Spyders, Spyders EVERYWHERE
February 5, 2007 9:55 PM   Subscribe

There's a new motorcyle-like thingie called a Spyder... However, it's got three wheels, and looks WAY hot. Oh, did I mention that two of the wheels are in front? Here's the manufacturer's website (warning: some flash stuffs). I want one.
posted by Vamier (44 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
Dammit, I really meant to have those open in a new window/tab... Sorry about that. :(
posted by Vamier at 10:07 PM on February 5, 2007


No offense intended, but what exactly is the draw of this? I'm not sure I get it. It looks vaguely like a snowmobile with wheels.
posted by captaincrouton at 10:16 PM on February 5, 2007


captain, the draw is the benefits of a motorcycle (driving in the open air, not surrounded by car) combined with more stability than a motorcycle. I imagine this'll be what parents make their motorbike-loving teens ride instead of the two-wheeled machine.

And vamier, you don't control the tab/window thing--the reader does.
posted by dobbs at 10:21 PM on February 5, 2007


I've always felt like captaincrouton does, except about rear-axled trikes. Motorcycles aren't all that hard to ride, really, so I've never seen the appeal of three wheels. But different strokes for different folks, hope they sell a bunch of them!
posted by maxwelton at 10:22 PM on February 5, 2007


"it does not lean like a motorcycle"

for $15g I can think of better wheeled alternatives.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 10:26 PM on February 5, 2007


I don't see the point. The inverse of dobbs' poiont is that it doesn't have the mass or protection of an enclosed vehicle, and it doesn't have the power or maneuverability of a motorcycle. Seems like it might be convenient for city driving though, but unly if people think of it as a subcompact car rather than a sportsbike.
posted by lekvar at 10:38 PM on February 5, 2007


"it does not lean like a motorcycle"

It better lean like a motorcycle or cornering will be an extremely scary experience.
No offense, but this post seems kind of diggish.
posted by tmcw at 10:39 PM on February 5, 2007


Neat idea. Looks like a jetski on wheels, or like captaincrouton said, a snowmobile for pavement.

It will all depend on how well it rides and the "fun quotient". I can't seem to find a picture with a human on top of it. I'm not quite sure what the riding position is.

Me, I'd buy one, if it had a 50% lower price tag. This should be an $8k machine, not a $15k machine.

This also might be a way to get a spouse who wants "nothing to do" with a motorcycle to join in.

If these things make it, or become even moderately popular, I see a huge club-racing scene in its future.
posted by Ynoxas at 10:41 PM on February 5, 2007


Just don't take one of those to Sturgis. They'll beat the crap out of you.
posted by zardoz at 10:41 PM on February 5, 2007


tmcw: to be fair, a tricycle is something of a novelty.

Now, if you were laying prone in/on it, flying like superman 8" above the asphalt, then they might have something.

heh, with all the SUVs out there, instead of whitelining we could just submarine the cages.
posted by Heywood Mogroot at 10:42 PM on February 5, 2007


Maybe it'd be fun in a snowy black iced parking lot. You could probably do a lot of spins without dumping it. Burnouts whould probably be easy too. I figure if you wanted open air and stability you could buy a convertible. Bikes aren't really all that comfy, the joy is in the lean so if you take that away...
posted by captaincrouton at 10:44 PM on February 5, 2007


captain, the draw is the benefits of a motorcycle (driving in the open air, not surrounded by car) combined with more stability than a motorcycle.

I would imagine that motorcycles are pretty stable. The problem is that they can't slide. the way a car can, and can pretty easily kill you if you over do it. It's a lot safer to ride in something on something, I would Imagine.

On the other hand, you still ride on this thing, so who cares.
posted by delmoi at 10:57 PM on February 5, 2007


Man, if I had a few million in the bank I would design an Akira style bike.
posted by delmoi at 11:01 PM on February 5, 2007


I would design a unicorn bike! It would go 200 mph and would have giant iridescent wings that would expand outwards as the bike picked up speed until finally they spread outwards and over both sides of the road! The exhaust would spew out rainbows and glitter!

And I'd take it to Sturgis!
posted by weretable and the undead chairs at 11:32 PM on February 5, 2007 [3 favorites]


Meh. These are cooler.
posted by ceribus peribus at 11:34 PM on February 5, 2007


Imagine trying to corner quickly on this nightmare!

I give them credit for designing it to look cool, but once that novelty wears off (Segway, anyone?) it's going to be a sales disaster.
posted by artdrectr at 11:51 PM on February 5, 2007


There are way too many Spyders out there. It's enough to make a guy araknophobic.
posted by kyleg at 12:05 AM on February 6, 2007


I'd rather have a Grinnall Scorpion...
posted by twine42 at 12:19 AM on February 6, 2007


No, these are cooler.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 1:35 AM on February 6, 2007


Piaggio (gigantic Italian scooter conglomerate) has a new 3 wheeled model called the mp3 that they are preparing for release. It's different than the Spyder due to the fact that the Piaggio model is using scooter tires instead of car tires. I like the idea of a larger contact patch (plus the spyder is lower to the ground.) That said, the mp3 leans like a motorcycle while the Spyder doesn't. That may make a difference for some.
posted by gen at 1:43 AM on February 6, 2007


ceribus peribus beat me to it, but when I think of a vehicle with this kind of configuration, the T-rex is the one to beat.
posted by quin at 1:47 AM on February 6, 2007


Personally, I'd prefer a Carver, thank you.
posted by ijsbrand at 2:52 AM on February 6, 2007


> Man, if I had a few million in the bank I would design an Akira style bike.

