When I say the phrase “Canadian Motorcycle,” you’re probably thinking of a three-wheeled Bombardier. It isn't exactly a motorcycle, but we still like the Can-Am Spyder. For one, it gives people who struggle with balancing the weight of a bike the opportunity to feel the wind in their hair. We’ve also been told that the newer, sportier model no longer handles like a tractor.
So don’t get us wrong, we’re okay with having a fat tricycle on Canada’s track record. At least, we’re okay with it as long as there are a few other entries! As unique as the Spyder is, it’s bad for Canadian stereotyping if our only contribution to motorcycle manufacturing is – well – a snowmobile with wheels.
We've come a long way with our friends to the South. Most Americans now realize that Canadian cities aren't just collections of igloos. They know that most of us have electricity, and that the Trans-Canada Highway is actually paved. I once met a couple who were terrified about staying out past sunset, because moose would come down from the mountains and start flipping cars. I don’t know why, but I let them have that one. Yes, we've come a long way indeed. So let’s celebrate more than our summer snowmobile!
Canadian Custom Motorcycles
Goldammer Cycle Works
produces glittering examples of Canadian customs. Based out of Kelowna, BC, Roger Goldammer is a
three-time winner
at the World Championship of Bike Building. If you watch a lot of Discovery Channel, then you may know him as a
Biker Build-Off
champion as well.
Goldammer’s motorcycles are known for their insane styling. And as you can see, it's a beautiful insanity. Even better, his creations are both pretty and powerful. At the Bonneville Salt Flats, his motorcycles have achieved startling speeds.
While Goldammer's showpieces have brought notoriety to his name, it's really his down-to-earth duties that dominate his time. On the daily, he services, repairs and modifies motorcycles for average blokes like you and I. And while you could certainly find Roger Goldammer creating monstrous one-offs on the big screen, you might just as easily find him racing old flat track bikes with his buddies.
When Goldammer does cut loose, however, it's a thing to behold. His show bikes are customs in the truest sense. The frames, gas tanks and components are normally hand-made and one-of-a-kind. If you have a two-wheeled vision – be it a daily commuter or a bike show contender – Goldammer Cycle Works will make it happen. Of course, the world champion of bike building doesn't offer his full services for a pittance. Prices increase rapidly from $50 000.
Watch Goldammer on Biker Build-Off :
Canadian Battery Powered Bikes
While we’re in the pricey neighborhood, we might as well mention Lito Green Motion’s SORA motorcycle . Lito believes that electricity is the future of motorcycling and – thanks to the SORA’s fantastic performance – we might just agree with them.
The SORA features an innovative electric seat, which allows the rider to cruise down low on the highway, and then take a higher, more aggressive stance in the corners. This is a promising feature, and the SORA has the gusto to back it up. The bike can hit 190 km/h and, thanks to the absence of engine vibration, it has a smooth handling feel.
This motorcycle is also pretty. All over, you’ll find it swathed with carbon fibre, aluminum and aerospace materials. With a jutting plank of a rear seat, the bike recalls the styling of 60s and 70s café racers. On the front end, the absence of fairings creates an aggressive, street fighter feel. And in the middle, the rectangular, low-slung belly is a wholly new look – tomorrow’s aesthetic informed by the necessity for battery bays.
Of course, the SORA has the same pitfalls of regular electric vehicles. Range is a minor issue - you’ll get around 200km on a single charge, depending on how much of a hooligan you are. The SORA has a regenerative braking system to recover electrical energy while decelerating, which helps a bit. Motorcycle purists will also miss a clutch and gear ratios. But with a continuously variable transmission that allows for a high top speed without compromising on acceleration, we don't mind much.
The SORA is something Canadians can be proud of. We don’t have to wait for the future to arrive. It’s already here – open for sale – in Longueuil, Quebec. Happy shopping.
Weird and Wonderful Canadian Motorcycles
At this point, it gets hard to ignore the fact that Canada has a penchant for building weird motorcycle-ish things. Take Campagna Motors for example. Since 1988, the Montreal-based company has been building “motorcycles” with three wheels and seat belts. While they’re legally considered bikes, anything with a steering wheel and side-by-side seating is going to get some push-back from the rider community. They're neither practical, nor cheap, nor especially fast. But, Campagna’s T-Rex and V13R are somewhat comical. Maybe that’s Canadian enough.
Motosports Thibeault is another Canadian manufacturer, known exclusively for making the Snowhawk. Yes, we know, this is another snowmobile hybrid. But it’s pretty awesome and has a decent cult following, so we don’t mind living the stereotype on this one.
Why haven’t one-ski snowmobiles caught on yet? Beats us. These things are awesome for carving powder, threading trees and – most especially – side hilling. They’re popular enough in some Quebecois circles, but we might have to wait for Polaris or Ski-doo to catch on before the rest of the world takes notice.
So Canadian motorcycle manufacturers can be counted on one hand and – after all that – maybe the Can-Am Spyder is only as weird as the rest of them. Oh well. With all the American, European and Asian motorcycle giants, Canada should be proud to have found some unexplored niches.