Pc Perk

Two wheels to Three- and everything between-

The story of life, and “Motorcycles”

Years ago, I needed a change.  I was stuck in the middle of giving up Motorcycling altogether.  The elitist, the “Bad boys”, it wasn’t the community I fell in love with.  I was just a little blah of the whole scene.  Everyone you would see would have a mean mug face.  In turn you would have a stone face too, so in reality maybe I am not being completely fair, and I was a part of the issue,

You see what negativity does- it’s contagious- but still, T.V really changed the view on how some riders wanted to be perceived. 

I just missed the days of riding what you liked and not giving a damn what anyone thought.

 It got weird for a moment. 

It had to be a certain bike, motorcycling wasn’t the brotherhood that was promoted in commercials, movies, shows, ads.  

It was false advertising.

The first change-

 I remember trading my motorcycle in for a Vespa 150 in 2006. It was a little red beast! My life was changing, and I felt that I needed a change in what I was riding.

The best thing I ever did.  It brought perspective to me.

I was training at a Muay Thai Gym in Arlington Texas.  I was around tough, scooter riding “Punk Rock” type fighters at the time.  They lived, breathed and acted the part.  They didn’t mess around. Honestly some of the toughest dudes I have ever had the chance to meet.  It opened up a new world/life for me.  It made me realize there were different avenues, different sects of motorcycling, life, and general attitude.  I learned a lot about life during that time.

I was always a- do what I thought or wanted type person, I thought I didn’t care what people thought. Looking back my perception of myself wasn’t reality. In Arlington, I learned who I was and what bled into my veins and mental attribute was the feeling of really, not caring and just minding your business and worrying about yourself.

These guys at the gym, were nice, they were friendly, and they had this confidence I had never seen before.  I wasn’t enamored with them, but I was impressed. 

Humans- we evolve right, and throughout our life we learn, we change, and we adapt to the road that is laid before us.  This is how I learned and became more confident in myself, and who I truly am.  These guys just had an attitude and lifestyle that I adapted to.  I related the change to training in this type of sport. My personal opinion on what Combat Sports does to a person-   

Fighting or training in a combat sport does humble you and makes you think of life differently.  You realize you’re not the toughest guy all the time, and you learn that fighting is a way to protect- and in way- express your inner fears, and you also learn fighting isn’t always the answer.  However, you do learn that every situation in life reflects in all combat sports.   You don’t sweat the small stuff, and you learn to navigate through tough situations, you learn to never give up and that there is always a small solution to a big problem.

Sorry-

  Getting back to what I was writing,  That group of guys taught me a lot, that time period taught me a certain state of mind; that I have carried with me my whole life since.   

The Ride what you want attitude!

So, I bought the Vespa 150, a red one-. On my ride home from the dealership, this is no lie-  I pull up to a stop light, and what rolls up next to me, three women on these decked out Harleys.   I laughed in my head, “What are the odds??”   I nodded at them, I didn’t get a nod back, but whatever, it was funny. 

I ended up moving up to New Hampshire, shortly after, now if you have never been to New Hampshire, it is a Motorcycle Mecca.  Everyone owns a Motorcycle, weird right?  You can only ride for half of the year and that’s being generous.  I moved up there and started my new job and one day I rolled up to work on my Vespa 150.  I couldn’t even imagine what was being said.   It was awesome.  I became known as the guy who rides a Vespa.  It was funny to me.  I could see the stares and the condescending smiles, but it didn’t bother me.  Over time, I ended up becoming cool with a couple of folks at the job.  They talked smack all the time, about my choice for a two- wheel vehicle, but it was whatever.

Time went on, and it was time to move on from the Vespa.  My needs, I just needed to move to something bigger.  There are not many city areas to drive around in New Hampshire, at least where I was living. Dover, Portsmouth, maybe, but they are small and also it was spread out, so you basically had to take busy faster- roads to get to either of them.

I ended up getting a Motorcycle again.  This is when I started to notice the shift in attitude of the world that is supposed to be a Free way of life.  It didn’t seem the same.  No more waves to each other. Tension on group rides- a lot of shunning, stares and evil eyes.  I just didn’t like it and made me stop going on group rides and hanging at “Motorcycle” hangouts.

None the less-

I enjoyed it and had it for a few years.  I ended up moving to Lawrence, Massachusetts, which is a larger city than anything in New Hampshire and the Vespa would have been great there.  My big motorcycle didn’t get along with the crowded, small potholed city streets.  If anyone knows the Lawrence area, its busy, people drive crazy and pedestrian traffic is the worst.  It’s just a nightmare on a bigger bike. 

I stopped riding for a bit and sold my bike.  City life wasn’t meant for the motorcycle I had, and the culture was almost dead to me.  In my mind it was just oversaturated with negativity.

