RT-S gets a favorable review from Cycle World

[ARtraveler]

The March issue of Cycle World gives a favorable review on the RT-S on which they are doing a long-term test (10,000 miles). Other than centrifugal clutch and DPS recalls (neither problem appeared on the test bike)--they have not had any other problems. They also say good things about the RT-S. This is coming from a mostly two-wheeler magazine. Its on page 66.

[IWN2RYD]

http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_roadtest/long-term_tests_articles/11q1/can-am_spyder_rt-s_-_long-term_update

[Barbary]

http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_roadtest/long-term_tests_articles/11q1/can-am_spyder_rt-s_-_long-term_update

sweet article....:yes:

[docdoru]

sweet article....:yes:
...and I made "friends" leaving there a comment...:opps:

[dancogan]

Thanks for the heads up and the link to the article. Always nice to read good news about our :spyder2:'s. :clap::clap::clap:

[Mr. White]

In the article, they mention a 12,000 mile, 10 hours of maintenance checkup required by BRP. Did I read this wrong...? Ten hours @ $70-80 per hour?? WOW!

[NancysToy]

In the article, they mention a 12,000 mile, 10 hours of maintenance checkup required by BRP. Did I read this wrong...? Ten hours @ $70-80 per hour?? WOW!
That's cheap labor in a lot of dealerships. Mine charges $89 and hour and there are many at $100 or more.

[Mr. White]

Scotty, I don't mind paying the labor, but ten hours for a 12K check...is this correct? We are talking about $800 to $1,000 checkup....if this is true and every 12K, I will cancel my order...I have not spent half that on my Gold Wing trike in nine years and 60,000 miles....

[NancysToy]

Scotty, I don't mind paying the labor, but ten hours for a 12K check...is this correct? We are talking about $800 to $1,000 checkup....if this is true and every 12K, I will cancel my order...I have not spent on half that on my Gold Wing trike in nine years and 60,000 miles....
Well, any service interval that requires checking the valve clearance will greatly increase the labor requirement, especially on the RT, where everything is harder to reach. Technically, the first valve check is at 6K, then at 12K intervals, so the second would be at 18K, etc. Many dealers miss this wrinkle, while others correctly realize that the valve check interval is overkill, and don't do it nearly as often. Other dealers charge the same flat rate for the valve check that they do for valve adjustment...which is even more involved. At any rate, the Spyder is maintenance intensive, and difficult to service, increasing labor times. I'd say what your dealer quoted is in the ballpark if the interval requires a valve check. It could be higher if adjustment is needed.

I come from the world of BMW's heavy maintenance schedule and high rates, so I am not easy to shock, but the Spyder takes things up another notch. Those that cannot perform their own basic or intermediate maintenance tasks, end up paying. I am neither condemning nor praising that approach, but it needs to be taken into account when deciding on owning a Spyder. This marvelous toy is defintely in the upper tier of the maintenance cost spectrum. This is not an old Brit bike that you can overhaul in your garage.

[Mr. White]

Thanks Scotty for the info. I can see where a valve check/adjustment on the RT would be labor intensive. I am used to the 32K on the Wing and then seldom needing adjusting....and the valves are hanging out in the wind....and my 1500 had hydralic valves...as you know. This modern machinery.... Thanks again.

[Bob Denman]

Valves aside... Thanks for the info on the article! :2thumbs:
Time to go buy another magazine...:shocked:

[Mr. White]

Valves aside... Thanks for the info on the article! :2thumbs:
Time to go buy another magazine...:shocked:

Bob, the articles are in several issues. You can read them on:
http://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle_roadtest/long-term_tests_articles/11q1/can-am_spyder_rt-s_-_long-term_update

[Lamonster]

In the article, they mention a 12,000 mile, 10 hours of maintenance checkup required by BRP. Did I read this wrong...? Ten hours @ $70-80 per hour?? WOW!
I think if you did a poll of how many folks had their valves checked at 12,000 miles you'll find it would be very few and the few that did didn't need adjustment. There are folks on here that have checked their valves at 40K and still didn't need adjustment.

