10 Things Every New Can-Am On-Road Rider Should Know
Updated: Sep 1
Buying a Can-Am Spyder or Ryker opens the door to an entirely different kind of riding. Whether this is your first powersports vehicle or you're moving over from a two-wheel motorcycle, there are a few things worth knowing before you start piling on the miles.
Here are 10 things that can make your first months of ownership safer, easier and more enjoyable.
1. Don't Try to Ride It Like a Two-Wheel Motorcycle
This is one of the biggest adjustments for riders coming from motorcycles.
A Spyder or Ryker doesn't lean through turns the way a traditional motorcycle does. You steer it through the corner, and you'll feel lateral forces that you wouldn't experience in quite the same way on two wheels.
New riders sometimes grip the handlebars too tightly and constantly make small steering corrections.
Relax your grip, look where you want to go and give yourself time to become comfortable with the steering.
2. Learn the Braking System
Can-Am three-wheelers use a foot-operated braking system that applies braking across the wheels.
If you're coming from a motorcycle, your instincts may initially have you reaching for a hand brake that isn't there on standard Spyder and Ryker configurations.
Practice braking in a safe area until using the foot brake becomes automatic.
Also learn how your machine behaves during both normal and harder stops before you need that knowledge in traffic.
3. Watch Your Front Wheels
Your machine is considerably wider at the front than a motorcycle.
That sounds obvious until you pull alongside a curb, fuel pump, parking barrier or another vehicle and forget exactly where those front wheels are.
Give yourself extra clearance until judging the machine's width becomes second nature.
4. Check Your Tire Pressures
Tire pressure can affect handling, steering feel and tire wear.
Get into the habit of checking tire pressures regularly and use the specifications provided for your particular model and configuration.
Don't assume the pressure printed on the tire itself is the correct operating pressure for your machine.
5. Don't Judge the Ride After Ten Minutes
A new Spyder or Ryker can feel unusual at first.
That's particularly true if you've spent years riding motorcycles. Your body has learned riding habits that don't necessarily transfer directly to a reverse-trike.
Give yourself some time.
Many riders find that the machine begins to feel much more natural once they've accumulated some miles and stopped consciously thinking about every steering input.
6. Practice Slow-Speed Maneuvers
Find an empty parking lot and practice.
Work on:
Smooth starts and stops
Tight turns
Parking
Reversing
Braking
Judging front-wheel clearance
Controlled acceleration
A little parking-lot practice can dramatically increase your confidence before dealing with traffic, unfamiliar roads or crowded events.
7. Learn Your Machine Before Buying Lots of Accessories
The Spyder and Ryker communities offer an enormous selection of accessories and modifications.
It's tempting to start ordering them immediately.
Ride the machine first.
After several hundred miles, you'll have a much better idea of what actually needs improvement for your riding style. You may discover that the accessory you thought was essential isn't important at all, while something you hadn't considered becomes a priority.
8. Carry a Few Basics
You don't need to turn your machine into a rolling workshop, but carrying a few essentials is sensible.
Depending on your riding and available storage, consider carrying items such as:
Tire pressure gauge
Basic tool kit
Flashlight
Phone charging cable
Rain gear
Emergency contact information
Water
A small first-aid kit
Long-distance riders may want to carry additional equipment.
9. Find Other Spyder and Ryker Riders
One of the best resources available to a new owner is the riding community.
Experienced riders can help with everything from maintenance questions and accessories to good riding roads and local service recommendations.
Look for local clubs, group rides, owner events and online communities.
You don't have to figure everything out by yourself.
10. Ride Your Own Ride
Group rides can be a great part of owning a Spyder or Ryker, but never feel pressured to ride faster or more aggressively than you're comfortable with.
Your job isn't to keep up with the fastest rider.
Maintain a pace that gives you enough time and space to react safely. Confidence develops with experience, and experience comes from miles—not from trying to prove something on your first few rides.
Enjoy the Learning Process
Nobody becomes completely comfortable with a new machine on the first day.
Learn how your Spyder or Ryker responds, practice the basics, ask questions and gradually expand the kinds of rides you take.
Before long, many of the things that initially required conscious thought will simply become part of riding.
And that's when the real fun begins.