Around 2018 I started seeing these three wheel things on the internet.  They looked cool.  I did a lot of research because that’s what we do, we try and find everything we can about it.  I liked everything I saw.  I watched the videos and read the reviews.

I would look at the comments below the videos, everyone was knocking them. 

“That’s not a motorcycle!”—- (No Sh** it isn’t a motorcycle.)

“Only people who can’t drive a motorcycle owns these things!”  (Not true, but if it is, so what?)

“These are for people who are scared of a real bike!”  (Not true, and if they are scared of a real bike, so what?)  I am scared of a lot of things-

I ended up buying a house and moved up to New Hampshire again.   

About exactly one year later, once again the fever hit me.  I missed just riding.  I was online, looking at Motorcycles, and the 3-wheel Can Am Rykers.  You know; daydreaming about which one I would want and if I really needed it.  (Of course I needed it).  The weather was getting warm, I was thinking of those warm summer nights, riding and enjoying the feeling of being out there.  I was craving that moment of time, your time-your thoughts, just that feeling of being in your own headspace.  The feeling you only get while riding Bicycles/Motorcycle/ebikes..

Then like a trance, I was on the dealer website.  Filled out the application, and within seconds…BOOM! Got approved and then I was contacting the dealer for when to pick it up.

 Damn you internet for making everything so easy!

The question is—Do you get same feeling on 3 wheels?

Yes, well I do.

It takes a second to get used to.

Bottom Line.  The Can-Am Ryker is a blast!  Way beyond my expectations.

I have had my Ryker for six years now and haven’t looked back. 

Every season, I look forward to riding this 3-wheel contraption.  Honestly this is the longest I have owned any vehicle.  My girlfriend has even bought one.  This is the first time in life that I just sit in my garage and look at this thing.  It’s just cool.  It’s like a wave runner on concrete.

What are the different options?

Well for starters, there are different models.  I have the Base, 2019 Can-Am Ryker 600 Ace.

I wanted to get the Can Am Rally, 900 cc, but when I went to the dealership, me being me, kind of frugal,I chose a demo model that I got for a great price.  I was worried that I would regret my decision, but that wasn’t the case.

 The rally looks a little more uh.. “Rallyish”.  It has a couple of different modes that sound cool but overall, I would never use them.  So, I can give you all the specs from the dealer, but I prefer to tell you a firsthand account of the Ryker.

Everyone always ask me, “How fast does that thing go?”

Speed-

I have been around 92-93 mph. in highway conditions, at that point it just doesn’t go higher on the speedometer.  Honestly, I have only done that on a stretch of highway, while getting out of a stressful situation with passing and then the car I was passing speeding up, you know how it goes.

Usually I run the highway speeds, and up to 75 mph comfortable.  That being said, it will get to the 92-93 mph mark if needed.  It accelerates great, and honestly speed isn’t an issue at any point. 

Cornering-

Cornering is fun.  Now, on my Ryker there is a cornering restrictor, it will limit how fast you can corner.  I believe on the Rally you can turn that off.  I have never had an issue, and to be honest I have never noticed it.  Cornering can be fun; it becomes a game to me on how tight I can take my corners.  I press my knee that is on the same side as I am cornering- against the gas tank, and it seems to help you take the corner tighter.

Not shifting Gears-

So, the Ryker has an automatic transmission.  The only different “gear” is reverse.  It does go in reverse.  It’s cool, I use it here and there, most of the time I just push off the concrete to go backwards.

Stopping at lights.  You can keep your feet up on the footrest or put them on the ground.  No clutch to worry about, you just chill.

***Important- Now you do have to be careful when riding with friends on motorcycles, when you roll up to a stoplight don’t forget you have 3 wheels.  I almost once clipped my friend’s foot when he put it down on the pavement when we were stopping, I came within close to 3 inches probably from his right foot that was supporting him and his bike, Funny, but not funny if I actually hit him. ****

Group riding-

I don’t do it too much, but it is fun.  I usually ride in the back, just so others don’t forget that with the Ryker, you need more space.  I just try to avoid accidents.

Overall-

Overall-  The can Am Ryker is a blast.  You will fall in love with the ease, stoplight chilling, the feeling of just being out there and just riding.  You will fall in love with going around corners as tight as you can.

 You will smile under your helmet as you ride.

One thing I do miss is leaning on a turn on a motorcycle.  I truly miss that. 

Eventually I will probably have both.  Just to have the best of both worlds. 

If I had to choose one——   It would probably be a Can Am Ryker.  Unless….Unless.. I find my favorite motorcycle in the world—A 2003 Kawasaki Vulcan 750—That’s my bike, I just love the simplicity and old school feel of it..

So, bottom line- Don’t worry about what folks think, have fun, do you, and be proud of doing what makes you feel good!

See y’all later,

Paddy