Passes & Canyons Blog

I found a lot of points of interest in this particular issue of Rider.

I don’t usually write about what is published in magazines but in the case of the November issue of Rider there were just too many things that caught my eye. So I diverge from my norm.

It started right off the bat with the magazine cover. It’s a picture of a Can-Am three-wheeler on a dirt road, kicking up a lot of dust, and with one of the front wheel off the ground (see photo). I thought it was a terrific photo, especially with the rider flying that wheel.

I was also interested in the machine because while I’ve long been familiar with the Can-Am Spyder, just recently I had seen a couple of these much smaller ones and had wondered about them. They are called Ryker and they’re much smaller and sportier. I test rode a Spyder and did not like the handling but was wondering if these would be different.

Well, reading the article about the Ryker answered my question and confirmed my impression from the Spyder: “On the street, the Ryker Rally is quick and responsive, but it requires muscle and aggressive body positioning when tackling curves at speed.”

By “aggressive body positioning,” in my experience, this means when you turn you have to brace your outside foot against the rear-set peg and then lean your body to the inside forward and across the machine. Otherwise it wants to throw you off. I guess that hasn’t changed.

Another item of interest in this issue was one by a woman, Ellie Cooper, who rode her 2009 Royal Enfield Machismo 350 across India from north to south–solo. Yow! I would be seriously skeptical of doing something like that and she has the added disadvantage of facing the hazards that men don’t face but that are all too well known to women. I’m sure it helps that she has apparently lived in India for a long time, and thus is vastly more familiar with it than me, but I’ve got to say, this lady has guts.

And then there is an article by Steve Larsen titled “19 Motorcycle Myths.” These generally include the well-known bits like “Loud pipes save lives” and “I had to lay it down” as well as some I hadn’t heard, like “Real riders never wash their bikes.” But one in particular struck me: “Raingear keeps you dry in the rain.”

In this bit of discussion he says, “My experience, however, is that rain almost always soaks into small cracks or seams, and before I know it, I’m soaked.”

What? That’s a myth? Says who? I have rain gear and I don’t mind riding in the rain for the simple reason that . . . drum roll . . . it keeps me dry. Sure I get a bit of spray at times up around my neck where there is space between my helmet and the collar of my rain jacket, but that’s all. Steve, maybe you need to invest in some better quality rain gear.

I’ve been reading Rider for about as long as I’ve been riding motorcycles. At this point it’s one of the few motorcycle magazines that have both survived and continue to be put out on paper. Keep them coming fellas.

Biker Quote for Today

Riding is my addiction, and I’m a savage at it.

I want to give a big thank-you to David and Wade at Colorado Sport Bike Rentals, in southwest Denver, for giving me this opportunity: I recently took their rental Can-Am Spyder out for a day to see just what these things are like.

In case you’re unfamiliar with the Spyder, that’s it in the picture there. It’s a three-wheeler with two bike-sized wheels in front and one car-sized wheel in back. As such, it turns like a car, with you steering to the right to go right, and steering left to go left. You do not lean into the turns the way you do on a two-wheeled cycle. Rather, you brace yourself on the rear-set pegs and lean across the body of the bike into the turn. It takes some getting used to.

I was out on the Spyder for 4-5 hours and the broad, well-padded seat never got uncomfortable. These machines are definitely good for riding all day. Being accustomed as I am to a large windshield or full fairing, I did wish I had something more than the bikini fairing to block the wind.

The Spyder is a pretty heavy machine so it’s probably a good thing that it comes with a reverse gear. You have to learn the drill to engage it: Drop into first, pull the R lever toward you, then click the foot lever down again. Easy as long as someone has explained it to you in advance, as David did. And in case you forget, the owner’s manual is slipped up under the cowling above the instrument panel.

The suspension was nothing to brag about going over rough pavement, but that’s true of my Concours, too. These things aren’t cars.

So I headed out after a brief familiarization in the parking lot and paid special attention to the attention the Spyder and I attracted. If you want people to look at you the Spyder is definitely your ticket. Stopped at a red light, a mom and her kids in the car next to me were all eyes. At another light on Federal Blvd. two guys eyed us with considerable interest and the passenger rolled down his window with one question: How fast does it go?

I couldn’t give him a good answer because I hadn’t been on the highway with it yet, but I can tell you now it will go as fast as you need to go. The engine is about 1,000cc and while it is not exploding with power it does respond to that twist of the wrist. And trust me, until you get some miles on it, you’re not going to want to twist that wrist very far, especially in the curvy stuff. Heading up Bear Creek Road to Evergreen I was definitely slowing the traffic behind me.

Stopping in Evergreen and several other mountain towns I deliberately set myself up to be approached by the curious people walking past. They didn’t disappoint me. The most common question was, “Do you need a motorcycle license to drive one of these?” Yes, you do, although here in Colorado you can actually get a trike license that lets you drive a three-wheeler but is not valid for you to ride a two-wheeler.

With three wheels, and perhaps due to seeing those two wheels in front of me, I never even had the inclination to put my feet down when coming to a stop.

Eventually I did get the hang of it and the more I did the more fun it was to ride. By the time I was headed toward Golden down Clear Creek Canyon I wasn’t even delaying the traffic behind me. But neither was I in any danger of getting a speeding ticket. I’m betting that if you ride one of these things regularly and get really used to it it all gets to be second nature.

Probably the bottom line in all this is, would I buy a Spyder? Truthfully, no, I would not, not at this time. I like two wheels one heck of a lot. But let some time pass, to where I’m getting quite a bit older and riding a two-wheeler is no longer a good option, and yes indeed, I could be in the market. In the meantime, if you’re looking for something completely different just a day or several, you can rent one from David and Wade. They’d be happy to hear from you.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
AMA Grand Tours Series might add a spark to your motorcycle touring plans

Biker Quote for Today

We don’t stop riding because we get old, we get old because we stop riding.

I showed up for my first day on the new job Tuesday and right there, in the primo spot in the parking lot, like the guy must have been the first person to come to work that day, sat a brand new Can-Am Spyder.

I’ve read about these things in the motomags but this was the first one I’ve ever seen. And I still don’t know what to think of it. It a three-wheeler with two in front and one in back. This particular one was bright red and still had the temporary tag on it.

The thing about these is that while it is really cool looking, very sleek and shiny, and looks like a lot of fun, what it looks like most is a snowmobile on wheels. I’ve never ridden a snowmobile but they’ve always looked like a lot of fun, too, but the question that seems to be asked the most is this: Is it a motorcycle? I’ve read a bunch of articles and the bottom line is, it’s up to you to decide.

If you want to learn more about it, here’s an article on Edmunds.com where they talk about putting it through the paces. They liked it.

The full name for the Spyder is BRP Can-Am Spyder Grand Sport Roadster. It is manufactured by Bombardier Recreational Products, which is the BRP in the name. Bombardier makes small aircraft, including those really little commercial jets you may have flown in on Northwest Airlines. They own Cessna, too, I believe.

So that was an interesting way to start the first day on the new job. I’ll probably never find out who owns it, though. Too many thousands of people working there. And with the change in the weather he probably won’t be riding it to work again any time soon. But I’m glad I got to see it.

Biker Quote for Today

Would I buy one of everything? Oh, hell yes, if I could. But that’s a little out of my reach so you have to be selective.