Is a Spyder a motorcycle, trike or something else?

[broderp]

Legal definitions aside, does the community here generally consider themselves a member of the motorcycle community, the Harley/Goldwing trike community or our own Can-Am community?

I'm just curious, no right or wrong answers. :cheers:

 

[Steve W.]

Looks like I get to be among the first responders. :shocked:

Personally, I am going to rule out the Harley/Goldwing groups. Why? They are all CONVERSIONS. Honda never made a road-ready trike. Harley started their motorcycle down the assembly line, then diverted it to the Lehman trike factory for fitting the rear end, then Lehman sent it back to Harley for final assembly.

Between the other two choices, I would guess that a sizeable portion of Can-Am owners are former two-wheel operators, so would still consider themselves to be "motorcyclists". And, in that community, a dedicated Can-Am community makes as much sense as a dedicated BMW/Honda/Kawasaki/Yamaha/Suzuki/etc. community.

.

 

[ARtraveler]

Another vote for the "Can AM Community."

I think that sums everything up quite well. Most of us are "brand snobs" concerning "our" specific brands. There are different nuances between Harley owners, Goldwing Owners, and BMW owners. We are ALL members of the "motorcycling" community, but rides, camaradarie, tastes, etc. will vary. This is my opinion of course. I don't charge for this advice, so be gentle if you do not agree with me. :thumbup:
'

 

[Bfromla]

SCREW the names - Lets RIDE:yes::yes::doorag::riding::riding: acknowledge/appreciation waves optional - good times *REQUIRED* , decency preferred
**{don’t get me wrong, do appreciate the poll any # of wheels, thanks}**

 

[BamaJohn]

opcorn:
According to the followingL
The Spyder has a motor(engine);
The rider sits astraddle the vehicle, not in it;
The Spyder is a cycle and has 3 wheels and is called a "reverse trike";
The Spyder is therefore a Motortrike specifically, or a Motorcycle generically.

It's a Can Am Brand, if that even matters.

Ok, I have my chain mail suit on, so let the remarks fly! :cheers:

 

[shakin_jake]

What licensing plate does your state require? Fla. has my Can Am designated as a motorcycle so, I had to purchase a motorcycle plate, or did I use a plate (motorcycle ) I had lying around?!? Guess it doesn’t matter, I affixed a motorcycle plate to it. Call it whatever you like. Life is beautiful


Best,


Jake
Reddick Fla.
It’s never too late to have a happy childhood

 

[Jesster72]

The forum? I think aligns as our own community. Because most of our discussions are CanAm specific.

Forum members? I can only speak for me, I am a motorcyclist that rides a CanAm Spyder. I would speculate that most came from a two wheel background.

 

[CopperSpyder]

This forum is a Spyder, Ryker (Can AM) Community. This Community is a growing part of the overall Motorcycle Community that Harley Davidson, Honda and other brands are a part of also.

 

[Navydad]

I think the Spyders or any three wheeled "motorcycle" are an entity to themselves, but a segment of the motorcycle world. We have touring bikes, sport touring bikes, adventure bikes, dual sport bikes, and more segments. We are but one of those segments. Like any other group we Spyder guys tend to gravitate towards other Spyder folks because it is something we have in common. Same as the HD crowd, The GW crowd, or any other group. While my many years of riding have leaned towards the sport bike and sport touring segment I have no trouble joining in with any group because it's motorcycles we have in common overall.

 

[RayBJ]

If you mean 'forum members', I ride 95% with 2-wheelers. They have no problem with me in their groups and I frequently am the lead. Therefore, I fully align with the 'motorcycle' community. Can Am, like all my previous rides is a BRAND. It isn't WHAT you ride, it's the FOLKS you ride with and share experiences that matter. Wheel count means NOTHING!

If you mean the forum itself, the answer is obvious - Can Am.

