Riding Impressions of the Can-Am Spyder RT

A few weeks back, I had the opportunity to test drive a Can-Am Spyder RT-S. I love my current motorcycle, a Honda Valkyrie Interstate, but it is a 2000 model and while still going strong, I do long for a day where I can have a new bike and not have to worry about maintenance and repairs. The Can-Am Spyder design has intrigued me since its first appearance as a prototype and with the release of the RT model I thought I might have found the perfect replacement vehicle. However, after the test drive I realized I prefer my Valkyrie and realized that the Can-Am is not a motorcycle, but something more akin to the off-road ATVs Can-Am's parent company Bombadier is known for.

About the Can-Am Spyder RT Line

The RT line of Can-Am Spyders is their offering of touring bikes. Designed to compete with the likes of the Honda Gold Wing, the Can-Am Spyder RT line boasts features that compete directly with the Gold Wing in a 3-wheeled package. This includes audio features, cruise control and an adjustable rear suspension on the S model. On top of this, the Can-Am RT line has some safety features not offered on other motorcycles, including traction and stability control and has separate programs for these systems for when the available trailer is attached to the vehicle. The seating is comfortable and is actually very similar to the riding posture of the Gold Wing and the passenger space seems similar.

The heated seats are there for both driver and passenger and the Can-Am one-ups the Gold Wing by providing heating for the passenger grab rails. Pricing undercuts the Gold Wing as well with 2010 prices ranging from the base Spyder RT starting at $20,999 and ranging to a fully loaded, semi-automatic RT-S costing $27,698.99 compared to the Gold Wing's $22,899 starting price to $27,999.

However, the base priced Gold Wing has more factory installed equipment; most notably having a full 4-speaker audio system as part of that price. The slightly more expensive top of the line Gold Wing also has the unique to motorcycles airbag as part of its safety equipment group. It should be noted that Honda backs the Gold Wing a three-year, unlimited mileage warranty versus the Can Am's two-year unlimited mileage warranty. However, while they are comparable on paper, there is no comparison on the road.

Driving the Can-Am Spyder RT

The detail oriented reader likely noticed my word choice here. The experience of being on a Can-Am Spyder is much more like driving than riding. The way I have explained it in passing to friends who were interested in the vehicle was and is: "It's like driving a really fast ATV." At one point, the base RS model Spyder was available without power steering and I wonder if that was where my issues came from. Yes, it was very easy to turn while going slow and the power steering is supposed to die down as the speed goes up, but I never felt the vehicle was truly stable at speed. The steering is too linear and boosted. I wanted to try a base model that was lacking the power steering just to see if it took care of the jitteriness of the ride.

I have ridden ATV's and they exhibit similar problems. A motorcycle, with its two wheels, will roll around bumps in the pavement. ATV's and the Can-Am jitters around them. One wheel gets pulled because of a road issue and the whole vehicle moves much more. In the first few minutes on city streets, I was constantly battling for control. Granted, the road was one of the less stellar ones in Houston but is also consistent with many of the back roads of Texas and Louisiana that I could conceivably be on at some point while riding a touring machine. Even on the smooth as glass freeway, every tiny expansion joint would make the vehicle move. In car terms, this vehicle has less than 1:1 ratio from lock to lock. In 75 degrees of movement, you can lock the wheels one way or the other. Between that and the power steering, it makes for a very unsettled ride.

It's unfortunate that the ride was so unsettling to me because everything else about this vehicle was commendable. The audio system performed great; easily outdoing my Valkyrie as well as the Gold Wing I demoed prior to settling on the Valkyrie. The performance was impressive; given the weight of the bike and the smallish (990cc) Rotax built V-twin which powers the vehicle. Shifts were smooth and the clutch engagement was easily managed. Braking took some getting used to because the brakes are completely interlocked and there is only a foot pedal for braking; however the brakes work very well and the ABS never freaked out as I was coming to a stop, a common issue with other motorcycle ABS systems.

The traction and stability control, however, is very aggressive and for good reason. It is very easy to drive beyond the limits of this vehicle. It is quite top heavy and lacks the stability that four wheels would provide. As such, it won't win any cornering contests and I managed to get the whole system to kick in while doing a u-turn on a dead end street. I was driving in a slightly spirited manner and was really surprised that the entire vehicle bogged down like it did until I straightened out the wheels.

The design of the windshield and fairing offers excellent wind protection and the seat and grip heaters really work. Without gloves, the grip heaters put out too much heat on the highest setting for me to keep my hands comfortably on the grips. The RT-S model I demoed did not have the optional Garmin GPS system so I cannot speak to its integration and functionality. Cargo holding capacity is very generous, with a rear trunk that can swallow two helmets, panniers that are decent sized plus a front trunk that can easily hold a duffle bag or the custom designed roll-away bag that is available from Can-Am. Can-Am's site claims a total of 155 liters or 41 gallons of space. There are a number of cars on the road with less storage available.

Conclusion

If there was a way to have the Can-Am Spyder RT without the jittery and nervous driving experience, I would take one. It is an otherwise excellent package that would make an excellent commuter vehicle or weekend touring vehicle. However, an excellent package won't compensate, in my mind, for the fundamental flaws in the vehicle's design. At the price point where the Can-Am sits, it is far too much of a compromise.

At that price point, there are any number of cars that I could buy that would give me almost as many 0-60 thrills, better cornering abilities, room for 4 in a pinch, air conditioning and better audio, as well as more safety features. There are also dedicated motorcycles such as the Gold Wing that do the job of being a motorcycle better, delivering better straight line performance and better cornering ability. While the motorcycles may lack some storage, it is a compromise I am much more willing to entertain.

Resources:

BRP Can-Am Spyder Roadster, Can-am

2010 Gold Wing Overview, Honda Powersports, USA