What's with pressing the ECO Button before starting?

[RedRover]

Owned my 2015 Spyder RT Special for 24 hours now and am delighted with all of the features but am puzzled with the ECO button on thr top of the left grip. I have read most of the owners manual and find no mention. Specifically here is my problem: When I attempt to start the engine, I put the transmission in Neutral, turn the key to on, and push the starter button. I then get a message "Read Safety Card and push ECO button". After pushing the button the starter button is activated and all is right with the world as the engine starts.
I really hate that extra step with every engine start.
Thanks in advance to any of you experienced riders who can help with my problem.

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Owned my 2015 Spyder RT Special for 24 hours now and am delighted with all of the features but am puzzled with the ECO button on thr top of the left grip. I have read most of the owners manual and find no mention. Specifically here is my problem: When I attempt to start the engine, I put the transmission in Neutral, turn the key to on, and push the starter button. I then get a message "Read Safety Card and push ECO button". After pushing the button the starter button is activated and all is right with the world as the engine starts.
I really hate that extra step with every engine start.
Thanks in advance to any of you experienced riders who can help with my problem.

Unfortunately, you have one choice available. Deal with it! There is no way to disable it other than some options for flashing the Engine Control Module. At least you don't have to wait for the bootup process to complete like you do with pre-2015 Spyders. Why the admonishment to read the safety card exists, we have no idea. Probably Canadian lawyer influence.

[Lew L]

Yes the ECU flash is expensive way to fix the ECO button and 20 sec wait ( frustrating). But---- with the ECO fix you get an extra 15 horsepower in the bargain.

Lew L

[MONK]

Having to press the "ECO" button (later rebadged as the "Mode" button although the function didn't change) is annoying, but I'm guessing it's just as Idaho said. It's a legal thing to encourage you to read the safety card. On earlier models, it also gives the electronics time to boot up. If you're robbing a bank and need a quick getaway vehicle, pick something other than a Can Am Spyer. (I've owned my 2018 RTL for about 9 months. Not sure I've read the card yet. Unless BuRP lawyers are reading this in which case, I read it every time I start the bike. Sometimes I even stop during a ride just to re-read it.)

[JayBros]

Spyders have had the Mode button since initial introduction. From MY 2008-2012 it was on the Multifunction Gauge Cluster and was moved to the left handgrip in MY 2013. The "ECO" appears above the Mode button so the operator knows to give the button a long push to get into or out of that infernal mode while motoring down the road without having to take a hand off the bars to make the change -- a move obviously dictated by the corporate ambulance chasers.

[ARtraveler]

As said above...same button different features. Mode/Eco are the same button. Mode tells the computer that you have read the safety card. A longer press initiates the Eco process. Slowed down gear ratios and supposed to be better mileage. I don't think 1 to 1.5 gallons does it for me.

[Lew L]

Or you could have this on the card. ( Thanks to Bob Denman )

Safety card.jpg

[Gwolf]

After 1,000+ cold starts, pushing the mode button, releasing parking brake button, and flipping the kill switch to on position becomes pure habit that you do not even need to think about.

[ES44AC]

A waste of time and engineering. Just my opinion, but nothing we can do about it easily.

[Steve W.]

A waste of time and engineering.

This is another one of those times when I ask the question:

"Why did they make it so difficult?
With just a little more engineering, they could have made it IMPOSSIBLE."

.

[MONK]

Just a thought (and I could be wrong...I'm neither a lawyer nor Canadian) but maybe Canadian law (where the BuRPs are built) requires something to "encourage" the reading of the safety card. I'm sure this is more of a holdover from the earlier models that took time to boot the system but if there's some sort of Canadian law...........

Again, just a thought.

[billybovine]

Just a thought (and I could be wrong...I'm neither a lawyer nor Canadian) but maybe Canadian law (where the BuRPs are built) requires something to "encourage" the reading of the safety card. I'm sure this is more of a holdover from the earlier models that took time to boot the system but if there's some sort of Canadian law...........

Again, just a thought.

There is no such Canadian law.

[MONK]

ok. It was just a thought. Like I said, I'm neither Canadian nor a lawyer although I've been to Canada enough times, I feel like I ought to be a citizen.

[Gwolf]

Maybe you shouldn't try to remove the message. It would be a lot better to change the wording of the message to some 'wise A' saying such as the one on the bottom of my Sportster mirrors when the key comes on.

[Geep]

The ECU flash removes that startup procedure PLUS puts a smile on your face

[AeroPilot]

But it does give you the "inside" info you need to start the bike... the uninitiated non-Spyder ryder can't just start your bike!

As Bill Murray said on Caddyshack - "So I got that goin for me, which is always nice"

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Hey RedRover! How about a response to let us know you've read our comments. We'd appreciate it! Otherwise we don't know if we are just blathering in thin air or if we have helped you. Thanks.