Tripod's web snares motorists

The Spyder fails to deliver the same experience as a motorcycle but does offer the wind-in-hair experience. Photo / Jacqui Madelin

Can-Am's Spyder is a bit of an oddity; a motorcycle that isn't; a three-wheeled ATV with sporting attitude. You need a helmet to ride it, yet can do so on a car licence. But would you want to?

I needed instruction before I could find out. For unlike a motorcycle there's only a foot brake, you use your thumb to change gears - and there's no clutch. You don't lean to turn either; you steer into the bend. The distributor made me circle the block to be sure I'd got the hang of it.

Having ridden ATVs I was fine; this feels almost the same to ride, and like a bike - but not a car - you need some body English to really make it handle.

Not that I noticed initially, because I started with some Christmas shopping, using the Can-Am's relatively compact footprint to tuck into awkward spaces, often on slopes no bike could park on.

Reverse meant manoeuvring was easy, as was stowing my purchases. As well as the after-market saddlebags ($1617.20) there's a 44-litre "boot" up front.

So far so good, but once on the motorway I remembered the Can-Am's width. You certainly can't split traffic on it. Nor can you carve corners quite like a bike, though it's an involving ride, as a nimble response requires an active rider.

I tried weighting the outside peg ATV-style and it seemed to work - as much because of the improved leverage on the bars as for any weight transfer. And once I'd got the hang of it I had a ball, because the Rotax motor under this swoopy bodywork's a goody. Thwack the throttle open and instant acceleration is yours - with nought to 100 in just 4.5 seconds. You can keep the throttle pinned during gear-changes too, though it's smoother to modulate it as you would with a traditional manual.

Mind you, want to play and you just stick it in third, almost on peak torque at 100km/h with second and peak power just a gear-change away - Yee haa.

Then someone pulled out in front of me ... As a biker I lunged for the handbrake lever but there isn't one; having a single foot-operated jobbie takes getting used to. It's remarkably effective, with ABS and stability control to keep you stable in even extreme situations.

Should you buy a Can-Am Spyder? The question's academic if you don't have the money - she's a pricey toy at $33,490 standard. Our test example totalled $37,595.20 with the optional backrest, mag wheels, and silver-trim pannier bags.

Bikers will stick to two wheels, not just for their lane-splitting advantages, but because leaning through bends is akin to flying.

It's car drivers who'll buy it. They want a head-turning motorcycle without the licence hassles and attendant 250cc restrictions. Their bike-hating spouse likes the stability, and they'll love the rider-landscape, rider-machine involvement so integral to the wind-in-the-face experience.

Can-Am Spyder RS SES

We like That we can ride it on a car licence. Stable, eye-catching, practical

We don't like Won't beat congestion, doesn't lean like a bike, pricey

Powertrain Features a 998cc BRP-Rotax V-twin, 79kW@8500rpm, 104Nm@6250rpm, six-speed auto drives rear wheel

Performance 0-100km/h in 4.5 seconds

Safety Traction control, stability control, dynamic power steer, ABS

What it's got Park brake and in-built air conditioning

Vital stats 2667mm long, 44-litre front-mounted boot, 27-litre tank