Is BRP Dishonorable?

[WaltH]

At the first Spyder owners meeting in Valcourt (Homecoming) in 2008, Lamonster got a $1,000 gift certificate for having the most miles on his Spyder. I was just a little behind him. I got a $1,000 gift certificate for riding the most miles to the event. It was clear to me that Lamonster and I would be high mileage riders. I had been riding my Harleys about 47,000 miles per year for some time. In my first year with the Spyder I was splitting my miles between the Spyder and my last Harley. In the Harley world there was no context in which high mileage was important, or even significant. I expected it to be the same in the Spyder world. I thought Lamonster and I would engage in friendly banter about who had the most miles and therefore who loved riding motorcycles the most. It would be the kind of juvenile teasing common in high school. Lamonster and I would not have been in high school together because I was in college when he was born; nevertheless, I thought we would have a good time.

At the time of the second owners meeting in Los Angeles, a different pattern had emerged. A fellow from the east coast, Nickcaro, was commuting to work on his Spyder and had racked up some really serious mileage. He was and is the highest mileage rider. I was the second highest mileage rider. Third place was held by another guy from Florida, Docdoru, who was not very far behind me. Docdoru got the gift certificate for being the highest mileage rider because neither Nickcaro, nor I, attended the event. BRP was establishing a tradition of awarding a prize for the highest mileage rider in attendance at the owners meetings.

Going into the third annual owners meeting in Lake Villa, the rankings remained the same. Nickcaro had a commanding lead, and I was a somewhat distant second. Docdoru remained in third place. Because I didn’t expect Nickcaro to attend the event, I thought the gift certificate would be awarded to me. My lead over Docdoru was growing.

What I didn’t know was that BRP had decided to discontinue awarding a prize for the highest mileage rider. This was a perfectly reasonable thing to do. It doesn’t make much sense to give a $1,000 prize when there are only three people who can possibly win it. It makes even less sense when the lead guy doesn’t attend the event. I understand what BRP was doing and why they were doing it. I am sympathetic to their point of view. What I didn’t like was how they did it. BRP bungled it badly.

When I asked the BRP executive if they were going to award a gift certificate for the highest mileage rider, he said “no”, that they had already given a pin and plaque to Docdoru for 100K and that he was the highest mileage rider. What? Docdoru got a plaque for 100,000 kilometers. That’s no where near the highest mileage. BRP did not make it clear that the plague was for kilometers and not miles. Either they didn’t know, or didn’t care. I would say they didn’t care. They just wanted this whole thing to go away. Docdoru, himself, would be the first one to tell you the plaque was for kilometers and that he had a considerable ways to go to reach 100,000 miles. At that time, Nickcaro was way beyond 100,000 miles and I was at 97,335 miles (not kilometers). BRP was oblivious to all of this. They were way out in the ether. In my opinion, their behavior was dishonorable.

BRP is just not good at public relations. They don’t have a feel for it. BRP could learn a few things from the folks at CowTown and those Spyder owners in Missouri who organized the Missouri Rendezvous. The Missouri gang would have terminated the high mileage program in an honorable way and everyone would have been happy. They would have done so without arrogance, deceit, false assertions, or slight of hand. BRP behaved as if they wanted to sneak off in the dead of night.

It is finished. This chapter is closed.

Some “executive” at BRP will write a memo asking the question: “who will rid me of this pesky old man.” - paraphrasing Shakespeare.

I will go back to telling Lamonster that if he really loved motorcycles, he would ride more. Maybe he will help me with my homework?

[Firefly]

In my book ... You are THE man Walt! Not only are you the highest mileage spyder owner...... You gave the spyder another chance after your first one burnt to the ground!

Most of us(including me) wouldn't give the spyder a second chance after
having one go up in flames !

If BRP won't recognize how many miles you have racked up....... Many of us out here will !

Sorry you were slighted by BRP on your account
ishment....

[bone crusher]

At the first Spyder owners meeting in Valcourt (Homecoming) in 2008, Lamonster got a $1,000 gift certificate for having the most miles on his Spyder. I was just a little behind him. I got a $1,000 gift certificate for riding the most miles to the event. It was clear to me that Lamonster and I would be high mileage riders. I had been riding my Harleys about 47,000 miles per year for some time. In my first year with the Spyder I was splitting my miles between the Spyder and my last Harley. In the Harley world there was no context in which high mileage was important, or even significant. I expected it to be the same in the Spyder world. I thought Lamonster and I would engage in friendly banter about who had the most miles and therefore who loved riding motorcycles the most. It would be the kind of juvenile teasing common in high school. Lamonster and I would not have been in high school together because I was in college when he was born; nevertheless, I thought we would have a good time.

At the time of the second owners meeting in Los Angeles, a different pattern had emerged. A fellow from the east coast, Nickcaro, was commuting to work on his Spyder and had racked up some really serious mileage. He was and is the highest mileage rider. I was the second highest mileage rider. Third place was held by another guy from Florida, Docdoru, who was not very far behind me. Docdoru got the gift certificate for being the highest mileage rider because neither Nickcaro, nor I, attended the event. BRP was establishing a tradition of awarding a prize for the highest mileage rider in attendance at the owners meetings.

