160,000 mile report

[Buckeye Chuck 54]

Every 20,000 miles or so I write about servicing or any problems
with my 2014 RT-S. This has been a very bad year for my ryding.
I started out strong with 10,000 miles before May. But after an
accident on May 30th, I have only 6,000 miles since.
At first it was me. It took 43 days to get back on the seat. But when
I did, it's been nothing but trouble since.
Some of you may recall about my drive belt wandering all over. Now
I'm not made of money so I had to save up for parts. I spent $309
for a new belt. At the dealer they found the rear sprocket was also toast.
Another $324. Plus $400 labor.
So now I'm ready to get out, pile on more miles.

Now it started cooling issues. All the miles so far, the temp gauge never
moved, just below the half way mark. But now the gauge is all over the
dial. Fans running constantly. I changed the oil last Friday. When done I
started it and let it run for 15 minutes or so. Happy with that chore done
I take it out for a short ryde. I get home and park it in the garage. Then I
see a puddle of anti freeze under where I changed oil. Monday I have it
towed to the dealer. I get a call later and was told I need 2 new radiators.
$300.99 apiece. $400 labor.
Is BRP antifreeze supposed to be brown? Maybe the radiators are toast too.
I'm taking them with me when I get my reborn RT back. I'll have them tested at
Don's radiator service here in town. There's been a lot of coolant cycled through
the pair in 4 years.
I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever reach my goal of 200,000 miles on this
machine. What could be next?
Very few of you will ever see 100,000 miles on your Spyders, but these are
a few issues you may see if you do.
I'll write again when I reach 175,000.

Buckeye Chuck

 

[SNOOPY]

Dang, I have a 2013 ST with under 14,000. Ride it almost every weekend too. :roflblack:

.

 

[pegasus1300]

I'm trying to make that magic mark. I have managed to put 43000+ on mine since June 2015. I did start with 8500 miles on it when I got it. Thank you for the report.It is good to know that these machines can make it mechanically that far. But I have never worried about the mechanics,it is the electronics that worry me.

 

[ARNIE R]

My 2014 STS has orange coolant, but by the time it runs down the side of the engine and picks up dirt and grime, it might appear on the brownish side......

 

[ARtraveler]

Thank you for the update.

:2thumbs::2thumbs:

 

[Saluda]

Get well, stay well

You and your machine.

 

[SpyderAnn01]

I had to have the radiators replaced at 110,000 miles. Only cost me $50 as it was (and still is) under extended warranty.

 

[Chupaca]

Wow...!!

:2thumbs: looking forward to the next report....Will that be next week...:roflblack:

 

[Little Blue]

Miles

Good Luck with your Adventures on your Spyder. :thumbup:

 

[Buckeye Chuck 54]

Under warranty??

Thank you Ann!! I did buy the extended warranty through BRP. Good through 10-19-2019
In the morning I'm calling the dealer and have a talk.
You may have saved me a Benjaman!
I love those Benjamins, but as soon as I see one, they're gone.
Chuck

I had to have the radiators replaced at 110,000 miles. Only cost me $50 as it was (and still is) under extended warranty.

 

[JerryB]

Hi pegasus1300,

Re: But I have never worried about the mechanics,it is the electronics that worry me.

^^^^^^ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMO my 998 engine, with minimum maintenance, is virtually bullet-proof. However, in four yrs of ownership, it is the electronics that have cost me the most money.

:banghead::banghead::banghead:

Jerry Baumchen

 

[IGETAROUND]

Thank you Ann!! I did buy the extended warranty through BRP. Good through 10-19-2019
In the morning I'm calling the dealer and have a talk.
You may have saved me a Benjaman!
I love those Benjamins, but as soon as I see one, they're gone.
Chuck

Yeh what the hell is with the dealers for these bikes. Had the sprague clutch replaced on my 2014, they had it for ~ 4 weeks and if I hadn't called and asked if this wasn't covered under warrenty they would have gladly charged me $1500.00!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WTH

You don't have to ask when you have something done on your car if it's covered by warrenty, they automatically look it up.

Al in Kazoo
Now on a 2000 Gold Wing

 

[Buckeye Chuck 54]

Not so!

My service manager opened a case with BRP asking if my BEST warranty
would cover the radiator swap. NO was the answer. So I opened a case with BRP.
We'll see how that turns out. I get a call today, (Tuesday) from the dealer. The
new parts came in and were installed on my '14 RTS. It still overheated.
Doesn't seem it was a radiator issue after all. Now they think it's the water pump and
thermostat. Now I get to wait another week for yet more parts to come. At least
this time my warranty will cover. Go figure.
Chuck

I had to have the radiators replaced at 110,000 miles. Only cost me $50 as it was (and still is) under extended warranty.

 

[canamjhb]

Too many instances of dealers and their mechanics throwing parts (at our expense) at problems they know nothing about to try to solve what they don't know.....

 

[Road-Kill]

I bought my F3s new last year and just went over 31,000 miles but NOT trouble free.
Two front sprockets and one tow later my F3s still sits in the shop.
I just spoke to my mechanic and it looks like another week till its back in my garage.
Other then the two front sprocket failures my F3s is flawless.
Unfortunately, I have a strict three strikes and your out policy so with one more problem its going to be sold.

 

[KX5062]

Too many instances of dealers and their mechanics throwing parts (at our expense) at problems they know nothing about to try to solve what they don't know.....

That's what it sounds like to me also. Unless the radiator is compromised, they just shouldn't fail. I know they do sometimes, but it should be a very rare occurrence. If your antifreeze really was brown, that's normally an indication of rust, and these engines as far as I know are aluminum blocks, so there shouldn't be rust. It should be pink, so it sounds like something else could be going on. I'd be curious to see what the inside passages look like inside the radiator.

 

[MikeT]

The new parts came in and were installed on my '14 RTS. It still overheated.
Doesn't seem it was a radiator issue after all. Now they think it's the water pump and
thermostat. Now I get to wait another week for yet more parts to come. At least
this time my warranty will cover. Go figure.
Chuck

Since their initial(easy/quick) diagnosis of an issue with your radiators was WRONG, you should not have to pay for their mistake. I'd be calling BRP about that issue. You should not have to pay for the service department's education.
Mike

 

[pegasus1300]

Hi pegasus1300,

Re: But I have never worried about the mechanics,it is the electronics that worry me.

^^^^^^ THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IMO my 998 engine, with minimum maintenance, is virtually bullet-proof. However, in four yrs of ownership, it is the electronics that have cost me the most money.

:banghead::banghead::banghead:

Jerry Baumchen

And that is my greatest fear Jerry.I have not had anything electronic go wrong so far and I hope it continues that way.