Can-Am Spyder Buyer Regrets (With Sound) 

I agree with you, no matter how distracted or stressed I am, when I get on the bike all my senses become focused and intense because riding needs your full attention, and it feels great. Even after 35 years of riding it never gets old. I don't cover my bike, so when I walk into the garage I love to just look at it. Thanks for the video, have a safe summer.

Amen brother! Thank you for putting this video up. You just hit the nail on the head about disconnecting yourself from the daily challenges. My exact reason for buying my 2014 Can Am Spyder RS-S. Safe riding!!

So much fun watching you two thoroughly enjoying your lives together!

I love your enthusiasm and optimism, cheers me up to see how chuffed you both feel about riding. I bet its quite a rush hitting the ton !

Riding a bike always has a 360 view and is never dull or boring. Enjoyed your video.

This is an awesome story!!! Glad you and your wife are enjoying motorcycling together. Keep on riding and exploring the road together.

Good, enthusiastic review! I remember kinda smirking at an older guy with one and he said something sobering: "Don't laugh, it beats sitting at home". Now, a long-term injury is making me think of trading my 2-wheelers in for a Spyder with an auto-transmission. Thanks!

You are absolutely right John. When riding you have to pay attention and not only ride for own safety but have to ride for the other drivers who aren't paying attention. I found it very relaxing even when riding in heavy Houston Texas traffic. When I was on the open road with no traffic if found it euphoric. I was really relaxed and stress-free Can't wait to get that feeling back. I felt very alive.

I've had my Spyder RS-S for 3.5 yrs now and still love it! Every time I go into my garage, I just smile...Wanted one since 2008 and almost finished paying for it

Very nice. Might be one in our future. Wife and I have been riding together for 49 years, Goldwings the last 14 years. I always tell a potential bike owner the same thing you said..."If it's hot, you're hot, if it's cold. you're cold, if it rains, you're wet" But it's the most fun you'll ever have being hot, cold, or wet! Safe travels!

This is what I needed to hear!! I've been wanting one for some time now. Gonna take that plunge.

Bought my 1st Spyder in 13 and 50K miles later, I just got an 18 RT-LTD. Enjoy your videos and travels. It takes a crooked road to straighten your mind. Thanks again. Spyder 0ne 😎🕷

I glad you enjoy your spyders as much as I enjoy my harley. You explained every feelings I have ween when I'm riding my bike. I'm a long distance truck driver and it's my stress relief, I forget all my problems. Great video.

someone just got the biker mind and lifestyle and attitude!!!! this is the same for all riders...i have retired from riding however if i ever ever decide to ride again, i would absolutely consider this can am!!!! thank you!!!!

Top video, I recently picked up my new 900 Ryker and so far loving it, I can see myself moving up to a Spyder in years to come.

Awesome video. Very interesting to see the progression of your journey at the beginning. You've earned my subscription sir

We bought our Spyder in Nov 2017. And like you we thought about it for 2 years before getting one. For at least a month after we bought it I would open the door going into the garage and stand their looking at this beautiful motorcycle in my garage in disbelief. We love it and have no regrets.

was expecting a long list of regrets from title of video, pleased to see you really get it , I ride a two wheeler get exactly same pleasure as you both from owning and riding nice video.

Thanks for the update. Looking forward to getting one.

Thanks for posting, great comments.

Well John here in Scotland I have good news as I have found out that I too can drive this machine on a full Car license which was somethi8ng before I had been told was not possible in the UK, so with the nearest sellers being in England , about 5 hours drive South I hope this year to be doing the same as you and enjoying the thrill of 3 wheeled motor-cycling. Cheers for the insight and thanks for the input you have provided.

Great Vid. Can-Am looks a lot of fun. Doesn't need to be thought of as a car or motorcycle as it is what it is. I live in Scotland and we have great motorcycle friendly roads that would suit the Can-Am. I respect anyone who wants to see more of their countryside, whether USA or Scotland.

