Thinking of buying a Spyder RT-S or Limited

[RDW]

So I'm thinking of making this purchase, but wanted to get feedback on the reliability of this bike and what do you guys NOT like about it?

[vided]

one problem with my rts is it always takes the long way to go somewhere :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::clap: :clap::clap::clap:

[scooterexpress]

what year you looking at

[RDW]

what year you looking at

I'm looking at the 2014 and 2015 models.

[Brentc]

There have be a few issues on a few models, DESS error, missing locktite on engine bolt cause leak. But if you just make sure these items have been taken care of or that your particular model was not affected, then go for it. Love my 2014 rts.:D

[Bob Denman]

My complaint :shocked:: I'm mad that I didn't buy it sooner! nojoke

[Trbayth]

First off, these bikes are an absolute blast to ride. Loads of fun.

That said, your experience will be heavily influenced by the competence or lack thereof of your dealer. A really great dealer who understands these bikes and has the commitment and the staff to take care of them and you right and you'll be golden. A less than competent dealer and you'll be wondering if you made a huge mistake. There are many people here who have gone many miles out of their way to purchase and have their bike serviced because dealers more local to them were terrible.

As for the machines themselves, there are plenty of people here who have gone 20, 30, 60, 100K miles with no significant problems. Others don't seem to have been able to make to 1000 miles without leaks, error codes, key problems, limp home modes, etc. I don't think it's a 50-50 crap shoot but if you're the type of person that demands near 100% reliability from a vehicle you might need to adjust your expectations.

Just my .02. Overall I've had fun with my ST even with the issues I've had and will probably buy another one in a year or so. But I'll be a lot choosier about who I buy it from.

[JayBros]

IMO, Roger is spot on about the competence of dealer technicians and the customer service attitude of the dealership itself. Like Bob I wish I'd gotten back out of the cage much sooner. Nothing's perfect but on balance I'm very satisfied with my '14 RTS.

[cognaccruiser]

The 14's and newer seem to be doing well in terms of reliability. There will always be some glitches. Here on Spyderlovers you will see some occasional problems come up but keep in mind that you won't here much from the many who don't have any problems. It is a good thing that we hear about the issues that do come up because we learn from them but don't come to a conclusion that the Spyders are unreliable.
I've had Yamaha and Honda touring bikes that have had the odd problem too and yet they were very reliable machines.

Gary

[Chupaca]

Thinking about it will get you nowhere, test ryde them and OOOO!!! this is not the place to come to find out what owners dislike about these machines.
we can tell you how we have made them better ( to each his own) But welcome to the place for all the answers you are looking for about spyders and then some..:thumbup:

[RDW]

Thinking about it will get you nowhere, test ryde them and OOOO!!! this is not the place to come to find out what owners dislike about these machines.
we can tell you how we have made them better ( to each his own) But welcome to the place for all the answers you are looking for about spyders and then some..:thumbup:

Well I have test ridden it a few times. I've heard maintenance nightmares and the expense of them, so was wondering what is and is not valid. I do LOVE the ride of them and they are definitely fun!

[RDW]

The 14's and newer seem to be doing well in terms of reliability. There will always be some glitches. Here on Spyderlovers you will see some occasional problems come up but keep in mind that you won't here much from the many who don't have any problems. It is a good thing that we hear about the issues that do come up because we learn from them but don't come to a conclusion that the Spyders are unreliable.
I've had Yamaha and Honda touring bikes that have had the odd problem too and yet they were very reliable machines.

Gary

Thanks for the info. Yes, it's a man-made machine, so I do realize there will be some issues. I'm currently riding a Honda CTX 700 DCT and love it. Love the Spyders too. Think I'll go ahead and make the purchase on tomorrow.

[Chupaca]

The 14/15's are very maintenance friendly. That is the 1330 engine. The 998 is not as bad as it is made out to be...I love the twin...your choice..

