Great info, I am a first time rider at 77, two wheels was not a fit for me. Attended the BRP riding school purchased a 2020 Spyder rtl have traveled near 3000 miles. I am truly experiencing the youth of my senior years. You and Coach Vic are the best.
Hi Coach, I only have 5500 miles on my F-3T Limited. It has saved my bacon 3 times where if I was on a 2 wheeler my wife and I could have had serious injuries. One time while going 25 miles an hour around a 30 mph 90° turn we came across sand in the road. I'm not sure how it works but the stability control took over slowed it down and I was able to steer through it just after a tiny bit of sliding. Another time someone was coming at me and my lane while I was going around a left hand turn and I had a hit the shoulder and going to the ditch a bit. It was scary but I never lost control. God bless you for pointing out the facts of own ing a Can-Am three-wheeler.
Great info. I think they are the safest ride out there. Have ridden Goldwing trikes and have a tri glide. I feel more stable on the Spyder than any of those.
Thanks for posting very important content. I think everyone has concerns or fears, which is natural, but knowledge helps eliminate them. Recall checks are important for any type of vehicle - unicycle to 18-wheeler! Appreciate your wisdom and content to cover the matter. I hate see folk get hurt no matter what situation behind it.
Love, Love, Love my Ryker Rally. Don't even ride the 2 wheeler anymore. Feels super safe. Over 3500 miles already and use it daily. Takes some getting used to and it is different. Great Video.
Just finished my 3 wheel endorsement here in Virginia this weekend. I am a new rider to the Spyder. Bought a 2020 RTL so my wife can comfortably ride with me. Taking the class (mandatory in VA) really opened my eyes. It was raining on Sunday and we all go to experience the stability controls built in to 2020's. Agree with Coach Bob, do stupid things and win stupid prizes. Ride smart!
Good information and thanks for sharing. I have my 2nd Spyder, 2011 RTS I bought new with the twin 998 Rotax engine. I have been, since new, taking it to the dealer I bought it from who is of course a BRP dealer. I have had all required and then some services done and all recalls get done there. I am a big support of taking your Spyder to a recognized BRP dealer for your servicing, not a cheaper shop that is not connected to BRP. I have a friend who recently bought a beautiful Harley Electra-glide. He was telling me that the Harley dealer was way too expensive so he found a shop who can do all the work that needs to be done. I argued with him, why would you buy one of the most expensive motorcycles on earth and then take it to a cheap shop for servicing or repairs. This makes no sense to me. I know going to a dealer is more costly than other shops but the dealer's are connected to the manufacturer of that product, BRP for the Spyder, F3 and Ryker for example. Anyway, that's my 2 cents, with inflation, it's now my 50 cents, lol. Take care and I really enjoy your channel.
I just sold a 2013 Can Am Spyder RT Limited, the dealer did a recall and added scoops on either side to push air thru the engine compartment. As well the master brake cylinder upgrade. After that was done I put 45K on and enjoyed every mile. As far as flipping it, don’t overdrive your ability or the machines capabilities
Highly recommend taking a three wheel course. Give you the opportunity to understand and operate the motorcycle safely. Even is very basic it does give the opportunity to ask questions and ride in a control environment.
Very good video on the safety of the Can-Am Spyder. I love my Can-Am I believe it's the very safe vehicle to ride. It's only unsafe when an idiot is behind the wheel.🏍🏍🏍🏍
My wife and i just had an "oh shit" moment on a ride this past weekend. 2011 Spyder RT... Took a left turn apparently a little too fast (in an intersection after a stop sign, so i wasnt going stupid fast)... Left wheel came off the ground and i was sure we were going to go over... And had a loss of steering control, once the wheel came up so nearly ran into a telephone pole... We managed to save it, but certainly puckered the sphincter. Now, i attribute this incident to a couple thungs 1. The 2011 RT, the rider sits much higher up than in the newer models ive seen.... It serms very clear to me that Can Am has changed their design in newer models to lower the center of gravity. Combine that high center of gravity with the fact i was riding with a passenger, and my wife and i are both big people, so contributing even further to a very high center of gravity on the 2011 RT, and the propensity to tip becomes obvious. Thank God it was only a nearly tipped, and we saved it... But i certainly have developed a healthy respect for the fact that, yes, my Spyder has a high center of gravity, and yes, it can and will tip pretty easily in too sharp of a turn at even a relatively low speed.
Great research and info. I will echo your advice to check for recalls, so easy to do on CanAm's website, enter your VIN # and voila! One might assume if you buy a brand new Spyder from a dealer, they would check to make sure there are no recalls before handing you the keys. My dealer did NOT check. My RT was manufactured in Feb 2020, a recall was issued in Apr 2020 regarding a potential issue where the brake pedal/arm could snap during emergency braking. I purchased the RT in Sep 2020 discovered the recall myself a couple days later. I contacted the dealer, and they responded very well and very quickly to handle that recall. Although I am very happy with the service I have received, this is an example to show that you cannot assume dealerships automatically identify and resolve recall issues on the vehicles they sell, so it is VERY important and very EASY for Spyder owners to check for recalls themselves, and to do so regularly, it truly is fast and easy to check.
