The Can-Am Spyder Roadster — just like a car at the price of a bike!

[nxisdt]

Hello!

 

I am new to this forum, and I am considering that I should get a bike license for practicality purposes (and actually i also dig bikes) I'm not sure where exactly I should be posting about this but I'm guessing this is the right place. Forgive me if I'm wrong.

 

The situation is this:

 

I am now a year 2 medical student going on to year 3 studying in NUS. I am expecting that from year 3 onwards, quite often I will have to get up at 4am just to get to the hospitals to do ward rounds or go for tutorials at 5am, but unfortunately that's also when public transport doesn't operate, and I don't want to be cabbing all the time. I don't come from a family of doctors, neither is my family rich so I cannot afford a car now, but somewhere in the middle where I can possibly stretch my finances to squeeze out enough for a 2nd hand car. but anyway, I'm considering riding to the hospitals instead because it is cheaper in the long run.

 

However, my parents, like most people, are worried for my safety and are quite against me getting a bike, even if it were to be far more convenient for me. If anything, they would prefer getting me a 2nd hand car if it were to really come down to that, but I'm thinking it will be more expensive in the long run. Then I came across the trikes from BRP i.e. the Can-Am Spyder (whichever model), and it seems quite reasonable to allay my parent's concerns about safety:

 

1. 3-Wheeled, hence more stable than a bike, so I technically "cannot lose balance"
   
2. Larger, wider profile, hence more noticeable than a bike on the road, so drivers are more likely to avoid me.
   
3. Unique, so all the more people will notice it on the road and avoid me
   
4. To me it seems like a small car at the price of a bike (especially COE and whatnot), albeit an expensive one (although still quite cheap compared to a car)
   
5. Physically impossible to manoeuvre between traffic lanes like bikes hence parents will be assured I won't get squashed between trucks or something to that effect
   

 

However the problem is this:

Singapore is unlike New Zealand where I can just drive this with a regular driver's license (ie class 3) so I will have to acquire a bike license. Which is worse because I will have to be riding something else for at least 2–3 years before I get to ride this. It is a 998cc engine, and only class 2 can ride bikes above 400cc. Which sounds incredibly stupid considering it's not really a bike and a really more like a car.

 

And since the whole point of getting this vehicle is coz it's a 3-wheeled vehicle, what I intend to do is to get a Piaggio 125 mp3 in the mean time while I work my way up to a class 2 so that i will be able to use the Spyder by year 5 and especially once I become a House Officer after graduation, where I really need to report to work at 5am every day. Furthermore, looking at how HOs and MOs are paid currently, I think the Spyder will be sticking with me for a looong time, and I won't be able to get a car that soon either just so they won't be so worried. Life sucks as a doctor in the first 10 years, but no don't ask me to quit medicine lol.

 

But then the Piaggio 125 mp3 is a smaller profile so it's really more like a scooter than a small car... and it goes on from there...

 

So I really need some suggestions, comments and opinions regarding my situation in the future.

 

Thanks people!

[RoboTech]

First of all, welcome on board.... second, you don't need suggestions, comments and opinions because what you already planned will work very well... all you need is time, practice and patience... if you do not have class 2 yet then yes, the Can Am Spyder will be your ultimate target for now... but don't think too much about it... plans and situations may change in the future... enjoy your climb up the displacement ladder... most importantly, ride safely....

 

PS:- Check carefully whether the Spyder is really suitable for your usage, it is not for everyone...

[hibeam2]

Personally, I think that Spyder is great, but only as a weekend ride.

You wouldn't want to get stuck in traffic when you are going back home, tired from work. Not to mention that you are also at the mercy of mother nature (heat, rain etc).

 

I'd choose an el-cheapo car if I am in your position. Safe and comfortable.

 

P.S: Tutorials and ward rounds dont start at 5am.

[wrexology]

Buy a used bike like the piaggio mp3. Make use to it 1st. Then u decide, are you suitable to ride or drive?

The Can Am Spyder is a beauty. But its just NOT for commuting.

Lane splitting and parking will be your issue. In Singapore, I would say the Spyder is more like a collector's bike.

 

Wish you all the best for the 2B license.

 

P/S: If you gonna be a doctor..... I think high chances you will be driving a car.

If i were in your shoe, i would buy a used "easy to maintain" bike like kups etc. Once my financial is thick enough then i'll get a car.

[ki113r]

I just saw this beauty this morning, stuck in lane 1 on AYE(Tuas).

[Andre]

Agree with hibeam2 and wrexology. We ride bike basically because it is cheap and convenient. Can Am is neither cheap non convenient. It costs more then 40k brand new, and the fuel consumption, road tax, insurance are not cheaper then car. It is not convenient to do lane splitting and will give you lots of problems for parking. You can not enter to most of car parks downtown.

Can Am is more like recreation bike for touring or weekend uses.

 

40k can get you a reasonable good 5 or 6 years old 2nd hand car, and the loan interest is much more lower then bike's if you choose to pay by installment.

[poorboii]

saw a can am at ehub like always there. nice unique bike tho

[wrexology]

Saw a Can Am queing together with cars at Jurong island checkpoint this morning. Such a beauty bike. I wonder how the owner ride it for daily transport he must be very very patience during peak hours.