The Spyder is a wonderful travel companion. However, I did get used to the race-car-fast steering rack and power steering fairly quickly. This is the natural result of having three versus two wheels on the ground. Thanks to the wind and the Spyder’s large profile, I found that I had to give it constant input to keep going straight down the road, unlike with a two-wheeled motorcycle where you can adjust your lane position by slightly leaning your hips in the direction you’d like to travel. Since I was riding in the Midwest, I had adequate time to assess the Spyder’s manners on long straight highways. The comfortable soft suspension causes the Spyder to experience body roll and, although it will handle fast curves just fine, cruising is where it’s happiest. However, I didn’t want to push them through corners. On the topic of handling, in general, these Spyders skitter along perfectly fine and handle any road well. We even took the Spyders on a few dirt roads where they performed admirably. The Can-Am can comfortably pound out miles on any type of road. I find this a necessary upgrade if you ride two-up often since it greatly enhances the ride quality. Perhaps most importantly, the Limited is also equipped with a shock that adjusts automatically when your passenger climbs aboard. The top case also has additional brake lighting and USB charging ports inside. In case the side boxes and the front storage area-or “frunk,” as my wife and I affectionately refer to it-aren’t enough for you, the Limited includes a painted-to-match topbox with extra speakers that provides a supportive backrest and can also hold two large helmets. They have an incredible amount of storage, more than some small cars I’ve owned. The RT and the RT Limited are both tailor-made for touring, but the Limited would be my choice if traveling with a partner. The suspension is supple and soaks up even large bumps nicely. The Spyder is also equipped with a bright colorful 7.8-inch LCD screen that displays plenty of relevant ride information. It’s equipped with cruise control, an electronically adjustable windscreen, and a stereo that supports Bluetooth and app connectivity. Despite its more aggressive appearance, luxury touring is the aim with the Spyder RT. ![]() It looks more like a low roadster than the previous Spyder models. Looks are, of course, always subjective but I think the new model looks great. It felt odd to not worry about flat spots on my tires like I usually do when riding there. The Spyder is an excellent choice for long days on the roads of the American Midwest. Also, the transmission will downshift automatically, but won’t upshift without rider input, and I sometimes found myself asking: “Why did you downshift there?” I rode two different Spyders and both were brand new, so I’ll give Can-Am the benefit of the doubt and hope the transmission breaks in and smooths out a bit. I found that regardless of when or how I shifted, the transmission would change gears smoothly or somewhat aggressively seemingly at random. However, like many other cars and motorcycles I’ve driven that are equipped with this type of transmission, it can be a bit unpredictable. ![]() The transmission is a “smooth operator” and it’s got a “sophisticated hydraulic clutch system,” according to Can-Am’s blurb. It comes with a reverse gear, which is good because I’m comfortable saying not many people reading this would want to Fred Flintstone the Spyder backward. The transmission is a paddle-style shifter and is actuated up and down by your left thumb and index finger respectively. That power is delivered through a semi-automatic transmission to the rear wheel via a belt. The new Spyder has a low aggressive "roadster" look compared to previous models, but Can-Am hasn't forsaken the true spirit of this machine-comfortable touring. The engine is designed to be low maintenance, which is excellent for a machine intended for munching miles. The onset of power is smooth and predictable with the majority of the punch delivered in the low- and midrange. That’s an adequate amount, but the Spyder RT is not a scorcher, given that it weighs over 1,000 pounds when gassed up. The 2021 Spyder RTs are powered by a 1330cc Rotax engine with 115 claimed horsepower. In a nutshell, both of them are capable and very comfortable touring machines. ![]() 6 min read 2021 Can-Am Spyder RT & RT Limited-Motorcycle Review In case you’ve not seen one in the wild, the Can-Am Spyder RT is a three-wheeled machine biased toward touring and travel with enough storage for two-especially on the RT Limited.
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