Accessories: What’s Worth Adding First?

One of the enjoyable parts of owning a Can-Am Spyder or Ryker is making it your own. There are accessories for comfort, storage, navigation, visibility, passenger travel, communication, weather protection, and nearly every other type of riding.

The challenge is deciding which accessories are genuinely useful—and which ones may end up sitting in the garage.

The best first accessories are not necessarily the most expensive or visually impressive. They are the ones that solve a problem, improve safety, increase comfort, or make the vehicle better suited to how you actually ride.

A Spyder RT used for two-person touring has different needs from a Ryker used for short solo rides around town. Your model, riding style, physical needs, climate, and travel plans should determine what you add.

Before buying anything, confirm that it fits your exact model, model year, and trim package. Also check your Operator’s Guide for load limits, installation requirements, and other restrictions.

1. Ride Before Buying Too Many Accessories

It is easy to start ordering accessories immediately after purchasing a Spyder or Ryker. However, several rides—or the first few hundred miles—will teach you more about what you need than a catalog can.

Pay attention to questions such as:

• Do you need more storage?

• Does wind pressure become uncomfortable at higher speeds?

• Does your back, neck, or seating position become uncomfortable?

• Do you need better access to navigation?

• Are you planning to carry a passenger?

• Do you ride mostly locally or take long trips?

• Will you ride in cold, wet, or changing weather?

• Is mounting and dismounting difficult?

• Are there accessories already included with your model?

A Spyder RT may already include many touring features that a Ryker does not. A Ryker owner may place greater value on storage, wind protection, or passenger equipment, while an RT owner may only need a few smaller additions.

Safety gear and roadside equipment should not wait, but most comfort and convenience accessories are better chosen after you understand your actual needs.

2. Begin With Safety and Roadside Essentials

Before buying decorative panels or expensive electronics, assemble the items that could help prevent a minor problem from becoming a roadside emergency.

Useful essentials may include:

• An accurate tire-pressure gauge

• A compact tire inflator

• A vehicle-compatible temporary tire-repair kit

• A flashlight or headlamp

• A small first-aid kit

• Basic tools appropriate for your vehicle

• Reflective emergency markers

• A high-visibility vest

• Rain gear

• Emergency contact information

• A charged power bank

• Roadside-assistance coverage

A tire-repair kit is only helpful if you understand how to use it. Some tire damage cannot be repaired safely, and a roadside plug should not automatically be treated as a permanent repair.

Riding gear should also come before decorative vehicle accessories. A properly fitted helmet, gloves, protective footwear, eye protection, and weather-appropriate clothing provide greater value than an accessory that only changes the vehicle’s appearance.

The objective is not to carry an entire workshop. It is to carry enough equipment to remain visible, communicate, address a simple problem, or wait safely for assistance.

3. Add a Secure Phone or Navigation Mount

A secure phone or GPS mount can be one of the most useful additions for riders who travel beyond familiar roads.

Navigation can help with:

• Following planned routes

• Finding fuel and rest stops

• Avoiding unexpected road closures

• Locating lodging or restaurants

• Reaching an event or group-ride meeting point

• Sharing your location during an emergency

Choose a mount specifically designed for powersports use. It should hold the device securely while allowing full steering movement and an unobstructed view of the instruments.

The mount must not interfere with:

• Handlebars or controls

• Mirrors

• The instrument display

• Windshield adjustment

• Steering movement

• Airbag or safety components, when applicable

• Access to switches or storage compartments

If the device needs power, use a proper fused connection or a factory-provided power outlet. Loose wires should never hang near steering components, hot surfaces, or moving parts.

Set the route before moving. Use voice instructions when possible, and pull over safely if the device requires more than a quick glance.

4. Address Comfort Problems One at a Time

Comfort accessories can make longer rides much more enjoyable, but comfort is highly personal. An accessory praised by one rider may create a poor riding position for another.