Neighbor, this is a great video, Nothing fancy, but genuine honesty and your happiness with the Spyder is obvious. I hope you did a touring video, and I will look for it now.

Great feedback from you sir. Appreciate the honesty. Stay up!

Thank you John for your comments! I just purchased my first spider this past week while on vacation through Virginia into Tennessee. I put nearly 1000 miles on this beautiful 2014 Spyder roadster!

I just bought mine (RT Limited) after years of lusting for one and couldn’t be happier. I got it used (under 22000 miles) and it’s a dream. Nice video!

After 5 years and third attempt… got them 2 etc limited and Ryker for wifey. Thanks for keeping us motivated!

As always an excellent video. Keep them coming. I’ve ridden motorcycles for years but at 66 my reaction time is not what it use to be. Use to ride and camp the blue ridge parkway at least once a year with friends I work with. I’m looking for something a little bit more visible. Hope to sell my motorcycle and purchase a Spyder sometime next year when I get my finances squared away. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

Thank you so much. I was browsing at a used spyder and now I'm sold. Greetings from Dubai

Just wanted to say thank you to you and your lovely wife. Because of your channel my Spyder is ordered and on the way!

As I get closer to 70, I'm thinking about adding a wheel to my ride. The cons you list is the life of a rider. I have been warm and dry sitting at an intersection watching a guy sit in his car shivering. Glad to hear you are enjoying it. I think I would miss counter steering the most, and doing my own shifting. Using my clutch keeps my left arm working.

I've had the same thought and it's a very good point. When you ride a motorcycle, can am etc, you can't be distracted by life. The additional risk is almost offset by the additional concentration

Thanks for taking the time to make,this video,ive always wondered about these things,ive had a few harleys and been thinking about theses things as an alternative to another bike.

A happy story and someone that enjoys and appreciates what they have 😎 good on you both

Hello all ,have had my Gs for about 11months now ,covered about 1100 miles ,but been looking at F3 , Its a little over prised for 1100 miles a year , but saying that , its an ace machine .Here in the UK most of our can ams are very low milage due to the weather, but boy are they so fantastic ,keep the videos coming , john

Me and the wife are thinking about buying one. This video was great info thank you very much

Just got my Spyder F3S this morning, so easy to ride, all I can say is it's awesome!

We bought our 2013 RT so that my wife would be more comfortable riding behind me. Over time she learned to love it and got her endorsement. She has been riding solo for several years now and loves the RT. We have not had any misgivings and the RT has proven to be reliable. Thanks and take care.

It's great to see so many people happy with their Spyder's. I have ridden cruisers, and sport cruisers for most of my life. Unfortunately, I purchased my Spyder prior to riding one. After three or four very close calls with the Spyder, I put it up for sale. It only had 1600 miles on it, so yes, I took an $8,000 hit to get out of it. For those who don't know, there is no hand brake on a Spyder. Is this a problem for Spyder owners who were never bikers, again, likely not. Unfortunately, aggressive bike riders rely heavily on front brakes(hand brake) for heavy braking. My first ride, on the Spyder was fun, until I a curve much hotter than I should have. I felt for the hand brake, and I grabbed a handful of air. I was like, oh shit!!!.....it took precious time to get my foot on the brake. I've had scarey moments on motorcycles, but never grabbed for a brake lever that didn't exist. I simply couldn't come to terms with, or get used to a machine that didn't have a hand brake. I don't understand why the engineers didn't see fit to include a hand brake. Especially for old bike riders. Such a simple thing would have made all the difference for me.

What a great video. I've been daydreaming about a Spyder for cross-country trips and camping. Looks like a good time. Hope to see you on the roads - I'm in the DC-area. Cheers!

This is my dream ride! I can’t wait till I can get one

Great video! I am going to buy a Spyder RT Limited after 10 years of talking myself and out of it for all the reasons you said. Too much money for a toy, another vehicle to maintain and too dangerous. I have watched a lot of your videos, and this one just popped up today. Thanks again for another great video.

