Daytona and DPS problems

[TJ_Spyder]

Heading back from Daytona Spyder Owner's and Spring Dash event yesterday my steering started acting up. When I exited the highway it wanted to veer ot the right and right off the road. I slowed as I was almost in the grass and it suddenly jerked back to the left and let me steer it. The same thing happened 8-10 times during the 1.5 miles from exit to hotel. Luckily it didn't happen at 70 mph. Also lucky I had a trailer to get it home.


I have a call into the dealer...


BTW I had both DPS updates done and no issues since the second update during the Spyders in the Smokies event.

Premier 08
6700 miles

[RoadHammer]

Looking forward to hearing what your dealer finds out

[groundeffect]

Good luck hearing back from your dealer, please keep us updated.

GLAD to hear you're ok, besides a big fright!


Curious to know the year and miles on your Spyder???


Cheers and good luck!

[pitmon]

sorry to hear you are having trouble. Unfortunately it has happened to quite a few of us, hope they get you fixed up soon.

[czdaryle]

Good luck hearing back from your dealer, please keep us updated.

GLAD to hear you're ok, besides a big fright!


Curious to know the year and miles on your Spyder???


Cheers and good luck!

I'm afraid one of these times we are not going to be able to say this

[YPILOT]

I'm afraid one of these times we are not going to be able to say this

Hope BRP stops the maddness before it's too late.

[Smylinacha]

I am glad you are ok! Wish we had answers. I don't get it - it happens in different scenarios - some with people who have had updates, some who have not. What makes me nervous is you had the updates, ran fine for a while and then it started.

Anyway glad you didn't have a bad accident!

[Way2Fast]

Seems that we hear from those who have had issues and were lucky and walked away unharmed. I can't help but wonder if there are people who were less fortunate.

[Cundiffla]

Funny thing is this exactly what happen to us on the way home going about 70 to 73 mph, was spooky! Took mine to the dealer, he checked everything out, they too see the steering was fighting them. They discovered that the two front tires were to be 15 psi and was 10 psi. inflated the tires to proper inflation. Test drove it again says its didn't fight anymore. I asked why it didn't do it on way to Daytona but on the way back. They said possibility the sudden temperture change from Thursday morning to Thursday afternoon then changes back to Thursday night might cause air changes in the tires. But neverthless I test drove it about couple of hours it seems to be fine.

[dryheat]

sounds like he's blowing smoke! My DPS went as soon as the software updates were installed. A new DPS appears to be functioning, but I don't have too many miles on it since then. My personal opinion is that many of the early DPS units were bad. However, BRP, instead of doing a blanket recall on the DPS, are doing them piecemeal when they fail. Unfortunately, many of the early units will be out of the 2 year warranty period.

[fastfraser]

sounds like he's blowing smoke! My DPS went as soon as the software updates were installed. A new DPS appears to be functioning, but I don't have too many miles on it since then. My personal opinion is that many of the early DPS units were bad. However, BRP, instead of doing a blanket recall on the DPS, are doing them piecemeal when they fail. Unfortunately, many of the early units will be out of the 2 year warranty period.

+1

[wyliec]

I agree also......and, we don't have any assurance from BRP that it is indeed fixed. Seems that many of the "repaired" Spyders are having multiple DPS failures......leads me to believe that they don't have an answer......

Can't speak for anyone else, but I have ZERO confidence in BRP's abilities to address, research, diagnose or repair this issue.

To this point, the only thing that they have excelled at, is creating excuses.......

I think it's time for some action.....

Still nothing new from Ghislain since your post of 2/19/10?

[silverfox]

Same thing happend to me and I was doing 75 mph passing an 18 wheeler, scared the living sh--t out of me!! same as you I was able to keep control-- all the up date's were done on mine also.
I have been riding for 50 yrs. "OLD DUDE" never had any thing like that happen before-however this is the only 3 wheeler I haver owned.

Joe B.