Going into the third annual owners meeting in Lake Villa, the rankings remained the same. Nickcaro had a commanding lead, and I was a somewhat distant second. Docdoru remained in third place. Because I didn’t expect Nickcaro to attend the event, I thought the gift certificate would be awarded to me. My lead over Docdoru was growing.

What I didn’t know was that BRP had decided to discontinue awarding a prize for the highest mileage rider. This was a perfectly reasonable thing to do. It doesn’t make much sense to give a $1,000 prize when there are only three people who can possibly win it. It makes even less sense when the lead guy doesn’t attend the event. I understand what BRP was doing and why they were doing it. I am sympathetic to their point of view. What I didn’t like was how they did it. BRP bungled it badly.

When I asked the BRP executive if they were going to award a gift certificate for the highest mileage rider, he said “no”, that they had already given a pin and plaque to Docdoru for 100K and that he was the highest mileage rider. What? Docdoru got a plaque for 100,000 kilometers. That’s no where near the highest mileage. BRP did not make it clear that the plague was for kilometers and not miles. Either they didn’t know, or didn’t care. I would say they didn’t care. They just wanted this whole thing to go away. Docdoru, himself, would be the first one to tell you the plaque was for kilometers and that he had a considerable ways to go to reach 100,000 miles. At that time, Nickcaro was way beyond 100,000 miles and I was at 97,335 miles (not kilometers). BRP was oblivious to all of this. They were way out in the ether. In my opinion, their behavior was dishonorable.

BRP is just not good at public relations. They don’t have a feel for it. BRP could learn a few things from the folks at CowTown and those Spyder owners in Missouri who organized the Missouri Rendezvous. The Missouri gang would have terminated the high mileage program in an honorable way and everyone would have been happy. They would have done so without arrogance, deceit, false assertions, or slight of hand. BRP behaved as if they wanted to sneak off in the dead of night.

It is finished. This chapter is closed.

Some “executive” at BRP will write a memo asking the question: “who will rid me of this pesky old man.” - paraphrasing Shakespeare.

I will go back to telling Lamonster that if he really loved motorcycles, he would ride more. Maybe he will help me with my homework?

You have a very legitimate point. If they are going to award the highest mile award to someone who doesn't have the highest mileage, then that person should tell BRP they have the wrong dude and insist they award you with the prize. 100,000 miles on the Spyder is simply nuts! Incredible! You deserve a new seat, if nothing else!

[WizardMaster]

[docdoru]

The 100K Pin and Plate are both for 100,000 Km:
1. Proof of achieving 62,136.8 miles, on 01.09.2010 http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=170979&postcount=1
2. One Spyder, one Rider (in order to exclude situations like: one have another Spyder to ride while the first one was in service, or cumulate miles on RS1 + RS2, RS + RT….); unfortunately your first Spyder was totaled; having "one engine" unopened or replaced it is just ice on the cake for Rotax...
3. ECM/display limitation to count over 62,136.8 miles
4. Any proof of mileage beyond the "0" mark need a time stamp, like this http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showpost.php?p=188552&postcount=1 in order to not be confused with the previous 5K's, 25K's and 62,136.8's....
Nickcaro's Spyder after the "roll over" start counting miles from "0", than jumps in the 62K-ish again...last activity on the forum was 5.10.2010; I did try to call him but the phone # is disconnected.

It is finished. This chapter is closed.

IMO the race for 100,000 miles is still open. Who is going to be the first to wear the SpyderLovers 100K miles patch?

“who will rid me of this pesky old man.” -paraphrasing Shakespeare.

To my wife amusement just got my AARP card on the Chicago departure day...

[docdoru]

What I didn’t know was that BRP had decided to discontinue awarding a prize for the highest mileage rider.

Wrong: the "highest mileage rider" recognition award was abandoned for the first time at "Spyders in the Smokies" September 2009.

[Lamonster]

Walt I don't know how you find the time to put so many times on your Spyder. I think that's great Bro.

I'm not sure how BRP comes up with some of the things they do but here's my take.

You most likely have the most miles on a Spyder to date. I wouldn't say that BRP was dishonorable but I would say that having no real rules or guidelines is the problem.

Why BRP didn't say the achievement awards would be calculated in either kilometers or miles I don't know. This was their first mistake. I'm sure if we were in Canada driving 100mph and got pulled over and said that we didn't think it mattered if we went by kilometers or miles we would find out real quick that it does matter.

Here's the real gray area that should have been spelled out. Should the award be given to the member who had the most miles on the original motor? If so Doc has everyone beat there. Nick's motor was replaced at least once that I know of.

If you rebuilding or replacing the motor was fine as long as it was in the same Spyder with the same vin number then Nick would be the leader for sure.

Now if you want to add Spyder miles total then my guess you've got it with the two Spyders you've put your miles on. I know your first Spyder burnt to the ground and you're adding your mileage from that and that's fine if BRP would have said total miles as a Spyder owner. I have miles on my RS and two RT's now and there are many members here that own more than one Spyder. Should their mileage be counted on both Spyders? Heck krb1945 has three Spyders of his own now, should they add the mileage of all three of his?

