Want to help start a list and get BURPS (BRP) attention on how to improve???

[LeftCoast]

I haven’t listened to AM radio since 1972. Maybe my Spyder should have an 8 track player too.

 

[UtahPete]

Is this one of those 'spit the dummy' things you mentioned in another thread, or is this not applicable?:doorag: I'm referring to the OP, Pete. I sometimes get the Aussie/British slang mixed up.

The Brits refer to infant pacifiers as 'dummy t*ts'.

 

[Bob Denman]

I haven’t listened to AM radio since 1972. Maybe my Spyder should have an 8 track player too.

I tried it on my 2010; just to see what might happen...
It sounded about like trying to tune in a 1920s era radio. nojoke

A useless waste of space on the bike.

 

[Pirate looks at --]

First off, welcome new Spyder owner!!

Think of it this way. I am married to a wonderful woman, but she has her faults. I know what her faults are and am willing to live with them to get all of the good attributes she has.
Just because I know her faults doesn't mean that someone I just met can bad mouth her and start talking about her faults, and how they should be changed. Something that is important to that person may not mean a thing or matter to me at all.

You being a new owner and new to the board with hardly no miles or experience with your Spyder, bad mouthing your bike, the company, and wanting to tell BRP all the things they are doing wrong, "wanting to get there attention" rubs people who have had a Spyder for more time, ridden more miles, the wrong way.

My opinion is that AM radio sucks, no reason to even have it on a spyder, and as far as that goes, In the 3 years and 31,000 miles I have ridden, the FM radio has not been on for more than 10 min. I have all the music I want to listen to available VIA the 2,000+ songs on my GPS, Pandora, and if I want to listen to static free radio, I use Iheart radio. If I wanted to complain about it, I would ask that BRP eliminate the radio all together and add those apps to the bike somehow.

That is a totally different opinion than others out there, so who is BRP supposed to listen to?

I purchased my Spyder from Jason at Imotorsports in Chicago area. Jason explained many of the things you have questions about, that is the dealers job, to make sure you understand what you are buying. I was told how to open the Frunk or seat while the engine is running or off, how to lock the glove box by turning the handlebars all the way to the right or left then the key, how the floorboard under the brake pedal falls away under hard braking and how to reset it, and many other things that took about 60 min to go through.

Now think about the dealers who have a salesman go through all of the training of BRP to learn the in and outs of the Spyder, but then they may only sell 3 or 4 per year. Do you really think they are going to remember everything they learned and then remember to pass it on to you? SO how is it BRP's fault if things were not explained to you properly, would that not be a dealer problem? Have you gone back to the dealer and talked to the people there and had them help you with any of the things you are having problems with? Did you find out if it was a problem with the Spyder, or a problem with you not understanding what you purchased or how to make it function properly yet?

Even after spending 60 min with Jason going over all the things he did, it took me three more phone calls to him to learn some of the things he covered with me. He was always more than happy to go over any questions I had, and was willing to have me come back in so he could teach me how it worked.

Don't complain about everything, take a deep breath, call the dealer you bought it from, work with them, pick their brains, then if it truly is a problem discuss it.

:agree:The next time something of value comes on AM or FM radio will be the first time in 30 years. I want to be totally away from that crap when I am ryding my Spyder

 

[AY4B]

Fix the shaky mirrors

 

[I-Day]

They need to improve the contrast on the dash. I have a 2016 F3T and in daytime I can’t see my turn signal arrows!

 

[Bob Denman]

The Brits refer to infant pacifiers as 'dummy t*ts'.

Ron was tinkering with Australian slang terminology...

If anybody else wants to work on their mastery of it:

http://mentalfloss.com/article/61847/25-awesome-australian-slang-terms

 

[DGoebel]

Yours doesn't have a turn signal switch?

If it didn't have one, it might be slightly better that the one they do have that needs fixin...

 

[Docster]

Like any other company BRP has to balance the costs of every component/feature to hit the price point they feel the product can sell at and still turn the profit margin necessary to satisfy stockholders and/or owners, stay in business and generate cash reserves for expansion and unexpected occurrences (i.e.recalls).

If that were not the case, every vehicle, shopping cart, desktop computer, cell phone etc would come with EVERYTHING for EVERYBODY and be perfect in every way.......just not affordable by most.

 

[Fatcycledaddy]

If it didn't have one, it might be slightly better that the one they do have that needs fixin...

What am I missing, what needs to be fixed with the turn signal switch?
Mine is the same as every other motorcycle I have ever owned, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, push left for left blinker, push right for right blinker, push in to cancel, or let it self cancel. :hun::hun::hun:

 

[Fatcycledaddy]

Like any other company BRP has to balance the costs of every component/feature to hit the price point they feel the product can sell at and still turn the profit margin necessary to satisfy stockholders and/or owners, stay in business and generate cash reserves for expansion and unexpected occurrences (i.e.recalls).