Common comfort upgrades include:

• Seat cushions

• Replacement seats

• Rider backrests

• Passenger backrests

• Handlebar risers

• Adjustable handlebars

• Footboards or alternative foot positions

• Highway pegs designed for the specific vehicle

• Heated grips

• Wind deflectors

• Suspension adjustments or upgraded components

Before purchasing a seat or changing the handlebars, identify the actual source of discomfort. Lower-back pain, shoulder tension, wrist pressure, and knee discomfort can come from different causes.

Change one major comfort item at a time. If you replace the seat, add risers, change the windshield, and alter the foot position simultaneously, you may not know which change helped—or which one created a new problem.

Consider adjustability whenever possible. An accessory that can be repositioned gives you a better chance of finding a comfortable setup.

5. Choose Wind Protection Carefully

Wind protection becomes more important as speed, distance, and bad-weather exposure increase.

A windshield or wind deflector may reduce pressure on your chest and help manage rain, insects, and cold air. However, a larger windshield is not automatically better.

The correct choice depends on:

• Rider height

• Seat height and design

• Normal riding position

• Typical riding speed

• Helmet style

• Local climate

• Whether the vehicle is used for touring or shorter trips

A windshield should not obstruct your safe forward view or interfere with steering and controls. Airflow around the top and sides can also affect helmet noise and turbulence.

If your vehicle already has an adjustable windshield, experiment with its available positions before replacing it. A small adjustment may provide the improvement you need without purchasing another component.

6. Match Storage to the Way You Ride

Storage needs can range from carrying a phone and wallet to packing for a multi-week tour.

Common storage options include:

• Small console or handlebar bags

• Waterproof soft luggage

• Saddlebags

• Rear cargo bags

• Top cases

• Passenger-seat bags

• Luggage racks

• Organizers for built-in storage compartments

Choose storage based on what you regularly carry—not on the largest trip you can imagine taking someday.

A small waterproof bag may be enough for local riding. Touring riders may need locked storage for clothing, tools, rain gear, medications, electronics, and personal items.

Confirm that luggage:

• Is approved or designed for your vehicle

• Does not contact the tires, drive system, exhaust, or suspension

• Does not block lights or the license plate

• Remains secure at highway speeds

• Keeps weight within the vehicle’s limits

• Does not make mounting or dismounting unsafe

• Allows storage compartments and body panels to operate normally

Distribute weight carefully. Heavy items should be kept low and secured so they cannot shift while cornering or braking.

7. Prepare the Vehicle Properly for a Passenger

Passenger accessories should be treated as safety equipment, not simply comfort upgrades.

BRP states that Ryker models require an accessory passenger seat before carrying a passenger. Spyder equipment varies by model and package. Review the current Can-Am passenger-safety guidance and the Operator’s Guide for your exact vehicle.

Passenger equipment may include:

• An approved passenger seat

• Passenger foot supports

• A secure backrest

• Handholds

• Additional storage

• Suspension adjustments

• Passenger riding gear

Make sure the vehicle is designed and properly configured for passenger use. Never improvise a passenger seat or foot position.

The combined weight of the rider, passenger, luggage, accessories, and trailer tongue weight—if applicable—must remain within the vehicle’s limits.

Before taking a long trip, practice with the passenger in a quiet area. Acceleration, braking, cornering, and stopping can all feel different with additional weight.

8. Add Communication and Electronics Thoughtfully

Helmet communication systems can be useful for rider-to-passenger conversations, group rides, navigation instructions, and emergency calls.

Other popular electronic accessories include:

• USB or 12-volt power outlets

• GPS units

• Action cameras

• Dash cameras

• Auxiliary lighting

• Tire-pressure monitoring systems

• Heated clothing connections

• Security alarms

• Vehicle trackers

Before adding electrical accessories, determine whether your vehicle’s charging system can support the additional load. Every connection should be properly fused, protected from water, and secured away from heat and moving components.

Avoid creating a collection of wires, adapters, and chargers around the handlebars. A clean installation is easier to inspect and less likely to interfere with controls.

Cameras and navigation devices should be positioned so they do not obstruct your view. Check local laws regarding device placement, recording, auxiliary lighting, and phone use while riding.

9. Consider Weather Protection and Security

Accessories that protect the rider and vehicle may provide more long-term value than cosmetic changes.