I felt very uncomfortable in tight turns on my Spyder for several hundred miles. I really had to adjust to how it corners and takes curves. That wide front end was a challenge at first. I found myself drifting a lot in the beginning.
Have a friend have her twin burn to the ground. She's put 200k on Spyders since, so it didn't scare her off. By the 18-19 models just about all of the odd bugs had been worked out (except the parking brake). The biggest safety factor with Spyder has been, and will always be, the operator. Training is great, if available, but driving experience is most important, by far. Just ease into it..!
I have 60+ years of riding two wheel gas powered and three, fours, tracks. Now do to my age I find it very hard to ride two wheels for more then 50 miles at a time. On Aug 5, 2019 got a 2014 Spyder RT Limited and on Aug 8 I rode to Sturgis (300 mile ride). I have been to Sturgis about 20 times on many motorcycles and this was the best ride ever. Even with 200 miles of rain. In 2020 I did 4500 miles of day trip with the longs one being 312 miles in 102 temp. An now I have rode on many roads I've been on 100s of times and I saw things that I had miss seeing on two wheels. My main motorcycle I got in 1993 is a Harley Davidson 1988 FXRT a great motorcycle. And I have 1999 Kawasaki Nomad (no running now) which I got because of my bad knees and back. So with some changes to FXRT I got it more rideable. Until 2017 when my back said no more two wheel riding. In the last 10 years or so many riders I know have sold there bikes and stop riding. Being over 65 years old and riding a Sypder is better then riding or not riding a two wheel motorcycle in everway for "Me". And I will be riding as long I body lets me, with plans for ever long trips. I know I'm safer on my Sypder then I would be on my two wheel motorcycles. Just the braking as saved me of hitting two deer or I would had laid down my two wheel bikes. Remember it is not what you ride, its that you ride. "Live to Ride, Ride to Live" this on my fuel cap(& more places) on my Harley.
I've been dreaming of a Can Am Spyder for about 7 or 8 years. This is the first I heard of them catching fire. 4 or 5 fires, for 100,00 + on the road is almost not worth mentioning, let alone freaking out over. I also believe you Can flip a Spyder, but you have to be trying to do something really stupid. You don't have to try to do something stupid on a two wheeler, most of the time that's what happens. There is no such thing as a 100 % safe ANYTHING. You can't live life, without taking some risks. Stay Alert. Ryde Safe in a fun way. Thanks for sharing. Keep on Spydering. 😎.
I agree Coach Bob. You either have to be trying really hard, or doing something stupid to flip a Spyder or Ryker. Can-Am have had a long time developing these machines to be as safe as possible. I too ryde quite aggressively and I’ve never come close to losing it. The issue with the guy on the leaves was when the back wheel left the low traction leaves and hit the dry asphalt. He was pushing it too hard, steering too aggressively and didn’t come off the throttle near the end of the leaves. The sudden traction as the back tyre bit into the asphalt caused a violent acceleration with no time to correct the steering. Catastrophically destabilising the Spyder. Very stupid and dangerous riding no matter what you’re on. Great info Coach. I haven’t been out on my Ryker since Christmas due to health issues, but I’ll be back out making vids on her very soon. Ryde Safe as always Brother. 🙏🏻😎🏴
Great video coach. The new ones are so stable and hard to tip. I have tryed. As far as fire goes anything can catch fire. Newer syders are extremely safe. Their electronics on new ones needs attention
As the inventor of the reverse trike conversion system I will attest flipping any reverse trike is like flipping a car. You have to do something very unwise in order to do this. I have been testing, designing and building for 13 years and I can go into a slide but can't flip them. CanAm has done a good job and the fire thing is rare but does present an issue worthy of recall. Goldwings have had some fire issues with brake problems and aftermarket belly pan issues so no manufacture is immune. Spyders are for the most part safe, in fact the one thing I don't like about the spyders is the extreme use is electronic controls. Compare the trike crashes with standard 2 wheel crashes and the 2 wheelers are vastly more dangerous. Just check out all the MC crashes on youtube, most are caused by driver error not machine error.
Hi from Ohio, I currently ride a 2004 Harley Ultra Classic But am getting older and thinking about going to three wheels. I love this video on the safety of the Can Am Spyder. I was wondering if you have or are planning any videos comparing the safety of the Spyder to the Safety of say your typical trike like the Harley Triglide.
I am looking for data on that very topic. Hopefully soon I will have the information you’re looking for. Thank you for watching. I really appreciate it.
I had a 2011 RTS and now have a 2016 RTS. Never had a problem with either one. You can flip one if you are foolish. If you shit weight opposite to the turn direction, you can lift a front tire and if you continue to accelerate instead of coming off the throttle it will flip.
