Winnipeggers test drive 3-wheeled motorcycle

When Brian Christenson is ready to buy a Can-Am Spyder Roadster, he’ll get a specialized licence plate that reads "2 old 4 2.”

The three-wheel, two-person motorcycles were on display at the Polo Park Shopping Centre parking lot on Tuesday during a North American tour to showcase the new bike. The Spyder is a reverse trike with two tires at the front and one large tire at the back.

“Why not three wheels?” asked Spyder specialist, Dave Amey who was at Polo Park on Tuesday. “It’s something new and it’s the perfect balance between performance and peace of mind.”

Some Winnipeggers dared to take one of the 106-horsepower bikes, which can go from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds, for a spin.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Christenson said after finishing the closed circuit course. “It’s smooth, quiet and I liked the sound of the engine.”

Around 100 people registered online to test drive the motorcycle and a few more dropped in to see the bike in action.

Those who don’t have a motorcycle licence drove either the semi-automatic or the standard motorcycle in the parking lot.

First, riders watched a video, had a briefing about how the motorcycle works and then drove it around a course with pylons and stop signs. For beginners, the SE5 automatic model was the best bet.

“It takes the guess work out of driving,” Amey said . “You twist the throttle and you’re ready to go.”

Some drivers were more experienced than others, turning corners smoothly and accelerating without squealing the tires. Others were a little bit shaky and hadn’t yet become comfortable with the sensitivity of the throttle.

“You flew by the stop sign that’s set up there,” an instructor said to a driver who looked like she has never driven a motorcycle.

The more seasoned drivers who have a motorcycle licence were allowed to take the bike out of the parking lot. Along with more than 10 other riders, Christenson followed the lead of a Spyder specialist for a quick zip around St. James.

The SM5 manual model starts at $18,499 and the SE5 automatic model starts at $19,999.

Source: http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/story/4199628p-4791273c.html