Spyder Ryders "Down Under"

I would appreciate all comments, photos, offer of content etc so please drop me (Martin) a line a- martin@spyderryders.net.au

Don't miss all the great aftermarket Accessories for your Spyder - I will road test as much as I can - its a tough job but someone has to do it!

Back in 2008 I bought a rack for Givi panniers from Canada (it was the only option at the time) The airfreight ended up costing as much as the rack so I looked at other options and found that I could bring in 10 racks for $1,000 freight whereas one had cost me $460 freight. I no longer import racks as there are better and cheaper local sources now but I do bring in batches of other product where feasable, to save on freight costs.

I generally have stock here (Gold Coast) of handlebar risers , air filters, mirror extensions, slip on exhaust adaptors and a few LED products and sometimes a "Juice Box". Also the new adjustable windscreens , If in doubt drop me an email

You will find seperate Australian Spyder forums attached to both Spyderlovers and Spydertalk forums.

Vertikatrykes

These guys in Canada seem to do some great (if expensive) work on Spyders. I dont think the Cruiser is my style but don't mind the second photo - http://www.vertikatrykescanada.com/index.shtml

Pat's New RT Techno

Pat in Bendigo has a new RT to replace his SE5. He says "The new RT is fantastic chalk and cheese compared to the RS BRP got this one right as a touring bike a keeper for sure. " " It sure does I feel that it is a better ride much more comfortable and won’t need to buy any aftermarket product as it comes with the lot. Not as punchy with 8KW less but more torque at a lower RPM 5500 weighs a bite more but after all it is made for touring. It handles corners very well with less effort from the rider, and it still turns heads maybe more I think. My wife Simone loves it especially on long rides in my book it is 10/10.but I think I may need to adjust front suspension to factory setting 4 as it is set on 3 at the moment as other riders in the State recommend that it be set on 4 so I will give it a try.

Sunny the Motographer

Todd Webster ( www.spyderryder.com.au) writes "Just thought I would let you know that Sunny the Motographer is heading off on a Spyder for about a week, this is small scale compared to his normal trips the first of which was around Aus on a Hyosung and most recent being around NZ on a BKing. Follows his progress and check out his awesome pics on www.spyderdownunder.com   "

Are you a wheelchair user?

Check out Anthony's Spyder conversion on the news page and have a look at this web site - http://www.pmeautoconversions.com.au/solutions/moreproducts/can-am-spyder-roadster-kit-

There are some amazing images of Anthiony's "Transformer" themed Spyder - check out his helmet too!

Round Australia Blog

Hi Martin, I start my trip around OZ on the Sypder on the 13th feb. My blog is at www.bikingaroundoz.blogspot.com, feel free to share that with the other Spyder riders if you wish
Regards
Steve

Check your trailer!!

About a month ago I had the misfortune to have what could have been a serious (I mean serious) accident on the road from Wisemans Ferry to Mangrove Mountain. I was followed by a friend all the way, and at Spencer, where we stopped for coffee Len made a comment on how well the trailer I was towing was travelling. Not ten minutes later, as I rounded a series of bends, at relatively low speeds, I had my accident. It happened so quickly that I don't even recall what happened, and how it happened.

I found myself lying on my back with the Spyder on top of me - upside down, the trailer still hitched to the towbar, and lying on its side, with all the contents spilt on the roadway. I was helped to my feet, and it took a little while to comprehend what had happened. Somehow, the Spyder was thrown onto its right side, then bounced back to its left side, then rolled over.
Both mudguards had scratches on it, the windscreen was smashed, and the tacho/speedo cluster had fallen out. The left hand mirror was snapped off, and the rear left footrest bracket had snapped. The Spyder was pulled back onto its wheels, and once the speedo cluster was reinserted, it was able to be started, and eventually ridden back to Sydney. The trailer however, had to be put onto a towtruck as the towbar was damaged. For some days I was in a lot of pain, and after going to hospital, was told I had a fractured pelvis with subcutaceous haematosis (bleeding under the skin).

When at last I was able to bend, and lift, I did an autopsy on the trailer. I removed the body of the trailer from the chassis to confirm what I had suspected - at some time (the trailer was about 10 years old) I had ridden over a pothole / rock / bump which had been so severe that the floor of the trailer was torn. The chassis frame directly underneath had metal fatigue and cracks in the welding. So every time I went over another bump, not only was the damage spreading, but the mounting bolts were tearing through, until there would have been only a couple of bolts on one side holding the trailer onto the chassis.

That one right hand bend was enough to lift the body off the chassis, pass the centre of gravity (point of no return), cause the trailer to then roll, which then pulled the Spyder over. The shape of the Spyder, and the topbox saved me. This could have very easily have happened whilst towing with my previous bike - a BMW. I shudder to think what would have happened if it had been anything other than a Spyder. I walked away, and was able to ride home.

What I learned from this, I have passed on to others - we do checks on our mounts, but how often do we check our trailers? Three of my friends who also have trailer, have since, checked their trailers and found that similar failings  were found. Trailer floors have carpets, gear, that can hide the true condition of the trailer.