[scooterexpress]

where are you buying it from? get a prepaid maintence program from dealership this helps worrying about paying for maintence later I did it and believe me I had no worries about not having the cash to get it serviced when due

[Lew L]

Really like the RT-s as a tourer with my wife . I dont know all the diffferences to the Limited but it does have a lot of chrome bits for your $2500. Other stuff too. Our RT-s has lots of extras over thebase RT but of course we ( all the Spyderlovers) farkel them up some.

Kaos

[Marker]

I bought a 2015 RT Limited.
Love it new motor and SE6 transmission is a great combination. No issues with it.

[SpyderAnn01]

I have a 2014 RTS SM-6 and have had it for 25 months I now have 72,000 miles knit and have had no problems. Awesome machine.

[SPIDR1]

You cannot go wrong with the RTL...I have a 13 model and it is the best thing since slice cheese...The RTL has all the bells and whistles while the RTS does not....I have friends who have the RTS's and guess what, they are adding the accessories that the RTL's have and at a high cost....Whatever you get, you will still have a GREAT time riding!!!!!

[PrairieSpyder]

:welcome:

Just buy it!!! :thumbup:

[murphybrown]

I'm looking at the 2014 and 2015 models.
Did I mention I luv my issue free 2014 RTS and I'm pushing 40k. :firstplace:

[ARtraveler]

I'm looking at the 2014 and 2015 models.

The best of the best. Three cylinder has more torque, is quieter, and has lower maintenance requirements.

I have both a 2011 and a 2014 RT. The 2011 is a basic and the 2014 an RT-S. No issues across the board on either.

[rcturner]

I just replaced my 2012 RT-L with a 2014 RT-S. The 2014 was the dealer demo last year and had only 2100 miles on it. When I bought my 2012, the only one I could find in the color I wanted was an RT-L. Bought it, liked it very much. This time I went with an RT-S because all of the nice stuff the RT-L had turned out to be of little value to me. Most of the luggage was still in the original packaging. I used the cover once just to see what it looked like and the very expensive GPS is pretty much useless when you are out in the daylight. If you are going to find value in the extra chrome and equipment, go for the RT-L. Otherwise, go for the RT-S and save a fair amount of money that can be used for other trinkets.

[Bob Denman]

:welcome:

;) For gosh sakes: just buy the dang bike! :2thumbs:

[RDW]

Went to the dealer yesterday to purchase one of these bikes. I asked the salesman, "how much are oil changes on these things?" He said, "anywhere from $280 to $300". What the What? Really? Is that normal? What do you guys pay for your oil changes?

[Bob Denman]

$137... :thumbup:
But my dealer only charges $65 bucks an hour for his labor! :D

[robmorg]

So I'm thinking of making this purchase, but wanted to get feedback on the reliability of this bike and what do you guys NOT like about it?

As you see, everyone likes their RS - especially if they have a 2014 model or newer. However, to be fair, there has been a lot of complaints on the forum about a DESS problem on the 2014 models that can occasionally leave you stranded. DESS stands for "Digitally Encoded Security System" and has to do with the security chip key system the Spyder uses. Since I own an earlier model, I don't know if BRP has fully resolved it, yet, and/or if it extends to the 2015 models as well. Perhaps someone more familiar with the problem will chime in here.

That said, for as sophisticated as this machine is - much more so than most bikes - reliability problems seem to be relatively few. Also, Spyders have a two-year factory warranty, which can be extended for another 3 years at a reasonable cost. Many buyers get their dealers do throw in the extended warranty as part of the deal, and sometimes BRP offers two extra years free as a sales promotion - especially on left-over models. The manufacturer is generally pretty good about fixing problems that may crop up if any. So "reliability" is really not much of a concern for a Can Am Spyder, IMO.

