Since my Can-Am Spyder RT was getting a new headlight installed last week, I wasn’t able to ride for almost a week. I had an itch to just ryde with no destination in mind and to just follow the signs pointing that way. These seem to always be better rydes as there is no anticipation of what is expected.

So I headed off to the bank to get some lunch and gas money for the weekend, like I always do. When I returned to the Spyder RT, I met Rod McIntire from Maricopa, AZ admiring the roadster. Rod was visiting San Diego, saw the Spyder RT parked and came over to take a closer look. He use to ryde two-wheelers and it’s been awhile since he’s thrown a leg over a motorcycle. I spent nearly 40 minutes with him before we parted ways – it was great speaking with you Rod!

I decided to head southeast from my house and hit the backroads into the rural areas and I decided to try a new set of twisties, not knowing where they would lead me too.

I really enjoy exploring new roads and areas because I always seem to uncover new adventures and places. I found a lot horse property ranches that I never knew existed, so as I continued crisscrossing the freeway I found myself ryding into Mount Laguna which the peak is above 6,000 ft.

With the temperature only 53 degrees, I flipped on the heated hand grips on high because I was wearing my winter gloves and the heat is so strong, it will go thru the gloves and keep my hands warm and toasty.  While Southern California winter weather is not as cold as other parts of the U.S., it’s still cold enough to accumulate some California mountain snow. The difference here is that California snow still lets you ryde all year around. So from Mt. Laguna I went to Julian, Ramona and home for a short 124 miles. The ride definitely took the edge off that was created from my lack of ryding.

The next day (Sunday) I headed to Temecula to meet up with two Can-Am Spyder RS owners and a 1500 Goldwing Trike owner to ryde a 348 mile course that the two RS owners had ridden with 22 other riders the day before. We headed through Hemet (hello to Fred Rau) and on to the Salton Sea – there are some amazing roads! We then headed back into the mountain towns and through the twisties and down into the canyons. From there we shot to the mountain peak where there was still snow (thank god for those heated hand grips!!).

The weathermen are calling for rain tomorrow and Saturday, so I’ll need to hit the road on Sunday before the Super Bowl.   Friday and a rain storm is due on Fri. and Sat so it will be a Sunday itch that I will need to fix before the Super Bowl.

To read more about the Can Am Spyder Roadster RT, visit: www.westcoastspyder.com

Remember” It’s about the Ryde - Not your Destination.”

On a sunny and warm Florida Sunday a few weeks back I was interviewed by Ocala Star- Banner reporter Andy Phillmore.  He was interested in how my RT-S (Black Friday) and I came to take residence in Ocala, and become one of BRP's five traveling ambassadors; better know as the “RT5.” 

We met at a local parking lot for the interview, so the RT-S and I could pose for photographs.  Andy has been riding motorcycles most of his life, but has never been this close to a machine like the RT-S. He did remember the old Can-Am motorcycles of the 70's, and had a fondness for their performance which certainly showed with his new interest in the RT-S.  He asked all of the curious questions that I have been receiving while on the road; what is it like, how does it drive, how does it feel to have two front tires, what about the steering, how comfortable is it on a longer trip, etc.  It is great to see how the RT-S can bring people together and make for an enjoyable time, good conversations, lasting friendships, and even getting a great write-up in the local newspaper. 

For the interview, Andy brought along a photographer, Mr. Jon Singley, who had even more questions about the Spyder than he did!  I had my better half Jacki taking photographs of us during the interview, which was funny because Jon said that he is not used to being in shots during an interview.  He just couldn’t help it, as his interest in the Spyder kept him close throughout.  As always, I did get the same response when going over the unit and all that it has to offer; the Vehicle Stability System (VSS), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Traction Control System (TCS), Stability Control System (SCS), and the 990 V-Twin Rotax engine.  I love covering off on the two transmission options whenever talking to someone unfamiliar with the Spyder, because when I mention that it has reverse, I always get that look like, “Oh Yeah?”    

Since the parking lot was empty, I gave them both a quick intro to the ease of operation, before letting them lose around the lot.  The smiles could not be dragged off their faces, and Black Friday and I made them new believers in the "Y" factor.        

