Forget Two Wheels—This Trike Out-Thrills Them
Trikes are considered the best companions for cross-country touring. Despite being highly practical motorcycles, these three-wheelers get a lot of hate from traditional riders because of their limited riding engagement and their position between a two-wheeled motorcycle and a car, which also brings up the “Worst of Both Worlds” argument. However, beyond personal choices and opinions, a niche of sporty, nimble trikes shows a surprisingly likable side for thrill-seekers. Within this niche is a sporty trike that not only delivers grin-worthy performance but also sheds an impressive amount of weight (for a trike) to offer nimble riding dynamics.
Trikes Are Inherently Designed To Be The Most Comfortable Motorcycles
The main reason trikes are considered the most comfortable is that they eliminate the physical strain of balancing. This means zero core fatigue, and riders feel less drained at stops. Plush seating, with a larger, deeply cushioned seat and built-in backrests, elevates ergonomics and comfort beyond two-wheelers.
The passenger is also treated with the utmost luxury, making two-up touring on trikes a lot less cramped. The three-wheeled setup and car-grade front suspension deliver a more planted, vibration-free ride. Built-in cargo space and many car-like amenities, like heated seats, add to its uncompromised luxury appeal. But this lean towards comfort and luxury reduces trikes’ engaging riding dynamics and performance.
Some Might Find It Boring To Ride
Purists take offense at trikes because they rob riders of the features that make them fun and engaging. While the wind-in-the-hair experience remains, trikes offer far less connected appeal, with no leaning or balancing. There is no counter-steering involved, and hence riding trikes can feel rigid and lifeless to traditionalists. Trikes also have some serious heft, which further dampens acceleration and sporty appeal.
Some Really Fun-Inducing Three-Wheelers Show Otherwise
But if you can look beyond the stigma of three wheels, a few cooler, sportier trikes behave like go-karts and put a wide grin on your face. While Harley-Davidson is the only mainstream trike maker, many lesser-known names offer more sportiness. BossHoss offers wild American V8 muscle in trikes with its custom-built lineup.
These are cool, custom-styled offerings with V8 engines that offer up to 600 horsepower, but the ‘fun’ is confined to straight-line speed. The same is true of the Rewaco lineup of trikes, which pack turbocharged inline-four engines producing 140 horsepower. These trikes invest so heavily in luxury and comfort that they are as wide as a mid-size SUV. So nimbleness isn’t their strong point.
However, Polaris’ lineup of Slingshot reverse trikes balances performance, nimble dynamics, and weight. They lean closer to a car in the cockpit design with a side-by-side seating layout and a steering wheel. If you want the handle-gripping experience of a two-wheeler, Can-Am offers a compelling and unique lineup of trikes. In fact, the Can-Am Canyon is the only trail-ready trike on the market right now. The most fun-inducing trike comes from Can-Am’s “Recreational” segment: the Ryker.
How Can-Am Built A Trike That Handles More Like A Go-Kart Than A Cruiser
Price: $12,899 (2026 MY)
While the Spyder F3 series is the most powerful among Can-Am trikes at 115 horsepower, the Ryker edges it out by being notably lighter. Despite its less-powerful engine, this gives it a better power-to-weight ratio, which translates to nimbler riding dynamics. Of the multiple trim levels on offer, the Ryker Sport puts more emphasis on sportiness with more capable suspension, a tweaked Sport Mode with better throttle response, and striking visual appeal.
What’s New On The 2027 Can-Am Ryker Sport?
Can-Am has already improved on the impressive current model with a slew of cool upgrades for 2027. The Ryker Sport gets comprehensive chassis enhancements with increased rigidity, a reinforced steering system, and a recalibrated Vehicle Stability System. The aerodynamics have also been refined to work in harmony with sharper handling and a smoother, more connected riding experience. Performance remains unchanged, which isn’t a bummer since the current-gen model packs more than enough punch. Other notable updates are on the tech side, with a bigger TFT screen and new handlebar-mounted controls.
Powered By A Proven And Exciting Three-Cylinder Engine
The Can-Am Ryker Sport packs the proven Rotax 900 ACE engine. This 900 cc inline-three liquid-cooled mill produces 82 horsepower at 8,000 RPM and 58.3 pound-feet of torque at 6,500 RPM. It gets electronic fuel injection and electronic throttle control for precision output. Power is sent to the rear wheels via an automatic CVT gearbox with reverse. The low-end torque is strong, helping it accelerate quickly and effortlessly awaken the rider’s senses.
KYB Suspension Front And Rear Gives The Ryker Sport Go-Kart-Like Cornering Control
The Ryker Sport uses a custom tubular steel space frame paired with a cast aluminum single-sided swingarm. The main frame acts as an integrated engine cradle and front suspension mount. The front uses a double-wishbone setup, and the rear suspension is a multi-link monoshock. The front suspension is from KYB and offers preload adjustment and 6.43 inches of travel. The rear KYB HPG shock has a remote reservoir, four-position damping, and preload adjustment with 6.65 inches of travel.
Front braking is handled by 270 mm discs with Nissin two-piston floating calipers; the rear uses a 220 mm disc with a single-piston caliper. The braking system is hydraulic and foot-operated. Grip comes from chunky car-spec tires, with 145/60 section front tires wrapped around 16-inch aluminum alloy wheels. The rear gets a single 205/45 section tire wrapped around a 16-inch aluminum alloy wheel.
Relatively Compact Dimensions And Impressive Power-To-Weight Ratio
In trike terms, the Ryker Sport is quite compact, measuring 92.6 inches long, 59.9 inches wide, and 42.2 inches high. It has a 67.3-inch wheelbase and four inches of ground clearance. Aesthetically, it’s bare-bones, which is also why it weighs an impressively low 642 pounds dry. For reference, the most powerful Can-Am—the Spyder F3—weighs a lot more at 899 pounds. While the Ryker Sport’s weight advantage does rob it of storage space and fuel capacity, it greatly helps with nimble riding dynamics and a superior power-to-weight ratio.
Tool-Free MAX Mount Points And A Special Edition Colorway Make The 2027 Ryker Sport Stand Out
The Ryker Sport has an aggressive, rider-focused design that emphasizes its performance and street-focused character. While the body panels are minimal, they stand out with an edgy design and eye-popping vinyl work. Can-Am also has neatly integrated MAX Mount points that let you quickly add passenger seats or cargo racks tool-free. Its LED headlamp design complements the aggressive look. Can-Am has also unveiled a special edition Ryker Sport model for 2027 with exclusive colors and vinyl options.
A One-Of-A-Kind Value-Packed Trike With No Direct Rival
The closest a trike comes to matching the Can-Am Ryker Sport’s balance of performance and riding dynamics is the Polaris Slingshot S. It is powered by a 180-horsepower ProStar 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine coupled to either a manual or automatic transmission. While it’s notably more powerful, the Slingshot is longer, wider, and much heavier than the Ryker Sport, which undermines the power advantage.
Furthermore, even with a generous increase in the 2027 Ryker Sport’s MSRP, it will still be priced at nearly half that of the base Slingshot S at $24,999. The Can-Am Ryker Sport is a unique, compelling trike that can turn a motorcyclist who hates trikes into a curious convert who appreciates its quirks.
Sources: Can-Am and Polaris Slingshot
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