|
|
|
|||||
|
This three-wheel vehicle, with two wheels in the front and one in the rear, offers a completely new and stunning look.

The Spyder feels like the fastest ATV you've ever ridden. Just turn the handlebars in the direction you want to go and let the tires do the rest. The Can-Am Spyder has electrically boosted power steering, so the steering effort is far less than you'd expect.
There's a surprising amount of cornering grip. The twin front tires are 165/65R14s, and they're controlled by upper and lower wishbones that offer 5.7 inches of travel. The drive tire is a 225/50R15, and the swing-arm and mono-shock also deliver 5.7 inches of travel.
The Spyder has a 68-inch wheelbase and a front track of 51.5 inches, plus it weighs 697 pounds (dry). You've got 106 horsepower to play with, and the broad power band of a V-Twin engine makes the Spyder very tractable.
If you're afraid that the Spyder might skate out from underneath you, don't be. There's a carlike safety net of electronics to keep you on the road. It starts with antilock brakes and electronic brakeforce distribution. The Spyder also has Bosch stability control that cuts the throttle and applies the brakes to stop a slide, and it's calibrated for an anti-rollover function. There's even traction control.
We tried sliding the Spyder around on the gravel and discovered that you can't. And if you're thinking about defeating the stability control, there is no off switch.
The Spyder is fun on a winding road, it has great stability at speed and will reach in excess of 120 mph. It likes you to shift your body weight to help it find the right line in corners.
Because it's a three-wheeler, the Spyder will go around corners faster than you realize, and neither rain-swept pavement nor oily freeway ramps will ever hold the same terror they do when you're riding a two-wheeler. You're in the open air, yet there's a generous amount of room for two-up riding and a lockable trunk to bring along your stuff.
|
|
|
Top of page... |
|
|