Along Came a Spyder

Introducing the world’s coolest 110-mph tricycle

April 23, 2007—Most vehicles come in either two- or four-wheeled denominations with good reason. But that hasn't stopped a century's worth of tinkerers from toying with three-wheeled car/motorcycle mash-ups. The latest and greatest example is the Can-Am Spyder, the first on-road vehicle from BRP, the Quebec-based company behind Sea-Doo watercraft and Ski-Doo snowmobiles. (Happily, they opted against the name Land-Doo for this iteration.) Unlike previous attempts at conquering the genre, this one actually manages to blend a motorcycle's open-air appeal and agility with the stability of a car (thanks to electronic stability control and antilock brakes). Plus, it looks cool—available in either "Millennium Yellow" or "Full Moon" (a.k.a. black), the sleek design comes across as something Mad Max might give his son. And the shapely exterior conceals some serious power: With a 106-horsepower 990 V-Twin engine, the Spyder can easily hit 110 mph on the open road. At under 700 pounds dry, it's motorcycle-light, with a frame that incorporates double-A arm suspension (usually found in sports cars, not bikes) for serious handling prowess. Of course, a trike this tricked out will cost you—list runs a cool 15k. Think of it as three wheels for the price of two.

BRP Can-Am Spyder roadster, $14,999, available at selected dealers, (888) 864-2002, can-am.brp.com.