Spyder Tourer set to impress

When we reviewed the original Can-Am Spyder back in 2008, it won praise for its torquey engine and head-turning road presence.

But one of the things that Spyder owners have been asking for has finally arrived -- a fully-equipped, no-expense-spared touring model with more cargo space than found in the boot of a two-tonne Holden Statesman.

Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), the company behind the Can-Am Spyder, has released a new 2010 version of the trike, called the Spyder Roadster Touring, which will be rolled out in Australia from December.

Priced from $32,189 and topping out at $42,089 (not including government and delivery charges), the new model addresses a lot of the wishes of current owners.

As the name suggests, the Can-Am Spyder Roadster Touring is built for long distance cruising and as such features things like sculpted saddlebags, a taller windscreen, a storage area in the nose and even a top box at the rear that conveniently doubles as a pillion backrest.

And get this -- the pillion passenger now has armrests, with inbuilt heaters! Of course the rider also gets a heated seat and handgrips, along with a stereo and several thousand other features yet to be confirmed by the local importer.

The icing on the cake, however, is the accessory trailer which, as the images show, provides the Spyder with an even more eye-catching appearance.

The Can-Am Spyder Touring has a whopping 777 litres of storage space with the trailer - more than you'll find in the boot of a Holden Statesman - and can easily hold two sets of golf clubs according to the importer.

With the saddle bags, trailer and various other stowage areas, the new Spyder should provide enough cargo space for a weeks worth of camping gear, perhaps more.

Interestingly, the trailer is compatible with the traction, stability and antilock braking systems, so those controlled slides will still be fair game with the hitch. More importantly, this will also make it a more stable vehicle in wet weather.

As BRP Australia spokesman Simon Kendrick told the Bikesales Network, the new Spyder Tourer is the "Only motorcycle that comes from the factory with a factory-approved trailer. The trailer integrates with the electronics, with brake lights, [and] the Spyder allows for the trailers weight in its vehicle stability system."

Compared with the regular Can-Am Spyder, the Touring models get an engine re-map that lowers the 998cc V-twin's power from 106hp to 100hp.

Torque rises from 104Nm to 108Nm with broader bottom end torque delivery to better suit the vehicle's load lugging nature. The electronic throttle control has also been altered with a softer response to suit touring -- as opposed to flat-knacker flying.

The Spyder Roadster Tourer is a much heavier beast too, rising from around 316kg to a hefty 421kg with all the extra bells and whistles.

BRP Australia will launch the Spyder Roadster Tourer Freedom S locally in December priced at $42,089. It comes maxxed out with features and will be offered only in one colour, black.

Then in January the Spyder Roadster Tourer Freedom Techno model will arrive, priced from $38,389. Entry-level manual-only models will also go on sale in January 2010, priced from $32,189.

Colour-coded trailers will also be offered, but at the time of writing pricing was not finalised for the 777 litre tow trailer.

Check out the New Bike Showroom for more details and prices on the Can-Am range of trikes and ATVs.