All Tests – Spyder F3 Test: the 3-wheeled Power Cruiser! – Half-roadster, half-cruiser … 3-wheeler!

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Spyder F3 test: the 3-wheeled Power Cruiser !

All Tests - Spyder F3 Test: the 3-wheeled Power Cruiser! - Half-roadster, half-cruiser ... 3-wheeler!

Devastating look, demonstrative 3-cylinder, adjustable Cruiser ergonomics and cutting-edge electronics: the new Can-Am Spyder F3 brings together many assets likely to appeal to motorists and bikers looking for an original and muscular 3-wheeler ! Test.

Half-roadster, half-cruiser … 3-wheeler !

Well known to marketers, "the wow effect" refers to the reaction of surprise and admiration to the discovery of a new product. Reaction which may take the form of a "wow"enthusiastic, as opposed to the contemptuous" boo "aroused by a novelty intended for the commercial flop.

This "wow effect" systematically provokes it, its muscular and angular front face – almost threatening with its rectangular double optic bordered by powerful lenticulars – lastingly capturing the attention. Lovers of discretion, go your way: the latest addition to this 3-wheeler range launched in 2007 by Can-Am (BRP group) is a powerful eye-catcher !

Like all Spyder – from the sporty RS with a Rotax twin engine to the one equipped with a 3-cylinder also developed by the Austrian engine manufacturer – the new F3 is intriguing first because of its "Y" architecture, formed by two wheels at the front and one at the rear. Like the very popular Piaggio MP3? Yes, but in fact no !

On Canadian tripods, the front axle is fixed – tiltable on Italian scooters – and extremely wide: 1497 mm, almost two side by side! The F3’s front tire dimensions are equal to those of a small car (15 inches and 165 mm wide), while its rear wheel of the same diameter, driven through a belt, reaches an impressive width of 225 mm..

Nothing to do with MP3, almost frail in comparison! Logical, since the Piaggio bestsellers are designed to sneak into town, while the Sypder have no "utilitarian" vocation. On the other hand, they share an interesting common point: considered as "L5e" in France, these tripods are accessible from the age of 21 with the B (car) license – obtained for at least two years – and a 7-hour training course (read our).

Holders of the A (motorcycle) license can drive them without additional training from the age of 21. Be careful, however, to date holders of motorcycle licenses A1 (125cc) and A2 (new progressive license) cannot drive a 3-wheeler as efficient as the Spyder because French law restricts their field of action to "motor tricycles with a maximum power of 15 kW (20 hp)".

Ironically, French bikers can access via this legislation of the "third type" to vehicles not limited in power (115 hp all the same for the Spyder RT and this new F3!), While their motorcycles are castrated at 106 hp up to at …

In static: radically different

The second Spyder to receive the 1330 cc in-line 3-cylinder discovered on the, the F3 unveils a unique tubular steel chassis that is particularly aesthetic and with neat welds. Connected to a Sachs mono-shock absorber unfortunately not adjustable (not even in preload), the split swingarm is a superb part.

Spyder Assistances: glossary and instructions

Like all Spyder, the F3 includes several electronic driving aids developed by Bosch. Neither configurable nor deactivatable, these automobile-derived "safety nets" work together to avoid any risk of skidding and overturning.

  • ABS (anti-lock braking system): assisted braking and coupled front-rear. On Spyder, braking is controlled only with the right pedal (no brake lever on the handlebars)

  • DPS (Dyamic Power Steering): dynamic power steering, which hardens according to the speed but also to the weight of the pilot and his possible passenger. At low speed, the steering is overdrive to facilitate movement (almost free around 70 km / h)

  • TCS (Traction Control System): anti-skid control managed by torque reduction at the rear wheel. Less intrusive on the F3, this traction control now allows slight drifts when accelerating and "strong" starts with the tire whistling. !

  • VSS (Vehicle Stability System): vehicle stability system. Informed by sensors located on the front axle, this system is the 3-wheel counterpart of the automotive trajectory corrector (ESP). As soon as it detects a pressure considered too strong on the front axle (too fast entry into curves or of an "over-steering", in particular), it acts immediately by first reducing the power by the means of the accelerator. electronic "Ride-by-wire". If that isn’t enough, the VSS then slows down the Spyder positively by activating the brake system. Radical.

  • Transmission and reverse: like all Spyder, the F3 is available in manual gearbox (clutch lever and selector on the left) or semi-automatic (no clutch, changing of six gears via paddles on the handlebars). Whatever transmission mode is chosen, a reverse gear (electric motor) is fitted as standard. Finally, an electrically controlled parking brake is activated from the left stalk (compulsory each time the engine is stopped, otherwise an audible alarm sounds).

Announced "40% more rigid"than the previous spars, this frame typed" motorcycles "(European, in particular) allowed Can-Am to adopt a different geometry in order to improve the compactness of the F3 (1709 mm of wheelbase against 1714 mm for the RS) The center of gravity would also have been lowered, in favor of handling..

Another major change: the gasoline tank (27 liters) is now between the knees as on a motorcycle, while it is under the saddle on the other Spyder. A less interesting positioning from a technical point of view (the more there is weight in height, the more the effort to provide to the handlebars is high), but clearly more practical to refuel and enjoy a range estimated at "406 km".

Finally, the ergonomics of the F3 differ radically from the current Spyder RS, ST and RT: the wide handlebars are higher and closer to the bust, but above all the footrests are generously advanced. As a result, the legs are no longer folded up like on a quad, but almost fully extended like on a Cruiser type motorcycle..

This is why this new F3 is described by its designers as a "Power cruiser": it combines a muscular look and a beefy engine (115 hp and 130.1 Nm of torque) with the comfortable ergonomics of a cruiser. In short, it is neither more nor less than a kind of version 3-wheeler from the Ducati Diavel (read in particular our) !

To make this position as pleasant as possible, Can-Am proposes to adjust it by choosing a handlebar with more or less long branches (4 possible choices) and by adjusting the longitudinal location of the toe clips (5 choices). This adjustment "by hand" is done free of charge when ordering the F3 via a new virtual configurator, the "Ufit".

According to BRP France, "10 minutes"only would be needed to make the desired changes (6 minutes for the footrests, 4 for the handlebars). This initiative is however losing its interest since it can only be carried out by a Can-Am dealer.

Indeed, the intervention requires specific parts – in particular 4 different handlebars – and more or less long return rods for the brake pedal and the selector on the mechanical gearbox versions. It is therefore impossible to modify, even slightly, the position at home for more comfort or to adapt it to a "Spyder-man" of different morphology in the event of resale..

In future transactions between individuals, this aspect should therefore be taken into consideration. When questioned by MNC, BRP France was not able to tell us the price of the parts in question..

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