I started riding in 2018. I have ridden my share of bikes in the passenger seat. I had never ridden my own. I feel like my brain is not great with the concept of clutch, front brake, rear brake and gear shifter. I know it is a simple concept. But, I overthink it. I worry about it. I worry about hurting the bike and about hurting myself.
In 2018, I bought my Can Am Spyder. It is a 2013 Can Am RT. It is semi automatic. It has a small gear shifter. This bike does not let me over think.
When I was shopping for a Can Am Spyder, I went to many dealerships. One dealership told me how comfortable I was going to be in the passenger seat. I went to another dealership, I test drove a red RT. The red RT was already decorated as "Zombie Girl". She had foot pegs and no other add ons. The Zombie was a Hello Kitty. I would have kept this name a decal!
When the bright blue bike with the white tiger appeared in my search, I had to see it. I love the wide footboards and the Corbin seat. The seat has a Spyder web stitching. I looked beyond the white tiger to see that this bike was perfect for me. When I bought the bike, I asked the dealership for 1 thing prior to taking it off the lot. I asked that they remove the white tiger with purple eyes decal from the front trunk (frunk). It had paw prints all over it. Those were removed about a year later. However, it does have 2 paw prints remaining. I feel like those 2 paw prints honor the person before me who bought the bike new and put 5,000 miles on it. The best part, it was on my budget. I signed the bank paperwork and my husband drove it home.
I spent 3 months driving my neighborhood everyday. I whipped around the corners. I was smiling from ear to ear. My first adventure driving outside of the neighborhood was driving down Collins Street past AT&T stadium through construction and congestion to Dino's Subs. My very first driving experience in my very first car was to Dino's.
A month later, I joined a facebook group, Spyders of DFW. I made my first friends. These friends were unlike any I had ever met before. They did not care about my full time work or how crazy my hair was. They cared for each other in a way that I had never experienced. I was hooked from our first group ride.
I joined every facebook group in existence that pertained to Spyders. I am # in Girls on Spyders. I am a founding member of Women of On-Road. If you can name a group, I probably belong to it. I laugh that I am a part of the Moscow Spyder Club. I moved to Texas from Reno, Nevada, I am part of the Battle Born Spyders.
There was a call put out on one of the Spyder pages that the group was going to be deleted if a leader did not step forward. I raised my hand. I had friends who supported the move and quickly formed a board of my most trusted friends. We started with about 75 members. This group has grown to almost 600 members. I am a proud President of the US Spyder Ryders North Texas chapter.
I have lead groups of more than 40 bikes on adventures. But, my most prized time on the road is when I am traveling alone with my camera. Anyone is welcome to ride along with me. I do ride with a few close friends. You will see as I move through the Adventure Route points, that I love to take photos and talk to people about the Spyder.
My Spyder has 32,000 miles on it now. It will have many more miles on it before I am ready for a new one. I do have an itch for a new bike. We will see what my favorite dealership, Texas Adventure Powersports in Richardson, Texas will have available when I am ready.
My Specs: 2013 Can Am RT SE5
Engine: Rotax® 998cc V-twin engine, liquid-cooled with electronic fuel injection and electronic throttle control
Color: Quantum Blue Metallic
Fuel Capacity: 6.6 Gallons ( I get about 120 miles out of this tank.)
Helmet: LS2 Valiant 2
Jacket: Pappa's Leather
Boots: Justin Gypsy
Gloves: Cycle Gear
More about my Can Am: https://www.topspeed.com/motorcycles/motorcycle-reviews/can-am/2013-can-am-spyder-rt/
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