[chrisfranck65]

Hey y'all, I'm Chris, 57 from South Carolina. I ride for over 40 years now, with a 15 year break.
My bike of choice is a 2009 FZ1. Love this thing and the best I ever had since my 94 Exup.
But here is the problem- my wife refuses to ride with me- she don't like sports bikes and she sure hates the seat position on sozius seat. And she's scared to death about leaning in curves.
We looked for alternatives and as I had a cruiser, just long enough to hate it and sell it within 4 months.
Now, after looking around, we found the Can Am spyder. I checked it out at the dealer- just sitting on it, and I think, this is something I could deal with, riding out with my wife together, as I would love her to come with me every once in a while.
As I don't know nothing about them and I'm looking at spyders with the 1300cc engine- 2012-2017, semi automatic, so my wife can ride it too. What I've seen so far- prices are from $12k - $17k- my question is- what is there to kknow- are there things to look out for? Weak points? MY specific issues? Things to look at? What mileage is safe, not to have tons of maintenance and repair cost right from the start...
I know, I wrote a lot- but I would like to know, before I buy and not having the problem zone filled up with repair questions.
Thanks for having me- and please if someone could answer those questions would be great!

 

[Easy Rider]

We looked for alternatives and as I had a cruiser, just long enough to hate it and sell it within 4 months.

Exactly what cruiser bike did you have ? They are not all the same.
My favorite all time bike was a Vulcan 900 Custom.

Spyders are expensive.......to buy and to maintain. Kind of like Harleys.

I don't think the 1330 triple appeared until 2014 but it is much better.

You NEED to find a dealer that will allow test rides........because 3 wheels is ENTIRELY different than 2 and the feel can be scary at first. The transition for me took 3 months or a bit more.

P.S. If you have a "ride it like you stole it" mentality.......just forget having your wife ride with you.
An attitude adjustment on your part likely will be needed........no matter what the ride is.

 

[chrisfranck65]

Exactly what cruiser bike did you have ? They are not all the same.
My favorite all time bike was a Vulcan 900 Custom.

Spyders are expensive.......to buy and to maintain. Kind of like Harleys.

I don't think the 1330 triple appeared until 2014 but it is much better.

You NEED to find a dealer that will allow test rides........because 3 wheels is ENTIRELY different than 2 and the feel can be scary at first. The transition for me took 3 months or a bit more.

P.S. If you have a "ride it like you stole it" mentality.......just forget having your wife ride with you.
An attitude adjustment on your part likely will be needed........no matter what the ride is.

Thanks- yeah- I actually had the vulcan 900 custom. I always had the feeling, my feet sliding off, I hated the seat position, added forward controls, hoping to get out of this awkward leg position, nope. I hated it so bad, that I didn't ride it anymore till I sold it.
The problem is not me- it's my wife. Can't make her mind up and sways between yay and nay on daily base.
I thought she could handle the spyder by herself.
And yeah- don't need something needing repairs after every ride either.
We'll see. Right now she's at the spyder. I'll go probably to a dealer with her and check.
Thanks for the insight 👍

 

[Easy Rider]

Thanks- yeah- I actually had the vulcan 900 custom. I always had the feeling, my feet sliding off,

Well all of that is likely fixable......fairly easily.
I took the pegs off of mine and put on the "floor boards" from a standard 900.
I also put on a Russell seat.

But I WANTED a cruiser style bike.
It's pretty obvious that you don't.

Good luck.
Just be careful not to "brow beat" your spouse into something she really does not want to do.
You will regret it. Speaking from experience.

 

[chrisfranck65]

Well all of that is likely fixable......fairly easily.
I took the pegs off of mine and put on the "floor boards" from a standard 900.
I also put on a Russell seat.

But I WANTED a cruiser style bike.
It's pretty obvious that you don't.

Good luck.
Just be careful not to "brow beat" your spouse into something she really does not want to do.
You will regret it. Speaking from experience.

Lol- no I'm really not a cruiser guy. And at least now I can say, I tried. It was the most uncomfortable bike I ever owned.
That's why I could think about a 3-wheeler like the can am, as it's something totally different.
I always was very cautious with a passenger in the back- I have people trying to show off and scare the sozia. I once had a girlfriend who got a kick out of scraping the road- she loved it- down on the knee and pass others on the outside and later, we had a "cozy" evening.
My wife is not this way- not that she never was on a bike, but she hates curves and sure never was on a sport bike... I want her to come with me, not to tell me to go by myself.
At the end, I let her decide, whether we buy something for her to come with me or not. No pressure. She looked at them and liked them. Worst case scenario, I get her a slingshot. She likes them too- lol
Thanks buddy!

 

[Easy Rider]

At the end, I let her decide, whether we buy something for her to come with me or not. No pressure. She looked at them and liked them. Worst case scenario, I get her a slingshot. She likes them too- lol
Thanks buddy!

Wise decision to let HER decide what SHE wants.
Now......if you can also resist the temptation to insist that she needs to "keep up" with your sport bike pace !!

I think a Spyder will be a good choice for her.

Have you priced a Slingshot yet ?
I have. About $15K more than a Spyder.

 

[chrisfranck65]

Yeah- unfortunately. We're testing the water and yes- she needs to know, what she wants.
A year ago she wanted a hummer. After looking at at least 5 overpriced disasters, she changed her mind- lol

 

[3wheelrider]

Hey y'all, I'm Chris, 57 from South Carolina. I ride for over 40 years now, with a 15 year break.
My bike of choice is a 2009 FZ1. Love this thing and the best I ever had since my 94 Exup.
But here is the problem- my wife refuses to ride with me- she don't like sports bikes and she sure hates the seat position on sozius seat. And she's scared to death about leaning in curves.
We looked for alternatives and as I had a cruiser, just long enough to hate it and sell it within 4 months.
Now, after looking around, we found the Can Am spyder. I checked it out at the dealer- just sitting on it, and I think, this is something I could deal with, riding out with my wife together, as I would love her to come with me every once in a while.
As I don't know nothing about them and I'm looking at spyders with the 1300cc engine- 2012-2017, semi automatic, so my wife can ride it too. What I've seen so far- prices are from $12k - $17k- my question is- what is there to kknow- are there things to look out for? Weak points? MY specific issues? Things to look at? What mileage is safe, not to have tons of maintenance and repair cost right from the start...
I know, I wrote a lot- but I would like to know, before I buy and not having the problem zone filled up with repair questions.
Thanks for having me- and please if someone could answer those questions would be great!

When I was looking for a motorcycle that would be comfortable on long rides my first consideration was the Spyder RTL as I knew my wife would never get on a 2-wheel bike (she was also afraid to fly with me when we first bought out little Cessna years ago). But, as with the Cessna she has quickly adapted to the Spyder and is now often recommending we go for rides. Obviously the ability to adapt differs from person to person but the principle reason she feels comfortable, and enjoys, the Spyder is the fact it's three wheels and the single wheel is in the rear which minimizes the chance of laying it over during turns. As someone else mentioned, a great idea is to visit a dealership and have her on the back for a demo ride. The RT specifically provides a very smooth and stable ride, so much so that we're doing a 3,500 mile trip this summer to attend Sturgis with friends.

 

[Tourer]

Hi Chris. Welcome to the forum from North Carolina. Glad you decided to join us.

Would recommend buying the lowest mileage example you can find from 2015 and up.
Here is a website that explains the models and their equipment. Hope it helps.

All CAN-AM/ BRP Spyder models and generations by year, specs reference and pictures - autoevolution

List of all CAN-AM/ BRP Spyder models and production years

www.autoevolution.com