Lurking . .. but concerned

[jbim]

I've been lurking around for a while and thinking of giving the Spyder a try. There's a shop close by that sells them and I thought I would see whether they would allow me to test ride it. However, there seems to be a lot a growing pain with the Spyder, even the 2009. Electrical and electronics seem to be a common problem area. Should I be concerned about first year reliability of these things or is it just the Internet emphasizing these problems. Is your perception that the Spyder's problems are no greater nor prevalent than any other bike. I've had to BMW's in the last three years and the've been reliable except for a couple of recalls. I haven't been stranded in 25K miles.

Thanks

JG

[Don in E Texas]

Remember that only a few :spyder2:'s have problems and those owners will post questions/comments about that. You will not see a post stating that "My Spyder does not have any problems"

I'm off on a Benefit Ride today --- should add another 150 miles or so to my already trouble-free 1,000 (yes, still new 08 SE5).

Don

[dltang]

I've been lurking around for a while and thinking of giving the Spyder a try. There's a shop close by that sells them and I thought I would see whether they would allow me to test ride it. However, there seems to be a lot a growing pain with the Spyder, even the 2009. Electrical and electronics seem to be a common problem area. Should I be concerned about first year reliability of these things or is it just the Internet emphasizing these problems. Is your perception that the Spyder's problems are no greater nor prevalent than any other bike. I've had to BMW's in the last three years and the've been reliable except for a couple of recalls. I haven't been stranded in 25K miles.

Thanks

JG
It is true there are some growing pains but I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "or is it just the Internet emphasizing these problems" People have a tendency to voice their complaints very loud, often times louder than praise.

[zzneonzz]

I've been lurking around for a while and thinking of giving the Spyder a try. There's a shop close by that sells them and I thought I would see whether they would allow me to test ride it. However, there seems to be a lot a growing pain with the Spyder, even the 2009. Electrical and electronics seem to be a common problem area. Should I be concerned about first year reliability of these things or is it just the Internet emphasizing these problems. Is your perception that the Spyder's problems are no greater nor prevalent than any other bike. I've had to BMW's in the last three years and the've been reliable except for a couple of recalls. I haven't been stranded in 25K miles.

Thanks

JG


Everything mechical can and will fail at some point. That being said I have a 2008 SE5 with just under 7000 trouble free miles. Most you will here online is the bad about things

[Greg H.]

SM5 with about 8,600 miles in just over 6 months. :thumbup:

If you've been hanging around, and thinking about a Spyder; going to the dealer and riding one, would most likely push you over the edge towards that purchase. :clap:

welcome

[M2Wild]

There is no guarentee that you won't have a problem ... no one can do that for you. But to better your odds, stay away from the more problematic SE5s if you can and buy a B.E.S.T. to cover yourself. Then go out and have fun. You will not regret it.

[NancysToy]

I have BMWs and my wife has a Spyder (that I steal regularly). I am not at all worried about the Spyder SM5, ours has been really good in a year of ownership. I do think it seems a bit more fragile than the Beemers, possibly due in part to the electronics, but we have experinced no real trouble ourselves. Some BMWs have had their share of bugs, too. I think CANBUS horror stories started with the Beemers. The dealer network is less experienced and not as robust for Spyder support. That seems to be the biggest difference to me. Most BMW dealers live for the opportunity to get a traveler back on the road again quickly. There are good Spyder dealers, too, but the parts seem less readily available sometimes, dealers are less likely to swipe parts off their floor models or personal rides, and most dealers are not focused on just the Spyder. If I had room in the garage, I would get a second Spyder for touring in a heartbeat, though. I guess that's the bottom line. It is the most comfortable, and most comforting, thing I have ever ridden! It's like asking which is better, Cadillac or Lexus. It's not like comparing a Yugo to a Ferrari.
-Scotty

[FANG]

I have had my SM5 since June of 08. I have 6000 miles and I currently have my spyder in the shop for one of those electronic concerns that you alluded to in your post.

I will say this the :f_spider: is a great machine. I have not had aproblem with mine until last Sunday. Most of the frustration you here about is not about the :f_spider: itself but about the length of time that it seems to take to get the :f_spider: back on the road when something does go wrong.

It is a process problem dealer diagnoses the problem - has to speak to BRP - BRP gives intructions on what to try to fix problem - parts are then ordered - wait on parts to arrive - try fix - if fix does not work then you back to step one.

I just spoke with my dealer and they have spoken to BRP and they want to try something to fix my :f_spider: So I feel like I in that loop in the middle of the process.

I will become vocal if I am not kept in that loop but the bottom line is I would not trade this ryde for any other. It is a great product.

[Dudley]

We bought our Spyder 11-18-2008 and turned 7000 miles yesterday. It is an SE5 that has had no disabling problems. We got the transmission "fix" and the parking brake "fix" done because it was free. I don't ride it hard, but I do add the miles. So far the Spyder has been flawless. After 40 years of riding 2 wheels, this has been sheer pleasure. The Spyder offers a lot of options that 2 wheels can't: the ability to pull off vertually anytime you want to if there is enough surface to park, no fear of your Spyder tipping over because the kick stand sank, being able to slowly drive over badly rutted trails to view a scene, to be able to ride 2 lane mountain roads as slow as you want to enjoy the scenery without fear of dropping it because you are in an inclined sharp curve that looks like a twisted pretzel, driving in the rain is safer because you now have 3 wheels holding you to the surface. I could go on, but you get the picture. This is an awesome machine. It's not perfect, because what man builds will always be flawed.

[orangespydiegirl]

Problem free!

[bone crusher]

Problem free!

Neat color...metallic orange looks good...sharp and very visible...

[capt.jim]

9000+miles, runs great, no problems other than the parking brake which quit after a week, didn't even bother to fix it, it's flat in S.Florida! And yes, i think the internet tends to magnify the problems.The steering sticking is a big concern for me, but i would buy it anyway and hope i get a good one. The steering may kill me IF it ever happens, but I'll be grinning till i go!