Bigger Spyder web

A second iteration of the imposing Can-Am Spyder is now on sale in Australia - the SE5.

The SE5 is identical to the original SM5, except there is now an electronic shifter on the five-speed manual gearbox, operated via a thumb (up changing) and forefinger (down changing) paddle on the handlebars.

The SE5's transmission is not automatic, nor CVT or tiptronic. It's simply the SM5's architecture with a more sophisticated nervous system - and an extra $2000 hit on the purse strings.

The SE5 retails for $27,990, while the SM5 remains at $25,990.

The liquid-cooled, 60-degree, fuel-injected V-twin engine on the Spyder is 998cc, and built by the Austrian company Rotax, another subsidiary of the massive Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) conglomerate - along with Sea-Doo, Ski-Doo and the Evinrude brands. BRP's claim that there is never an "off-season" isn't just hyperbole.

The Spyder engine is a variant of the engine popularised in the RSV Mille, which has always received strong praise from the motorcycle commentariat. In Spyder form, it's been pruned back to 106hp mainly due to milder cams, down from the Mille's 140hp. Torque is 104.3Nm vis-a vis the Mille's 101.

Both Spyders have a proper, mechanical reverse, which is why there is one less gear (sixth) than on the Mille.

Although the Spyder is now available in a more ostensibly car driver-friendly mode, a motorcycle licence is still required for use in Australia and, in Victoria by way of a quirk in the legislation, holders of a learner's permit can ride it too.

BRP lobbied hard to gain car licence endorsement on the Spyder before its initial release, but it was unsuccessful. The Australian bureaucracy was not in concert with road traffic authorities in many other parts of the world - including New Zealand.

Not only has it been a monetary hit for BRP - empirical evidence suggests car licence endorsement increases sales by about 15-20 percent in most markets -- but it's made the establishment of a dealer network into a drip-feed exercise.

Thirteen dealers in Australia currently sell the Spyder, some of whom were previously Sea-Doo specialists.

Despite some of the barriers, around 300 Spyders have already been sold, with Can-Am targeting 350 sales by the end of January.

There are still plenty of gaps to be filled at the retail level, but once that's achieved Can-Am is placing high hopes on the Spyder's pulling power, forecasting the machine will increase its contribution to sales growth from four to 10 percent by 2010.

It's been said the less motorcycling experience a person has, the less they have to forget in order to ride the Spyder.

Previous techniques, however subtle or sub conscious, are rendered obsolete on the Spyder, which certainly isn't a bad thing. It's still a thought-provoking ride, but in a very different way to a two-wheeler. I'll tell you why in an upcoming full report.