[Mr. White]

I think if you did a poll of how many folks had their valves checked at 12,000 miles you'll find it would be very few and the few that did didn't need adjustment. There are folks on here that have checked their valves at 40K and still didn't need adjustment.

Thanks to Lamont and others. I will adjust to the maintenance requirements....it is a complicated machine for sure....I am sure looking forward to riding it.

[boborgera]

I think if you did a poll of how many folks had their valves checked at 12,000 miles you'll find it would be very few and the few that did didn't need adjustment. There are folks on here that have checked their valves at 40K and still didn't need adjustment.

:agree:I think BRP is just being a little overcautious.

[MouthPiece]

Here's what my 12,000 mile service looked like. (Hopefully this goes through)

[Mr. White]

Mouthpiece, I had a hard time reading it....what was the bottom $ figure...which looked fairly reasonable....

[boborgera]

Here's what my 12,000 mile service looked like. (Hopefully this goes through)


:dontknow:
I zoomed it to 400 % still can't make out the total. [1800?]

[MouthPiece]

$448.00 excluding sales tax in Flarda. That was labor and parts.

Chris PE# 0004

[boborgera]

$448.00 excluding sales tax in Flarda. That was labor and parts.

Chris PE# 0004
:thumbup::thumbup:

[billythekidd]

My dealer offered a "warrany/maintenace" option when I purchased. It is for 3 years and covers all regular maintenace, ie oil changes and 3,6,12 k checks and extends the warranty for one year. I got this for $2200 and from what I am hearing it is well worth it.


Willy

[docdoru]

My dealer offered a "warrany/maintenace" option when I purchased. It is for 3 years and covers all regular maintenace, ie oil changes and 3,6,12 k checks and extends the warranty for one year. I got this for $2200 and from what I am hearing it is well worth it. Willy
:agree:

[Mr. White]

From reading the above, I see the RT warranty is two years? Does this $2,200 cover everything, all scheduled service and problems for three years?

[billythekidd]

Check with your dealer. My program was from the dealership and nothing to do with BRP. It does cover everything from oil changes to scheduled maintenance. I am going to pay the difference between the oil they use and synthetic, but that is my choice.


Willy

[MarkLawson]

It may be with time, BRP may decide to update the maintenance schedule. I had an '89 GL1500 that required the two timing belts be replace at 40k. I did it twice when at about 85k I mentioned it to my dealer. Turns out Honda had changed it some years after I bought mine to checking them every 100k instead of replacing every 40k...
:gaah:

[MouthPiece]

My dealer offered a "warrany/maintenace" option when I purchased. It is for 3 years and covers all regular maintenace, ie oil changes and 3,6,12 k checks and extends the warranty for one year. I got this for $2200 and from what I am hearing it is well worth it.


Willy

Worth every penny you paid and then some. Had I known then what I do now, I would have done the same.

Chris PE# 0004

[SpyderWolf]

From reading the above, I see the RT warranty is two years? Does this $2,200 cover everything, all scheduled service and problems for three years?

The only problem with buying a service agreement from the dealer is you need to make sure the dealer is still going to be in business for the next 3 years. Many people learned about this the hard way when the economy tanked. There is a version of the BEST warranty called BEST Plus that I believe will cover maintenance as well. Perhaps that is what the other poster has, but if not it may be worth looking into.

[NancysToy]

The only problem with buying a service agreement from the dealer is you need to make sure the dealer is still going to be in business for the next 3 years. Many people learned about this the hard way when the economy tanked. There is a version of the BEST warranty called BEST Plus that I believe will cover maintenance as well. Perhaps that is what the other poster has, but if not it may be worth looking into.
BEST Plus does not cover all maintenance. It covers the 600 mile service, plus one service call per year, as I recall.

[SpyderWolf]

BEST Plus does not cover all maintenance. It covers the 600 mile service, plus one service call per year, as I recall.

Thanks for the additional info Scotty. :thumbup: