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Can-Am Spyder: Sports Car With Three Wheels?

Posted February 13, 2007 11:55 AM

From Inside Line Automotive News:

VALCOURT, Canada — Bombardier has announced production of the 2008 Can-Am Spyder, a dramatic three-wheel vehicle that is part motorcycle, part snowmobile and part sports car. Powered by a 106-horsepower DOHC, 990cc Rotax V-twin, the Spyder offers the kind of high-speed motoring that should appeal to car enthusiasts as well as motorcycle riders. The chassis is set up with two steering wheels in front and a single shaft-driven wheel behind. The rider is seated as if on a motorcycle and steers the 697-pound (dry) Spyder via a handlebar.

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Power-User
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#1

Re: Can-Am Spyder: Sports Car With Three Wheels?

02/13/2007 2:49 PM

If you haven't already you should give this a look this has been in the works for awhile.

Also, there is another good article here:

Click Me

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The Engineer
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: Can-Am Spyder: Sports Car With Three Wheels?

02/13/2007 3:48 PM

Does it come with an ambulance?

All kidding aside, would this be stable or is it dangerous?

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Guru
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Can-Am Spyder: Sports Car With Three Wheels?

02/14/2007 6:14 AM

It says active stability control.....I'll stick to two or four wheels thanks.

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Power-User
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Can-Am Spyder: Sports Car With Three Wheels?

02/14/2007 8:41 AM

Sure it's stable. Three points makes a plane. Of course, that stability may change when you start driving the thing... But the dynamics wouldn't be any worse than a tippy SUV, it'd be vastly better than tricycle arrangement, and it's pretty well-tested as a basic design.

Morgan and Messerschmidt, among many others, made some serious sporting machinery based on this design from the twenties on up through the sixties.

The old machines are a blast do drive. I'd have to think that with better tires, shocks, suspension geometry, materials and, of course, more power, the fun quotient is cubed.

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Anonymous Poster
#5

Re: Can-Am Spyder: Sports Car With Three Wheels?

02/14/2007 12:14 PM

Everyone, this unit is just a snowmobile with two wheels on the front instead of two skiis. Ever seen a snowmobile flip??? I haven't seen one flip in Canada here and I have been riding them for 30 years. Bombardier makes Ski-Doo snowmobiles and are very good at it. I'm sure the worst thing you could do on this is swap ends.

Pavement is for racing, dirt is for vegetables.

Keep the wheel side down!!!

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