Can-Am Ryker review: A new kind of driving fun?

Can-Am was founded in 1972 as a subsidiary of the Bombardier Corporation and initially only manufactured motocross and enduro motorcycles. From ATVs to side-by-side vehicles, more and more vehicles have been added to the range. Can-Am has commercial vehicles and fun vehicles in equal measure.

We were allowed to Can Am Ryker for you to test. It is one of the three different 3-wheel models from Can-Am and is, so to speak, the middle ground between a motorcycle and a car. The special thing is that, unlike the competition, the 3-wheel models from Can-Am have two wheels at the front instead of the back. In the following test report, I will present to you the advantages and disadvantages of this and what the general impression is.

tl;dr: The Can-Am Ryker is a lot of fun

The Can-Am Ryker is a convincing sporty trike with its unique concept between a motorcycle and a car. Beginners and those switching from classic vehicles in particular will find an exciting alternative here, which scores points with stability, easy handling and lots of driving fun. The striking wheel positioning with two wheels at the front offers clear advantages in terms of cornering safety and braking performance, but requires some muscle power and driving skill for sporty rides.

The design is modern and aggressive, with well-thought-out details such as adjustable ergonomics and automatic indicator reset. The driver assistance systems ensure safety, but intervene a little too early when driving dynamically. The sport mode and good throttle response make the driving experience particularly interesting for adrenaline junkies.

Small weaknesses such as the limited lighting and the lack of comfort features such as heated seats and grips only slightly spoil the overall impression. Anyone looking for a fun vehicle that offers an exceptional driving experience will find a strong companion in the Can-Am Ryker. The price for the Rally version starts at a proud €16.799 (including 19% VAT). The cheapest Ryker version is available from €11.099 (including 19% VAT).

Design: Striking appearance with functional details

You can recognize a Can-Am pretty quickly by the fact that two wheels are mounted on a double wishbone axle at the front, with independent suspension and direct steering, which ensures stability and precise handling. The single rear wheel is attached to a single-sided swing arm and is driven by a cardan shaft, which allows for a minimalist design and direct power transmission. The lights also stand out. The daytime running lights are attached to the fenders. The dipped headlights stick out to the sides, but provide far too little light on the road, so that in the dark you actually always have to drive with the high beams on, which in turn blinds other road users. In terms of design, the halogen high beams are well integrated into the body and match the aggressive overall style. The white Rally rims (front 15 inches / rear 6,5 inches) and the Akrapovič exhaust with a pretty nice sound are also worth mentioning for our Rally model.

Otherwise, the Ryker is built like a normal motorcycle, apart from the clutch thanks to the CVT transmission. Nevertheless, there is a clutch lever on the left side that is easy to reach with your feet and which allows you to engage reverse gear. We have a handlebar with the familiar throttle, indicators and electric starter. Here you can also find the button for the cruise control, which maintains the current speed and stops when you press the brake. We only have a foot brake for braking, which brakes all wheels at the same time.

The 4,4-inch digital instrument cluster clearly displays the most important information. However, for conveniences such as a navigation system or Bluetooth, you have to go for the Spyder model. The two buttons on the left side of the display, which are easy to operate with gloves, let you navigate through the menu and switch to Eco or Rally driving mode. The fuel filler neck is located under a sliding cover below the middle of the handlebars.

Picture: TechnikNews

Comfort

Our Ryker Rally came with the associated rally comfort seat, with which even two hours of driving in one go are no problem. The LinQ Thermobox (417,64 € extra, keeps food hot or cold, 16 l capacity) was also helpful, which you can lean against with a backprotektor and let the cruise control do the work. Alternatively, you can configure a passenger seat instead of a box. We have standard storage space in the front flap with a capacity of 6,8 l. For example, the legally required first aid kit fits in here. It closes when the vehicle is switched off and offers a double USB port. The footrests and handlebars can be adjusted to the respective driver in a few seconds without tools. The preload of the gas pressure shock absorbers can also be adjusted in four stages for each wheel in a very short time. Unfortunately, despite the high price, we do not have heated seats or grips in the Rally version either. At least the indicator goes off automatically after you turn. In general, the Ryker is considered a sporty model that primarily ensures driving fun, while the Spyder is designed more for leisurely touring drivers.

