Modern Vespa

There are plenty of 'reviews,' out there; these are RANDOM observations from a scooter rider after 150 miles on one. If you have the opportunity to test ride on, give it a shot.

While a ton of differently-abled people expected the MP3 to be their freedom machine and opportunity to experience the joys of riding, the MP3 can fall over. The Spyder can't - no feet down at stops, no leaning in corners - not yours.

I'm thrilled the Spyder will allow a whole new group of people the opportunity to ride. I can see buying one if I ever wreck an ankle, blow out my eardrums where I can't balance, or just get too old to handle a two wheeler.

They're about $15k. In CA you don't need a motorcycle endorsement to ride one - which led to an interesting conversation with with a motor officer who said he might interpret the law as not needing a helmet - depending on how stupid you were being at the time. I thought about quoting Rob Schneider in Judge Dredd but thought better of it. Expected 35MPG.

It does have a clutch but it doesn't have a lever on the right handlebar. Linked brakes are operated from the right foot pedal. Going from one bike that has no left lever to one that doesn't have one on the right, to one that has two levers with one potentially a clutch (MC) and potentially the rear brake (scooter) was pretty easy - although grabbing at a ghost lever was embarrassing in front of a bunch of people.

Not as much storage in the nose as I'd have expected my giant sized brain bucket and light riding jacket just about filled it up.

'Accidentally' getting the rear wheel to loose traction in a straight line is easy, however if you give any kind of steering input the computers shut down power. It has ABS and traction control to keep you on the road. It is possible to lift a front wheel during hard cornering and the right conditions.

I have the same Rotax engine in one of my bikes and absolutely love it. There's enough power to get you up to way past the speed limit really fast, it stops amazingly quick. It does have variable power assist steering using electromagnets or something - no power steering fluid - curious feeling.

If you've ever ridden a snowmobile or four wheeled ATV, or old skool rollercoaster (or ridden in a car with a bench seat and lubed up vinyl seat) it is a very similar experience. It doesn't lean and push you into the seat in the corners, instead you get a physics lesson in centrifugal force. For me, it was a lot of work to ride the bike, after a 60 mile ride, my arms and shoulders were sore - I think I was fighting the bike too much and not relaxing. I've talked to some owners, one of who was so slight, she couldn't probably get a 900cc MC off a side stand, but was having a fantastic time racking up the miles on her new Spyder.

CanAm makes ATV's, and the parent company is the number one manufacturer of snowmobiles and personal watercraft, so I expect the company to be around for a while.

The T-Rex isn't ever going to be made in the same quantities and is 3.5 or 4X the price - plus there are rumors of

[url]www.spyder.brp.com[/url]

It's also very large and in my opinion is a pure toy not a vehicle in a real sense. I fail to see any utility whatsoever in comparison to a small car or 2 wheeler (or MP3 for that matter). I do like toys though

I might consider one under these circumstances, myself. Otherwise, it is just too hideous. It looks like it would feel like riding a jetski or a quad .... not necessarily a feeling I would enjoy on pavement.

I agree. I have described my GTS as a jet ski that can go on the highway... twist and go is still weird to me after SO many years of manual xmissions.

I have seen serveral here on the roads in SoCal, They do look like a fun ride. But not in heavy traffic.

By "toy," I guess you mean it falls into a class with ATVs, snowmobiles and the like. I suppose, for me, the differences are that this is street legal and sharing space with other types of riders and drivers, and that this toy weighs 700lbs and has a 998cc engine. Sure, it can't be tipped over but there's still a lot of potential for collateral damage.

The fact that riders don't need a motorcycle license in CA is more of a loophole than an exemption. The Spyder clearly meets the Vehicle Code criteria for a "motorcycle," however the section on M-class licensing specifies 2-wheeled vehicles.

There's no ambiguity when it comes to helmets, which are still required by state law. The helmet exemption for 3-wheeled vehicles is for "a fully enclosed three-wheeled motor vehicle that is not less than seven feet in length and not less than four feet in width, and has an unladen weight of 900 pounds or more..."

Regardless, it's further indication that the laws need some updating to keep up with new vehicles and technologies. I'm not sure a Spyder should require a MC license, but it seems like it should need more than a simple driver's license (or none at all).

I have actually seen 2 of these on the road. The new ones are much better looking than the original model, but it's still huge.

When I was in NY at Americade in LK George there seemed to be plenty of these 3 wheelers around. More then I expected to see.

I personally own one and love it. I'm 5'4 135 lbs and I love the fact that i can just hop on it and go. No worries about falling over or low/high siding. we refer to it as the "LANDSKI". You lean towards the direction of the way your going to turn, the faster the turn the more you must lean. going into and out of turns faster then most street bikes that I've ridden next to and all of the time not having any "SR's" kick in.

This vehicle is actually a new concept on how to enjoy the most unused man made creations - paved roads-. once far enough away from congestion it's much like riding a jet ski or snowmobile and I don't have to travel miles from home to go do it. At 30 to 40 mpg's to boot. I just pull out of my garage and go.

While riding on Uvas canyon Rd last week, BigT and I on our two separate SPyders were keeping up with a pack of street bikes and a porshe with me in the middle. BigT with a passenger was pushing the street bike into the turns leaving me to fend for myself. Driving a little above the limit I was still able to keep far enough away from the porshe to maintain fast entrance speed into the turns and not have any SR's the whole ride on a unfamiliar road. If I was on my 250 this would not be the case

While riding we get weird looks and whats ups from all sorts of people. Just like anything new there's going to be haters, but I think the main thing is the money I've spent and the time I've spent on my spyder is a good time and I don't regret stepping out on a limb to get one.

I was surprized how big they were, definately need a garage not just a shed

Oops! Sorry mluvsT, for hating on the Spyder and calling it hideous. I guess I should have added that Mr. A thought it was great as he was sitting on one and chatting it up with the salesman a few weeks ago. I guess I couldn't see beyond the $15 grand flying out of our pocket and did not encourage him! I'm sure it is a lot of fun! We have lots of different vehicles, bikes, jetskis ... they are all fun. Thanks for sharing about yours.

Yeah, I watched a noob on one try to turn it hard without leaning and it almost threw him over the high side. The vehicle doesn't lean, so you must, which is kinda weird. Yesterday, I watched a guy who knew better throw one around a curve at a surprisingly high rate of speed. He was basically standing above the seat using the outside leg and main strength in his arms to brace himself against the centripital acceleration. Interesting idea, but I'm not sold. They sure do look cool, though.

By toy I meant "not a practical vehicle" - I don't see this as someone's commuter replacement or the like just something to pull out on weekends. Nothing wrong with that at all either. So yeah, like an ATV

IMO, it looks kinda cool - definitely snowmobile/jetski-esque. I wonder about the dynamics though, from the online reviews/comments it doesn't sound like my cup of tea.

And can I say again, it's big!