'99 Ducati 750 SS (half converted to full)

'95 BMW 318is

'95 Dalmatian

'96 Tabby

'06 Ford/Pierce Contender Rescue Truck

 

Instructor for Accident Scene Management, Inc., an organization dedicated to teaching emergency first aid and other safety measures to motorcyclists. Ask me about it!

 

 

It will still only be a FUN THING once winter comes about & then you must drive a cage.  I do not think I have that much money for a FUN THING & would prefer to put the money into a smaller cage with windshield wipers, washers, heater or cooler to some place I can put my h/guns, ammo & such that will be legal as the cage can be LOCKED UP.

 

Definately the FUN THING for rich folks & not some of us ex-blue collar workers.  Mind you when Morgan produced the Mod trike with a J.A. Prestwich V-Twin in the front be it partially liquid cooled or not, it to was built for the rich folks that wanted a fun thing & quite costly as well, but outdid a true racing car.

 

Have patience & after a season or two, many of the richer folk will not look upon the Spyder as being that much fun to ride around especially with some of the changes in the last few yrs of production to the long waiting periords to have them serviced for most will not be wrenchers.

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Remember all the others on the road are crazy & out to kill you.

 

So why did I switch? Last year I changed jobs and started riding year round. Last winter I rode in as cold as 12 degrees. I got caught in the snow a couple of times coming home and nearly dropped the Concours. When I saw the ads for the Spyder, I thought that if I am not smart enough to know when to leave the bike in the garage and take the bus, I should at least have something that won't tip over as easy. There are things about the Spyder that I love, while other things I really miss from my Concours.

 

Missed: The weather protection of the Concours is by far better. The taller optional windshield of the Spyder is still nothing compared to the Concours. Turning on three wheels will never feel like two wheels. The faster you go on the Spyder, the more effert is required to change lanes; not that it becomes difficult, just more effort. Changing lanes on two wheels is almost as easy as thinking and it happens. You can't put a trailer hitch on the Spyder because it would throw off the computerized stability features. Come winter time, I'm going to miss the engine heat that the Concours fairing holds in.

 

Enjoyed: Power - The 98 Concours and Spyder both share similar sized engines; just under 1000 cc. The horse power difference is very minimal. I didn't realize the difference in acceleration until I had been off the Concours for a few weeks, then rode it again. (I sold it to my oldest son, so it's not too far away.) It felt very sluggish in comparison. Gear indicator display - I had this on an old Suzuki I owned before the Concours. I always wished the Concours had it. Reverse - I love it. More passenger room. My wife is too large to fit comfortably on the back of the Concours. She pushes me up against the gas tank. She fits fine on the back of the Spyder. In the summer, I don't miss the engine heat that the Concours fairing holds in.

 

In July I took two 1500 mile trips - one on the Concours with a daughter, and one on the Spyder with a son. At freeway speeds, the Concours is a lot more comfortable - mainly because of wind management. By the end of the first day on the Spyder I couldn't hear because of wind noise. I had to start wearing ear plugs. Yet, at the end of the day, I found it interesting that even with all the wind turbulance, I was less exhausted on the Spyder. It took less time to recover and feel ready to do other activities. Both bikes are capable on the open road. The Concours is just more pleasant to ride at high speed. Around town, I prefer the Spyder. It's nice to come to a stop sign or traffic light and not have to put down a foot, or worry about sand or oil. Yet you still have most of the open feeling that you ride a motorcycle for.

 

Would I do it again? I can't answer that yet. The fact that my wife can ride with me now may outway all of the negatives. But, if the Spyder doesn't handle well enough to take in the snow, I may decide to replace it with a Yamaha FJR 1300 next spring. (I like them better than the new Concours.) I have had the occasion to take a friend's Goldwing for a test ride. I hated it. It felt so big and awkward compared to my Concours. He loved the nimbleness of the Concours, but thought it felt too small. A couple weeks ago, I got the opportunity to try another friend's Harley VROD. I hated the foot position. It felt like the position of my highway pegs on my Concours. I am so used to having a pretty tight tucked position, whenever I cornered, I wanted to leave the highway pegs and tuck - but there were no tuck pegs. My friend thought the Spyder was very easy to handle, and felt anybody could quickly learn to ride it. Yet, my friend loves his VROD. I decided that some things are simply a matter of preference and what we become accustomed to. It took me about 3,000 miles before I really started getting comfortable with the Spyder. Final conclusion; The Spyder is a fantastic trike - but a trike is just not the same as a bike. If you don't like the idea of a trike, don't bother with it. If you are considering a trike, check it out. It's wonderful - as a trike.

Turn off: no answer for shipping to AP Guam.

 

Wanted one for the wife but Yes I can see the limitation in traffic.

 

After reading your review, and actually taking a look at one up close and personal, I was pleased with the machine in many respects. I'll not dwell on that. There are plenty who will slobber over such a good looking machine.

 

I try to take a more pragmatic approach to "things" like this. First off, let me say that I've owned quite a few bikes. Many of which other would love to have also. Thus, I am somewhat experienced in these matters. I will turn my attention to the "drawbacks" of the machine.

 

In this day and age when the issue of resources have risen to the level of more than $4 a gallon (if you know what I mean) I rather surprised that the Spyder didn't do any better than 30-35 mpg. Quite surprised. Considering the hp to weight ratio I would have expected a considerable increase in that number. My  wife drives a 2003 Honda Civic in which she regularly achieves 40-41 mpg. That's nothing to sneeze at especially when one considers she's cool in the summertime and warm in the wintertime. Not to mention she can haul loads of stuff and never has to worry about getting wet when the weather turns inclement.To further add insult to injury, she paid right at $15,300 for the vehicle new.