I feel the only real danger with the can-am is the DRIVER. Ego or inexperience probably contributes 75-80% of incident causes. The other 20-25% are avoidable if given the training and experience on what to look out for (traffic, road conditions, bike performance, etc.)
With all due respect Coach... may I make a suggestion. I find you slideshow screen thingy distracting to the content of you videos... I am always watching it instead of paying attention to your very insightful presentations .... cheers from the great white north. Great video.... I never knew about that.
I appreciate the suggestion. Sometimes the monitor is on, sometimes off.... gotta go with the flow!😎 However... thanks for watching and for the compliment!
Hehehe, One of my favorite machines is a M35A2, Go look at its civilian safety history . quite a bit like the old gooney bird (DC3) when operated competently perfectly safe but VERY intolerant of stupidity. As a new F3S owner my biggest concern is still those I have to share the road with. FYI, 15 years and over a million safe driving miles as a CDL driver.
The Spyder is very safe with its built in computer monitoring your riding, if you push it beyond its capabilities (and I have) it will shut down and even correct the braking (I believe). I have talked to a Can-Am senior instructor about the bike and he informed me that it is usually never pushed beyond its limits by most riders. I have also witnessed an RT going in a straight line at 50kph and the bars pushed into a left 90º turn without any brakes or letting off the throttle, the bike just slid left and stopped, then the instructor applied the brakes otherwise the bike would start to go forward again. I know there are courses for riders which I would absolutely recommend new riders of the Can-Am take. I would like to see advanced courses being offered for season riders, I haven't found one in Canada (Ontario) yet. Practice in empty parking lots your turns and emergency braking, yes you can lift a front wheel but it takes some doing (I know).
The video of the guy that flipped the Spyder actually kind of showed the stability of the bike. He didn't flip until he spun around and was going backward (this still doesn't mean it can't happen facing forward). At that point he had the same stability of a standard trike. He high sided because a single wheel was going "forward" with 2 wheels in the back. A sharp tun at that point will flip a trike. Just like when you were a kid on a tricycle. The 2 "rear" wheels turning also made it worse. Here is a link of a guy going on 2 wheels on a police version of the spyder. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-zElfDrZzvl8.html Thanks for the videos
I have lifted a front wheel on my spyder. I was getting on it making a turn onto a side road. The nanny went apeshit (sorry but that's the only term that fits). I got it under control, but it did scare me. This was in the first six months of ryding.
I never fliped mine but it did go into a brick wall. I have a video of it at my site I'd love to hear your opinion of BRP inability to replace a simple part. Lol
I almost flipped my F3 Limited. I was giving my wife's cousin a ride around the neighborhood I had just took her sister on the same route. When I made a left turn the right wheel was in the air. I probably took it too quick but I think her cousin shifted and some kind of way unbalanced it. She went flying off. Luckily we weren't going fast. That scared me.
To anyone new to riding, I also recommend viewing videos on you-tube by DanDanTheFireman. He performs after action reviews to learn why incidents happen, what the rider did wrong, how to avoid, and what to look out for. His videos are primary two wheel focused, but the same methodology applies.
The Fires are 100% the EPA's fault. The evap canisters for the fuel system exits stupidly close to the 3000 degree Catalytic Converter! An evap delete definitely helps that. And doing a cat delete is the best way to get the heat out of the engine compartment. Flipping is easiest to do in 1st gear. Flogging on country back roads, I can barely get the inside wheel off the ground. I've been on twos all my life so riding on the interstate is the biggest thing to get used to. You can't just shift your weight to move from one side of the lane to the other. Catching a curb would be the way a highside could occur.
As usual, everything you've said is true, but it's like Bruce Ismay saying the Titanic was unsinkable. Every vehicle with wheels can be flipped or rolled over and it boils down to the driver being responsible for his/her actions. That joker you showed in the video clip could have been hurt pretty badly, although I have a feeling it was staged to prove a point. Anyway, TCRS, hello to Coach Vic. Gerry Wood.
You have to be trying really really really hard to flip these things. I'm very aggressive and I've done rolling burnouts and drifts and I've never had a tire lift. That guy in the video was trying to flip his.
The guy flipped in the leaves, was completely a dumb@ss. The computer stability program was completely fooled because it went from slippery to not in 5 feet, AND He (or the Spyder's computer) let off the throttle, had he kept POWER ON, He would have just drifted w/burnout! - I wager that ANY high center of gravity vehicle with 2/3/4 wheels (Motorcycles and Trikes fit that category, after all they are not GT40's or Go Karts) would also flip...Take a Full-Size Van, and whip the @$$ end around in leaves (or slippery surface) that transitions to good traction like that...and you'll lay it down too! (Don't Ask Me How I Know!) - I have had 2F1R vehicles since I was a child. (My Go-Kart, my Grandfather Built in 1958, is built like a Spyder)
