Can-Am SPYDER RS, Operator'S Manual, Page: 51 / 147

REQUIRED RIDING SKILLS AND PRACTICE EXERCISES
8d) Other Gears
If space allows, you can try shifting into
and out of higher gears as well. Follow
the same process and shift up or down
one gear at a time.
Tips for Additional Practice
As you gain more experience, you can
refine your shifting skills and use them
to better control the vehicle.
– When downshifting, rolling on the
throttle slightly while smoothly eas-
ing out the clutch can help the en-
gine rev up to match vehicle speed
more quickly and make the down-
shift smoother, preventing skidding
of the rear wheel.
– Shifting to a lower gear slows the
vehicle if you do not apply throttle.
This is known as engine braking.
To use engine braking, shift down
one gear at a time and ease out the
clutch between each downshift.
Keep the clutch in the friction zone
until the engine speed stabilizes,
then ease out the lever fully until
ready for the next downshift.
– Usually you shift gears one at a time,
but it is possible to shift through
more than one gear while the clutch
is squeezed by repeating the up or
down stroke as many times as you
want gear changes.
Remember that VSS does not control
engine braking. If you shift into too low
a gear when you are at high speed, the
rear tire can skid and you can lose con-
trol, spin out, tip or roll over, particularly
in a curve.
9) Swerve
Purpose
– Become familiar with the vehicle’s
handling for quick maneuvers.
– Try different variations of braking
and swerving.
Directions
Set up your markers as shown in the di-
agram below. Do not use any fixed or
hard, heavy objects as markers for this
exercise.
– Enter between the double cones at
about 8 km/h (5 MPH) and maintain
that speed throughout.
– Steer around the line of cones.
– Exit through the second set of dou-
ble cones.
– Repeat the exercise multiple times,
swerving in both directions.
1
1
3
2
2
rmo2008-001-049_a
1. 6 m (20 ft)
2. 3 m (10 ft)
3. 2.5 m (8 ft)
Tips for Additional Practice
– You can gradually increase
your entry speed (to no more
than
13 km/h to 19 km/h
(8 MPH to 12 MPH)) and try some
variations. For example, approach
faster and slow before entering the
exercise, pull in the clutch and apply
brakes during the swerve, etc.
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SAFE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
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