The Spyder makes a surprisingly practical grocery-getter with big cargo space under the hood to accommodate a decent haul of groceries. (Photo: SPEED)

The first morning I have the Spyder, it snows in Charlotte. Committed, I head out into the 20 degree temperatures and icy roads. Although I don't recommend it, the Spyder holds its own across the sporadic patches of ice. At freeway speeds the back-end would get a little wobbly under power, but Can-Am's Vehicle Stability System (VSS) and Stability Control System (SCS) kicks in and easily straighten things up coming off the other side of the slick. I quickly learn that the systems have just enough leeway to give you an adrenaline spike without getting dangerous. Drop the clutch and open the 57mm throttle bodies to smoke the tire at will (up to around 35 mph), or make a quick high rev down shift mid-turn and kick the back end out to rotate the sled a bit – just enough before the traction control kicks in and brings it back in line.

Maybe it's just the snow, maybe it's the Ski-Dooish look, but my impression of the Spyder is that it's a purpose built sled for the road. And I'm ok with that – this thing is a blast! The bodywork and engineering takes heavy inspiration from BRP's snow machines. The wide front stance, and single track rear end definitely give it the handling characteristics of a sled to support the look. Like a sled, turns do require the rider to lean-in to counterbalance the inertia of the machine rolling out. Sharp turn-ins cause the inside wheel to lift some, but 5.6 inches of travel afforded by the double A-arms up front and anti-roll bars do a good job keeping as much tire on the road as possible – again, the traction control systems will take things from there. I can see how this could be an issue for purists and experienced riders; however, as a new rider, it affords a lot of fun and full confidence that the machine will keep you safe and bring you back from the edge before you override your skills.