If that were not the case, every vehicle, shopping cart, desktop computer, cell phone etc would come with EVERYTHING for EVERYBODY and be perfect in every way.......just not affordable by most.

BINGO, well said!

The other part is how many features does the product have that the consumer doesn't know about, or how to use, and won't take the time to learn how to use! Mu brother in law had a truck for 7 years and never knew it had a remote starter on it from the factory, all the while complaining that other companies put them on their truck stock, and he would have to buy one if he wanted it.
He read over that quickly in the manual and complained about something that he had but didn't know he had it.

 

[Bob Denman]

What am I missing, what needs to be fixed with the turn signal switch?
Mine is the same as every other motorcycle I have ever owned, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, push left for left blinker, push right for right blinker, push in to cancel, or let it self cancel. :hun::hun::hun:

 

[billybovine]

BINGO, well said!

The other part is how many features does the product have that the consumer doesn't know about, or how to use, and won't take the time to learn how to use! Mu brother in law had a truck for 7 years and never knew it had a remote starter on it from the factory, all the while complaining that other companies put them on their truck stock, and he would have to buy one if he wanted it.
He read over that quickly in the manual and complained about something that he had but didn't know he had it.

Another good one heard lately. Someone was complaining about how bad their car was. She had it for a couple years. The steering would shake when changing lanes and how irritating that was. A friend spoke up before I could. Told her you can turn that feature off you know. It's called lane departure warning. There will be an option to turn that off. Better yet just drive following the rules of the road. If you signal your intention to change lanes like you are suppose to. The wheel will not shake.

 

[rvanbeek]

So I'm not wanting to beat a dead horse and I don't want to sound like I'm whining about issues and that being said I admit I don't have a lot of experience with a Can Am.. First one was a 2013 RTS and now have a 2018 RT. Prior to that owned a 1972 Honda 500-4, a 1976 Goldwing, 1999 Helix, 2001 Silverwing, 2004 Goldwing, and now a 2018 Can Am. Wife owns the 2013 and she's been cycling as long as I have.

So I decided to give the audio system another look. Hooked up the smart phone to cable in fronk, opened the BRP app. I paired the phone to the Spyder and got a connection with app. The maps don't work because I'm not willing to pay the 45 dollars to run the maps. (just me) I selected the music option on the BRP app and it played from external speakers. Next I paired my helmet headset to the Spyder radio and pairing was successful. Then went back into menu and changed the audio output from speaker to helmet. It worked! Thought OK lets go back and listen to FM. FM to the helmet does not work.

I will admit that the Spyder radio system is very imaginative and is a little complicated and if you don't use it or navigate the menu's very often you forget where things are. My headset has a built in Radio with 6 presets. I can scan up and down the frequencies to find the strongest station. From the helmet I can give a voice command to turn off radio, raise and lower the volume, and play taped music without touching anything. So I'm happy with that.

I am a little disappointed that a radio system in which there was thousands of dollars put into research and development would so be complicated to operate. (my thoughts) And I did my research, I purchased the shop manual, I watched the video from BRP and I found out more from reading instructions from this board. One such insight was how to find stations incrementally. I don't think I would ever have found that on my own. At least I can't find any documentation to show me how.

My suggestion would be for BRP to contract with one or more of the guru's on this board to write an Instruction manual for the radio operation.

Bottom line is I love the machine and will have it a long time.

PS: Has anyone connected FM to headset via bluetooth?

 

[Flamewinger]

So I'm not wanting to beat a dead horse . . .


. . .

I will admit that the Spyder radio system is very imaginative and is a little complicated and if you don't use it or navigate the menu's very often you forget where things are. My headset has a built in Radio with 6 presets. I can scan up and down the frequencies to find the strongest station. From the helmet I can give a voice command to turn off radio, raise and lower the volume, and play taped music without touching anything. So I'm happy with that.

. . .

My suggestion would be for BRP to contract with one or more of the guru's on this board to write an Instruction manual for the radio operation.

Bottom line is I love the machine and will have it a long time.

PS: Has anyone connected FM to headset via bluetooth?

Fisrt off if you check the owners manual packet you should find info on how to get a $90 cash card to compensate for the price of the Genius Maps. (Garmin’s app can cost $50).

Secondly, you have figure out how to talk to the radio?

 

[billythekidd]

Who else do you blame for "bad engineering" if it isn't the company that made it??? GEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS.........

The knowledge is out there, I have read it and the complaints are all over the world. Is there a GOOD reason I shouldn't ask why there is no AM radio on the bike? Is there a GOOD reason why I shouldn't ask why they support only a few headsets and block others? I have a list as well as others that are supported over and over.......

BURP hasn't done what the people that buy their product want or need.

