Riding the Spyder

Good Morning,

 Today we ride!  It has been a very long time (10+ years) since Jeanie and I have ridden together on a bike.  I really missed that…the primal thrill so intrinsic with riding a bike of course, but also the fun we had of just being together out in “it”. 

 The “it” of course is the quintessential catalyst of being surrounded by everything that being alive has to offer while being continually inundated with all the sights, sounds and smells, of the world around us as we pass through this kind of time warp where things beyond the immediate seem to melt away and we are one with the essence of the moment.  It gets back to that old biker saying, ”If I have to explain, you wouldn’t understand.”

 It is through the pure generosity of a neighbor that has offered us the use of his bike for the day that we are able to do this.  The bike is a canard by so many expected standards yet unique in design to be revolutionary.  The BRP Spyder Can Am, a bike made by Bombardier out of Canada is a “Trike”.  Not just any Trike, but one with the two wheels in front.  I understand this provides a high degree of stability and comfort on otherwise unfriendly roads.  The one we will be riding today is the smaller roadster version from the touring, but should give us all the feel of the new technology.

 What about Harley Davidson?  I would love to have a Harley Davidson and maybe that time will come when they can overcome elite pricing of their product.  A Harley Davidson Tri-Glide (Trike) will run about $36,000 just to ride it off the showroom floor.  That is about 10k more than a BRP Spyder RTs or Honda Gold Wing Trike for that matter.  So then the question becomes “To ride or not to ride?”  Whether it is better to stolidly hold on to the values of our fathers or to suffer the slings and arrow of not buying “American” and cast aside with indifference that stigma and to just focus on the moment while being fully aware that tomorrow may never come. 

6 Hours later….Back from the ride.

The Spyder Can Am is unlike any bike I have ever ridden, not that I have been on that many, but definitely different. It was also nice not to have to worry about falling, yet the sensation was still there until I accepted and got used to the flat turns.  You see, when you turn on a regular bike, the bike leans into the turn along with the rider.  Not so on the Spyder, because it has three wheels and no lean. It is because of that, the turns take on an un-natural feel to the seasoned two wheel rider.  I would think that it is not much different than an ATV.  Other than that, there was plenty of power for me and except for no brake lever on the right handle bar, everything else made sense.  I particularly liked the reverse, which I used a number of times. 

Our ride was up to Tortilla Flats for a “Bull Rider” burger, a favorite destination for riders in this area.  The ride has a fair share of 15-20mph turns and ups and downs which are always fun on a bike.  After-all, it is the ride and not the destination that matters when you are on a bike.  All in all, it was just pure fun to be out there in “it” again with Jeanie.

Is there a BRP Spyder RTs in our future.  Not sure, as this is the first Trike I have ridden.  A Harley Tri-Glide most likely will be next and then maybe a Gold Wing Trike Conversion.  It is a big decision and not one we will be jumping into anytime soon, but when we do, it will be the touring version. 

It is later than you may think, get out there in “it”!

Love, Dad