Adventures of a Spyder buyer!

[Bill n RJ]

Adventures of a Spyder buyer!


Approximately one month ago, we found ourselves in the market for a new Spyder. The old one (2012 RT Ltd.) died an early and unnatural death. It burned all by itself in December of 2016! I decided I needed one more 2 wheeler in my old age so that’s what I bought. 12,000 miles in 6 months including 2 tips to the East coast convinced me of the error of my ways.


Sooooo, back to the search for a new Spyder. I diligently researched online and in person at almost all dealers in Oklahoma. Not really wanting to make a trip to Springfield I decided local (within reason) was the way to go. I settled on Morris Motorsports in Chickasha, OK as probably the best dealer/deal I was going to find.


After a bit of serious negotiation, we agreed on a machine and a price I could live with. Later that same day, I rode home on a nice charcoal colored 2017 RT Ltd. with most all the goodies. Included was a total of 7 years full warranty, trailer hitch, gap insurance and even the Tag, Tax & Title for all one price. Great deal, happy boy.


However, (ain’t it always that way?) all wasn’t good in Mudville! I noticed immediately that it just didn’t really handle right. I chalked that up, initially, to “maybe I wasn’t used to it” or something. In addition, the front tires were horribly out of balance. I also noticed a minor imperfection in the paint. After a brief conversation, they assured me it would be addressed. I agreed to make an appoint and get it back to them.


2 weeks in, we made a run up to Branson to visit friends who are also Spyder folks. We had a great weekend, rode through the Ozarks and played on the lake and such. Wunnerful time. We headed home Monday morning.


Wandering down through the mountains and enjoying the cool of the morning, I still didn’t feel that the bike was handling correctly but it was manageable. Suddenly while cruising through a series of curves, the computer went bonkers and the bike started jerking back and forth as the front wheels alternatively locked up very rapidly! Almost threw us off! Fortunately, we were only going about 35 or 40 so it shut down quickly with the left wheel locked up!


Stop, look everything over, restart the bike and very gently roll out and proceed cautiously. Everything went OK down through Tulsa and we decided to head down US75 toward home and get off the interstate. We live in Ada so the route was logical.


As I ran down the ramp to enter I40 at Henryetta, at 70 mph, it decided to do it again! Had the wife not been holding onto the hand holds, it would have thrown her off! As it was, it wrenched her back and she spend the next 2 or 3 days in pain. Chiropractor trip got her on the road to recovery. Again, we ended up with the left wheel locked up and slid to a stop just out of the traffic lane!


So, we proceeded home very cautiously at 40 mph and much slower in the curves. On Wednesday I trailered it to the dealer. After visiting with the assistant service manager, I filled out the paperwork and left the bike with the assurance that it would be checked out “in the next day or two”. Comes Monday and I haven’t heard anything so I call and speak to the asst. service manager again. All I get is a run around and no answers whatsoever. I explain that this isn’t a “some day” thing and I want answers.


On Wednesday, not having heard a word, (now they’ve had the bike a week) I ride the 90+ miles to see for myself what’s going on. No one is in the office so I walk through to see what’s happening. My bike isn’t even in the work area! It’s in the back with other bikes parked in front of it! Oops! My “not a nice guy” switch cuts in and I go up front for a word of prayer.


After a calm discussion in a quiet, controlled manner, (all 3 or 4 seconds of it) I inquire as to WTF! Actually, I kinda went “Old School Military” and explained my frustration to anyone that would listen! Believe me, they listened. I can’t stand being lied to! They are well aware of that now! Sooooo, I get introduced to the real Service Manager.


He proceeds to make the excuse that he was on vacation last week and didn’t have a clue that my bike was there or any idea what was going on. Really? You were on vacation for a week and have now been back 2 and a half days and you don’t know my bike is in your shop? Really? WTF were you doing for the first 30 minutes on Monday morning? Oh you weren’t going through the work orders to see what was going on in YOUR department? Really?


One of the sales guys tells me at that point that killing people never really works! Really? The guy standing behind the dead guy will and does pay attention! Try me! The Service Manager having realized the truth of my statement and not wanting to be either guy promises me that he will personally go pull the bike up and hook up the computer himself! I advise him that after driving home another 90+ miles I will be expecting a call with full details as to what’s going on with my bike because he really, really doesn’t want me back tomorrow morning!


As promised, he calls me as soon as I get home. Surprise! Hmmmmm, maybe I got someone’s attention! Ya think? Turns out that the bike started throwing codes like crazy! The computer in a Spyder keeps all the codes forever. He said there were so many codes he didn’t even try to count them. Like well over 50 and still counting! All safety related! So I asked what is the normal when a bike comes in. He told me a bike with problems that is fairly new might have 2 or 3 and an older bike might have 10 or 12 so my bike has definitely got serious problems! And it only has 1016 miles on it!


They have opened a safety related warranty claim with BRP and have been exchanging info several times daily. No one has ever seen or heard of such a thing. They say it’s not possible for this to occur! Really? It’s right there boys! So I ask what the plan is going to be. He says BRP will probably come up with something and tell them how to fix it. I explain that they’re going to need someone to test the bike because I have no intention of getting back on it. No way. No how. He says he isn’t either! I ask to talk to main management and am advised they’re in a meeting. OK, have someone call me!


Surprise, about 45 minutes later, I get a call from the General Manager. Very nice young lady who is very concerned and assures me they will take care of me. Hmmmmm, heard that one before! Amazingly, she calls me back in a short time and tells me she’s talked to BRP and her District Manager. The DM said they will probably replace the bike but it might take a little time for everyone to be involved and sign off on it. OOOOO KKKKKK, what about little ole me? I bought a new bike to ride. You’ve had it longer than I have! I have paid for the registration and put the new tag on it! I’ve already made the first payment and I have no bike to ride! Something is not right in this picture!


Sooooo, first thing this morning, (now Wednesday again) she calls me and tells me to come get one of the new bikes and I can use it however until this is resolved! Just Wow! Actually, she has talked to me several times daily just to keep me updated!


In a nutshell, I will recommend Morris Motorsports in Chickasha to anyone that is interested in any new Can-Am, Kawasaki, Honda or Polaris product! Yeah, they have those Slingshot thingies too. As it stands now, I couldn’t be happier with how this has been handled. After getting things straightened out from the Service Department being a bit lackadaisical about customer service, things have gone exceedingly well!


Stay tuned kiddies! There will definitely be more to the story!

I WON! GETTING A NEW BIKE! Only took 6 days once things got serious! We're going to keep the one we're riding. It was new and only had 1 mile on it! Plus I know it's okay. When the GM called this afternoon she told me she got tired of no answers so she sent an email telling them it didn't make any difference what they wanted fixed on that bike I would never ride it again and none of her technicians would be allowed to ride it! So they better do something right now because I was ready to file a lawsuit! I didn't say that! She did! After ignoring her previously, they called within 15 minutes and told her to handle it! Got the replacement bike as a loner on Wednesday and the phone call about the replacement on Thursday!

Original choice! 20170713_145251.jpg Replacement! 20170809_123751.jpg Didn't want the same color even!