Can-am masters the new model thing. A
touch of this a pinch of that, and presto! the third Spyder lives
The Bombardier Recreational Products
presentation to their dealers was in an enormous hall at a large hotel near
Washington, D.C. In the audience were more than 700 dealers from 53 countries.
At the front of the room a huge stage, flanked by screens seven meters high was
ringed by BRP machines: watercraft, snowmobiles, ATVs and Spyders. A
seven-piece band rocked a tight version of "Sweet Child O' Mine.” The
dealers applauded in all the right places.
The
2013 Can-Am Spyder ST-S comes in two color schemes, the striking Circuit Yellow
Metallic seen here and a Pure Magnesium Metallic.
BRP's show wasn't all flash and no
substance; they introduced a new, aggressive ATV designed especially for mud
and sloppy conditions. A team of dancers burst onto the stage in Sea-Doo gear
as the band throbbed behind them. A new side by side was introduced, driving
onto the stage and, after the introduction, driving out through the crowd.
Details flashed on the screens about new manufacturing plants and logistics
partnerships.
Then came the headline act; the new for 2013
Can-Am Spyder ST rolled up onto the stage to applause from the dealers. The
Spyder ST is a sport-touring machine positioned between the sportier RS and the
touring focused RT. Its nose and front boot area bear an unmistakable
resemblance to the sportier RS and the headlights and adjustable windscreen are
closely related to the RT. The result is a Spyder that has its own identity,
but bears a strong resemblance to the rest of the family.
The new ST shares a common frame, engine,
and Vehicle Stability System with the two other members of the Spyder family.
Along with a base model, there will be the ST-S and the range-topping Limited.
All Spyders are fitted with the 998 cc Rotax V-twin engine that has been
updated with a ride by ST is available with either the manually shifted
five-speed SM5 transmission or the semi-automatic SE5.
the
2013 Can-Am Spyder ST comes with color-matched, lockable hard saddlebags,
12-spoke wheels, a Garmin Zumo 660 GPS and a handful of other features.
An executive from BRP told the assembled
dealers at the meeting that they had listened to feedback from their dealers,
and pointed to the new ST on the stage. His announcement that footboards are
now standard on SE5 models brought a spontaneous round of applause. Clearly
footboards are what the market demands.
Added features on the ST-S over the base
model are cruise control, color-keyed front control arms and some carbon black
trim bits. Limited models add a stereo with iPod input, an embroidered seat,
removable liner for the front cargo area, heated handlebar, and a 12V power
outlet. A Garmin GPS is standard with the Limited and available in the
accessory catalogue.
Limited models come standard with Givi
panniers that lock to bespoke brackets. Removing the brackets is a matter of
undoing a trio of quarter-turn fasteners, leaving a clean look to the rear
section of the machine. Up front is a 44 liter trunk, opened from the main
ignition cylinder.
In practice, the luggage is slick and easy
to use. The latches clip and unclip easily and the mounting points are easy to
fasten and unfasten. Capacity is sufficient for a weekend away, or a week, if
you don’t mind limiting your choices of formalwear.
Front-end geometry has been revised for
2013. The frame, common to all three Spyder models, has been redesigned and
made beefier at the lower front, where the suspension mounts. Suspension A-arms
have been revised to improve suspension geometry and on some models feature
body-colored covers on the uppers. The front wheels grow from 14 to 15 inches,
but the overall height of the tire remains the same as tire sidewall height has
decreased. Viewed at a certain angle, the exposed suspension arms and
tire-hugging fenders look like they were lifted from a classic hot rod.
The
hard, locking saddlebags on the 2013 Can-Am Spyder ST Limited can be purchased
as an accessory for other Spyder ST models.
Also new for this year are Brembo
four-piston calipers on the front of all models. BRP claims that braking
distance has decreased by 10 percent from last year. As with all of the Spyder
models, the brakes are operated by a right foot pedal.
We rode the new Spyder ST on a room temperature
fall day over winding roads in the Maryland countryside. The new ST was
presented to us on top of a parking garage. While we fastened our helmets and
the journalists from a Mexican motorcycle magazine festooned a pair of machines
with their stickers, it was made clear that we were to ride in a group. There
would be professional lead and sweep riders to keep us in line.