This was lovely. Bless you. I'm on 2 wheels and still loving the journey even if it's the work commute. I'd like to test drive one to dispell my dislike for the mechanics of the steering. I didn't like quads and thought the steering would be similar

I love your review! Keep enjoying life!

Ride what you can afford, and what you feel comfortable on. Enough said.

I started riding when I was 10 in 1972.I have done lots of trail riding enduros a bit of road racing and about 750000ks on the road on various road bikes and I still own most of my bikes.I have a can am spyder which I bought second hand from my mate who did not ride any more.It took me 3000ks to get my head around it but now we love it.She had 13000ks on it when we got it, a 2009 SE5, now she has around 50000ks in 4 years, most of it towing a camper trailer on tar and lots of fire trails going to bike rallies etc.We had a few little dramas but I worked through them and now she is as we want to her.Longer shocks all round for a bit more ground clearance.A big sheet of aluminium bash plate.I also put driving lights on her, a hard wired intercom which also doubles as a stereo and cb radio plus I CAN answer the phone and so can the wife..independently of each other as well.We travel at around 140kmh 2 up once we hit the back roads with little effort and I can honestly say I love the thing.I like scraping my boots on my bmw K or FJ1200 but when we travel log distances camping along the way the spyder is my weapon of choice.It also allows the wife to wiggle around and stay comfortable on 1000K days and if I get a bit tired she can take over and I will have a nap on the back.She can't do that on the bike road bikes we have...I like reading comments about people who can't wrap their heads around spyders and whine about them not being a bike blah blah....makes me feel superior indeed..:o)

Congratulations brother. Enjoy the ride.

I'm so excited about buying my 1st one!!

Awesome video, thanks for sharing...

Thanks for this type of review. I am contemplating the purchase of a Can-Am.

..well, I guess I'm an impulsive buyer because as soon as I realized my limitations, due to my age, I went online and BAM saw the one I wanted. I went to the dealership the next day and as they say, the rest is history. That being said, I respect your level of research and preparation. I've definitely learned a lot from watching your tutorials.

Well done video. You put a lot of thought and research into your buying decision. I have 3 motorcycles and spent about 3 hours research on each.

Nice vid. I have a 2015 f3. A lot of great times!

This totally sold me on getting one. Not sure which would be best for me but I will be doing my research and planning to bring my baby home. So excited.

When I got my Spyders. My dealer took them off show floor and let me ride them before I paid for them. Bike sold themselves. Nice video.

Hi John. Mate loved your video. I'm just about to sell my 2006 Honda CBR 1100XX (Super Blackbird). Several very near misses within a short space of time told me the time was right. I'm 54 now and think I'll go for a Spyder next. Cheers from Adelaide, South Australia :)

Great video. I’m still on two wheels but will probably hop on one of these some day.

For the longest time I've had the urge to get a3 wheel license. The spider is a whole different machine. It to me seems like one that would bring a sense of relaxation and peace to me. Thanks for the great video and my mind is made up. It's a goal of mine to own one maybe next year to be realistic. Thanks again and enjoy your spyder

Super Nice video. Your words about pure concentration and enjoyment of the moment are SPOT ON!! I have a similar story except with my dream Bike the BMW K1600GTL ultimate touring machine. You are correct, expensive machine, expensive gear, expensive maintenance and parts.... Do I regret it? NO WAY!!!The freedom and the joy I get driving my bike with my beautiful girl on the back is priceless!!! And Yes I love to just go out to my garage and detail and STARE AT IT!! The beauty of the lines and curves and ohhh the POWER is an amazing feeling. The accomplishment of my hard work to be able to have such a machine is a feeling like no other. Anyway, happy riding my friend stay safe out there and enjoy your beautiful machine and companionship with your wife!!!! Rolando Martinez

Long way around/Down...did the same thing three motorcycles ago! Just sold the wing and bought a Spyder RTL. My wife drives that and I have a Yamaha Super Tenere. We are planning a two month trip on the Spyder for next year.

