Again, More Heat Than Light
I am the President of the Maryland Spyder Web (www.meetup.com/marylandspyderweb) and host a roster of over 100 ryders. Of those who participate in our rydes, we have a handful of '13 RT owners. ... RT and ST. The majority, including myself own model years '10-'12.
By 'more heat than light, I mean ... more heat (emotion) than light (information).
We've had one of our 13 owners develop heat problems, and indeed ... it caused him nightmares with failed components, including his parking break linkage/cable from heat. Tracking his problem, we have generally learned that **specific to the RT,** the 13 model year has some internal design features, architecture and components that were/are, believe it or not, pre-design for the '14s. I cannot get more specific to this, as I'm not a tech. I'm simply providing macro information. The point is, the differences between the '13s, and the '10s - 12's, respectively, are sufficient in terms of air flow, connections and heat resolution to cause the common problems noted by '13 owners. I cannot attribute why some of the 13 problems don't occur uniformly across the model year ... perhaps production run in the series ... dunno.
My understanding is that BRP is working on the problem, diligently and with as much precision as possible, to re-deliver '13 owners the same surety as 10-12 owners have enjoyed, despite the demons that popped from their model years too ... all resolved either by BRP or after-market. Someone said BRP is a young company; they're not. The Spyder is a 12-year old concept, seven years in design and five years on the street. BRP goes back to 1942. The 998 v-twin was and continues to be used in other platforms, to include the Aprilla 1000RSV racing bike, a KTM model and in one of BRP's ATV models.
Our decision, as Spyder owners is whether or not we will commit to the product, which most of us have, some of us haven't and my sympathies to those who've had problems. Those who have 'had enough' are welcome to exercise their decision through the market; I certainly understand the frustration that builds when one looks out the window at a $30K plus investment that has problems ... But vitriol between owners of one model year vs. 13's or any other model or model year, just doesn't sound like a reality to me. We're all in it together and should be helping each other with information, let alone civil dialogue with the only resolution ... the manufacturer, its technicians and dealer support-maintenance chain.
Respectfully ...
Paul