My girlfriend has been struggling to get comfortable on her MC since a car wreck 3 years ago where she a severe concussion and muscle damage. She went from riding 6-7 k a year to less than 1k. She still wants to ride but just doesn’t have the comfort on her bike anymore. We have talked about it and she thinks a Can Am Spyder might be the answer, I think they are unnatural, but she grew up riding quads. I am looking on input about maintenance costs, reliability, gravel road ability and just general information.

Thanks
Ed

Haven't ridden one, sat on a few at demo days, at most Major events they are there with demos, which would be a good way to test the different models.

Problem is COVID has shut these events down this year.

If she's not into the way the Cam Am handles, the other option is a trike.

There are HD and other brand of trikes in small to large size depending on what she prefers...

The HD Freewheeler is designed for this market.



Trikes

Good grief, HRK, I looked at your link and STICKER SHOCK!

I could buy a new truck, nicely equipped, for less than the price of some of those trikes.

We test rode Spyders last year and she liked them, I think they are horrible.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Good grief, HRK, I looked at your link and STICKER SHOCK!

I could buy a new truck, nicely equipped, for less than the price of some of those trikes.

Trikes are definitely not cheap, I saw a HD trike at the shop near me for almost 50K.

quote:

Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
We test rode Spyders last year and she liked them, I think they are horrible.

Today the Can Am is not for me but for someone who can no longer ride a motorcycle for one reason or another the Can Am is a great alternative. I went on a group ride last Saturday and a guy had a nice Can Am, he loves it, doesn't feel comfortable riding a motorcycle anymore, plus his wife will ride with him. It all boils down to preference and what each person enjoys.

What is she riding now? Different bikes have very different riding positions. Does she want to be more upright?

I didn't like how they rode either, closest comparison is a snow machine (even trikes ride very different). But if she likes it...

A friend has one and he said the maintenance costs are high compared to most bikes. He is an older gent and unable to do maintenance himself though he did also state regular maintenance on the Spyders are more involved than most two wheelers.

I think he purchased a maintenance plan along with an extended warranty.

There was a guy where I used to work bought a Can-Am trike a few years ago. Rode it to/from work every nice day that year. Then I noticed, one nice spring day, I hadn't seen it in a while. Turned out he'd sold it. I asked why. "Not comfortable to ride," he replied. Unlike a bike you can't lean the machine in turns at speed, which makes staying put on the machine an effort--or at least uncomfortable. He didn't like it.

Quads are not the same. You don't go 70 MPH or more on a quad

So she'll definitely want to take one for a ride before plunking down the cash.

I'm curious: What leads her to believe she'll be more comfortable on a trike than a bike? Does she just not have the balance and muscle control to handle a bike, comfortably, any more?

I test rode one a couple of years ago. I went about five miles and returned to the dealer. I didn't like it. Rode harsh on bumpy surface and I found it too damn expensive, was around $28K at the time. Poor fuel mileage was another issue.

I've never ridden one, but the few I've sat on at the dealer seemed to have an odd sitting position.

Upper body was upright like a standard/cruiser, legs were tucked up like a sportbike. It was an odd combination.

I think this was when they were fairly new on the market, but can't recall which model it was, it was a fairly standard looking model (no passenger backrest, trunk, etc).

quote:

Originally posted by BigSwede:
What is she riding now? Different bikes have very different riding positions. Does she want to be more upright?

She has a lowered Vstrom 650.

Something else to consider is the Yamaha Niken. I have no experience with either, however, the video reviews I've seen look like it can be leaned like a normal motorcycle. Here's one here if you're interested: https://youtu.be/phXUgWJTW2M

Piaggio MP3 is a scooter that is similar, but it actually leans. They have a 500cc model, so you are stepping down in power, but it’s an alternative.

Polaris Slingshot is another option, but more like a car. They aren’t cheap either.

Ural makes 2wd sidecar rigs. I almost bought one. It all depends on your riding style, and what you want to compromise when you give up 2 wheels.

I’ve never been a fan of trikes. Just not my thing.

several years ago while on a veterans funeral escort a rider was riding on a Honda goldwing trike with a Hannigan Sidecar attached. It was almost the width of 1 ton dually truck. climate controlled passenger compartment. her 3 cocker spaniels turned heads while riding in traffic. .........................drillsgt.

Campagna TRex - Hayabusa (IIRC) powered 3-wheel car-like (seats & steering wheel).

Vanderhall Venice - GM Ecotec I4 Turbo, automatic only.

Neither is cheap, though.

quote:

Originally posted by ASKSmith:
Piaggio MP3 is a scooter that is similar, but it actually leans. They have a 500cc model, so you are stepping down in power, but it’s an alternative.

Polaris Slingshot is another option, but more like a car. They aren’t cheap either.

Ural makes 2wd sidecar rigs. I almost bought one. It all depends on your riding style, and what you want to compromise when you give up 2 wheels.

I’ve never been a fan of trikes. Just not my thing.

Here is a website for the Piaggio. They seem like a good option and the fact that you can lean them in curves is a big plus.

https://www.piaggio.com/us_EN/...io-mp3-sport-500hpe/

Jim

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:
Campagna TRex - Hayabusa (IIRC) powered 3-wheel car-like (seats & steering wheel).

Vanderhall Venice - GM Ecotec I4 Turbo, automatic only.

Neither is cheap, though.

...or a Morgan Three-wheeler... Too cool!

Is it hard to avoid pot holes with the 3 wheels?

quote:

Originally posted by Bigbuck5:
Something else to consider is the Yamaha Niken. I have no experience with either, however, the video reviews I've seen look like it can be leaned like a normal motorcycle. Here's one here if you're interested: https://youtu.be/phXUgWJTW2M

The Niken is a motorcycle with 3 wheels, rides and handles exactly like a motorcycle although it does resemble a Can Am with two wheels up front and one in the rear. The Niken with not stand up on it's own and will fall over like any other motorcycle unless you have the kick stand down. Odd concept that I think looks pretty interesting but probably not an option for the OP's girlfriend.