| Author | Message | ||
     José_quiñones |
2008 BRP/CanAm Spyder Premiere event, San Diego California, Feb 9-12, 2007 Blame it on the Banana Cake. How did I end up in San Diego attending this product launch? Easy, blame it on Linda's banana cake, which she would bring in to the service department of Coleman Powersports in Woodbridge, VA where she has bought and services all three of her bikes. So when the dealer was thinking of who to send as their VIC (Very Important Customer) along with their representative, the Service Manager, guess who he thought of first? Once we were called about going on an all expenses paid trip to California to test ride a new bike for a weekend, we said, sure, we can do that! Only the top 150 Bombardier dealers worldwide and their VIC's were invited. So off to San Diego we went on Friday, February 9. Blame it on the Fan. Woke up at 4:30 am Eastern to get to the airport on time for our departure at 8:00 am. There we met the rest of the group, Scott from the Woodbridge Store, Rob from the Coleman Falls Church store, and the other two VIC's, Jack a friend of Linda and I and another gentleman named Jack, who is a vintage racer and was recently in the June 2006 issue of Motorcyclist on their 600 Shootout at Barber Motorsports Park article. Jack was full of old racing stories so that made the day, which was already long and about to get longer, seem shorter than it was. About an hour into the flight some passengers complained that they were smelling smoke. I never did. Shortly after that the plane began do drop in elevation, unusual to say the least. Finally the Captain announced that they were having a problem and we needed to make an emergency landing in Cincinnati. He explained that the cooling fan for the avionics on the Airbus 320 were were in had failed and the avionics were in danger of overheating. No avionics, no control, end of flight. Nobody panicked, the plane landed safely and we could see all the Fire equipment waiting for us as we landed, they even boarded the plane to see if everybody was alright. So we ended up stuck in Cincinnati for about six hours, they gave us a $10 food voucher (not valid for Alcohol) and they flew a new jet from Chicago to pick us up and take us to our final destination. We were not too upset about it, but there were other people who were going to miss their Cruise ship departures and they were understandably upset. We finally ended up in San Diego at around 7 pm, and got to the hotel at around 7:30 pm Pacific, too late to register and catch the buses to the launch party at the Miramar Air Base. Everybody was tired so we decided just to get some food and then get some sleep.   Blame it on the Moon. Saturday was a nice day During the free morning breakfast we found out about what we had missed the night before, free food and alcohol, showing of a bunch of videos and marketspeak lemonade from the head honchos at Bombardier/CanAm, culminated with Jay Leno driving the Spyder onto the stage. We saw a lot of people walking around with Can Am shirts and jackets and I figured there's no way that many people work for that company, turns out it was some of the gear that was given to the attendees in the SWAG bag after registering. We eventually registered and picked up our bags, a combination bag/backpack with reflective strips, which was stuffed with a very nice CanAm Spyder riding jacket, two shirts, product brochures and DVD's and to top it all off, a 30 GB Video Ipod, featuring the Spyder Logo on the front and back of the unit. Glad I didn't buy one like I had planned to recently. Our group was scheduled to test ride the Spyder at 9 am so we hung out inside the Pavilion tent while we waited, which had a vast array of accessories already on display for the Spyder, a bare frame to look at, a cutaway engine (the 990 Rotax VTwin used by Aprilia but featuring a reverse gear) to drool over and other Bombardier products like their watercraft, snowmobiles, boat engines and ATV's.          (Message edited by josé_quiñones on February 19, 2007) | ||
| José_quiñones |
Before the actual test ride, we were fitted with the proper gear and sent over to the short test track, where we would be given a briefing and a short ride on a Spyder to get used to it before going out on the street. This was a good idea for two reasons: For a motorcyclist, riding the Spyder requires you to unlearn two habits: countersteering and using your right hand to hit the brakes. The Spyder turns its handlebars in the direction of the turn, and to stop it you stomp on the brake pedal with your right foot just like a car. However, the throttle, clutch lever and shifting are like a motorcycle, an interesting blend. I did a nice burnout right at the start, not on purpose, but it was fun anyways. The first time I stomped on the pedal it stopped in a hurry, in a controlled manner. The second time I stopped I forgot to pull the clutch in and I stalled it. A few more stops and left/rights and you turned around and did it again. This was long enough to let you know that you were NOT on a motorcycle. What followed was a 30 minute guided tour of San Diego with about seven other Spyders, a lead rider, a chase vehicle and CHP's finest on their BMW's providing traffic control at intersections to keep the group together, which helped us get a lot of attention as we rode by, that is always fun.        