Plain and simple. Many people understand that....Others........well have a nice day and safe ride...........
John

You need to remember that most of the people here are fanboys/girls. I have been around for quite some time and it is always the same, folks feel they have to defend BRP.... Rather than adding to the post or saying that they are totally satisfied with everything BRP the consensus is to tell you that it is great and get used to it. No machine is perfect, and I believe you have some valid points. I think some of the stuff they did to this 2018 is nice... but for the most part it is the same bike I had in 2014 plus a bit of new electronics (which most on this board have complained about). I personally do not think I should have to go to a dealer (and pay) for a software update that BRP provides when the electronics that were not functioning properly. When I stated this earlier there were several who said the price wasn't bad or that the dealer is spending time and should be compensated (to which I agree, just not by me). So for me add that to your list of things that could be better.

This is my 4th RT and the 3rd was the best so far regarding maintenance and problems. It did not leave me stranded like the 11 did (although once near Zion park it would not start ... DESS problem, had dinner and came back and it started) so I will have to see if the new 2018 is as reliable as the 14 was. I have about 80k miles on the three previous Spyders and most have been extremely fun times. Good Luck with your 18 and I hope some of the issues that you have can be corrected.

Willy

 

[jaherbst]

Who else do you blame for "bad engineering" if it isn't the company that made it??? GEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSS.........

The knowledge is out there, I have read it and the complaints are all over the world. Is there a GOOD reason I shouldn't ask why there is no AM radio on the bike? Is there a GOOD reason why I shouldn't ask why they support only a few headsets and block others? I have a list as well as others that are supported over and over.......

BURP hasn't done what the people that buy their product want or need.

Plain and simple. Many people understand that....Others........well have a nice day and safe ride...........
John

Can't possibly know why anyone these days would want AM Radio. Most AM stations in San Diego and LA are in another language. ie Chinese/Spanish/Arabic. Most here are Spanish. You need to fast forward to the (at least) 90's. I have XM radio on all the time with a choice of hundreds of varying stations. I also have over 600 songs by various artists (including my own) and do not want for any entertainment other than that let alone AM radio.

Last time I listened to AM radio I was 12 years old and milking Old Jersey in the Red Barn. Mostly Hank Williams and Frank Sinatra. We had two stations and one was a 50,000 Watt coming from Del Rio Texas. I was in Colorado.

BRP is trying to keep up with the newest technology. Maybe you should also and complain less.

​Jack

 

[jaherbst]

So I'm not wanting to beat a dead horse and I don't want to sound like I'm whining about issues and that being said I admit I don't have a lot of experience with a Can Am.. First one was a 2013 RTS and now have a 2018 RT. Prior to that owned a 1972 Honda 500-4, a 1976 Goldwing, 1999 Helix, 2001 Silverwing, 2004 Goldwing, and now a 2018 Can Am. Wife owns the 2013 and she's been cycling as long as I have.

So I decided to give the audio system another look. Hooked up the smart phone to cable in fronk, opened the BRP app. I paired the phone to the Spyder and got a connection with app. The maps don't work because I'm not willing to pay the 45 dollars to run the maps. (just me) I selected the music option on the BRP app and it played from external speakers. Next I paired my helmet headset to the Spyder radio and pairing was successful. Then went back into menu and changed the audio output from speaker to helmet. It worked! Thought OK lets go back and listen to FM. FM to the helmet does not work.

I will admit that the Spyder radio system is very imaginative and is a little complicated and if you don't use it or navigate the menu's very often you forget where things are. My headset has a built in Radio with 6 presets. I can scan up and down the frequencies to find the strongest station. From the helmet I can give a voice command to turn off radio, raise and lower the volume, and play taped music without touching anything. So I'm happy with that.

I am a little disappointed that a radio system in which there was thousands of dollars put into research and development would so be complicated to operate. (my thoughts) And I did my research, I purchased the shop manual, I watched the video from BRP and I found out more from reading instructions from this board. One such insight was how to find stations incrementally. I don't think I would ever have found that on my own. At least I can't find any documentation to show me how.

My suggestion would be for BRP to contract with one or more of the guru's on this board to write an Instruction manual for the radio operation.

Bottom line is I love the machine and will have it a long time.

PS: Has anyone connected FM to headset via bluetooth?

Yes, XM has priority and FM is secondary. Turn off the XM or mute and FM Bluetooths to my Sena SMH10. I still have the old GM665 that is Bluetooth and XM capable. Can also play both thru the Speakers. Eat your Hearts out. 2014 RTL.

​Jack

 

[Flamewinger]

Check out a few AM radio station in the SF Bay Area. KGO810 and KSFO560. Both are VERY popular and widely listened to for news, sports and more importantly, Traffic/weather. You can get these stations as apps on the phone but that isn't available either. When getting into a big city you should be able to find at least one AM station that you can get traffic info as well as weather.

My other thought, is the Goldwing GL1800 came out in 2001 and this year they came out with a new model. It was taking Honda 4 years to change models and then 12 years for the 1500 and 16 years for the 18. All have had AM/FM radios and that latest models had Satellite and all have, and still have., CB radio. BRP needs to take a look at what Honda does and learn from them.