Last year, in California, the Spyders we
rode were equipped with pre-programmed GPS units that got most of the
journalists at the press launch lost. This year, there would be none of that.
Except, as we spiraled down from the roof of the parking garage to the street,
some of the journalists managed to get separated from the group and had to be
rounded up.
What immediately distinguished the ST from
its siblings was riding position. On the sporty RS version the riding position
is sport-biased with the rider leaning forward into the wind. By virtue of the
ST’s footboards that move the rider's feet forward, giving a comfortable bend
to the knees and a handlebar that is moved four inches higher and three inches
toward the rider, along with a windshield that directs airflow up and over the
rider, the seating position is more relaxed.
The
2013 Spyder ST-S is equipped with these sharp-looking five-spoke wheels.
Compared to previous models, the front
suspension is tauter without being harsh. The Spyder has a more planted feel,
especially in tight turns. Braking has a feel similar to the earlier model,
which is to say very automotive. The brakes are effective and progressive,
although they lack the feel of traditional motorcycle brakes. Any of the Spyder
models can be hauled down from speed quickly and the non-switchable ABS is
unobtrusive unless the rider is assertive with the brake pedal.
The ST leaves only the rider's knees out in
the wind and, depending on the windshield position, can create a flow of air at
or over the rider’s helmet. The ST windshield has five positions and is
adjusted manually. It slides easily up and down and clicks nicely into each of
its positions. For my five-nine frame, the middle position was most
comfortable, with minimal buffeting and a view over the top of the windscreen.
A curve at the upper quarter of the windscreen makes a horizontal line of
distortion that can be a little distracting when the screen is in its topmost
position. BRP is offering accessory windscreens: one higher and two lower than
stock.
Can-Am
expands its Spyder line with the introduction of the 2013 Spyder ST.
Accessories are an area where Spyder
customers are spoiled for choice. The catalogue of genuine Can-Am parts and
accessories runs to 100 pages; clothing, gloves, and helmets take up the first
39 pages. And for the machines, there's Akrapovic mufflers, fog lights, luggage
and adjustable handlebar mounts among many other items. The crown jewel of
Spyder accessories is the RT-622 trailer on page 70. Hitch 622 liters of
storage to your Spyder in one easy step. The new ST is calibrated to allow for
the trailer-just select the trailer icon on the LED vehicle information screen.
Carving through turns as the speed rises
will see the VSS intervene as the rider gets too rambunctious. The VSS has been
refined for the 2013 Spyder line-up and seems to take a more gradual approach
to keeping the machine planted. It will still soften engine power to control
wheel spin and prevent the inside wheel from lifting in corners. Riding in a
smooth fashion yields satisfying results, with the ST staying planted and the
VSS staying in the background.
The motor is happiest above 5,000 rpm and
starts to urge the machine forward at 5,500, all the way up to its 9,000 rpm
redline. Below 5,000, vibration is present, especially through the footboards.
Lug the motor at your peril; it will give you the sense that the isolastics
need shimming. The exhaust note is throaty and deep without becoming loud and
obnoxious. BRP claims 80 Ib-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm and 100hp at 7,500 rpm.
The Spyder ST gives a sense of being
designed as a complete package. Engine, transmission, brakes and suspension
work together and do nothing to show each other up. Fit and finish of the
bodywork is very good. Even plastic panels in areas unlikely to be noticed are
sturdy and well finished.
The
big news coming out of the Can-Am Spyder Roadster camp for 2013 is an all-new
model and a revised chassis.
The base model, available in grey metallic
or black, starts at $20,899. ST-S units come in yellow or grey metallic and
start at $22,199. The loaded Limited model is available in pearl white ora
handsome black currant metallic and will set you back $27,099. Overall, the
Spyder shows refinement for 2013; more evolution than revolution. The addition
of the ST bridges the gap between the sporty un-faired RS and the fully-loaded
RT. With the inclusion of this new model, BRP offers a slate of three-wheeled
machines to fit a wide range of potential buyers. What can be next, a
dual-purpose Spyder?
