Can-Am Spyder RT 2019, Operator'S Manual

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STREET STRATEGIES
Common Riding Situations
Intersections
Intersections, including small inter-
sections with alleys and driveways,
present an additional risk due to the
cross traffic. Always watch for traffic
in all directions: behind, in front and to
the left and right.
When stopping at an intersection, stop
in the middle of the lane, even if you
are preparing to turn. This can make
you more visible and discourage other
motorists from trying to drive around
you. Watch for vehicles approaching
from behind. Flash your brake lights as
they approach. Be in first gear and be
prepared to move if necessary to avoid
a collision.
Lane Changes and Passing
Remember that this vehicle is wider
than a motorcycle and needs more
lateral space to pass another vehicle.
Also remember that the vehicle is less
visible than a car, so it is particularly im-
portant to signal your lane change well
in advance and check your mirrors and
blind spots. Be sure to turn off your
turn signal after changing lanes; a lane
change will not turn the handlebar far
enough to automatically cancel the sig-
nal.
Never drive on the line between two
lanes of traffic (split lanes). The vehicle
is too wide.
Never drive on the shoulder to pass
vehicles. If you put one wheel off the
road, you can lose control.
Turns
Remember to slow, look, and steer
through turns.
– Slow: Reduce speed as needed be-
fore entering a turn by rolling off the
throttle, using the brakes, and/or
downshifting to a lower gear. En-
ter the turn at a speed that you can
maintain throughout the turn.
Although this vehicle is better able
to brake while turning than a motor-
cycle, it is still important to slow
down before you enter a turn or
curve rather than braking in the turn.
Braking and turning both require
traction. The more traction you use
for braking, the less there is avail-
able for turning at the same time.
When you take a turn or curve too
fast, you may notice the inside front
wheel lifting off the pavement and
feel and hear VSS cutting back en-
gine power. While VSS can help you
maintain control, it is still possible to
spin or roll over if you turn too hard
and fast.
– Look: Search through the entire
turn and keep your eyes moving.
Evaluate the entire turn as soon as
possible – surface characteristics,
sharpness of the turn, and over-
all traffic conditions – so you have
time to make decisions about speed
and position. Sometimes turning
your head in the direction of the turn
helps to keep a good visual picture.
– Steer: Turn the handlebar to steer
the vehicle in the direction of the
turn. This vehicle is not like a motor-
cycle, so it does not countersteer,
and the vehicle does not lean. Re-
member, you will experience the
lateral force generated by turning,
so you may need to shift your body
weight to the inside of the turn to
keep a comfortable posture on the
vehicle. You will need to exert more
force to turn the handlebar of your
vehicle than is needed to turn a mo-
torcycle.
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SAFE OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
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