 

Now I realize that the Spyder was in development prior to the more recent oil/price crisis. So, we can cut BRP some slack. We should, however, expect BRP to reflect a more realistic understanding of this present day reality with upcoming models. Let's be clear on one thing, an improvement in mpg does not necessarily mean an under powered machine. The technology exists, and is currently in use, to provide both a machine that is economical to operate as well as fun to drive. Consider again the power to weight factor again.

 

For those that have unlimited budgets, or those who are willing to "walk the financial tightrope", the current state of affairs with the Spyder might be copasetic. For the rest of us Joe's we'd like to see a little more moderation in the cost of the machine as well  as the operation of the same. I was especially taken with the $400 price tag on the few colored plastic items. Come on guys, give us a break. you've gotta' color the plastic either gray or black so how can you justify $400 for the color change. I suppose this is where the market will tell the tale. I for one would be hard pressed to pay that kind of money for a change in the color of plastic. BRP, this calls for a reality check.

 

Well, that's my opinion. It's worth just exactly what you've paid for it. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

 

You have a good day and as they say, "Keep the shiny side up".

 

I too, like you, was a Connie owner. Put a lot of miles on that beast before purchasing another. It was a fine machine. But think about this too. I paid $7,299 for mine brand new in 2003. The last year they sold I believe they went for $8, 399. I stand to be corrected if this is not accurate. There's a lot of difference between that kind of money and the nearly $16,000 for the Spyder. A lot. We can both say honestly that the Connie was a really exceptional buy. Why? Because you got a lot of machine for the money. The Spyder simply doesn't offer that kind of comparison or value.

 

Now, realistically, again, I realize that Honda punches out a heck-of-a-lot more vehicles than BRP does Spyders. And, I realize that the number sold will have a direct impact on cost. I'm just arguing for a more reasonable price. I can't imagine a consumer saying, "Yeah! $16,000 is a great price for the Spyder". I'm sure it's fun. I'm sure it's a thrill to ride. I'm sure it's all of those things and many more besides. But, when we walk into the dealership we never settle for the MSRP. We always try to get a better deal. Am  I right? That's all I'm saying in advance. It's too much for the materials involved.

 

Yeah! I think that says it best. It's just too much money for the materials (cost of what materials are combined to make up the unit) and I think that is rather evident. If you really think it's a good deal at 16 grand then perhaps they'd be better off marking up the MSRP just a bit. To be fair to them of course. Maybe they're not making enough money on the deal. The Connie was a heck of a machine, as you well know, at nearly have the price. That's what I'm talking about. I, like you, can say without hesitation that the Connie was an excellent deal.

 

That, in essence, was my only point. Didn't mean to offend current Spyder owners. I just have to look for good deals before I can plunk down that kind of money. By way of an aside, I can purchase an 08' GoldWing from Power Sports in my area for $19,000. I believe my slot machine would "tilt" in that direction.

 

Just so you know, I was looking at the Spyder for my wife. We were seriously considering it. Then, she said, "They want that much more for a color change? They're crazy!" That was the end of that for her. And you should know that they were not willing to budge on the price where I live. Well, there you have it. She said it I didn't.

 

Regarding the fuel economy I happen to think it can be improved without exceptional, in any, loss of performance. Let's just suppose that you stripped the crap off of the ole' Civic. Dramatically reduced it's weight to the point where it would slip into a three-wheeled frame. Similar to the Spyder. With that kind of weight reduction I can assure you that the Honda that gets 40 mpg, fully "clothed", would probably be able to keep up with, if not our run, the Spyder as well as add 20, or so, mpg. I don't know how Honda manages to squeeze that kind of mileage out of a vehicle  weighing several times the weight of the Spyder, but, they do. And, they'll improve upon it I can assure you. Again, all I'm arguing for is the same, comparitively, from the Spyder.

 

I work in the Information Technology realm. I have for the last 16 years. Prior to that I worked as an automotive technician for 13 years. With that experience under my belt I can say confidently I know the Spyer performance and economy can be improved upon. It's simply a matter of our will. We, as a country, didn't respond to the economic pressures during the oil embargo during the early 70's too well (I was there I know) and if we don't apply some pressure in these trying times then we deserve the criticism of others that deem us so wasteful. I have a lot more confidence in good ole' American ingenuity. We can do it.

 

I believe you can have your performance, and I can have the cost and economy I'm looking for, in the same vehicle. I really do.

 

It's up to us. You'll never get what you don't ask for (I'm sure there are exceptions).

 

Please don't take offense. I have to admire a fella' who will ride in 12 degrees. The coldest I've consistently ridden in is 22 degrees. That 10 degrees makes a big difference. You got "stuff". Hang in there and keep warm.

 

By the way, where are you posting from? If we're in the same "neighborhood" perhaps we could ride together some time.

 

Take care.

Post Edited (NDRoth) : 10/1/2008 2:22:14 AM GMT

 

`81 CX100(949) Moto Guzzi

`91 VX800 Suzuki

`04 750 Breva Moto Guzzi

`00 MZ Tour 660 single

`04 Aprilia Scarabeo 500GT scooter

`88 Yamaha Rav 50 scooter(wife's)

 '07 MP3 250 (hers)

`01 Uni-go trailer(1 wheel)

 

Post Edited (norCal Randy) : 12/6/2008 3:47:45 AM GMT