Spyder RT Generation 1 (2010–2013): Where Touring Began
The original RT introduced Can-Am's full touring roadster. Its four model years also contain more changes than the familiar bodywork might suggest.
Look at a first-generation Spyder RT and the touring idea is immediately recognizable: expansive front bodywork, a tall windshield, a substantial passenger area, and luggage built into the machine's design. The RT arrived for the 2010 model year, establishing a distinct touring branch of the Spyder family. Its original mechanical foundation was the 998cc Rotax V-twin, paired with five-speed transmission arrangements.
There is a useful distinction to make at the outset: 2010–2013 belongs to one major powertrain generation, but those four years are not identical. BRP adjusted equipment packages and running gear as the RT developed. The 2013 specifications include 15-inch front wheels and Brembo brakes, while the 998cc engine remained.
The foundation: 998cc and five speeds
The first-generation RT used the 998cc V-twin and SM5 manual or SE5 semi-automatic five-speed transmissions, as specified for individual years and equipment packages. SM5 and SE5 are not interchangeable labels: they identify different operating arrangements. Nor does the RT name alone tell you which one a machine has. The manufacturer's 2010 and 2011 package charts explicitly tie transmission availability to the equipment configuration.
The touring features were part of the RT from the outset. The 2010 material lists an electrically adjustable windshield, cruise control, and heated rider grips on the base RT, while the named packages show how audio, passenger equipment, luggage fittings, and rear-suspension adjustment developed around that foundation. The detail matters because many first-generation machines have lived through years of accessory changes. An installed windshield, GPS, or seat may no longer match an original brochure picture.
The trims and equipment packages
The factory documents describe these names during the 2010–2013 period. Not every name appears in every year. The photographs and exact-year specifications on this page should always show the model year alongside the trim.
RT
The RT is the foundation model within the family. Its early factory descriptions include the adjustable windshield, heated rider grips, and touring body/luggage arrangement. The launch-year chart lists the RT with SM5; later years must be checked against their own publications.
RT Audio & Convenience
The launch-era Audio & Convenience configuration was a named package on the early RT, with factory audio and additional equipment specified in the year-specific sheets. It appears in the 2010–2012 factory records, not as a permanent RT trim. For 2010 the factory chart includes SM5 and SE5 offerings for this package.
RT-S
RT-S is a documented first-generation package name. Its early equipment sheets identify items such as rear speakers, passenger audio controls, fog lighting, and remotely adjustable rear pneumatic preload. Package contents shifted over time, so the 2010 RT-S specification should not automatically stand in for a 2013 RT-S.
RT Limited
The Limited name appears in the verified 2011 package range. The 2011 and 2012 factory sheets list an SE5-only Limited, including a factory-specified navigation unit, travel bags, and a cover. These are equipment descriptions, not a guarantee that removable accessories remain with an individual machine today.
What changed, year by year?
2010: The RT takes its place in the lineup
The introductory lineup included RT, RT Audio & Convenience, and RT-S. The launch chart lists the base RT with SM5 and the two other packages with SM5/SE5 availability. Rear-air adjustment was manual on RT and Audio & Convenience and remotely adjustable on RT-S. These are factory package distinctions, not a statement about which machine offers the better ride.
2011: Limited appears
The 2011 material adds RT Limited to the documented range, including navigation and removable travel accessories. Audio & Convenience and RT-S remain identifiable entries in the factory chart.
2012: Instruments and appearance evolve
BRP's 2012 package sheet records distinctions in wheels and seat finishes on named configurations, including RT-S and Limited. These were equipment and styling distinctions; the engine family did not become the later 1330 during 2012.
2013: Major chassis and brake revisions
This is the year that deserves an extra look within Generation 1. The 2013 operator's guide lists 15-inch front wheels and Brembo braking hardware with 270 mm discs. Yet the engine remained the 998cc V-twin and the transmission family remained five-speed. The model should not be described as an early 1330 RT.
The 2013 guide also illustrates differences in footrests and floorboards for specific transmissions and trims. Those drawings are valuable when identifying the factory configuration; the trim badge and any later accessories should not be treated as a complete equipment record.
Maintenance: start with the right year's guide
The first-generation RT's service requirements are not interchangeable with later 1330 models. One clear example is the 2013 valve-clearance service: the 2013 operator's guide lists the work at 22,500 km (14,000 miles) or two years, with a shorter schedule for frequent high-rpm operation. This is an exact-year example, not a universal schedule we are assigning to every 2010–2013 RT.
For any specific procedure or interval, refer to the applicable original guide, transmission, market instructions, and revisions. A generic online chart is not a substitute.
Documented safety history: the 2013 heat-related recalls
2013 heat-related recalls: The 2013 RT has two distinct heat-related safety campaigns: a brake-master-cylinder-area concern and an engine-compartment heat concern. These must be treated as separate VIN-specific checks, not as one completed fix.
These examples are not a complete list of historical recalls. A public campaign record alone cannot establish the recall status of any individual Spyder.
The first generation's place in RT history
The original RT established the body and touring identity that the family continued to develop. It also captures an important transition inside the early Spyder story: by 2013, the suspension, wheels, and brakes had changed significantly while the original powertrain remained. In 2014, a different mechanical chapter began. Knowing where those boundaries fall is what turns a model name into a useful technical reference.
Next: RT Generation 2: 2014–2019 — the 1330 ACE era · Return to the RT model overview
Owner resources
Call or Text Mighty Ride Moto
Need service for your RT? Call or text us.