[almosthere]

We just picked up our 2015 RT-S SE6 today. The service manager did the walk through with us and I have to say after being on this forum with all these great knowledgeable people for a few months I really felt like I understood what he was showing us. Thank you all. We only had 1 small issue with what he wanted us to do. He asked us to inspect the tightness of the front wheel lug nuts after 20 miles. REALLY? once we got on it we didn't stop for 75 miles. Then we turned around and headed home. Another 70 miles later we are home with big grins on our faces and both front wheels still where they are supposed to be. LOL I will check the lugs in the morning before I head out for another ride.I would recommend one of these bike for anyone who to ride without a cage around them.

[RDW]

As you see, everyone likes their RS - especially if they have a 2014 model or newer. However, to be fair, there has been a lot of complaints on the forum about a DESS problem on the 2014 models that can occasionally leave you stranded. DESS stands for "Digitally Encoded Security System" and has to do with the security chip key system the Spyder uses. Since I own an earlier model, I don't know if BRP has fully resolved it, yet, and/or if it extends to the 2015 models as well. Perhaps someone more familiar with the problem will chime in here.

That said, for as sophisticated as this machine is - much more so than most bikes - reliability problems seem to be relatively few. Also, Spyders have a two-year factory warranty, which can be extended for another 3 years at a reasonable cost. Many buyers get their dealers do throw in the extended warranty as part of the deal, and sometimes BRP offers two extra years free as a sales promotion - especially on left-over models. The manufacturer is generally pretty good about fixing problems that may crop up if any. So "reliability" is really not much of a concern for a Can Am Spyder, IMO.

I think that DESS problem still persists b/c there is a couple in our motorcycle group that have the 2015's and one of them had the issue with the key and had to take it back to BRP for repair. Not overly worried about that as much as I am for general maintenance costs.

[scooterexpress]

I think that DESS problem still persists b/c there is a couple in our motorcycle group that have the 2015's and one of them had the issue with the key and had to take it back to BRP for repair. Not overly worried about that as much as I am for general maintenance costs.

like I mentioned get the prepaid maintence from the dealership it covers all the intervals for maintence then you got no worries are you buying from freedom power sports in Lewisville? that's where I got mine have had no problems from them.

[RDW]

like I mentioned get the prepaid maintence from the dealership it covers all the intervals for maintenance then you got no worries are you buying from freedom power sports in Lewisville? that's where I got mine have had no problems from them.

No, I'm going to Louis Powersports in Greenville. You don't really save a lot of money by purchasing the maintenance plan. I guess the big advantage is not having to come out of your pocket at that particular time. We'll see what happens on Saturday. I'll let you know.

[ruralgirl]

Went to the dealer yesterday to purchase one of these bikes. I asked the salesman, "how much are oil changes on these things?" He said, "anywhere from $280 to $300". What the What? Really? Is that normal? What do you guys pay for your oil changes?

My dealer in northern OH said $350 when I bought my RT-S this winter.

[SPIDR1]

When my RTL needed the first oil change, I said to myself, I can do it. I ran the RTL up on car ramps, locked it into park, used my floor jack to jack up the back end, put boards under the rear tire and then proceeded. Just follow the directions (YouTube) and take the sections of tupper wear off in sequence to get to the oil tank and filters. I ordered my filters via the internet. Just take your time, play the 60's and 70's music up loud, pay no attention to the wife complaining, and save a bundle of money. I used 100% 10w30 synthetic after putting on 1400 miles to ensure a good break in. GOOD LUCK AND FUN!!!!!



Went to the dealer yesterday to purchase one of these bikes. I asked the salesman, "how much are oil changes on these things?" He said, "anywhere from $280 to $300". What the What? Really? Is that normal? What do you guys pay for your oil changes?

[Lew L]

Hi RDW,

I had the stealer do the first service and sign the owners manual. I also purchased drain bolts with hex heads and the mech replaced them, no charge.
Next oil and filter I'll do my self ( been doing them for decades) with ramps and a jack. YouTube vids show how easy it is.