Here you go (Scooter not included).
posted by ardgedee at 3:33 AM on February 6, 2007


ceribus peribus: "Meh. These are cooler."

Nah, the Regal Coupe is much nicer.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 3:34 AM on February 6, 2007


I've always been fascinated by the Grinnall automobiles, this will just be something else to ogle over.
posted by QuarterlyProphet at 4:45 AM on February 6, 2007


So, why aren't there akira-style motorcycles available? I've seen some choppers with pretty low centre seating. Why not take it all the way?
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:01 AM on February 6, 2007


Nah this is cooler
posted by zeoslap at 6:36 AM on February 6, 2007


... I meant these
posted by zeoslap at 6:38 AM on February 6, 2007


So, why aren't there akira-style motorcycles available? I've seen some choppers with pretty low centre seating. Why not take it all the way?

Something like the Alligator?
posted by alikins at 7:06 AM on February 6, 2007


"a tricycle is something of a novelty"

This is one of those glass-half-full/half-empty things. Some see "the advantages of a bike combined with those of a car!" Others see "the disadvantages of a bike combined with those of a car!" the thing is too wide to fit where a bike will,and I bet it won't corner with a bike. It's too small to carry a load of groceries or bring a TV home from the store. You can't lock people out, so if you park it near the playground, your controls will probably be all sticky when you get back. I don't want one.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 7:06 AM on February 6, 2007


This vehicle can do a number of things poorly, I'll bet.
posted by Mister_A at 7:55 AM on February 6, 2007


As far as 3-wheeled roadsters go, I'd much rather get a T-Rex. Made in Canada and doesn't pretend to be a motrocycle, it is its own mean machine.

As far as the Spyder is concerned, I am not too keen on it.

And my favourite bike is the Harley VRSC anyday.
posted by Vindaloo at 8:16 AM on February 6, 2007


"I was slightly intimidated by the thought of placing my backside on the forefront of a new kind of crossover vehicle"
and
"Handsome as Brad and curvy as Angelina, the Spyder has enough cargo room to hold a pair of helmets big enough to contain the egos of both"

I like the reviewer in the first link. I'll bet he was saving that second set of similes to use on a special occasion.
posted by lostburner at 8:25 AM on February 6, 2007


"I was slightly intimidated by the thought of placing my backside on the forefront of a new kind of crossover vehicle"
and
"Handsome as Brad and curvy as Angelina, the Spyder has enough cargo room to hold a pair of helmets big enough to contain the egos of both"

I like the reviewer in the first link. I'll bet he was saving that second set of similes to use on a special occasion.
posted by lostburner at 8:26 AM on February 6, 2007


whoops.
posted by lostburner at 8:26 AM on February 6, 2007


It's too damn cold here now for me to want one of those. But speaking of cornering, why wouldn't it take corners like car? And how well do trikes with two wheels in back do corners?
posted by davy at 9:35 AM on February 6, 2007


It's a bit disappointing that this isn't a tilting 3-wheeler (like the Piaggio mentioned upthread). The idea is nothing new—even Mercedes-Benz built a prototype called the Life Jet.

Here's a good resource for tilting 3-wheelers
posted by adamrice at 9:42 AM on February 6, 2007


What's the sense of it? For the same amount of dough you can get a late model Miata with low miles, four wheels, and a top you can raise when it rains. Otherwise, just get a two-wheeled motorcycle.
posted by SteveInMaine at 9:59 AM on February 6, 2007


And how well do trikes with two wheels in back do corners?

Lousy.
posted by Kirth Gerson at 10:14 AM on February 6, 2007


Whoever designed this -really- wanted it to be the future, badly.
posted by tehloki at 11:08 AM on February 6, 2007


This looks like the most overcompensatory lawn mower EVER.
posted by klangklangston at 11:50 AM on February 6, 2007


Still waiting for these to reach stateside.

http://www.peraves.ch/

Saw one on the Autobahn many moons ago and thought it was the coolest thing ever.

Also saw 'em in "Until the end of the world".
posted by latexalibi at 12:23 PM on February 6, 2007


I'm not sure where some people get the idea that a motorcycle is unstable. As with a bicycle, it's not like there's a constant challenge to keep the thing from flopping over.

The only time this would have "more stability than a motorcycle" is when the bike is parked, or sliding out from under you in the rain -- in which case I'd rather have that Miata anyway.

Looks kinda cool though. Perhaps it serves a niche in the market.
posted by Tubes at 12:51 PM on February 7, 2007


Saw a "spy" picture of this in one of my motorcycle magazines that arrived this week. It showed a driver and a passenger, they were sitting on it much like a wave runner or snowmobile, upright mostly, legs tucked rather close.
posted by Ynoxas at 7:46 AM on February 8, 2007


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