[Evol]

How many people who dislike the spyders have ever really ridden one, and I mean leaning off to the inside of the corner to counter weight the bike through a corner while pushing the back end out? Or lighting up that big fat back tire from a stop while it squirms side to side? How is that not fun and how can you hate on that? Would I, all things being the same, get rid of a bike for one, no, but will I get on one and ride the piss out of it, hell yeah. Anyone that hates these things clearly has never really ridden one and if they have they haven't flogged the piss out of it. If they had I would be really confused on how they couldn't enjoy it. The thread title isn't, "is the spyder better than a bike," it's what do you think about them. They're fun, the fun is slightly different than the bike, but fun is fun. If you think you can only have fun on a bike you must be a really boring person. My 2 cents, feel free to keep the change.

I rode a Spyder F3-S on a demo ride 2 years ago. Honestly, it was fun. And even though it weighs a ton, I can confirm it gets up to 200 kph very quickly.
If money was no object, I'd get one to add to the garage, but at $35k, I'll pass.

What I will say is that not everyone has the skill / physical ability / desire to ride a 2 wheeled bike. The Spyders are selling like hot cakes for a reason.
Getting your licence for one is much quicker, cheaper & less involved. Which makes them far more accessible.
A large portion of riders out there are also getting older now, and with that, the Spyder makes it easier for them to ride. They don't have to balance a heavy bike at every stop.

There are people like my wife, who are against 2 wheeled bikes. She will NOT get on my bikes. Not even sit on them while parked / engine off, etc. She will however get on a quad, as she sees that as being safer. Sooo....Go figure.

 

[Fathom]

Would rather buy a Polaris Slingshot than a Spyder if I was forced to buy a 3-wheeler design.

Sent from my SM-T700 using Tapatalk

True enough, that, but I wave to 'em all anyway. Not scooters, though -- gotta draw the line somewhere.

 

[Harry Balzak]

BTW. All roll resistance on a three wheeler is on the twin axle. Physics prevent otherwise, unless you have a metre wide single wheel. That's why Tricycle style models like Reliants are so unstable, but single rear wheel models like Morgans and these things are fine. Especially with ESP. If you watch the Top Gear episode with the Morgan on it, you will see they hard pretty hard to flip.

If the Morgan doesn't flip, it's because the Morgan doesn't generate enough grip on its skinny tires.

The Slingshot has plenty of grip to flip over right off the showroom floor.

So does every other vehicle on the road. There's nothing inherently dangerous about the slingshots design. Every vehicle has varying degrees of performance, strengths and weaknesses. You figure out the limits of your vehicle and play on its edge, if you go past it that is rider/driver error not the vehicle's.

 

[Annihilator]

So does every other vehicle on the road. There's nothing inherently dangerous about the slingshots design. Every vehicle has varying degrees of performance, strengths and weaknesses. You figure out the limits of your vehicle and play on its edge, if you go past it that is rider/driver error not the vehicle's.

All that guy did was make an emergency lane change. That is normal driving.

As for all cars being the same, not in a car that you can buy off the showroom floor.

I cannot think of one instance where a vehicle manufacturer has put a huge sticky tire on a car with no roll resistance (soft suspension)

Sure, it can happen if you modify your car. I've personally seen a stock Ford Focus put itself on its roof in a corner, but he had like huge sticky Hoosiers on it. You know I own cars that spend all their time on 3 wheels, and sometimes 2. But I had to put huge sticky tires to make that happen.

In every instance of a new car from a manufacturer with a set of really sticky tires that you can find me, i can show you 5 things the manufacturer did to adequately reduce roll.

But with only one tire in the rear, you start at -50% when adding roll resistance.

It will never be safe. 2 or 4 is the only way, imo.


But there is a solution...

 

[Desert Rat]

It will never be safe. 2 or 4 is the only way, imo.

I don't think much of trikes, but 2 in front and 1 in the rear is still way more stable than the other way.

 

[Punkinhead]

One of the machinists at a shop I work in occasionally said he was thinking about getting a Spyder because his wife has gotten so fat he can't hold his Harley up at stoplights when she's on board. So next time you see a Spyder, instead of making fun of him for being on such a ridiculous vehicle, take pity on him for having a fat wife.

 

[Desert Rat]

I don't like them. I really dont like it when owners pretend they are motorcycles.