Driving impression: Safe driving experience with sporty character

Key and operation

Insert the RFID key into the RFID docking station on the side, set the emergency stop switch to "On", press the starter button, turn the accelerator forward, put your foot on the brake and operate the starter again - only then is the Ryker ready to drive. It sounds like a lot of steps, but after the third time it only takes a few seconds. I find the key to be inserted even more convenient: no need to find a keyhole and increased theft protection, as only trained keys can start the vehicle. In addition, a so-called "learning key" is optionally available for the Ryker 900, which novice drivers can use to limit the speed to 90 km/h without having to forego the various driving modes.

Picture: TechnikNews

Advantages and disadvantages of wheel positioning

As mentioned, unlike other trike manufacturers, Can-Am puts two wheels on the front axle, but how does that change the handling? First of all, car drivers who want to be more free but don't want to grab a motorbike straight away have the advantage of being able to stand safely. Especially on bends, the two tires at the front make cornering safer. However, if you want to take a more sporty turn, there are three things to keep in mind: 2. As with a motorbike, you have to lean your whole body towards the inside of the bend 1. There is no power steering, and two steering wheels on the ground require more muscle power than one wheel 2. Experienced drivers sooner or later reach the limit of their wheels' grip and then quickly slide over the front axle.

With the sport mode activated, the trike becomes a drift machine. The traction control is then reduced and incredibly good drifts from a standstill on dry asphalt and even longer ones on wet asphalt are possible.

Another point that affects driving behaviour and wheel positioning is the Centrifugal forces. When braking, the weight shifts to the front, whereby the two wheels decelerate better than if it were one wheel alone. When accelerating, however, the weight shifts to the rear axle, so a better Increase in speed possible with two driven wheels at the rear.

engine and driving behavior

We have a Rotax 3-cylinder engine with 900 Cubic centimeters (ccm) ACE. This has 82 hp and can do 0 to 100 km/h in 8,2 seconds with a 78 kg driver load. The top speed is 162 km/h, which is enough due to the headwind against the full upper body. The combined consumption varies between 6 and 7,5 liters per 100 km, depending on how sporty you want to drive. Thanks to a CVT transmission, we don't have to engage the next gear ourselves. On the contrary, the engine revs up nice and evenly. Two other big advantages of this type of transmission are reverse gear and not having to hold a clutch when stationary or looking for neutral gear. The Ryker is expressly not suitable for off-road use. The radiator touches the ground far too quickly and you don't get very far with just one driven wheel. Gravel tracks and loose dirt roads are no problem thanks to the rally mode, in which the driver assistance systems are adjusted, and the XPS rally tires.

Driving assistance systems

A number of driving aids ensure that you feel safe on the road. In addition to ABS and ASR, there is also an "EBD system" on board. This balances the braking force between all three wheels and, together with the ABS, ensures that braking force is maximized. The stability control system, which is also present, limits the acceleration force on the driven wheel and can brake individual wheels. These interventions are particularly noticeable during strong slalom driving, where abrupt braking can occur because the system reacts a little too early. The situation is similar when a wheel is about to lose contact with the asphalt: This quickly restores grip, which is useful in everyday life, but when driving in a sporty manner, the control often occurs too early and quite abruptly. The cruise control, which can be activated from 3 km/h, provides additional comfort.

Who should and who is allowed to drive a trike

In addition to the secure stance, the more comfortable posture is also an advantage compared to a motorcycle. The upright sitting position means that people who are prone to back or wrist problems on a motorcycle can also ride the Ryker.

What is possible with which driving license*:

• AM class: Sufficient for trikes with max. 2 seats, 45 km/h top speed, 4 kW power, 270 kg empty weight and small engines (up to 50 cm³ spark ignition or 500 cm³ compression ignition).
• Class A1: Required for trikes with up to 15 kW power.
• Class A: Required for trikes with more than 15 kW power, but not for trikes with trailers.
• driving license (before January 19.01.2013, XNUMX): Owners of class B (or old class 3) are allowed to drive all trikes, even with trailers; this is confirmed by key numbers 79.03 and 79.04.
• driving license (from January 19.01.2013, XNUMX): Class B allows the driving of trikes in Germany (key number 194), but under 21 years of age only up to 15 kW power.

Thanks to Can-Am Germany for providing the Ryker Rally for this review.

* Source: ADAC