I'm sorry you feel slighted by BRP but this falls under the category of "No good dead goes unpunished". As you stated BRP doesn't have to give out any awards for anything. Last year the "Spyder Elite" was recognized for having over 25K on their Spyders but this year it had nothing to do with mileage or kilometers. That's their choice to make up the rules as they go but it does cause some unintended problems.

You Doc and Nick are all number in my book if that means anything.

[bjt]

I guess I don't know that having the most miles on the original motor constitutes something more important than having the mileage on three motors or two Spyders as long as the one PERSON obtained all those miles. Why disqualify a person because they got a bad machine from BRP. IMO, there should be a special award going to Nick and Walt for having major issues with their Spyders and still sticking with them. I do think that that the blame on BRP should be for their lack of a good plan to handle things like this. It's in the same category of how they handled (or should I say mishandled) the Premier Edition rollout in both the PE numbers and in how they initially distributed those PE Spyders.

I want to add that I know that docdoru has contacted BRP about his mileage and applied for the mileage pins. Those of us (like me) that don't apply for those things probably shouldn't expect that BRP will hunt us down to verify what our mileage is. I don't know if Walt or Nick have applied for the mileage pins.

[Lamonster]

I guess I don't know that having the most miles on the original motor constitutes something more important than having the mileage on three motors or two Spyders as long as the one PERSON obtained all those miles. Why disqualify a person because they got a bad machine from BRP. IMO, there should be a special award going to Nick and Walt for having major issues with their Spyders and still sticking with them. I do think that that the blame on BRP should be for their lack of a good plan to handle things like this. It's in the same category of how they handled (or should I say mishandled) the Premier Edition rollout in both the PE numbers and in how they initially distributed those PE Spyders.

I want to add that I know that docdoru has contacted BRP about his mileage and applied for the mileage pins. Those of us (like me) that don't apply for those things probably shouldn't expect that BRP will hunt us down to verify what our mileage is. I don't know if Walt or Nick have applied for the mileage pins.

That's the whole point Brian, we don't know if anyone was disqualified for anything do we? There are no rules other than you have to submit a photo with your mileage/kilometers. As you know you can't submit a 100,000 miles photo and the best you could do would be a 99,999 kilometers photo.

If I was BRP I would just say screw the whole thing.

[NancysToy]

If I was BRP I would just say screw the whole thing.

The odometer reset issue has confused this beyond all redemption! They should quietly let it go away.

[rnet]

Mileage means nothing to me, It's the quality of the ride, not the quantity. Snowmobilers always ask also, how many miles did you ride today. Seems it is important to some.

[Roger]

You don't need awards or gift certificates you know what you have accomplished in life and that should be a happy memory for the rest of your spydering life. By the way congrates to all 3 of you.

[krb1945]

I'm reading this thread and I'm thoroughly confused now on the top three mileage machines. Lamont tell me the three top mileage riders so I can pm them for their addresses. When you get up to mileages nearing a "100,000 miles"... in my book that is a feat to accomplish.

One free Spyder Oil Change Kit to each of them. I'll need the mileage on their machines and whether SE or SM at the time they PM me their address so I can put it on their Ivoices. Ken krb1945

I think I figured it out... if not someone straighten me out. 1 Nickcaro, 2 Spyder1026 and 3 Docdoru... I need a day off. Ken krb1945

[wyliec]

I'm reading this thread and I'm thoroughly confused now on the top three mileage machines. Lamont tell me the three top mileage riders so I can pm them for their addresses. When you get up to mileages nearing a "100,000 miles"... in my book that is a feat to accomplish.

One free Spyder Oil Change Kit to each of them. I'll need the mileage on their machines and whether SE or SM at the time they PM me their address so I can put it on their Ivoices. Ken krb1945

We definitely have excellent, sponsoring vendors on this site.

Oh, and congrats to you 3 high milers.

[dancogan]

As a friend of mine on another board (Voni Glaves) would say, "It's the sMiles, not the miles that count."

[SpyderSteve]

I'm reading this thread and I'm thoroughly confused now on the top three mileage machines. Lamont tell me the three top mileage riders so I can pm them for their addresses. When you get up to mileages nearing a "100,000 miles"... in my book that is a feat to accomplish.

One free Spyder Oil Change Kit to each of them. I'll need the mileage on their machines and whether SE or SM at the time they PM me their address so I can put it on their Ivoices. Ken krb1945

I think I figured it out... if not someone straighten me out. 1 Nickcaro, 2 Spyder1026 and 3 Docdoru... I need a day off. Ken krb1945

[jeuchler]

...Snowmobilers always ask also, how many miles did you ride today. Seems it is important to some.

...who had the most miles and therefore who loved riding motorcycles the most. It would be the kind of juvenile teasing common in high school. Lamonster and I would not have been in high school together because I was in college when he was born...

When motorcyclists ask me, "How many miles you got on that?" I usually respond asking "How old are you?"

If they answer any number less than fifty-two, I say "I win. I may not have ridden further, but i've ridden nearer to the end of my life than you."