The article was printed in the following Monday’s Star-Banner, (click here to read it) hitting the stands by early morning.  As I have been cruising around the city for the past few days, even more people are giving me the thumbs up, smiling and checking out the Spyder.  Local residents now look at me and say, "Oh, you're that Spyder guy" when I come to a stop or run into the store.
 
I had the opportunity to meet a couple, Allen and Tracey, visiting Florida from the 49th Parallel in North Dakota.  I had stopped at a local store, and Allen and his wife were checking out the Spyder. As always, the conversation immediately began.  They were down visiting friends in Florida and enjoying the warmer weather that was not present in their part of the country.  Even though he has a traditional two-wheeler, Allen climbed aboard and felt the comfort of the RT-S.  Then Tracy got in on the enjoyment, checking out the rear riding area, stereo and the height adjustable windshield (she likes the ability to keep the wind from hitting her in the face). Allen and Tracy, It was a pleasure meeting you both and introducing you to the RT-S.        

The RT-S has the ability to open conversations, meet new and interesting people, and share our stories with each other. I sometimes wonder if the folks at BRP knew they would bring so many people closer to one another when designing this fantastic machine.
 
Well, another turn in the road has been rounded, providing life's great experiences and opportunities.  The next bend is in sight and the RT-S and I are up to the adventure.

Forward we go...
 
Be safe, and think "Y."

The Premiere Edition Can-Am Spyder RT-S units are flying out the headquarters doors here in Valcourt, QC Canada. Some owners have received them and others are anxiously waiting…but don’t worry, they’ll be arriving soon. When you do, we want you to share your roadster with the rest of the Spyder Community!  Along with a photo of you and your RT, please take a photo of your seat highlighting your Premiere Edition number. We would also like you to share:

• Your Name
• Date of delivery
• Location – so other owners can link up and Ryde!
• First ride synopsis

Please send your information to us via SpyderTeam@brp.com (subject line: PE RT-S INFO) and we’ll share your Premiere Edition RT-S with the thousands of owners and enthusiasts who have fallen head-over-hells for the new touring roadster!

 

Hi Spyder owners and enthusiasts, my name is Kathy Fletcher and I own a 2009 Can-Am Spyder SE5 RS. I have ridden my Spyder a lot – over 17,000 miles in less than nine months (and very few from my six mile roundtrip commute to my office at Malcolm Smith Motorsports!). I just absolutely love my Spyder RS.

I was given the opportunity to ride some of the break-in miles on our dealerships Can-Am Spyder RT-S demo unit. So I just had to 'sacrifice' a day of riding my baby. Someone has to do these hard jobs!
First Sight:

I really love the strong 'face.' I like the way the whole body seems to flow; all the bags are perfectly integrated so the lines are smooth. It looks a lot larger than the Spyder RS.

First Sit:

The seat was oh so comfortable! It feels like I’m sitting on my recliner at home. It has the perfect seating position for a touring machine; the handlebars come back so the seat position is upright and the foot pegs are well placed. The digital display is easy to read (very clear) and the controls are easy to reach while riding.

First Walk-Around:

The Spyder RT has tons of easy and useful storage. The only complaint I had was trying to remember what stuff I put in what compartment! The center console compartment is also a great idea – props to BRP! It is ideal for papers, cell phone, sunglasses and event chapstick (but don’t leave it in there on a hot day).  Plus, when you lock the steering, the center console locks; it’s perfect!  After getting a tutorial on the controls from Ken, I had it memorized and felt they were easy to learn.

First Ride on the RT:

In total, we rode for 380 miles. From my experiences and knowledge on my SE5 Spyder RS, there is a small learning curve with the SM5 clutch and the fly by wire throttle, especially after the ease of the SE5. While piloting the Spyder RT, the roadster does not seem that much larger than the RS; it’s easy to handle, responsive and has great acceleration. I really enjoyed the sound system – I used both radio and iPod. I felt it was easy to navigate through the settings.

