SOQS says she'll finally ride with me

[bajakirch]

Even though my wife took the MFS class with me -- and did fine -- she's never acquired her MC license and really has no interest in riding. I've tried to get her to ride with me numerous times. But, other than a couple of short trips around town, she won't do that either.

Well, the other night we went out for dinner. The bar/restaurant we visited was a having a small bike night (only a dozen or so bikes represented). We were walking past the line of bikes when she suddenly stopped. She pointed to a bike and said, "Now, if you had THAT bike, I'd ride with you all the time."

The model that finally sparked the interest: Here it is

Argh!

[cmyers]

LOL...might as well get a small convertible and be more comfortable.

[hockeyhawk]

They are cool looking but I agree with cmyers, you may as well get a convertable. It's not a bike IMO.

[Munkey]

Not sure I'd want to own one, but I would like to test ride/drive one.

[Snoopy]

They are bikes meant for beginners. They have a lot of safety features to them. If you over rev the engine, it shuts down, if you spin a tire, it shuts down, if one of the front tires comes off the ground, it shuts down, if the back tire comes off the ground, it shuts down...
Im sure you could get around most of it, but still going to be expensive to do.

[hppants]

I rode my neighbor's when he had it.  The front end requires work.  It's hard to resist the temptation to lean, because it does no good.  So when you are turning, it feels more like a cage, but faster.  It goes, but not as quick as the NH I think.  By far, it's best feature is it's brakes - stops on a dime.

For the money, I'll definitely pass.

[cmyers]

She would probably also like the T-Rex

[Snoopy]

We had one show up to a bike night in indianola, i believe it was the one laminar made it to, snapped a few pictures..thing was baadd..but for the price they better be!

[Wahrsuul]

I test rode several last year.  If they weren't so expensive, I might be riding one now.  I know there was an issue with the early models and the power assist steering.  The tires sizes are a bit odd, but you can trim the fenders and use standard car sizes.  Hard bags from Corbin look pretty cool, as do the smaller ones from Givi.

The RTS models are built to compete with the GoldWing - upright position, cruise, electric windshield, full luggage.  But strangely they used the same 990cc engine.

As for their being for beginners...maybe, in the same sense the NH750 is.  They're fast and handle well, and there's an automatic trans available, but they have the potential for high speeds and sporty riding.

[bajakirch]

I saw on on CL last year. I don't remember the exact price, but I think it was something like $12K he wanted for it. In the description, he wrote that he had just purchased the bike a few weeks prior but had changed his mind and wanted to sell it. I think it had less than 100 miles on it. Reading between the lines, it had 'Buyer's Remorse' written all over it.

[green427]

Ask your SOQS whether it is the 'leaning' or the gear shifting that bothers her the most.

My SOQS's biggest issue is the clutching/shifting issue, but has no issue with leaning, so we are looking into selling the Rebel and getting a 300cc & up scooter.

The CanAm Spyders look cool, are supposed to be very comfortable, and NO MC license is required. My issue is with the countersteering issue, I would have to re-train my brain cells to stop counter steering around curves like I do on the MC's.

Otherwise, I like the Spyder's features. A motorcycle for those that can't handle a motorcycle.

[Burgi]

I've tested them also. I missed the lean but otherwise thought it had potential. I met a woman that was touring all over the country on one. She had ridden a BMW for years but an injury made two wheels impossible for her so the Spyder let her continue to ride.
If there comes a time I have to choose three wheels or give up riding it would certainly be my choice over a trike!

[Brittles]

I see a lot of female riders on a Ridley. Automatic transmission, light weight, and low seat height being the reason (I guess). They do seem awfully expensive though.

www.ridleymotorcycle.com/motorcycles

[SirSeanSean]

The can am spider aways reminded me of the ariel atom. Might as well add a 4th tire on there and call it a day. (I still love both the can am and the ariel 300)

[happycommuter]

A motorcycle for those that can't handle a motorcycle.

If there comes a time I have to choose three wheels or give up riding it would certainly be my choice over a trike!

These are my opinions as well.  The handicapped have an excuse to use these things, and they are better than the ridiculous "car rear end" trikes.  But really, any able-bodied adult that can ride a bicycle has better options.  Mega-scooters are a better option.

The owners may see these as cool, but they look like some invalid perched on a backwards ATV bobbling down the road.
Glynn Kerr made the point that three-wheelers are the worst of both worlds.

[mike884]

sorry, I'm a little thick  but what exactly does SOQS stand for again, i know its significant other ...something  lol

[cmyers]

SOQS = She Of Queenly Stature

[detdrbuzzard]

hey happycommuter alot of the trikes that use an automotive rear ends are ford 7.5 rear ends, making gear changes easy and not overly expinsive. we were at work last week talking about taking the ecoboost motor and trans out of a taurus sho and using it for a trike by putting the motor in the frame legnth wise. the spiders steering is too much work for me at low speeds due to my injuries so if and when i get a trike it will have two wheels out back

[rpaulb]

I dunno. I would ride it around the block but give me the lean. That's where are the feeling is for me.

[Laminar]

We had one show up to a bike night in indianola, i believe it was the one laminar made it to, snapped a few pictures..thing was baadd..but for the price they better be!

Yep, I remember that.

The RTS models are built to compete with the GoldWing - upright position, cruise, electric windshield, full luggage.  But strangely they used the same 990cc engine.

SOQS and I saw an RTS at a mall in St. Louis last weekend, she said she'd definitely ride longer distances if we had one of those. Last time we took the Sabre out of town she insisted we stay off of the interstates, so we ended up on terribly bumpy state highways and backroads, she was not pleased.

[fishball]

I was about to recommend the Carver but then just read that the company went bankrupt.  Still looks like it would be fun to ride.

[bajakirch]

We were watching TV last night when an ad for the Can Am Spyder came on. My wife once again made the point -- quite excitedly, I might add -- that she'd happily ride with me on one of them.

Then I told her how much they cost, and that cooled her down a bit. I don't know if it'll spur her to take some rides with me on the NH, but hopefully it's the last I hear about the Spyder.

Sorry, I just can't get beyond the idea that it's basically a snowmobile on wheels.

[gammer]

Can Am Spyder's are made by Bombardier. Being from a colder climate, to me they look exactly like snowmobiles with wheels. Its a smart way for a snowmobile manufacturer to adapt their product to be sold year round.
IMO, I think they are neat and serve a niche market.

[Brittles]

We were watching TV last night when an ad for the Can Am Spyder came on. My wife once again made the point -- quite excitedly, I might add -- that she'd happily ride with me on one of them.

 ....my wife said the exact same thing. I guess it could happen some day as I'm starting to see more and more used ones for sale at reasonable prices, but no way would I buy a new one.

[fishball]

Maybe wait for the tilting Spyder.

http://www.motorcycle.com/news/brp-developing-tilting-canam-spyder-90418.html