This made me think of William Shatner and his custom built trike that he wanted to have a full canopy. I understand that monstrosity was built, but wouldn't turn, so he had to switch to a HD trike for his cross country trip. Also, the canopy has not yet been built.

 

[Rocky_MTN_FZ09]

I would never buy a Slingshot, especially after seeing one on the road and seeing all the plastic on the front end flopping around like a wet noodle.

Plus have you ever looked at the drive train on one of those things????

I'd rather buy a DF Goblin kit car, even though it's something like $28,700 for the entire kit, it's easy to put together and has four wheels, lol.

DF Kit Car: Modern mid-engine kit cars

A picture without the body panels.

 

[Rocky_MTN_FZ09]

I rode a Spyder F3-S on a demo ride 2 years ago. Honestly, it was fun. And even though it weighs a ton, I can confirm it gets up to 200 kph very quickly.
If money was no object, I'd get one to add to the garage, but at $35k, I'll pass.

The 2017's should start out around $20K and it's too bad the stopped building the earlier Spyder RS version with started out at $17K Canadian.

I had a 2009 Spyder RS SM5 for a few year when I needed to take my daughter to school and just didn't trust her in a 2 wheel motorcycle. But on the Spyder she felt comfortable and I could take her to school in the morning before work no problem. Having a passenger on the Spyder, you could hardly tell they were even there. And before the haters start, IT IS NOT A MOTORCYCLE, but it's a blast to ride if you like riding quads and/or snowmobiles, with myself coming from many years of snowmobiling as a kid.

The old Spyder before I sold it and replaced it's spot in the garage with my FZ-09.

As for how quick the thing was, lets just say it was funny watching haters shrink in the rear view mirrors, lol. I had it over 100 mph many times and it stuck to the road like it was on rails.

Many people don't know the V-Twin 998cc engine in the first Spyder's weren't anything new.

Familiar and much appreciated power train
The V-Twin engine from Rotax (a Bombardier subsidiary) displaces 990 cc and features two camshafts, four valves per cylinder, and a balance shaft to dampen vibrations. Earlier versions of this great engine powered the Aprilia RSV1000R and Tuono 1000R

http://www.moto123.com/motorcycle-r...ycle-reviews/article,2010-can-am-spyder-rs-s-first-impressions.spy?artid=119340

 

[Annihilator]

I don't think much of trikes, but 2 in front and 1 in the rear is still way more stable than the other way.

No, 3 wheels is not more stable.

On 2 wheels, the wheels have a gyroscopic effect that make a motorcycle more and more stable the faster you go.

On 4 wheels, you have literally twice the stability as 3 wheels because you have stability at both ends instead of just 9ne.

 

[Harry Balzak]

No, 3 wheels is not more stable.

On 2 wheels, the wheels have a gyroscopic effect that make a motorcycle more and more stable the faster you go.

On 4 wheels, you have literally twice the stability as 3 wheels because you have stability at both ends instead of just 9ne.

That's not what he said, reread the statement. He's saying on a three wheeled vehicle it is more stable to have the two wheels in the front as opposed to the rear.

As for your video, I see driver error in over correction and chopping throttle/braking into a slide. No one is saying that 3 wheels are better than 4 or 2, just saying that the slingshot isn't inherently dangerous just because it has three wheels. Does it have it's limits, sure, all vehicles do, but it's far fetched to call it dangerous just because you don't like it.

 

[Annihilator]

That's not what he said, reread the statement. He's saying on a three wheeled vehicle it is more stable to have the two wheels in the front as opposed to the rear.

As for your video, I see driver error in over correction and chopping throttle/braking into a slide. No one is saying that 3 wheels are better than 4 or 2, just saying that the slingshot isn't inherently dangerous just because it has three wheels. Does it have it's limits, sure, all vehicles do, but it's far fetched to call it dangerous just because you don't like it.

To the contrary, I do like the Slingshot. I would own one but I like spirited driving too much and wouldn't feel safe romping on that thing with the stability issues.

Driver errors happen all the time. Humans are imperfect beings, and the street is an uncontrollable environment. The fact that the thing rolls so easily when it oversteers is sketchy, seriously.

I honestly couldn't believe he got the wheel back to opposite lock after the first yaw. If you've ever driven a slingshot, it has the slowest steeing rack ever. It's like 4+ turns lock to lock. The guy was definitely not a completely inexperienced driver.

Aside from the stability issues, it also isn't 'sporty'. All the components are poorly executed, so it just feels slow sloppy when you drive it.