[musicarcade]

I had the same thing happen to me last Nov.- passing a 18 wheeler at 75mph..
I think BRP should change those 100k pins that they will never pass out (how can you when the odometer zeros out at 62K+?) and make DPS survivor pins

[Firefly]

sounds like he's blowing smoke! My DPS went as soon as the software updates were installed. A new DPS appears to be functioning, but I don't have too many miles on it since then. My personal opinion is that many of the early DPS units were bad. However, BRP, instead of doing a blanket recall on the DPS, are doing them piecemeal when they fail. Unfortunately, many of the early units will be out of the 2 year warranty period.

Pretty sure BRP is covering those units that are out of warranty. The recall happened well within anyone having a Spyder for 2 years--- and the recall was for around 9,000 Spyders in North America.

The manufacturer of the DPS unit that supplies them to BRP is covering any actual defective DPS units. Not sure a 'blanket' DPS recall would actually solve these problems--- as I think we have multiple causes with similar symptoms.

Causes of steering problems have been: Bad sensors, mis-aligned sensors, bad DPS units, software glitches.... and those are just the 4 that I know of.

Anyone hear of a 2010 unit having issues yet?
Wonder if there are any changes in DPS related part numbers from 08 to 09 to 10?

Seems most that had the problem had many thousands of miles on the bike before it happened-- I know mine didn't happen until around 5,000 miles. GPS sensor and software updates fixed mine--- now around 15,000 miles and runs great.

[NancysToy]

Same thing happend to me and I was doing 75 mph passing an 18 wheeler, scared the living sh--t out of me!!

Causes of steering problems have been: Bad sensors, mis-aligned sensors, bad DPS units, software glitches.... and those are just the 4 that I know of.

I would add at least two other causes. I doubt the issue passing a semi at 75 was steering. I experienced a severe case of it yesterday when I took my RT-S out on the highway for the first time. It wobbled and shook to the verge of control, then shot sideways suddenly as I pulled out to pass. Wind buffeting, plain and simple. Worse than a bike with a handlebar fairing...and those are mean! An inexperience rider like Nancy might not have survived. We'll see if a stronger shock setting helps...or possibly Elkas.

The other cause is a combination of road conditions, that fool the sensors and VSS during a turn. I have experienced this and have been able to repeat it. Off-camber uphill corner will trigger it every time. Spyder tries to steer the wrong way, then must be muscled to the correct line, usually overcorrecting as you transition off the banking. Nature of the beast, I'm afraid. it requires taking this type of corner slower, and being ready to manhandle it into submission.The new programming as a result of the steering recall may have helped this problem. I have not had a chance to test it since the update. Similar situation to gravel in a corner on a two-wheeler, in some ways, just someting you look for and adjust to.

[musicarcade]

I guess I misread the top post- my mishap last Nov. happened when I was passing a semi and just as I got by it my had dps fault scroll by and went into limp mode. Lotta fun that was.

Although I was wondering if the sudden change in wind/air pressure from being behing the semi and then pulling in front of it could contribute to the throwing a code

[Firefly]

I would add at least two other causes. I doubt the issue passing a semi at 75 was steering. I experienced a severe case of it yesterday when I took my RT-S out on the highway for the first time. It wobbled and shook to the verge of control, then shot sideways suddenly as I pulled out to pass. Wind buffeting, plain and simple. Worse than a bike with a handlebar fairing...and those are mean! An inexperience rider like Nancy might not have survived. We'll see if a stronger shock setting helps...or possibly Elkas.

The other cause is a combination of road conditions, that fool the sensors and VSS during a turn. I have experienced this and have been able to repeat it. Off-camber uphill corner will trigger it every time. Spyder tries to steer the wrong way, then must be muscled to the correct line, usually overcorrecting as you transition off the banking. Nature of the beast, I'm afraid. it requires taking this type of corner slower, and being ready to manhandle it into submission.The new programming as a result of the steering recall may have helped this problem. I have not had a chance to test it since the update. Similar situation to gravel in a corner on a two-wheeler, in some ways, just someting you look for and adjust to.

