Can-Am

Living in South Dakota, most of the motorcyclists around here don't really get their bikes and trikes out until May. However, as one that likes to ride all year around, I'm in full swing by the start of April. Yesterday with the temperatures in the 50s, I decided to take a solo ride to knock the winter dust off my Can-Am Spyder. I had no destination in mind beyond finding some county roads I've never ridden on before.

My catch phrase when riding is that "Random roads take me to random places. I like it!". In this case the South Dakota roads took me to Parker, Monroe, Lake Vermillion, and Montrose. From Montrose I took Highway 38 back to more familiar well-ridden territory of Humboldt, Hartford, and of course Sioux Falls. 

From a pleasant Wednesday here in Sioux Falls with a high temperature of 51 to a day of Winter Weather Advisories with temperatures in the 20s, it can be a frustrating time for any motorcycle rider. Today, both of our Can-Am Spyders sit in the cold garage as I prepare the EGO snow blower to do battle with the snow. The batteries are fully charged and I'll be out in the elements once the snow stops falling. The fact that I won't be riding the Spyders for awhile just makes the snow sitting on my driveway look deeper than it should be. 

By Saturday morning, I'm trading in my motorcycle helmet for a stocking cap any my motorcycle for a snow blower that goes goes from 0 to 3 MPH in 10 seconds.

With snow on the ground and long stretches of subzero temperatures, I wasn't sure I was going to get in a motorcycle ride for the month of February. Then on the second to last day of this short month, the temperatures rose to the lower-mid 40s and the roads were mainly dry. That was good enough for me as I took my 2017 Spyder RT out for a 20 mile ride from home to downtown Sioux Falls. 

As I write this blog entry, I just completed shoveling a couple inches of snow from my driveway. The streets and the lawns are covered with a new fresh layer of white snow from our latest winter storm. Earlier last week, knowing that new snow and colder temperatures were fast approaching, I decided to take my Can-Am Spyder for a spin on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2021. The trip was short with only 18 miles for the round trip to and from work but I was all smiles the entire time I rode my three-wheeler.

Good news, the new Rykers by Can-Am are selling well. While I own a Spyder and not a Ryker...it's good to see that when a good price point is offered the people will buy.

Total revenue from year-round products — which consist of side-by-sides, ATVs, and three-wheeled vehicles — was up 17% year over year, to $445.6 million. North American sales of year-round products increased in the low-20% range.

Valcourt, Canada-based BRP credited its growth with a higher volume of side-by-sides sold and the introduction of the three-wheeled Can-Am Ryker. In the U.S., BRP side-by-sides experienced sales growth in the high teens, ahead of the industry, which was up a low single-digit percentage, according to BMO Capital Markets Analyst Gerrick Johnson.

Today, I woke up the Spyder and took it out to get a drink at the local gas station. She'll be ready for some of our 50F weather this week!

My plan is to ride the Spyder for a couple weeks before I schedule her her first 3000 mile maintenance checkup. I'll be taking her to Big Sioux Powersports, our local Can-Am dealer here in Sioux Falls.

What a long winter this has been!