The first 100 miles were on freeway and the unit felt a little 'top heavy' for me. It wasn’t a tilting feeling, but more of a slight rolling feeling side to side. After speaking with Ken about it, there was an easy fix. We adjusted the front shocks – it took no more than two minutes – from setting three to four on the cam adjustment. I also enjoyed the ability to customize the rear shock feel while driving, the set up on the center console makes it so easy to adapt for the freeway and then change for the mountains.

I felt the cruise control function was simple to turn on and off and was perfect for this machine. I only tested it for a brief period (because of the break-in process) but I definitely got the feeling that the cruise control feature will be spectacular for long stretches of freeway riding.

For the last 280 miles we rode through the San Diego mountain backroads. I found the Spyder RT easy to handle in curves and it always felt very stable. We finished the day long after sunset, so I also was able to test the lights. I feel they’re an improvement over the Spyder RS. I liked how the digital display changed colors to be more eye friendly after it got dark (went from white to blue background).

Although I feel my Spyder RS is more aggressive (acceleration and cornering), this in no way means the Spyder RT is underpowered. Its like the difference between a sports car and a luxury car – both are powerful but they use that same power differently. I rode many of the same roads on my Spyder RS the prior weekend and found I was far less fatigued after riding the Spyder RT all day than when I rode my Spyder RS.

I took photos of both units together and was surprised to see that the seat heights are almost identical. I felt that I was sitting higher on the Spyder RT, but that is apparently due to the width of the seat and not the actual height.

Overall impression:

I love the Spyder RT! I have a terrible case of the 'I want this!'

Over the past four months, the RT5 ambassadors have zigzagged across North America showing off the new 2010 Can-Am Spyder RT. During their travels, they were kind enough to bring us along with them, documenting each and every mile. They have not only supplied us with great product information, but have also given us a sneak peek into what it feels like to be a Can-Am Spyder owner.

They captured tons of on road riding, engaged consumers, and gathered great footage of dealership visits and events. We couldn't include it all, but here is our end-of-program video highlighting the best. We hope you enjoy it and thanks again to everyone that has followed our ambassadors along the way! 

Congratulations to Louis Berube who has hit the 25,000 KM mark on his Can-Am Spyder!  Who will be next to join this group?

Louis Berube

Congratulations to all Spyder Ryders who have hit the 5,000 Mile/KM mark and beyond! Twelve owners have sent in their photos and mileage numbers for the month of January — who will be next to join this group?

Check out these dedicated Ryders and their Spyders below - Keep on Ryding!

Barbara Murphy



Joaquim Violeta



George Parry



Andy Markham



Maria Carmen Markham



Anthony Gillespie



Jean-Luc Roy



Fredrick Payne



Helene Cote Lemaire



Francine Cote Lepage



Dominique Desilets

This week I went down and visited the local dealership, RideNow Powersports of Ocala, Florida to have my Can-Am Spyder RT-S, Black Friday, serviced.  While there, I saw that they are now conducting demo rides on their beautiful RT-S with the SE5 semi-auto transmission.  The Spyder that I have been ryding has the 5-speed manual (SM5) transmission since the SE5 RT-S units weren’t available when I received mine.  I highly suggest you test the semi-automatic transmission – it grants you the ability of only having to shift using the thumb and index finger of the left hand.  There is no clutch or shifting lever for your foot, which provides more time to relax, and feel the Spyder roadster’s prowess. Go down to RideNow Powersports – or the dealership near you – and take one for a demo; you won’t be disappointed.

While at the dealership, I had a chance to meet some great folks that stopped by to shop.  I met one proud 2009 Can-Am Spyder roadster owner, and he was overly pleased that he has helped to sell three of these machines to his friends. I told the owner that he’s just like me – a Spyder ambassador – and he should proud of that! As he was seated on the comfortable RT-S, I believe that the love for his current Spyder began to weaken a bit, given everything that the salesman Andy and I were telling him about the features of the incredible 2010 touring roadster.  I should also let you know that this happy owner is a young 83 years old, and he believes that he has a good 20 more riding years left to enjoy his Spyder roadster.  It is goals and enthusiasm like this that we should all share to keep us young and energetic!

