SE5 Stuck in gear with engine off

[bjt]

BRP spent many thousands of hours, over many years, with the prototypes, demos, and test machines. I have a friend that went to the "Official Launch" and they rode for hours, only to come back to be debriefed for a couple of hours at a time by BRP's engineers. I suspect that some of these problems just never showed up, despite rigerous testing and thousands of miles. Sometimes, pre-production parts are not exactly the same as those obtained from the suppliers after full production begins. It is a pity, but it is a fact. I'm sure BRP feels just as caught up in this, surprised, and disappointed as any of its customers. We all have to just sit back and deal with it. If that is not satisfactory, we will have to bid the Spyder goodbye, and move on. There are no other choices.
-Scotty

Those prototype machines might have some prototype parts that might be hand built or hand modified to work on the new machine. Once those various parts go into mass production, there may be a deficiency in the way they are built. I don't know if the Gear Position Sensor, the Steering assembly, etc. were off the shelf parts from whoever makes them but that could be one possible explanation of why there weren't many issues during testing but they have popped up in the early model products.

[Firefly]

Yeah, and BRP also had many parts made in places like Vietnam.

Can't Canada or the US make anything over here anymore?

[bone crusher]

Yeah, and BRP also had many parts made in places like Vietnam.

Can't Canada or the US make anything over here anymore?

We can...but the companies can't afford to pay $40.00/hr to move widgets around and then offer retirement packages that will cover you for 3 generations...

[mickc]

I had a situation when I backed my Spyder out of the garage to load on the trailer for the trip to Daytona, and shut it off in Reverse. After hooking up the trailer I then got back on the Spyder and NO START. No matter what I did it wouldn't start. Called the Dealer and got transfered to the shop. I was told to "ROCK" the Spyder back and forth. Right then and there I realized I was still in trouble. The Spyder has a centrifical clutch in first and reverse, rocking it would just be an exercise for my upper body. In desperation I opened the Owners Manual and found the information about using a 13mm wrench to get the transmission back into service. It worked and got loaded for the trip. No problem in the 300+ miles riden in Daytona. Got home and with the Spyder still on the trailer I made arrangements for the 600 mile service at 890 miles. A few days later took the Spyder to the dealer, 50 miles away. Pushed the Spyder off the trailer and it would not start to drive it into the service department. Every combination of feet, hands buuton pushing would convine the electrons to flow. Had to call helpers to push it to the service department. I explained the problem and left to wait till all the work was done. When done the service manager showed me they could not find any problems and started repeatedly in gear 4 times. There were no problems recorded on the computer that was checked during the service. Well its working just fine now. Also, my muffler, (stock) has a burn spot and the dealer has ordered a SS cover for the muffler under warrentee. I enjoy my SE5 very much, but am concerned about the gremlins that lives in the transmission. I needed the SE5 because I cannot shift with my left leg.

[retread]

One thing to remember here, the prototypes are hand built, mostly; the production unit parts are made by the lowest bidder.

john

[pathfinderjoe]

I'm not trying to add fuel to the fire or take a side in your discussion about M5 vs. E5. However, after gleaning info from this site about the problems with the E5 I decided to go with the manual. There were other factors involved in making my purchasing decision but the reports of problems with the E5 was a major factor. Love riding the spyder. Some day I'll ride when it's dry and warm.

[bone crusher]

I'm not trying to add fuel to the fire or take a side in your discussion about M5 vs. E5. However, after gleaning info from this site about the problems with the E5 I decided to go with the manual. There were other factors involved in making my purchasing decision but the reports of problems with the E5 was a major factor. Love riding the spyder. Some day I'll ride when it's dry and warm.

Yeah...I keep getting picked on for pointing out all the problems with the SE5...there is no question that it is more troublesome and costing everyone more money (in regards to the warranties)...BRP really needs to get going on the problems...I went with the SM5 because I wanted to have the control of the clutch and feel the machine work...I equate this to driving a manual car vs. an auto...anyone who has driven both knows there is quite a difference in feel of the ride....IMHO, manuals are much more fun to drive...

Whether someone owns the SM5 or the SE5, they're both great bikes...those with special needs have the option, unlike with any other bike, to get an auto...BRP has done great with offering this product...they just have to do a better job with making sure they work as well as advertised...people are dropping a lot of money for these bikes and they should not be having problems. Spring is here and we still read of people whose bikes are in the shop for weeks on end...

[bone crusher]

I had a situation when I backed my Spyder out of the garage to load on the trailer for the trip to Daytona, and shut it off in Reverse. After hooking up the trailer I then got back on the Spyder and NO START. No matter what I did it wouldn't start. Called the Dealer and got transfered to the shop. I was told to "ROCK" the Spyder back and forth. Right then and there I realized I was still in trouble. The Spyder has a centrifical clutch in first and reverse, rocking it would just be an exercise for my upper body. In desperation I opened the Owners Manual and found the information about using a 13mm wrench to get the transmission back into service. It worked and got loaded for the trip. No problem in the 300+ miles riden in Daytona. Got home and with the Spyder still on the trailer I made arrangements for the 600 mile service at 890 miles. A few days later took the Spyder to the dealer, 50 miles away. Pushed the Spyder off the trailer and it would not start to drive it into the service department. Every combination of feet, hands buuton pushing would convine the electrons to flow. Had to call helpers to push it to the service department. I explained the problem and left to wait till all the work was done. When done the service manager showed me they could not find any problems and started repeatedly in gear 4 times. There were no problems recorded on the computer that was checked during the service. Well its working just fine now. Also, my muffler, (stock) has a burn spot and the dealer has ordered a SS cover for the muffler under warrentee. I enjoy my SE5 very much, but am concerned about the gremlins that lives in the transmission. I needed the SE5 because I cannot shift with my left leg.

Argh...sorry to hear about this...keep the pressure on BRP...as far as the muffler goes, make sure the gaskets are replaced and they're not just covering the spot...

[Firefly]

I can't believe BRP didn't have the foresight to put some kind of lever to force the bike into neutral - or have some kind of manual clutch lever for this type of situation.

[wftb]

i bought a used spyder roadster se5 with 200 km on it , 2009 model .ran it 140 km with no problems and once i got used to it was loving the bike . then today the bike would not start cause i left it in first .would not shift in to neutral . read the manual and did the wrench thing . got it going , road to port elgin wal mart , gave it too much gas , chirped the rear tire in reverse and it shut down .would not restart and could not shift into neutral .out with the wrench again .now , every time i try to shift in to neutral i have to slap the paddle shifter about 5 times .i thought i tried stepping on the brake as i hit the starter button but i only got clued in to that trick because my wife googled the problem .but i have no warranty .i looked at the linkage while manually changing gears with the wrench .looks like i could bolt on a manual shifter to save future headaches .any one done this ?