And the 'dual wheels' will provide the most stability on whatever end of the vehicle has the most weight. It is simple physics. If you moved the drive train to the rear, those dual front wheels won't help you.

 

[Rocky_MTN_FZ09]

That's not what he said, reread the statement. He's saying on a three wheeled vehicle it is more stable to have the two wheels in the front as opposed to the rear.

As for your video, I see driver error in over correction and chopping throttle/braking into a slide. No one is saying that 3 wheels are better than 4 or 2, just saying that the slingshot isn't inherently dangerous just because it has three wheels. Does it have it's limits, sure, all vehicles do, but it's far fetched to call it dangerous just because you don't like it.

But the FZ-09 with stock suspension is a death trap!!!!!

 

[Hawkerjet]

Here are a few more candidates.

I especially like the second one. Probably was born in a barn. Be sure and pause it as it goes by for a good look.

 

[Harry Balzak]

To the contrary, I do like the Slingshot. I would own one but I like spirited driving too much and wouldn't feel safe romping on that thing with the stability issues.

Driver errors happen all the time. Humans are imperfect beings, and the street is an uncontrollable environment. The fact that the thing rolls so easily when it oversteers is sketchy, seriously.

I honestly couldn't believe he got the wheel back to opposite lock after the first yaw. If you've ever driven a slingshot, it has the slowest steeing rack ever. It's like 4+ turns lock to lock. The guy was definitely not a completely inexperienced driver.

Aside from the stability issues, it also isn't 'sporty'. All the components are poorly executed, so it just feels slow sloppy when you drive it.

And the 'dual wheels' will provide the most stability on whatever end of the vehicle has the most weight. It is simple physics. If you moved the drive train to the rear, those dual front wheels won't help you.

I had one for out 45 minutes on a test ride when it first came out. Dealer threw me the key and said go have fun. I wasn't impressed at all. It was kind of neat because of the unique factor, but performance wise it was a dud. Plus sketchy as hell when driving next to 18-wheelers. I'm in agreement, if it were my money I'd be looking at a Miata or S2000 or similar two seat convertible roadster. My Brother-in-law bought a used Porsche Boxster with 50K miles on it for $13K a couple years ago. I'd take that over the slingshot any day of the week.

 

[Annihilator]

I had one for out 45 minutes on a test ride when it first came out. Dealer threw me the key and said go have fun. I wasn't impressed at all. It was kind of neat because of the unique factor, but performance wise it was a dud. Plus sketchy as hell when driving next to 18-wheelers. I'm in agreement, if it were my money I'd be looking at a Miata or S2000 or similar two seat convertible roadster. My Brother-in-law bought a used Porsche Boxster with 50K miles on it for $13K a couple years ago. I'd take that over the slingshot any day of the week.

If I were going with a kit car, I'd either build a Factory Five 818, or buy a used Beck 550 Spyder. Heck, even a 427 Cobra kit car is in the S2000 price range with the way those things have shot up in value.

The Spyder has been calling my name for a while. The 818 would just make me go broke, though.

 

[Speedy]

You know, you guys can flame me all you want, but my wife and I are actually thinking about adding a Can Am Spyder to our garage. She just doesn't feel comfortable on the back of my Connie (and honestly, my two-up skills are fairly limited). So as a result I struggle getting her out on the road with me.

We have been to a couple of the Can Am test ride days and I am the first to admit that they are not much fun to ride. But, I do really enjoy being out with her on it and if that's my sacrifice for a loving wife that lets me take off for weekend rides with the guys at the drop of a hat (and she's even ok with me having a couple of bikes at a time) then it's money and time well spent...On top of that, she actually likes riding it by herself so we may even do some overnights with her on the Spyder and me on Connie.

Haven't pulled the trigger yet, but it's on the list when a deal comes along...

 

[Rocky_MTN_FZ09]

Here you go, for all you guys who hate quads because they don't lean, lol.

 

[Annihilator]

That thing is pretty cool.

But it needs more Super Teneré...

 

[LouG]

Harry got it. That was more driver error than vehicle flaw.
And, Mr Annihilator, despite your nom de net, and race cars, and riding bikes, you seem quite obsessed with safety. Life is actually terminal, we just don't know the date.
We've got this fetish about safety sweeping the western world now. Our real estate agents have to put a sign out at open homes listing hazards present when you walk through, FFS.
The Government and safety basterds want us to live forever and regret every damn day of it.