While at RideNow Powersports I spent some time with the General Manager, Lyle Cramper.  He was explaining to me that they recently moved into the current building (it opened in April, 2009).  The showroom consists of 12,000 square feet; ample room to showcase all of the fine BRP powersport products.  The rugged and fast Can-Am ATV’s greet shoppers at the door, while the revolutionary Sea-Doo personal water crafts (PWC's) and sport boats rest against the back walls.  The Can-Am Spyder roadster display has its own private section, highlighting both the RT-S and original RS's.  The area has a looped video explaining the merits of the Spyder, the RT-622 trailer, and all of the accessories.
 
Lyle said that RideNow Powersports has been in the business since 1977 and presently has a staff of 25 full-time employees.  He is very proud of his service department, whose technicians have over 60 years of combined powersports experience.  Technician Clint Pett was assigned the task of servicing my RT-S, and also performed recalls and updates on the unit.

A wiring harness recall and a computer update were performed by Clint, and he was gracious enough to allow me to photograph him while be executed the maintenance on my machine.  After Clint took the unit for a quick spin, he told me that everything looked good and that I was free to leave. We said our goodbyes and I graciously agreed to give him a plug on www.SpyderRyder.com – hello Clint!  Who knows, maybe another fan?

After spending almost three hours at the dealership, becoming friends with the staff and talking about the Can-Am Spyder RT-S, it was time to head out.  I would like to thank Lyle, Andy, Don, Joe, Eric, Chris, and of course Clint for making me feel welcome.  I was invited back to their Try Spyder Tour Demo Day which will be held at the dealership on February 20th.  Local residents mark your calendars and be sure to check out the Spyders and meet the fine folks at RideNow Powersports of Ocala, Florida on the 20th. To find out more info on RideNow Powersports of Ocala, please visit http://www.ridenowocala.com/. 

Another adventure enjoyed with the Can-Am Spyder RT-S and I know there are more out there to be discovered.  The next one might be just beyond the bend; I must go and see.

Be safe and think "Y."

Greetings fellow Can-Am Spyder owners and enthusiasts! On Thursday I received an e-mail from one of our West Coast Spyder Ryder members and it was a simple message, “Can you come out and play on Saturday.” It was so simple that I couldn’t resist saying YES!!

After going back and forth a couple of times we decided that Kathy Fletcher would come visit me in El Cajon, CA. Kathy would be riding from the Riverside, CA area, which is about 108 miles (1hr and 40 min ride) from El Cajon. Unfortunately, Kathy wouldn’t be riding her 2009 Can-Am Spyder SE5 RS to my house, but more fortunately she got to ride Malcolm Smith Motorsports’ newly delivered Can-Am Spyder RT-S demo unit. Kathy works in the accounting department, but Malcolm still lets her participate in some great things…like giving her the job of breaking-in the unit.

Kathy has been on most of the West Coast Spyder event rydes and I have been on most of the Spyder Thunder rydes that she puts together which are backed by Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, CA. When Kathy arrived at my house I asked her how the Spyder RT handled. She said the unit felt a little 'top heavy' for her. It wasn’t a tilting feeling, but more of a slight rolling feeling side to side. Since I have been playing with the suspension settings on my Spyder RT, I knew just what to do for Kathy. I made her set her front suspension setting to four, and reset the rear air suspension. I took a quick video of Kathy changing the setting to four.

We took the backroads through Crest, Alpine, Cuyamaca and into Julian where we stopped for a slice of warm apple pie with ice cream – what could be better?  When we finished, we went outside to get our riding gear out and a small crowd formed. We ended up spending about 30 minutes talking about the Spyder RT to the interested folks. Kathy has heard me talk about the Spyder RT so many times, she started finishing my lines and helped explain all of the features and why the Spyder RT is the perfect touring machine! Hey BRP, whenever you want to send Kathy a Spyder RT, she’s ready and would be a great Spyder RT spokeswoman!

With our bellies filled with pie and our mouths a little dry from all the promoting, we were excited for the ride home. Once we pulled into the driveway, we did a quick interview – stay tuned next week for Kathy’s review – and Kathy finally met my wife Kathy. Everybody thinks my wife doesn’t exist and now there is at least one Spyder Ryder that has met her and can say for sure the she is the real deal.

Kathy then hit the road for Riverside and in total rode 380 miles. Later that night, around 7 p.m., I received an e-mail that she had arrived home safely. To be honest, she left my house at about 3:30 p.m. and should have arrived in Riverside at 5 p.m. ...so where did she go for the other two hours? And no, it wasn’t traffic! That’s what happens when you’re behind a touring roadster – it doesn’t allow you to ever take the short way home!



Read more about the Can Am Spyder RT roadster at www.westcoastspyder.com

Remember” It’s about the Ryde – Not your Destination.”

 

Over the past few days we seem to have found the Florida weather that has been missing for the last two weeks.  I have been riding the Can-Am Spyder RT-S around the city of Ocala, enjoying the warmer days, and seeing people out and about.  It is still fun to ride around the city like a celebrity with everyone checking us (RT-S and me) out.  I must confess that I do like being the center of attention!  The number of "thumbs up" that the unit receives is unreal.

I have talked with folks while sitting at stop signs, traffic lights and even handed out brochures to people with multiple questions; the timing of the light doesn't always allow for answers!  When I stop to get things at a store, or grab something quick to eat or drink, the Spyder always draws a crowd. 
 
While at the store the other day a guy came up to me in the parking lot and asked if I was one of the RT5 guys, and if this was the RT-S that was photographed on Jacksonville Beach.  I proudly said yes, and then he went on to say that he uses that photograph as his computer screen saver.  At that point, I had to get a picture of him and his group around the RT-S for the first time.  He has been following me on the web and watching for the RT-S around the city.  At lease I now know I have a fan base of one; got to start somewhere. 

One of the main questions that I get asked on a daily basis is how does the Spyder drive as compared to a motorcycle?  When trying to explain, I say it sits like a motorcycle but drives nothing like one.  I find that if someone tries to "drive" the Spyder, and push and tug on the handle bars, the unit will dart about due to the very responsive steering.  This may cause them to "white knuckle" the grips, making for an unpleasant ride.  At first, one should safely ride with their hands open and fingers extended, looking into the corners and letting the Spyder follow the eyes. 

Some people can remember “white knuckling” while driving a car for the first time.  Most people who drive with some sort of experience now operate a car with an easy grip, and go around the corners in a fluid motion.  The same eye and hand technique in cornering applies with the Spyder.  The roadster is designed for the pleasure of the rider and driver, so one should enjoy the ride, not fight it.  As most experienced riders of these units will tell you, it is one great ride.
 
With the above explanation, the next question that I get asked is easy to answer; how does it corner?  Once relaxed on the Spyder and looking through the corner, it responds with a very light touch, providing a ride that doesn't require a whole bunch of thought to getting around the bend.  The operator can enjoy the view, review the areas around them, and return the “thumbs up” back to all the others that wish they were you.  This is where the three wheels come in.  There is no wobble or tipping; it stays straight and true. The Spyder is designed with the Y-architecture, which means there is with no leaning and you won’t have to worry about any of the wheels coming off the ground.  

With this design, if the corner is covered with water, sand and/or bumps, the Spyder will maneuver with the contact patch of all the tires remaining the same at all times.  The VSS (Vehicle Stability System) will not allow the Spyder to spin or lift a tire, making it very safe when cornering.  The Spyder is granted twice the turning traction from the front tires, all accounting for one great, safe ride.
 
Many dealers are now offering demo rides, especially in the warmer areas, and with the Try Spyder Tour making its rounds, I encourage you all to take the opportunity to give it a spin.  You should definitely get in line and enjoy the Y-experience.  Once you ride the Spyder and feel the unit become one with you, you will never forget it.  Go, take the opportunity, and you will know what it is like to have the Can-Am Spyder RT experience.
 
Now that I have talked about cornering, go, the next one awaits, it's what’s beyond that must be explored. 

Be safe, think "Y.”