Kaos

[robmorg]

Went to the dealer yesterday to purchase one of these bikes. I asked the salesman, "how much are oil changes on these things?" He said, "anywhere from $280 to $300". What the What? Really? Is that normal? What do you guys pay for your oil changes? Guess it depends on the dealer. I went to my dealer this morning and this is what I had done to get my RT ready for Spring...



Replace engine oil & filters
Check coolant level and brake fluid level
Torque front wheel lugs
Lube front suspension arms
Inspect belt condition and adjust tension
Check and torque front belt sprocket
Run BUDS check and advise any fault codes


Plus, it was raining this morning when I rode it to the shop, so they wiped it all down for me. :)

The bill for everything was $241.91 including labor, oil, parts, shop supplies, and sales tax. I can live with that. :thumbup:

[RDW]

OK, I took the plunge today on a 2015 RT-S - Black. Wanted red, but black was the only one left in the 2015 model. Gonna play around and get familiar with it. The only thing I'm hating so far is the key - No way to add a key-ring (what's up with that)? I did purchase the maintenance plan, however, I didn't realize that I had to take it to the dealer I purchased it from. Had I known that, I would have just purchased a maintenance plan from a dealer closer to my house; this dealer is 70 miles from me. Oh well, lesson learned. Hope to enjoy it as much as I enjoyed my previous bike. Thanks for all of the suggestions and advice.

[robmorg]

:congrats: on the new RT-S. You made a great choice.

As for the Maintenance plan, if you bought the BRP B.E.S.T plan, it is administered by BRP and ANY dealer will honor it. It is tied to your serial number, not the dealer who sold it. If you bought some other proprietary plan that can only be used at one dealer, you may want to return that and get your money back during the mandatory period you have to return it. Read the fine print, but do it quickly.

If you have questions about the plan you bought, call BRP Customer service. The number is in your owners manual.

[RDW]

:congrats: on the new RT-S. You made a great choice.

As for the Maintenance plan, if you bought the BRP B.E.S.T plan, it is administered by BRP and ANY dealer will honor it. It is tied to your serial number, not the dealer who sold it. If you bought some other proprietary plan that can only be used at one dealer, you may want to return that and get your money back during the mandatory period you have to return it. Read the fine print, but do it quickly.

If you have questions about the plan you bought, call BRP Customer service. The number is in your owners manual.

Well it's not through BRP and according to the fine print, it's non cancellable. Guess I should have read it before signing it. Oh well, as long as they honor the plan, I suppose I'll live with it. As mentioned before, lessons learned. Thanks

[Bob Denman]

OK, I took the plunge today on a 2015 RT-S - Black. Wanted red, but black was the only one left in the 2015 model. Gonna play around and get familiar with it. The only thing I'm hating so far is the key - No way to add a key-ring (what's up with that)?

:congrats: :nopic: :2thumbs:
The "Key thing" is really easy to solve...


http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=127203&stc=1

[SPIDR1]

Went to the dealer yesterday to purchase one of these bikes. I asked the salesman, "how much are oil changes on these things?" He said, "anywhere from $280 to $300". What the What? Really? Is that normal? What do you guys pay for your oil changes?

After I broke in my 13 RTL, I did my own oil change. Not hard at all. Check YouTube on the way how to do it. I saved a bundle plus doing it myself, I knew it was done correctly. Always the fear that the dealer would screw it up. Then again, its my baby and I take care of my baby.

[Jim&Teresa]

I'm looking at the 2014 and 2015 models.

We've had our 2014RT Limited for over two years and have just over 26,000 miles on it. :D:D:D It's a great bike and the powertrain is strong. :firstplace:

FYI....Tires (on any motorcycle) will wear quicker than car tires if this is your first motorcycle.

Stick with a 2014 or newer and you'll do great. There's probably some great deals out there for clearance on older models......

Best wishes to you on your next bike purchase! :thumbup: