Can-Am Spyder (merged) threadfest...

[Baba Iguana]

Originally Posted by Fireball

Whenever I see something like this only one word comes to mind - why?

I agree - Why ?

A company with Bombardier's limited resources taking another crapshoot on the streetbike market. A market Can-Am was never able to crack in its heyday.

And to do it with a 3-wheeler aimed at the waning old-fart market who have the funds for litigation when it "doesn't handle like my Bonnie did".

First lawsuit will sink this POS and probably Can-Am for another 20 years.

Why oh why couldn't they have launched a Can-Am "Superbe Motard" instead.

Great company with excellent engines, but I think this will be a financial disaster. Yeah OK, you will see a smattering of them in Quebec towing tent-trailers.

[ulendo]

Originally Posted by Baba Iguana

A company with Bombardier's limited resources

umm - you might want to take another look at that. Bombardier is doing quite well, thank you kindly, you just have to know what industries to look at. Their leisure products are top notch, and growing steadily - like any business, its a case of expand, or fold, and given that they already have snow machines, small watercraft, and quads, the opn-road market is the next logical step. With the conventional bike market full, and many baby boomers not interested in riding 2 wheels, or manhandlinga heavy 2 wheeled touring machine on backroads / gravel roads, a fun, sport-tourer styled 3 wheeler actually makes quite a bit of sense. the fact that the Bombardier is very competatively priced, has already passed DOT certification, and being made in Canada meets N.American free trade requirements are all just icing on the cake.

whether it suits your aesthetics, and whether it makes the grade or not, only time will tell...cudos to bombardier for at least thinking outside the box. Personally, I figure your chances of seeing the european 3 wheelers as competitors on the N.American market in the next 10 years are very, very slim though.

[ikeman]

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.

[Kritter]

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

[ulendo]

Originally Posted by Kritter

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.

[ADKbeemer]

Originally Posted by ulendo

umm - you might want to take another look at that. Bombardier is doing quite well, thank you kindly, you just have to know what industries to look at.

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

http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?...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.

[Baba Iguana]

Originally Posted by ADKbeemer

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

http://www.bombardier.com/index.jsp?...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.

[ADKbeemer]

Originally Posted by Baba Iguana

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.

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!

[tpunzy]

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".

[RedRocket]

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.

[curbjumper]

Originally Posted by smacktard

Now call me a grumpy sod...

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...

[Komet]

Originally Posted by RedRocket

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.

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

[Kritter]

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.

[strommin]

Originally Posted by Kritter

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.

[rocker59]

Originally Posted by Kritter

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.

800 lbs