Depending on your climate and storage situation, useful additions may include:

• A properly fitted vehicle cover

• Heated grips

• Handguards

• Wind deflectors

• Waterproof luggage liners

• A rain suit

• Boot covers

• A battery maintainer

• A security lock

• An alarm or tracking device

A fitted cover can help protect the vehicle from dust, sunlight, moisture, and debris. Use a cover intended for the vehicle and allow hot components to cool before covering it.

If the vehicle is stored outside or in a shared area, consider using more than one security measure. A visible lock may discourage a quick theft attempt, while an alarm or tracker may provide another layer of protection.

Never rely on a tracking device as your only form of security, and confirm whether it requires a subscription or cellular service.

10. Confirm Compatibility and Installation Requirements

An accessory advertised for a “Can-Am” may not fit every Spyder or Ryker. Compatibility can change with the model, year, trim package, seat, windshield, cargo system, and other previously installed accessories.

Before ordering, confirm:

• Exact model and model year

• Trim or package

• Required mounting hardware

• Whether another base or support is needed

• Weight and load limitations

• Electrical requirements

• Compatibility with existing accessories

• Installation difficulty

• Warranty and return policy

• Availability of replacement components

Can-Am’s official shopping tools allow owners to filter accessories by year, model, package, and engine. BRP also recommends checking its accessory compatibility information or contacting an authorized dealer when fitment is uncertain.

Factory accessories may offer straightforward compatibility and dealer support. Aftermarket products may provide more choices, features, or price points. Neither option is automatically better; evaluate fit, construction, support, installation requirements, and reviews from owners of the same model.

Use the supplied installation instructions. Electrical, steering, suspension, braking, and structural modifications may require professional installation.

After installing an accessory, verify that:

• All controls operate normally

• Steering moves fully in both directions

• No warning messages appear

• Lights remain visible

• Panels and storage compartments open correctly

• Nothing contacts the wheels, belt, suspension, or exhaust

• All mounts remain secure

Inspect the installation again after the first few rides.

Key Takeaways

• Ride the vehicle enough to identify real needs before buying numerous accessories.

• Prioritize riding gear, roadside equipment, visibility, and communication.

• Choose accessories based on how you actually ride.

• Add major comfort changes one at a time.

• Make sure phone and GPS mounts do not interfere with controls or visibility.

• Select storage that remains secure and keeps the vehicle within its load limits.

• Carry passengers only when the vehicle has the correct approved equipment.

• Protect electrical accessories with proper wiring and fuses.

• Confirm compatibility using the exact model, year, and trim package.

• Reinspect every new accessory after the first several rides.

• Delay expensive cosmetic or performance changes until more important needs are addressed.

  
  

Final Thoughts

Accessories can make a Spyder or Ryker safer, more comfortable, and better suited to the person riding it. They can also become an expensive collection of items that seemed useful at the time but solved no real problem.

Begin with the essentials. Make sure you can ride safely, communicate, handle changing weather, and respond to a minor roadside problem. Then address comfort, storage, wind protection, passenger needs, and electronics based on experience.

The most valuable accessory is not necessarily the one that attracts the most attention. It is the one you use regularly and would miss if it were removed.

Build your vehicle gradually, make one meaningful improvement at a time, and allow your riding experience to guide the next purchase.

Connect With Spyder Riders Hub

Trying to decide whether a particular accessory is worth buying?

Join the Spyder Riders Hub community and ask riders who have used it in real-world conditions. Include your vehicle’s model, year, trim package, riding style, and the problem you are trying to solve.

The SRH Forum gives Spyder and Ryker owners a place to compare experiences, discuss installation challenges, share touring setups, and learn which accessories remain useful long after the excitement of the original purchase.

Spyder Riders Hub also helps riders discover clubs, events, resources, businesses, and other members of the Can-Am on-road community.

Join Spyder Riders Hub and help other riders make smarter, safer accessory choices.

Explore more Can-Am Spyder and Ryker resources, connect with other riders, and discover clubs, events, businesses, and more at Spyder Riders Hub.