Three Wheeler Is Named 2025 MOTY Rider Magazine

Interesting.
The Can Ams are seen down here too, as well as the Polaris Slingshot.
The Slingshot crowd are particularly obnoxious on the road and parking lot gatherings, due to the owners' penchant for adding arena-shaking sound systems, and blasting dreadful hip-hop music at stratospheric decibel levels.
In fairness, cruiser riders also sometimes do the same, but a Harley doesn't have as much room to store a 600-watt subwoofer.
/Old Man Rant over.

I’m with you Sadlsor - every time I hear some jerk with a loud sound system, I have the same thought:

“Gee buddy - it must be tough having such a small pen!s…”
 
Just like Motor Trend, it appears the "award" is purchased.
I have become jaded(?) cynical(?) over the years. Kevin Ashe used to have some great reviews. He even included things like how high the mirrors were, because they made a difference to anyone filtering through traffic. But then one of the advertisers (I don't remember which one) got a bad review in a motorcycle magazine and threatened to pull their advertising. And the reviews ceased to have any real meat in them.

Motorcycle reviewers have an agenda, just like most of the main stream media does. They want to push Can-Am sales...and so you'll see them get awards and be mentioned a lot.

When I can't handle two wheels anymore, I doubt I'll jump on a three-wheeler of any kind. You get all the punishment like rain, cold, triple-digit in the sun riding...and little of the pleasure. Certainly none of what it feels to have a bike under you as you lean into a turn.

Chris
 
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every time I hear some jerk with a loud sound system, I have the ... thought:

I wish I had an EMP limpet mine.

There was an occasional to share the aural experience of an extremely loud system on an H-D maybe 20yd+ away. This wasn't just loud. This was so loud I couldn't hear the radio in my car with the windows up. I have to wonder what it sounded like to the rider or if he only felt the vibration.

Honestly I wished I could have seen his setup. The audio quality was amazing. I didn't get any sound stage but the detail and tonal balance was exceptional. And there was no doubling. No rattling rear deck or license plate. I've seen 4-speaker "music paks" on H-Ds but I don't know if they were enough or capable of making such loud annoying but well defined music.

And powering them? From just a factory H-D alternator and battery? At idle? Impressive. And very annoying.

Loud music saves lives... While deafening them.
 
I have become jaded(?) cynical(?) over the years. Kevin Ashe used to have some great reviews. He even included things like how high the mirrors were, because they made a difference to anyone filtering through traffic. But then one of the advertisers (I don't remember which one) got a bad review in a motorcycle magazine and threatened to pull their advertising. And the reviews ceased to have any real meat in them.

Motorcycle reviewers have an agenda, just like most of the main stream media does. They want to push Can-Am sales...and so you'll see them get awards and be mentioned a lot.

When I can't handle two wheels anymore, I doubt I'll jump on a three-wheeler of any kind. You get all the punishment like rain, cold, triple-digit in the sun riding...and little of the pleasure. Certainly none of what it feels to have a bike under you as you lean into a turn.

Chris
Most media has an agenda. Don't be a sap.
 
I have become jaded(?) cynical(?) over the years. Kevin Ashe used to have some great reviews. He even included things like how high the mirrors were, because they made a difference to anyone filtering through traffic. But then one of the advertisers (I don't remember which one) got a bad review in a motorcycle magazine and threatened to pull their advertising. And the reviews ceased to have any real meat in them.

Motorcycle reviewers have an agenda, just like most of the main stream media does. They want to push Can-Am sales...and so you'll see them get awards and be mentioned a lot.

When I can't handle two wheels anymore, I doubt I'll jump on a three-wheeler of any kind. You get all the punishment like rain, cold, triple-digit in the sun riding...and little of the pleasure. Certainly none of what it feels to have a bike under you as you lean into a turn.

Chris
No three wheeler for me but my better half is afraid to ride pillion so there may be a shiny little red Solstace in our future... next to the ST.
 
Had a nightmare, woke up at 3:38 and see this thread. What?!
Dang now I am awake.
Ok, ok.
Found a meditation guru’s mantra.
I should be dreaming of motorBIKES shortly.
The awarding of MOTY has never meant boo to me
The awarding of MOTY has never meant boo to me
The awarding of MOTY has never meant boo to me
The awarding of MOTY has never meant boo to me
The awarding of MOTY has never meant boo to me
The awarding of MOTY has never meant boo to me
The awarding of MOTY has never meant boo to me
 
I think the first answers the second. ;)


Chris
Your post implied that the mainstream media has an agenda. Well yes but do you think media outlets outside of mainstream don’t? You implied that they don’t and if you believe that it’s so much worse than you think it is.
 
Your post implied that the mainstream media has an agenda. Well yes but do you think media outlets outside of mainstream don’t? You implied that they don’t and if you believe that it’s so much worse than you think it is.
Oh, I totally agree with you. :) My apologies if I worded my comment to imply that I didn't think there was an agenda.

Chris
 
Well, this is a handy thread on a well loved forum. I have not seen the MOTY report.

But if you will permit me, I will use it to add my own perspective. You see, I have just done something that I hope will extend our motorcycling life a little further through our seventies. My trusted St1300A9 has gone. I gave it to my brother as a Christmas Present.

On its way is an 8000 mile old Can-Am Spyder 1330 RT Limited. I have absolutely no experience of these motorcycles. I didn’t even test ride. But I saw one once in 2014 at the top of the Kaunertal Glacier Road in Austria, and thought - wow !! And a couple of friends slightly older than us have shared their experience and rejuvenated two-up touring. My riding on the ST1300 recently has become a solo experience - longer tours were too uncomfortable for my life partner and pillion. I say ‘recent experience’, but in fact I have not ridden since July when my calf muscle snapped, except to take the bike for its MOT a few weeks ago. 12 not-so-very-confident miles.