What was it like to ride? It feels like a snowmobile or a personal watercraft with wheels. The suspension is really plush, it floats over the bumps like a Buick. It understeers when you really push it, but this is by design we were told later. The Vehicle Stability System (VSS) keeps you from doing anything really stupid, however it will let you burn rubber leaving stop lights as long as you're pointed straight and I did manage to lift it on two wheels briefly in one hard left turn that I did. It came down gently and we completed our test ride. The engine has plenty of power, you do have to feather the clutch a bit leaving a stop, but once underway it's got all the power you need. It took me a long while to stop reaching for the front brakes with my hand, by the end of the ride I had adjusted and was getting some braking feel from my foot. That was one thing I did find lacking, the brake pedal was set too high for my tastes and it looked to me that there was no adjustment available. After the ride we were debriefed and asked about our impressions, how it compared to a motorcycle and how it compared to a car. It is here that you realize, if you had not realized it already, that they are targeting car people more than they are targeting motorcycle people at this stage in the product's life. I told them that thought there are a few strong markets for this thing. First, I think the "my wife would let me buy that" market is HUGE for the Spyder. Second, the commuter market is also potentially huge, because it is considered a Motorcycle in many states, including here in the Commonwealth of Virginia, thus it is HOV legal. However, you need a motorcycle license to ride it so I don't know if they will allow someone on a Spyder to take the riding test on one or if they would need to ride a motorcycle for the test. Finally, the physically challenged could ride this all day long without the usual issues they would have with a motorcycle. In summary it was fun, not a bike, not a convertible, a totally different riding experience. (Message edited by josé_quiñones on February 19, 2007) | ||
| José_quiñones |
We found one of the prototypes without the bodywork in a trailer nearby and the guys let us take all the pictures we wanted.      | ||
| José_quiñones |
Saturday night we were put on buses and taken to the San Diego Aerospace museum for a private museum tour/party/dinner a great idea and made even better with the featured speaker, NASA Astronaut and Apollo 13 commander James Lovell (Tom Hanks played him in the movie). That was a great time, did I mention the food and beer was free?    | ||
| José_quiñones |
Blame it on the Blendster Sunday woke up to rain, but the test rides continued. We attended a few more seminars and tried to get a second ride but without success. The day ended with one final dinner an afterparty and the premiere of another new vehicle, the "Blendster". Apparently Bombadier has a history of creating fancier and more elaborate Margarita Blenders in past product launches and this time was no exception. This Blendster was powered by a Spyder bike attached to it via a roller and belts. Everyone was having a great time revving the crap out of the Spyder and making Margaritas, but the high revs took a toll on the Blendster and broke it. The same engineers that we had seen giving seminars in the past two days got down and tore into the Blendster to repair it. They found the problem, and after some aluminum can and carefully attached duct tape, the Blendster was back in operation. Linda talked her way on to the Blendster and kept the RPM's at around 6k and made a very nice Margarita and the Blendster held together. Then the next guy decided to go to the rev limiter and broke it again, the guys repaired it again, and this process was repeated a few times into the night but we were blitzed so we went to sleep and didn't stay till the end.     | ||
| José_quiñones |
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| José_quiñones |
Blame Canada  We had to get up at 5 am Pacific to get one last free breakfast, then get on the bus to the airport so we could catch our plane which left at 8 am. This was a bit of a struggle after the last three days, but nobody missed the flight home to DC, which was uneventful. Having never attended a product launch event such as this one I had no idea what to expect. From other people I spoke with which had attended previous events such as this one they said this was one of the best ones. I think that Bombardier put in all this effort on this event because they know how important this vehicle is to their future and want to create the best first impression possible. I'd say they succeeded in all counts. Those French Canadians sure know how to throw a party!  Links Corporate site: http://spyder.brp.com/ The dealer that invited us: http://www.wherethepoweris.com/ Test rides: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=119581#2 http://www.caranddriver.com/previews/12485/first-drive-2008-brp-can-am-spyder.html (Message edited by josé_quiñones on February 19, 2007) | ||
