will see this is a growing market.

At only $15k, this Can-Am will be a minimum of 1/2 the price of the conversion trikes.

It will sell, and it will sell well to a diverse crowd of people.

It will bring quad and jet-ski customers, who would never ride on two wheels, over to a street-oriented product.

It will sell to older riders who don't want a sidecar or traditional trike.

This thing will sell like hotcakes.

If I owned a dealership, I'd be looking at adding these to my lineup.

Not for $16,000.

Whether the Spyder is my cup o' tea or not, I think it will sell like hotcakes at that price. Most of you guys are young and can't imagine yourself being older and having difficulty holding up a 700 pound bike with a passenger perched on the pillion seat. But, time marches on, and there are plenty of guys that want to keep riding with mama, but just don't have the muscle to do it, especially with touring bikes getting heavier and fatter all the time.

Personally, I'd rather have the Piaggio MP3 since it leans. But they are gonna have to put something more than 250cc's in it if they want to sell many of them in the U.S.

Here are the specs from the brochure:

Engine
Manufacturer................................BRP-Rotax
Type..............................................990 V-Twin
Displacement...............................60.90 in3 (998cc)
Bore..............................................3.82 in (97 mm)
Stroke...........................................2.68 in (68 mm)
Cylinder........................................2
Valves per cylinder.......................DOHC 4
Max output...................................106 hp @ 8500 rpm
(79 kW @ 8500 rpm)
Max torque...................................77 lb-ft @ 6250 rpm
(104.3 Nm @ 6250 rpm)
Compression ratio........................10.8:1
Ignition type.................................Electronic ignition with
dual output coil
Lubrication....................................5W40 BRP synthetic oil
Exhaust system.............................2-into-1 with catalytic converter
Cooling.........................................Liquid cooled
Injection........................................Multi-point EFI with 57 mm
diameter throttle bodies

Drive Train
Gear box......................................Sequential Manual 5-Speed (SM5)
with transmission-based reverse
Optional gear box........................Sequential Electronic 5-Speed (SE5)
with transmission-based reverse
Final drive.....................................28/79 ratio final drive with
Carbon-reinforced drive belt
Clutch...........................................Wet, multi-plate, manual operation
through a hydraulic piston

Electric Equipment
Magneto.......................................500 Watt
Starter...........................................Electric
Battery..........................................Dry Cell, 12V, 21 Amp

Geometry
Front suspnsion..........................Double A-Arm with anti-roll bar
Front suspension travel................5.67 in (144 mm) with adjustable cam
Rear suspension...........................Swing-arm with monoshock
Rear suspension travel.................5.71 in (145 mm) with adjustable cam
Chassis type.................................SST Spyder
(Surrounding Spar Technology)
Steering........................................DPS (Dynamic Power Steering)


Tires & Wheels
Front tire.......................................KR21 165/65R14
Front nominal pressure................13-17 psi (89-117 kPa)
Rear tire........................................KR21 225/50R15
Rear nominal pressure..................13-17 psi (89-117 kPa)
Wheel size, front...........................Aluminum 14x5 (355x127)
Wheel size, rear............................Aluminum 15x7 (381x178)

Brakes
Type..........................................Foot-actuated, fully integrated
hydraulic 3-wheel braking system
Front braking system................4 piston calipers with 10.2 in x 0.25 in
(260 mm x 6 mm) discs
Rear braking system.................Single-piston caliper with 10.2 in x 0.25 in
(260 mm x 6 mm) disc
EBD..........................................Electronic Brake Distribution
ABS...........................................Anti-lock Braking System
Parking brake...........................Mechanical, foot actuated to the
rear caliper

Safety & Security
VSS...........................................Vehicle Stability System
ABS...........................................Anti-lock Braking System
TCS...........................................Traction Control System
SCS...........................................Stability Control System with
Roll-Over Mitigation
DPS...........................................Dynamic Power Steering
DESS.........................................Digitally Encoded Security System


Vehicle Dimensions & Weights
Dry vehicle weight....................697 lbs (316 kg)
Front storage capacity.............2,685 in3 (44 l)
Front max load capacity...........30 lbs (15.9 kg)
Total vehicle load allowed........440 lbs (200 kg)
Fuel capacity............................7.13 US gal (27 l)
Oil capacity..............................1.19 US gal (4.5 l)
Coolant capacity......................0.85 US gal (3.2 l)
GVWR.......................................1,188 lbs (540 kg)
Ground clearance.....................4.5 in (115 mm)
Vehicle overall height...............45.1 in (1,145 mm)
Vehicle overall length...............105 in (2,667 mm)
Vehicle overall width................59.3 in (1,506 mm)
Seat (top) height.......................29 in (737 mm)
Wheel base..............................68 in (1,727 mm)
Wheel track, front.....................51.5 in (1,308 mm)
Type of gas...............................Unleaded, 87 octane minimum

Color choices...........................Full Moon, Millennium Yellow

Instrumentation........................Dual analog and LCD w/speedometer, tachometer, electric fuel gauge, daily trip (A & B) meters, engine
temperature, ambient temperature and gear position indicator. Information
displayed in either metric or US Standards

Main options............................Fog lights, xenon lights, mono seat cover, racing exhaust pipe, travel bags, cargo liner, passenger backrest, low and high windshields
Warranty...................................2 years

I don't think the appeal will be just "the older crowd" or "the Ski-Doo/water craft crowd" or "the physically challenged crowd". I'm 42, in good shape, look ten years younger than my age and feel ten years younger than that...I think the Spyder is a very interesting machine and I see it stretching my riding season to nearly 12mos here in Alberta. I would likely keep the B12 or something like it for some rides but I could see riding the Spyder on a daily basis as a commuter and also as a primary tourer...hell I'd even take it out to track days for shits and giggles

The Rotax motor is a known quantity (hop on any full size Aprilia Mille, Futura, Caponord, Tuono and you get the idea pretty quick what it can do).

What I want to know is about the handling! Hi vs. LOW speed. Is it awkward in parking lots etc... That will be the deciding factor for many. Does it put a smile on your face mile after mile?

Will Iron Butt Association let it compete??

So many Can Am questions...

That thing is friggin rediculous. Another great Canadian idea. EH?

Greetings and salutations, ORT. Your ToadKing was indeed a gorgeous bike - one of the best looking bikes I've seen in a long time. But, bikes are like women in that regard - looks aren't everything, especially for one that you consider to be a long term keeper.

I trust you and yours are doing well. Ride safe on your trip to AZ, and give the Senator my regards.