Now that I have driven the SS, I can attest to the fact that it reminded me of my MGs and Healys of old - hard to get out of for a big guy with bad knees too. But an absolute hoot to drive around in - and it got more attention than my 02 Vrod - with people braking on the freeway to slow down and stare. Lots of folks want to talk about my Spyder, but I haven't had someone hit the brakes for a look, since my 09 RS was new.
I drove the SL variant that was supposed to be mine, but went to an acquaintance for extra cash - and now I can wait for better brakes. They are fine for normal driving, but fade pretty quickly - much like the brakes on the 08 to 10 Spyders. I thought the steering wheel was on the small side, for optimal control and feel, but it was OK, and the full windshield kept the wind out of my hair. One would think that 176HP would be enough, but it isn't quite - like the 990 RTs - you would just like a bit more.
Polaris did a good job - from the occupants perspective, it's a great ride, and you feel you are going 50% faster than you are - again, just like my early Brit cars, without the multi-carbs, and dashpot shocks to deal with.
If you haven't driven one, you should. It doesn't matter what you call it, it's just plain fun. Will it pull the Boomers off their Spyders? Probably not. Will it pull the Xgen folks in? Probably. Those that have an aversion to motorcycles will love the SS.
Unlike the Spyder, where the up charge for the "S" or "LTD" provides little but window dressing, the SL is a solid value for the extra $3K - There are a host of features that I haven't played with yet - so I still have some unanswered questions.
Finally, the cockpit is a bit tight - comfortable, but tight. I like to move around on long trips (think floorboards on the RT), and there's really not much of that, and there were a few sharp edges in places where I would rest my knee - nothing drastic, just niggly bits. For less that the entry cost for a F3, it's a worthy contender for discretionary dollars.
Where would I place it in the fun/utility spectrum against the Spyder? Below the RT, and perhaps the RSS (LTD), but above the rest. I also feel it is totally unfair to compare the SS against the ATOM or similar rides, just as it is to compare the RT against the (non-triked) K16 or GL18 - each is in a unique place in the market spectrum, and offer checks in in boxes the others don't. If I were in the toy market, and the RT wasn't around, I would choose the SS. In the future - probably '16, I'll have both the SS share with my grandkids and my RT.