Re: Bombardier Spyder Roadster

[ajd187]

I wonder if that's where they intend to debut the "semi-auto, electronic transmission". Might make a nice (but pricey) entry level machine that would get good (great?) fuel mileage.

Does it come with the radical new automatic drive system too? :)

Three wheels and an auto tranny...lmao.  Might as well be a car. :)

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Does it come with the radical new automatic drive system too? :)

Three wheels and an auto tranny...lmao.  Might as well be a car. :)

You make a very good point, but you'll never buy a car for $15,000 that can handle/accelerate like the Spyder can. You'll have to pay 2 to 3 times as much for that kind of rush on 4 wheels.

Makes it awfully appealing to a lot of people. Bombardier reports that every one of their first model year machines were pre-purchased before production began. 

[PJ]

You make a very good point, but you'll never buy a car for $15,000 that can handle/accelerate like the Spyder can. You'll have to pay 2 to 3 times as much for that kind of rush on 4 wheels.

Makes it awfully appealing to a lot of people. Bombardier reports that every one of their first model year machines were pre-purchased before production began. 

All true...
I wonder how many they actually made for production this year....

[Rather-B-Riding]

i dunno. but this i do know, when i went for the test ride in June, they were taking orders.
the consensus was that if you put your deposit down on one, that you would pick it up about April of next year.
and there were quite a few people there handing over the deposit.
but when i went back for the second test ride in September, the product development team that was there said they were going to have about 75% of the pre-ordered Spyders to their respective owners before the end of this year. i would be willing to bet that they are quite geared up for this year.
i personally think they are going to sell well and fill a nice niche in the market.

as for the auto tranny, the only thing the production team talked about was incorporating a paddle shifter for people who can't shift it normally. there was no mention or plan for an automatic version. some other tasteful goodies and add-ons, but no automatic.

if you haven't taken one for a ride, then you really can't say. imho, i would pick up one in the future, but i don't really want to give up my bike now.

[PJ]

i dunno. but this i do know, when i went for the test ride in June, they were taking orders.
the consensus was that if you put your deposit down on one, that you would pick it up about April of next year.
and there were quite a few people there handing over the deposit.

I wonder with the changes with the U.S. dollar what the pricing has done?

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Can-Am lists two transmissions for the Spyder, the second is due to debut in the second model year as I think has already been established in this thread. The first transmission being, of course, the manual 5 speed that is on the current machine and is identical in operation to a motorcycle with respect to the clutch handle and shifting operation.

The second transmission, you can see it listed as optional in the attached PDF, is a "Sequential Electronic 5-Speed". This is the description that was also given to the optional transmission originally available on the Quest/Traxter models. It is basically a  hydraulically actuated shifting system that is activated by way of a dual way toggle (could be called paddles) on the left handlebar.

This isn't automatic, that's for sure, but it could be if it is the same (basic) transmission as used on the ATV's. It could have two modes, like the Quest/Traxter models, an automatic and a "manual" that would require that the rider push the "shift up" or "shift down" buttons to shift the machine.