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Shout Out on the Trail
Bombardier has recently revitalized the Can-Am badge and added the legendary marque to its powersport division, specifically in the ATV department. But it seems there’s more than four-wheelers in the mix. Although far from off-road worthy, Bombardier/Can-Am has released news it plans to build a three-wheeled street machine called the Spyder Roadster. Eyewitness reports of seeing such Spyders in the Palm Bay area outside Bombardier’s Florida plant have been aplenty and this buggy is definitely unique. Two wheels up front and one driven out back leave the pilot and passenger riding like a conventional motorcycle but with a lower centre of gravity. A snowmobile-type fairing adds an oddity factor and separates this machine from any other. According to a press release on the company website, the Spyder will feature a BRP-Rotax 990cc liquid-cooled V-Twin, five-speed transmission with reverse, a surrounding spar frame, belt final drive and be assembled in Valcourt, Quebec. Indeed, the province of Quebec has stepped up to the plate with a $17.8 million reimbursable contribution to the Spyder’s development. The funding comes through the Investissement Quebec program. The Spyder will hit the Canadian market in four provinces—presumably through the Bombardier dealer network and 12 “selected” states as an ‘08 model. A demo ride program has been developed and if you’re interested, visit Bombardier’s website for the details. It will enter the European markets following its introduction in North America.
Not off-road stuff, true, but it’s good to see a Canadian company showing innovation in the motosport world and the Can-Am name returned. Can a dirt bike bearing the Can-Am badge be far behind?
UNCHARACTERISTICALLY, I NOW FIND MYSELF IN THE MARKET FOR A new dirt bike after realizing I can’t live without an off-road-only motorcycle high; nothing else comes close. I had sold my 2004 WR250 Yamaha after wanting a change and growing discouraged by the available local riding—many of the forested areas surrounding my home on southern Vancouver Island are now closed to activities such as off-road riding. But it’s now time again to buy a new dirt bike, not because of newly available riding areas but because of my insatiable need for riding back country trails at speed.
Options are many of course, but it was not long before I narrowed the field to only three machines. The Yamaha YZ250 two-stroke slightly modded for the woods, or another WR250F four-stroke that sells for the same price, or perhaps a 450cc Enduro that could double as a dualsport.
Though much of the island is the domain of forest company timber leases, private land or Crown-held property, the truth is that our local riding environment offers unique challenges: extremely tight trails through rainforest terrain, rock climbs; ledge drops, greasy root swamps and the odd roll off the end of a fallen giant cedar or Douglas fir have even the Trials guys worked up. So, a light-weight well-balanced and tractable machine would be the logical choice for a full-sized bike, since short runs and difficult sections practically guarantee you’ll be picking your steed up more than once or twice. Of course, logic seldom plays much of a role when you’re choosing high horsepower over sedate useable delivery. After all this is a toy to be used mostly off-road. So why not make every twist of the throttle exciting and slightly overwhelming? If there’s a burst of acceleration with every twist of the throttle, the additional weight of a 450 can be forgiven even though it’s slightly slower in the tight stuff and more of a handful when you’re tired or badly stuck. At first, I thought it would be fun to ride a two-stroke in the bush: lightweight, high horsepower, easy to start, a huge fun factor, not to mention a beguiling retro personality. So, what were the deterrents? Smoke, mixing fuel and kickstarting were at the top of my list. So now I step into summer, unsure of what I really want, yet presented with upcoming opportunities to ride Yamaha’s new aluminum framed WR450F and even some two-strokes. No doubt the experience will contribute to a great season and help shape my purchasing decision.
Stay tuned.
IT WAS WHILE CRUISING ON THE RXV5.5 APRILIA THE OTHER DAY, that I shouted in my helmet with the sheer joy and excitement of riding this marvel of technology and design. It has so much power it’s like a fantasy—thus my reaction. My language of bellows and cries is usually reserved for dirtbiking when I’m involved in close dicing action with fellow riders, but it has somehow started working its way into other parts of my everyday life.
The yells are great concentration breakers when I’m trying to shock my buddies into making mistakes that will then create passing opportunities as we’re descending some switchback trough-trail. This hollering became a tool to share excitement with friends about being out in the wilderness, slamming bark with our handguards and was almost always returned from others confirming our secret language in an exclusive off-road sport.
Screams used to erupt only on occasion, such as when I was close to crashing, but now this shouting has become all out demonic cackling whenever we’re going fast on dirtbikes and feelings run high.
But if this barbaric exercise was to cross over any further into my everyday life, things could get a little ugly. Imagine, if you will, doing your shopping and having someone run past you with their shopping cart, narrowly missing yours, then cutting in front while shouting out hoots and hollers. This behaviour might go unnoticed if you’re on a ski hill, but in a Quickie Mart, it might spell antisocial behaviour. Too bad for the clerk at the electronics store who tells you the big-screen TV you’ve been keen on is now on sale. Most clerks would not understand that guttural grunt followed by the sound of a two-stroke shifting through its gearbox erupting from your voice box.
Golf, such a social activity would not be so popular if every time a shot was made the player let out with a chorus of high and low screeches and squawks instead of shouting “Fore.” What other sport has its supporters so audibly express themselves without public censure? Dirtbiking. Even the character of a rider can be evaluated by the decibel level and range of his hoots. But if you’re one of those people who can remain silent on the trail, perhaps you’re in need of a new dirtbike to bumpstart your mojo.
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