Gideon Schuman

News from New Zealand

Hi Martin, On a recent ride to the Far South for the Burt Munro Memorial meet ( The Worlds Fastest Indian) we came across this old dude that had buried his and his oldman's Bentleys that were still otherwise in full good roadworthy condition as his driveway gateposts. He is a well known identity and an old bugger that still races his 32 Ford coupe, has sheds full of old fully working stuff, from motorbikes, cars, trucks, bulldozers, flathead V8 engines and even a Roller in the lounge of his quaint home in the background A great trip.
The Spyder has done some 28,000ks now and is getting better as the Ks clock by.

Be in touch, Have a good festive season, All the best Malcolm & Sammy Wilson - New Zealand

Evans mirror extensions.

Find you cannot see whats behind you and it gets worse when you raise the bars? These extensions will not only move the mirriors out, but also up as well, allowing for a far greater view. Read more.

Update for the update!

Some Spyder owners who have had the steering update done have noticed their Spyders run rough at times and it aparently revolves around changes made to the purge valve settings (anti polution stuff).

BRP have recognised the issue and have release in the US a new software patch and a modification to the evap canister. My Spyder has been running badly starting a week after the update so I will certainly be interested. *Note- Please don't hassle your Spyder dealer in Australia right away because I doubt it will be here yet.

"September 28, 2009
For those of you still experiencing performance issues after having done the Dynamic Power Steering (DPS) safety recall with your Can-AmTM SpyderTM roadster - a remedy is now in place. We invite you to visit your authorized BRP dealership for a new ECM software update. If you have not yet had the DPS safety recall done on your roadster, we urge you to also make an appointment with your Can-Am Spyder dealer to have this safety recall completed even if you have not experienced any abnormalities in the response of your steering system.

The quantity of vehicles affected by performance issues after the DPS recall has been very limited; however, there are reports of surging between 3000 and 4000 RPM when the vehicle is ridden at constant RPM in any gear. The solution for this includes an update to the ECM software as well as the installation of a new Evap canister vent hose. Please note that these updates are not necessary if you have not noticed changes in the performance of your roadster since the DPS safety recall was performed.

Thank you for your support and participation in the Can-Am Spyder community; we continue to appreciate your feedback.

The Can-Am Spyder After-Sales Support Team"

Watch your belt

Ken (Cookie) writes - haven’t been out for about 6 weeks as I spent a 10 day spell in hospital, and still waiting to get the staples out. Anyway that didn’t stop me from doing some work on my bike this week. While I was in hospital I decided I’ll go around aussie beginning next February with some friends. So I ordered some bits for the bike – the Evo swaybar and an ISCI hand brake. Had them here in 3 days! Forgot about customs duty and taxes, so I got caught for more than I was expecting! The swaybar is a little different – few more bends than the one you have, and the hand brake looks the part. Haven’t been for a ride yet – staples out of my knee tomorrow, so I’ll be tempted for a ride. About 3000k’s ago I managed to put a hole in my drive belt. A blue metal stone was pushed nearly through it! I managed to get it out (with hammer & punch) and don’t know how long it will last, or if the belt tension has changed. I haven’t been nursing it to see if it fails, but it hasn’t so far. I think that’s because it wasn’t holed at the edge, it should be ok for a while. (see pics above) They want $758.80 for a belt here, but I’m going to get one from the states at $300 US. Didn’t damage any sprockets luckily.

Keeping the bugs off.

If you follow the US forums (Spyderlovers and Spydertalk) you will find that no other subject seems to bring so many different opinions than that windscreens.

Custom Dynamics "Street Magic" Spyder accessories in Australia.

Those of you that follow the Spyderlovers.com forum will be aware of the great feedback people post for these innovative Spyder accessories.

I am holding stock of a few items like the bar risers,the same as the ones I have fitted to my Spyder. These are available for both the SM5 and the SE5 in 3" and 4".

To quote Evan ("Magic Man") from the Spyderlovers forum -

"Spyders, like snowmobiles, Sea-Doos, ATVs must have the bars turned to make the unit turn! It is not possible the way the human body works to turn the bars with all this weight on your hands. You must remove some to almost all of your weight from you hands with your "core" muscles (lower back and stomach) to allow you to make your hands "light enough to turn the Spyder.

When risers are installed the driver is sitting without so much hand pressure. Which means the driver is no longer forced to have to constantly adjust the weight on their hands to turn the Spyder, and is then able to respond quicker, with less effort over a longer period of time (longer ride) "

Also I will have stock of the new STREET MAGIC High Flow Lifetime Spyder Air Filter These filters will be serviceable just like a K&N filter. How often depends on how and where (dusty or not) you ride just like your stock filter. Except rather than throwing out your stock filter when it get's dirty or crankcase blow by oil gets on it you can remover service and reuse this filter over and over again. They have a more ridgid frame than the stock filter and have a better seal onto the airbox (some people on the forums have reported dirt in the airbox because the original paper filter did not seal well on the airbox)

For details see the Accessories page

See the Australian Spyder forum at Spyder Talk.