2018 Can-Am Spyder RT Limited Review

[3LOU5]

I've had this tryke for about a week now, and I'll try to do a quick, yet accurate write up on it.

Pros - people look at you, smile and give you a "thumbs up"

Cons - people look at you, smile and give you a "thumbs up"

But seriously, I've never owned a vehicle that evokes such responses. It's probably because you don't see many Spyders in my neck of the woods, which is kinda cool.

Likes - As I've described in my posts, the way to upshift the machine is to roll the throttle with your right hand, wait till the tach hits 3000 rpms and push the little paddle with your left thumb. When you do that, you are instantly rewarded with a crisp upshift, and it's not jerky AT ALL. In fact, it's so smooth, you don't notice it at all. And it's the same as you roll off the throttle and let the machine slow down. It automatically downshifts for you with no jerkiness.
The only time you get the downshift jerkiness is if you slam on the brakes from 50 mph.

Braking is pretty impressive as well. The Brembo calipers squeezing those vented, cross-drilled rotors at all three corners bring the Spyder down as though I threw a heavy boat anchor out the back. Those binders are THAT effective.

Steering isn't as bad as I thought it would be. I thought it would take a lot of effort, but it really doesn't. For a machine that weighs a little over 1000 pounds, it's effortless.

Cargo space - 41 gallons can fit quite a bit of stuff. I'm a small guy, so I can cram a lot of clothes in the compartments. I've never had a bike with saddle bags, so I'm really digging all that cargo space. It's nice that I can put my helmet in the front trunk (or "frunk" in Spyder terms).

Heated hand grips - I rode today, and it was cold and overcast. Even at the lowest setting, the handgrips gave off a lot of heat through my gloves. These things are the next best thing since sliced bread !!

Windshield and wind deflectors - the adjustable windshield makes for a more comfortable ride, and coupled with the side wind deflectors, it makes long distance riding pleasurable. It sprinkled today, and I remained dry. If I was on my Harley, I'd have been cold and miserable.

Dislikes - taking corners at a good clip. On my bike, I can safely lean over and not feel like I'm going to be thrown off. On the Spyder, you have to clamp the machine with your legs, lean your body on the inside and have a death grip on the handlebars to prevent from flying off it. I suppose that's part of the game, but I'm sure I could get used to it.

Two-up riding I'm sure will be so much more easier, i.e. safer. The added weight of a passenger isn't really an issue, unlike when you have one on a motorcycle.

They say that people who have Spyders, especially the touring models like the RT Limited, REALLY love them and can't say enough about their trykes.

I believe I have become one of them.

[JST]

What’s the power plant?

[3LOU5]

Originally Posted by JST

What’s the power plant?

Liquid-cooled, electronic fuel-injected, normally-aspirated Rotax 1330 cc inline 3-cylinder rated at 115 hp, max torque 96 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm with a redline at 7250.

I've read that these Spyders are pretty reliable, and can easily rack up 100,000 miles with no major issue.

[kognito]

Originally Posted by 3LOU5

Likes - As I've described in my posts, the way to upshift the machine is to roll the throttle with your right hand, wait till the tach hits 3000 rpms and push the little paddle with your left thumb. When you do that, you are instantly rewarded with a crisp upshift, and it's not jerky AT ALL. In fact, it's so smooth, you don't notice it at all. And it's the same as you roll off the throttle and let the machine slow down. It automatically downshifts for you with no jerkiness.
The only time you get the downshift jerkiness is if you slam on the brakes from 50 mph.

.

OK, you are going to have to elaborate on this. How far above 3K can you go?

I mean, if you are on a highway on ramp can you crank it? or must you shift around 3K?

[3LOU5]

Originally Posted by kognito

OK, you are going to have to elaborate on this. How far above 3K can you go?

I mean, if you are on a highway on ramp can you crank it? or must you shift around 3K?

I bought my Spyder brand new. She had 3.9 miles when she was delivered to my house.

That said, I'm still SLOWLY breaking her in. I've found that shifting between 2900 and 3200 rpms gives the SMOOTHEST upshifts.

When I rode the RS model in Vegas, I was REALLY hammering it. Those sport touring models can handle upshifts WAY north of 3000 rpms, but the shifts are abrupt and violent. I am trying NOT to do that with my RT, but I KNOW that it can be easily done in an emergency, such as merging onto a highway.

I think there's a Spyder with your name on it, kog.

[kognito]

Originally Posted by 3LOU5

I bought my Spyder brand new. She had 3.9 miles when she was delivered to my house.

That said, I'm still SLOWLY breaking her in. I've found that shifting between 2900 and 3200 rpms gives the SMOOTHEST upshifts.

When I rode the RS model in Vegas, I was REALLY hammering it. Those sport touring models can handle upshifts WAY north of 3000 rpms, but the shifts are abrupt and violent. I am trying NOT to do that with my RT, but I KNOW that it can be easily done in an emergency, such as merging onto a highway.

I think there's a Spyder with your name on it, kog.

Totally didn't even think about break in, thanks for clearing it up.

Maybe I need to re-read your first post now. Are all downshifts automatic or can you force it down (once the computer knows it won't money shift)

[kognito]

Originally Posted by 3LOU5

I think there's a Spyder with your name on it, kog.

Maybe

My wife really didn't like the orange color of a Camaro we looked at a couple of days ago (I linked to it in Clyde's What next thread) She hated the matching orange interior even more

[3LOU5]

Originally Posted by kognito

Totally didn't even think about break in, thanks for clearing it up.

Maybe I need to re-read your first post now. Are all downshifts automatic or can you force it down (once the computer knows it won't money shift)

If you feel lazy and don't want to do anything, the tryke will automatically downshift for you, like an automatic transmission in a car.

However, if you push a little lever under your left index finger, it'll downshift, like a paddleshift SMG. You can choose to do either/or, depending on your mood or road conditions.

The tryke WILL NOT upshift automatically. The rider has to push the lever under his left thumb to sequentially go up the gears.

[3LOU5]

Originally Posted by kognito

Maybe

My wife really didn't like the orange color of a Camaro we looked at a couple of days ago (I linked to it in Clyde's What next thread) She hated the matching orange interior even more

I remember you being a pretty tall guy from some pics.

That MAY be an issue and will most likely prevent you from getting one in the end.

[kognito]

Originally Posted by 3LOU5

I remember you being a pretty tall guy from some pics.

That MAY be an issue and will most likely prevent you from getting one in the end.

Na, we both drove it. We both loved driving a stick again. It would replace our focus, which makes it easier for me to get in and out. The focus (4 door) door openings are harder on me than the 2 door camaro.

Trike would be a third vehicle