10 Things Every New Can-Am Ryker Owner Should Know

Congratulations on the new Ryker. Whether it's your first three-wheeler or you're coming over from two wheels, the Ryker is one of the easiest machines on the road to get comfortable on. It's also different enough from a motorcycle or a car that a few habits are worth building from day one.

We work on Rykers all the time, and these are the ten things we wish every new owner knew before their first long ride. This is general advice, not a repair manual. Your Ryker's Operator's Guide is the final word for your model year, so when it says something different from this article, follow the guide.

1. Read the Operator's Guide (Really)

Most riders skip it. Don't. The Operator's Guide covers the starting procedure, what each warning light means, recommended tire pressures, fuel requirements, break-in instructions and the maintenance schedule for your exact model. Keep a copy on your phone so it's with you on the road, and flip through the warning-light section before your first ride so a light on the dash doesn't catch you off guard.

2. It Doesn't Ride Like a Motorcycle

This is the big one for riders coming off two wheels. The Ryker doesn't lean, so you don't counter-steer. You steer it by turning the handlebar in the direction you want to go, more like a snowmobile or an ATV than a motorcycle. In corners, the machine stays flat and your body does the work: grip with your knees, keep your upper body relaxed and lean into the turn yourself.

Experienced motorcyclists often find this harder to learn than brand-new riders do, because their instincts fight them. Give yourself a few hours in an empty parking lot before you take on busy roads. Many areas also offer three-wheel rider courses, and some states require a specific license endorsement for three-wheel vehicles, so check your local rules.

3. Learn How the Controls Work

The Ryker uses a twist-and-go automatic transmission, so there's no clutch lever and no shifting. Braking is done with a foot pedal that brakes all three wheels together. There's no front brake lever on the handlebar. That catches a lot of motorcyclists the first time they grab for a lever that isn't there.

Practice braking in a safe space until pressing the pedal is automatic. Get a feel for how the Ryker stops, and learn where reverse and the parking brake are and how they work on your model, so you're not figuring it out at a gas pump or in a tight parking spot.

4. Trust the Stability Systems, but Don't Ride on Them

Your Ryker comes with BRP's electronic stability and traction systems, which help keep the vehicle stable under hard braking, acceleration and cornering. They're a real safety net, especially on a three-wheeler where the physics are different from a bike.

But they're a backup, not a plan. If you feel the system stepping in often, you're carrying too much speed into corners or getting on the throttle too hard. Smooth inputs make for a better ride and a happier stability system.

5. Respect the Break-In Period

A new engine needs a gentle first stretch of miles. Your Operator's Guide spells out the break-in distance and what to avoid, which usually means varying your speed, avoiding long periods at full throttle and skipping hard acceleration. Following it helps the engine and drivetrain settle in properly and keeps you on good terms with your warranty. Your dealer will also want to see it for its first scheduled service.

6. Check Tire Pressure Before Every Ride

On a three-wheeler, tire pressure has a big effect on steering, stability and tire wear. A front tire that's a few PSI low can make the steering feel heavy or uneven. Use the pressures listed in your Operator's Guide or on the vehicle's label, not the maximum printed on the tire sidewall.

Check them cold, before you ride, with a good gauge. Keep a digital tire gauge in your storage compartment so you can check pressure anytime.

7. Keep Up With Maintenance

The Ryker is low-maintenance compared to many vehicles, but low-maintenance isn't no-maintenance. Follow the service schedule in your Operator's Guide for oil changes, inspections and drivetrain service. Between services, get in the habit of a quick walk-around:

• Look at the tires for wear, cuts or embedded debris.
• Check that all lights, turn signals and the horn work.
• Look under the vehicle for any leaks where you park it.
• Glance at the dash for warning lights after you switch on.

Keep your service receipts. They matter for warranty claims and resale value.

8. Look After the Battery

A lot of "my Ryker won't start" calls come down to a battery that sat too long. If your Ryker is parked for weeks at a time, or through the winter, connect a quality battery maintainer. It's the easiest way to avoid a dead battery and extend its life.

If you're adding accessories, think about how much power they draw, especially anything that stays on when the vehicle is off. Good accessories are designed to sip power while parked, but a bad install can drain a battery overnight.

9. Customize Smart, Not Fast

Customization is half the fun of owning a Ryker. You can change the look with different panels and accessories and adjust the riding position to fit you. Before you start buying parts, ride the stock machine for a while so you know what you actually want to change.

When you do add electrical accessories, do it right:

• Use parts designed for your model and year.
• Avoid cutting or splicing factory wiring when a plug-and-play option exists.
• Fuse every added circuit and route wires away from heat and moving parts.
• Disconnect the negative battery cable before you work on wiring.

Sloppy wiring is behind a lot of electrical gremlins we see. If you're not comfortable doing it, have a dealer or a qualified installer do it for you.

10. Protect It From Theft

Rykers are fun, eye-catching and easy to ride, and unfortunately that makes them attractive to thieves too. A few simple habits go a long way: take your key with you every time, park in well-lit areas, use a quality cover so the machine isn't advertising itself, and lock it up in your garage or with a ground anchor at home.

For an extra layer of protection, an immobilizer stops the bike from starting even if someone gets around the basics. The Phantom Shield Anti-Theft Immobilizer with Remote for 2019 and newer Rykers arms itself automatically every time you switch the ignition off and blocks the fuel pump signal until you press unlock on the remote. It's plug-and-play, so there's no cutting factory wiring. If you want to see what's involved, watch our Ryker immobilizer install video.

Common New-Owner Mistakes

• Riding it like a motorcycle: trying to lean or counter-steer instead of steering and shifting your body weight.
• Reaching for a brake lever: on the Ryker, braking is the foot pedal.
• Ignoring tire pressure: it changes how the Ryker steers more than most people expect.
• Letting the battery sit: weeks without a maintainer is the most common cause of a no-start.
• Rushing accessory installs: poorly wired add-ons cause most of the electrical problems we see.

When to See Your Dealer

Owner checks are great, but some things belong with your Can-Am dealer or a qualified technician:

• A warning light or message stays on after you've checked your Operator's Guide.
• The vehicle pulls, wobbles or feels unstable, especially after a pothole or curb strike.
• You hear new grinding, clunking or whining from the drivetrain or brakes.
• Your brake pedal feels soft or travels farther than usual.
• Scheduled services are due, especially while the Ryker is under warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about your Ryker we didn't cover? Contact us. We're riders too, and we're happy to help.