Thanks for your feedback on this! I've been looking into riding a motorcycle or a can am, and this really helps me with the decision making. I had concerns about making the purchase, and not really knowing how I'd feel about it, in the future. So thanks again!

Thanks my brother!

Ty I'm sold now,great video.

We just purchased 2, 2021spiders my brother in law also purchased 2 . We can’t wait to pick them up on Monday . Hopefully we won’t regret it either .

I know this video is somewhat old but thank you for sharing your experience. It really helps clear up doubt in my mind of whether that should be a goal my wife and I set for ourselves. Liked the video + subscribed to your channel.

I rented a CanAm Spyder and rode it 500 miles over 2 days. I loved it. Never had to drag my feet once ! lol. The only reason I don't have one is $$$. They are expensive and I wouldn't ride it enough. Can buy big touring/bagger for 1/3 the cost (all used but comparable), which is what I have. Maybe one day - if I want to keep riding as I get older I need 3 wheels.

Well said, I feel the same way about my motorcycle. There's a bit more on a motorcycle, but I'm sure you'll get that next.

Its not what you ride, but where you're going.

John, I've had my Spyder STL since mid 2015 and I can't agree with your last minute comments more. Enjoy the ride !

love mine. I kept my old cruiser bagger instead of trading it in because I figured I'd ride both. Well, the spyder is so much better. You can ride it aggresively like a sport bike, or just cruise comfortably. And I don't have to worry about pot holes, grooves in the road, etc.. I can park it in the dirt, on a hill, anywhere. I ride 2 up a lot and wife likes it much better. She has no interest in my old bike. I can haul groceries in it, put my jacket and helmet in it to not lug around. No regrets.

Great vid welcome to the good life brother keep on riding

Happy anniversary with your family member - Spyder!

This is a great video, Thankyou, I have a disability so can’t ride my Mc anymore and I need that open air still , I have been testing trikes love them , but not bought one due to budgets . One day .... regards from New Zealand 🇳🇿

We are leaving this Saturday from Ontario and are riding south to do the Tail of the Dragon on our Spyder. We have never been that far south in the U.S. before. My extent has been Buffalo NY and my wife has been to NYC. Looking forward to seeing North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee, and everything in between. My brother and his wife made the journey last year and the photos were just breathtaking.

I use to have a Valkyrie. My wife and I loved it. Then times got tuff and I had to sell it to support paying my property taxes! Still have my original street bike in the garage, it’s a 1983 LTD 705 Kawasaki and I love it, but it needs some TLC and it isn’t great for the 2 of us like me the Valkyrie was. Thinking about one of these 3 wheelers! Might be the rite ticket for us older guys! Great video, my investigation continues.

At first you scared me with the title of this video..I am an experienced biker..have been on bikes sice i was 16..now i am 50..and i am thinking quite seriously to buy an RT..so i am in the round for reviews..when i saw the title of your video..i said..okay..lets see..this guy probably have lots of complains..and when the video was on the way of conclusion..i said..okay..i must buy it..i thank you for that..and i am wishing you with all my heart you and Miriam to stay healthy and wealthy to ride with your RT until the end of time :)

Freaking loved this!

Thanks for the video!

Never ridden one but ride with a couple of guys who have them. They absolutely have a place. Cheaper than a trike (in most cases) and give those with physical limitations the ability to enjoy the open road. I will ride two wheels as long as possible but if the robo knee finally gives way and I am not ready to give up riding this is certainly an option. Enjoy your ride.