Good points. The highway wind buffeting can be really shocking until you get used to it. I limit my time on the highways because I don't care for that effect. The Spyder catches far more wind than other bikes.... for sure.

[NancysToy]

Good points. The highway wind buffeting can be really shocking until you get used to it. I limit my time on the highways because I don't care for that effect. The Spyder catches far more wind than other bikes.... for sure.

The RT seems far worse than Nancy's GS, even with the addition of the CHAD windshield. I think a bit of it is the softer suspension.

[SpyderWolf]

TJ Spyder, I am glad you were able to make it to the hotel safely and then had a trailer to get it home with. Fortunately all of my issues seemed to have cleared up after shutting the Spyder down for a few minutes after the track ryde. I am grateful to Kurt from BRP for hooking my Spyder up to BUDS the next day and clearing all of the codes for me. It was all trouble free ryding after my little track mishap, that as you know was all caused by my lack of discipline.

[jwhatman]

Tsk, Tsk, see what NOT following directions gets you? Damn kids can't seem to follow a simple direction, do NOT go up the banks! I hope you learned your lesson! I know it's hard to resist. Our Boxster did the same thing when we did a tour of the track a couple of years ago. We were stopped on one of the high banks and all the electronics went haywire! Needledd to say, we finished our run, shut off the car for a few minutes and were able to reset everything again and be on our way. Glad all is okay.

[SpyderWolf]

Tsk, Tsk, see what NOT following directions gets you? Damn kids can't seem to follow a simple direction, do NOT go up the banks! I hope you learned your lesson! I know it's hard to resist. Our Boxster did the same thing when we did a tour of the track a couple of years ago. We were stopped on one of the high banks and all the electronics went haywire! Needledd to say, we finished our run, shut off the car for a few minutes and were able to reset everything again and be on our way. Glad all is okay.

I know, but as my wife said, you only live once.

Lamont was actually telling me that last year he was able to ride all along the top of the banks without any problems; however, he also said there were a lot less track police out that time as well. The best part was when someone asked me if the officer had a sense of humor, as the answer was a resounding no! LOL

At least I wasn't one of the Sport Bike guys they pulled over and looked like they actually were kicking off the track.

[Firefly]

The RT seems far worse than Nancy's GS, even with the addition of the CHAD windshield. I think a bit of it is the softer suspension.

The RT has a 'softer' suspension? Or do you just have it set softer??

I thought the shocks were a bit beefier on the RT?

[boborgera]

[QUOTE=NancysToy;186301]I would add at least two other causes. I doubt the issue passing a semi at 75 was steering. I experienced a severe case of it yesterday when I took my RT-S out on the highway for the first time. It wobbled and shook to the verge of control, then shot sideways suddenly as I pulled out to pass. Wind buffeting, plain and simple. Worse than a bike with a handlebar fairing...and those are mean! An inexperience rider like Nancy might not have survived. We'll see if a stronger shock setting helps...or possibly Elkas.


Just my opinion I think your right about it being the nature of the beast,
I'Ve had my Spyder start to lift / veer off at high speeds while passing trucks/bus. It seems like aerodynamic lift, sort like it's trying to pivot on the rear wheel. My VW bugs 71/73 would sometimes act like that. Also didn't the Corvair have a similar quirk?

[TJ_Spyder]

TJ Spyder, I am glad you were able to make it to the hotel safely and then had a trailer to get it home with. Fortunately all of my issues seemed to have cleared up after shutting the Spyder down for a few minutes after the track ryde. I am grateful to Kurt from BRP for hooking my Spyder up to BUDS the next day and clearing all of the codes for me. It was all trouble free ryding after my little track mishap, that as you know was all caused by my lack of discipline.

I was hoping I could get the BRP guys to check it out that night. When I got back to the trailer they were all gone and everything was shut tight.

Decided to utilize the Roadside Assistance that's included with the BEST warranty and had it trucked from home to my dealer. Should hear something tomorrrow. I'm thinking of asking them to swap out the DPS...