| Sleez |
holy freakin craaap!!! what a cool deal to get on!!! i am so very jealous, very cool!!! | ||
| Buellgirlie |
very cool jose - nice pics and great story! thx for posting, D | ||
| Buellshyter |
Did you dare to wear a Buell shirt?  | ||
| Madduck |
Does it have any luggage capacity, helmet storage. I may buy one and am putting off purchases until I get to test ride it. Maybe we can talk buell into building one of these. | ||
| Jimidan |
Typical professional review, Jose`! What a great experience. But would you buy one? jimidan | ||
| José_quiñones |
I wore my Buell hat & the Team Elves shirt. I wore a Ducati Troy Bayliss shirt too just to keep them guessing. The nose is storage space, holding 44 liters. Would I buy one. Trick question. Yes, as a daily commuter on my bike, this "bike" would extend my bike commuting season to the whole year with the exception of snow and ice. It would be an ideal second or even third bike. The question was asked about snow tires. They mentioned that it has been tested in snow but they do not have plans to sell snow tires at this time, but the dealers there were pushing for that to be an option in the near future. No if I wanted an actual motorcycle that leans and only had to have one bike. But I would not be their target market if that was the case. (Message edited by josé_quiñones on February 19, 2007) | ||
| Madduck |
The potential market for a street legal snomobile in MN and WI is tremendous. That market is probably 5-10 times larger than the market for motorcycles. I am pretty sure that is my next purchase. Up here that could be a year round ride, snow tires and off road package would be good options. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Wow! Cool story. Would you mind posting the recipe for that banana cake? It must be some awesome stuff. Maybe I can get my wife to cook some for my HD/Buell dealer.....  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool story Jose, thanks! Sorry you were stuck in Cincinnati... Not much to do there in the airport (which is actually in Kentucky anyway  ) | ||
| Kdan |
jose, That is very cool. Great write up too. I hold you personally responsible for Bambi owning an SV650 since meeting you & Linda at the races in Georgia. If she ends up with one of those, you'll be in big trouble! | ||
| Jackbequick |
Interesting. MSRP is $14,999 in the U.S. I paid about 2/3rds of that for a 10 year old Dyna FXD. I think as soon as I get off of the FXD, forget to put the kickstand down, and it falls over, the Spyder will be just about right for my next ride. Jack | ||
| Rich |
Great writeup Jose! And pics, too. | ||
| Rotchcrocket51 |
Only Jose and Linda would get a hook up like this! I'm just happy that I get to hang out with them and bask in their glow! Great write-up, as usual, Jose! | ||
| Swampy |
That engine looks like the Harley VR1000 engine that is in the March 1994 Cycle World article! | ||
| Tgroghan |
My dad already said he wants one. | ||
| Bluzm2 |
Great write up and pictures as usual José Sounds like avery neat time for you and you and your wife. Neat product, I'm going to have to score a test ride on one this spring sometime. Brad | ||
| Midknyte |
Those look wonderfully squat. What's the seat height? | ||
| Madduck |
Thanks for the info, if it will help you snag more free stuff you can tell the can-am people that you've convinced one person to buy already. Put my order in today to reserve a silver one with electronic shift. thanks again for keeping us informed. | ||
| José_quiñones |
No commissions for me! I'm just a Motorcycle/Buell rider that was lucky enough to get invited to this event (thanks to Linda!) and I figured people would find this new non Buell interesting and Badweb provides me a place to share my thoughts about it (thanks Blake)! In fact, it is not clear yet if the dealer that invited me is picking up the brand, they seem to be leaning towards doing it. For those looking to demo ride it, check their website which has a schedule of 'sightings' and future demo rides either at individual dealers or at events. For example they said they would be in Atlanta, Ga this weekend, Daytona for Bikeweek and some other bike events, but they are also hitting some non biking events. (Message edited by josé_quiñones on February 20, 2007) | ||
| M2nc |
Too Cool Jose! | ||
| Rex |
very nice. How would that motor be in a buell? rex | ||
| Mbsween |
Jose, Congrats man, sounded like an awesome gig. I used to work in San Diego, hell of a place to send an east coaster in winter! Very nice write up. When will we see you in a monthly rag? I'm sure Linda can mail cakes to various editors Maybe I'll get a shot at a ride in Daytona Matt | ||
| Pinball |
Great write up and pics! That`s a nice blender ,but us "western" Canadians have a little different concept! Buell powered of course!  | ||
| José_quiñones |
Awesome! You guys know how to party! | ||
| Mcrides |
Great review! BTW, did they mention what air pressures they were running on the Spyders? Bruno Montreal, Canada http://pages.videotron.com/mcrides BRP Can-Am Spyder First Look: Adventure Tourer? : |