 

[canamjhb]

I identify as a motorcyclist. Many, many years (decades) on 2 wheels, mostly Goldwings. Went to a Spyder RTL. Then back to 2 wheel Goldwing and then to a 3 wheel Goldwing trike. Like them all. And all were/are licensed and insured a motorcycles. I ride motorcycles.....

 

[EdMat]

It seems the thread title and the question on the poll suggest 2 different things.

 

[Flamewinger]

I did mostly ride with the Goldwing group as I had 5 Goldwings in over 36 years but anyone could ride with us. Now the new EWMA wants anyone that rides and if they start promoting it more I’ll ride with them. 2 wheelers are a bit faster than trikes which makes for a bit more fun.

 

[pegasus1300]

I checked the "our own CanAm community" as I felt none of the others fit. I rode two wheels for years, Montesa, Suzuki, BMW, Triumph, Norton, BSA, Yamaha Ventures, Royal Stars, DKW, NSU and others I can't remember, even a Honda Trike. This forum is about Can-Am Spyder while I do still identify with the "motorcycle" community, I also identify with this community of three wheel motorcycles made by Can-Am.

 

[Gwolf]

I rode sport bikes back in the 60s and 70s. Rode mostly Hondas at first. Wasn't a lot of choice at some of the places I had to live. Rode Sukis, Yamahas, several kinds of dirt bikes. The metric bikes were just getting up to the 750cc range when I bought my first Harley. It wasn't about the image, it was because Harley had about the best belt drive around and I lived on a dirt road, which eats chains for breakfast. Rode Harley Sportsters for about 30 years. Mine was all the old carb, hard mount, Harleys. They seemed to be almost indestructable and easy to work on. I bought the Spyder in 2019. Bought it mostly because I am old as dirt, nobody would work on my 20+ year old Harley, and it was gertting hard to find parts for it. The Harley vibrated so bad my arms would go numb after a couple hours. The Spyder is smooth as glass. Very little vibration, good suspension, and plenty of power.

I don't care what anybody rides. I don't care how many wheels it got on it. If you straddle it and it has handle bars it is a scooter. It don't make no difference what anybody thinks about the 3 wheels, if you out on the open, wind in your face, and having a good time, don't get involved it the technical details. Just enjoy the ride.

 

[LALoner]

Just for info - The "Run for the Wall" signup sheet has three catagories - Motorcycle, Trike, and Spyder.


All I personally know is, I have to have a motorcycle endorsement to ride a Spyder in Louisiana.

And I would add... A visit to Louisiana Power Sports today to check on expected delivery still has my 2024 F3-S at the end of Jan or sometime in Feb. No firm dates as yet. AAARRRGGGGH

 

[Woodaddict]

.... A visit to Louisiana Power Sports today to check on expected delivery still has my 2024 F3-S at the end of Jan or sometime in Feb. No firm dates as yet. AAARRRGGGGH

don't get your hopes too HIGH!!! we usually don't see new model year spyder's until March. dealer might have been too easy to give early date to get a sale!!

 

[Gwolf]

don't get your hopes too HIGH!!! we usually don't see new model year spyder's until March. dealer might have been too easy to give early date to get a sale!!

True dat! I wanted a specific model, and they said all kind of silly stuff that I did not believe. I put a $500 deposit down on it and told them to send me a message when it came in. I got it about the middle of April. Probably depends on the model you order too. I wanted the Special Series, and they were only shipping one per dealer to start with. I understand that later in the year, if a dealer did not sell the one they got in, it was fair game to move to other dealerships. It probably does not make that much difference which dealership gets it in first. All the dealerships in this whole tri-state area are owned by the same parent company.

 

[Pirate]

My Spyder is registered as a motorcycle and I consider it a motorcycle. This forum is mostly devoted to Can Am products which include the Ryker and Spyder.

 

[Peacekeeper6]

I'm lucky that the bikers I've had the pleasure of "wasting fuel" with have this mantra:

"It doesn't matter WHAT you ride, as long as YOU ride".

That said, I've ridden with people who have all sorts of bikes/trikes manufactured all over the world.

And that, my friends, is how it should be ....