3 wheels doesn’t bother me - read my introductory post on this forum. Oh. You can’t - it has gone. Summary. From 1976 to 1983 I had two motorbikes with sidecars as our only form of transport. First a Cossack Ural with left hand chair, correct for Uk roads, then a brand new Yamaha XS650 with a Squire RS1 sidecar.

So if I may, I’ll occasionally post my experience from seeing my brother riding away on my ST1300A9 (I never knew that it sounded as good as that), through the ‘garage empty’ few days before the Spyder is delivered, and comment on progress and feelings as my skill set changes and experiences evolve. Is this really the solution to enjoying motorcycling, now that we are cracking on a bit ? Time, and this thread - if you will entertain such contributions from an ex ST-Owner - will tell.
 
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Well, this is a handy thread on a well loved forum. I have not seen the MOTY report.

But if you will permit me, I will use it to add my own perspective. You see, I have just done something that I hope will extend our motorcycling life a little further through our seventies. My trusted St1300A9 has gone. I gave it to my brother as a Christmas Present.

On its way is an 8000 mile old Can-Am Spyder 1330 RT Limited. I have absolutely no experience of these motorcycles. I didn’t even test ride. But I saw one once in 2014 at the top of the Kaunertal Glacier Road in Austria, and thought - wow !! And a couple of friends slightly older than us have shared their experience and rejuvenated two-up touring. My riding on the ST1300 recently has become a solo experience - longer tours were too uncomfortable for my life partner and pillion. I say ‘recent experience’, but in fact I have not ridden since July when my calf muscle snapped, except to take the bike for its MOT a few weeks ago. 12 not-so-very-confident miles.

3 wheels doesn’t bother me - read my introductory post on this forum. Oh. You can’t - it has gone. Summary. From 1976 to 1983 I had two motorbikes with sidecars as our only form of transport. First a Cossack Ural with left hand chair, correct for Uk roads, then a brand new Yamaha XS650 with a Squire RS1 sidecar.

So if I may, I’ll occasionally post my experience from seeing my brother riding away on my ST1300A9 (I never knew that it sounded as good as that), through the ‘garage empty’ few days before the Spyder is delivered, and comment on progress and feelings as my skill set changes and experiences evolve. Is this really the solution to enjoying motorcycling, now that we are cracking on a bit ? Time, and this thread - if you will entertain such contributions from an ex ST-Owner - will tell.
John,
I read your post about giving the ST to your brother with a bit of sadness, I could tell there was a bit of melancholy there, watching/hearing it drive away. I am absolutely certain that I'd not have handled it so well.

Yes, please do let us know how things are on the "other side", so to speak. I have had a few friends who went the three wheel route. In fact, two of them went from Gold Wings to triked Gold Wings, then to Can-Ams. One friend ( female) who has a bad knee got a Spyder as her first bike ever, and absolutely loves it. She is a widow- her husband rode, and had more than a few bikes, and she rode on back, but never drove one. She finally got tired of being a pillion and decided to take the plunge. She now rides quite often, much more than I thought she ever would.

So, enlighten us! Let us know the positives and negatives of 3 wheel riding! While I can appreciate the opinions of many of our ST brethren who don't care for the idea of the Spyders and other 3 wheel conveyances, I'm not far behind you in age, and it might be a viable alternative.
 
If I may, awards don't mean anything, usually people/companies give them away for other reasons than the actual product/service. I know, I got a few from my employer, none of them reflected my efforts and inventions on my check;), while the company is raking in hundreds of thousands annually from them.
As for the 3 wheeler and this is just my personal view, if it will allow you to feel the wind and it will give you the feeling of being out there exposed to the elements for little bit longer, why not?
I used to sail, a lot, and quess what? Monohull, catamaran and trimaran are all called a sailboat;)
 
got here a little late, but I question why these 3-wheelers are considered "motorcycles" with an extra wheel? I've always considered them to be automobiles with one less wheel. Maybe a bit more open air seating than a typical sedan, but not much more so than some Jeep models.
 
I read your post about giving the ST to your brother with a bit of sadness, I could tell there was a bit of melancholy there, watching/hearing it drive away.

I was actually pleased to be able to pass it on and say - "Here you are". I'd been working on it for me for the fork refurb and brake refurb, but then I had to take things off that I needed and prepare it and double check everything for him and I quite enjoyed doing that - getting it ready for its new owner. I thought that the excitement of a completely new machine, looking pristine, and the prospect of a new style of riding would be at the fore front of my mind.

So the feeling of sadness came as quite a surprise.

Looking forward to Friday now..... :well1: animated emoji needs to look at his watch every so often !

Brother has been out on it today, commented on how much better it was in the twisties (than his ST1100).

In the meantime, the garage shelves are being ransacked for all of the things that are stowed away 'in case they come in handy, and never have for the last twenty years. I found and ditched a load of pushbike stuff today: including two Campagnolo end of handlebar derailleur gear changers. I lusted after these when I was about 14 and saved up for ages to get them.
I had them on my road bike(s) for many years - until I was about 40, I guess, oh and an old Brooke's leather saddle that I had broken in, was beautiful to ride with until it started breaking me in. But I couldn't bear to part with it at the time. I've never seen it since, it was tucked away with some other bike junk.
 
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