I have had my spyder 2 yrs now. BEST buy ever we like it alot

Awesome video

great video john new sub here we love our spyders too

Thank you for your honest feedback, great video content and thanks for taking us on your journey. I’ve never driven a motorcycle before (other than a moped that I crashed when I was a kid). I’ve been highly considering getting a spyder along with my endorsement on my CDL and I think you’ve finalized that decision for me. Hope to join the spyder family soon:-)

Thanks John and Miriam for sharing your experiences with us, the Spyder is a very desirable machine. I fail to see why you titled this video 'buyer regrets' when your experience was apparently so positive and as you mentioned, wouldn't hesitate to invest in another. My only regret would be having nowhere safe enough to store it while I was occasionally forced to sleep!

There was an ad on Kijiji for a 1986 yamaha venture with 998,000 km. I phoned the owner , he bought it new and would still be riding but his wife's hips went out on her . That's a pretty amazing thing in Canada with 9 months of winter here , we dont have much border crossing problems, 2 fellows from Nigeria tried it in the winter , lost all their toes and fingers and almost died before they where rescued near Winnipeg. The gentleman with the yammie bought a canam, they live it.

I'm really thinking on buying a Spyder because as I get older I can no longer trust that my knees won't give out. Now my right ankle is beginning to bother me. I'm not about to give up riding. I now have a 2016 HD Road Glide Ultra. I've ridden a Harley Davidson Tri-Glide and didn't like it very much. I seemed to have to really muscle the Tri-Glide through the turns. I took a test ride on a F3 and it was much easier to turn. I'm to the point that I don't know whether to get the RT or the F3. Either way I'll get a Limited version. I like the leg room of the F3, but the RT has a lot of features the F3 doesn't. Either way, by this time next year there will be a Spyder in my garage.

Wow that 18 wheeler coming up in your Rearview...scared me! LOL

it sure looks cool.

Cant wait to get one

Cool. I enjoy my two wheeler. But very vigilant on the road.

fellow south carolinian here saying hi and nice video.

John, Advantages ~~~ O 28996 miles None ~~~NONE!!! LOVE mine SPYDER !!! Ray Davis ~ Mr3wheels

My Mrs bought one after getting T-boned riding her Hayabusa & smashed her shoulder up & couldn't ride for 2 years. She can't extend her right arm too far but she can ride the Spyder & loves it but can't wait to get back on two wheels.I also have a Busa but bought a ZX14 Kawasaki just to see what they were like as I believe you need to live with a bike & ride it every day to really know what that machine is like,a quick 30 minute test ride at the local bike shop doesn't quite cut it for me. Anyhow she had a ride on the big K the other day & well now it's hers & I'm back on my Busa which is what I prefer anyway. The ZX I bought has raised handlebars which helps her with the reach to the bars so unfortunately the Spyder's days are numbered,as much as she loves riding it,she says it doesn't come close to the thrill of riding on two wheels.Not bagging the Spyder at all as she may still keep it but if it were down to choice then two wheel gets the nod everytime.

Good for you ....enjoy

They look fun but don't lean into turns like my favorite machines; aircraft, boats, and motorcycles. Motorcycle shops aren't equipped to deal with them and autoshops usually just won't. Glad you guys are having fun. Being in the now IS the best way to operate any machine, even if they can't lean properly!

I'm glad you are enjoying your bike. I feel the same about my Goldwing. I've had it ten years and love every moment on it even if it is raining. Is there any accessories you would recommend or warn against.?

I'm glad that you are enjoying your spyder, you need to put more than 4700 miles a year on it though. Life is too short, ride more. Enjoyed your video.

Just saving my pennies for an RSS ideally, ridden one 2 years back, suits me, similar to riding a Jet Ski, but a comfy ride, and more riding will be done....

Thank you for your report. I listened it carefully because I want to buy one and I wanted to know what the riders says about this machine. According to what I understand there is no default.

This is for Miriam. I know she talked on one of the videos about her Hwk jacket. I don’t remember which video it was on. But I was wondering about sizing. Do they run big, small or what?