Done with Spyder

[Gwolf]

Done with dealer unless it is a serious warranty problem. Not done with Spyder. Bought a new bike so I didn't need to wrench on it and found out the Can Am dealers are worse than the Harley dealers. Guess I will wrench until I ain't able to ride no more. Did make some progress with the new bike........... at least now I am not trying to keep a bike with 350,000 miles on it running right.

 

[canamjhb]

In my neighborhood, I can choose between two dealers. There is the really slow one that is usually competent (when their ONE tech is not on vacation). But every single time there is a problem the bike is in the shop for 3 weeks to a month..... or longer. The other option is to go to the large national franchise dealer. I tried them twice for different problems. Each time the bike was not repaired. They were arrogant telling me they know what they are doing and I didn't know anything. Willing to take my money for doing nothing..... The lack of a good service dealer network has been eye-opening for me. I found out about this only after purchasing my Spyder. I love my Spyder. I have put 30,000 miles on it in the last couple of years. But they have not been trouble free. Those of you who are lucky enough to have a good, skilled and caring dealer for your servicing are fortunate. Way too many of us don't. And that's the reason my Spyder will be the last BRP product I will invest in. Bottom line for me..... It is the incompetent service network and lack of timely parts availability that is driving me away from the brand. Nothing to do with the product itself..... Jim

I want to add that I previously owned a BRP Outlander ATV which I sold in favor of buying a new BRP Commander side-by-side. I did what most of us do and tweaked both of those with farkles and upgraded parts. I never had any reliability problems with either of these. There was never any delay in getting service or parts. But then there are many independent shops and parts suppliers I could choose to deal with. The Spyder is apparently so unique and BRP so secretive/expensive with their propriety information that there are virtually no independent shops to turn to for Spyder service. I do not, for a minute, believe that this is not by design. BRP has created a product and Maintained a monopoly on its' service and parts distribution, much to our detriment and expense.

 

[Grandpot]

Started having trouble the first week in June (P0172) took it to the dealer checked a few things and reset the code
a week later the same thing but it spent a week in the shop and that is how it has been the whole summer. They have
changed out senors and the like but nothing seems to work, It has been in the shop for a week and was informed that
it will be there for another week (August) so much for summer riding.
I am not a wealthy man and have worked hard for everything I have, Eighteen thousand dollars for something that I cannot
trust to ride five miles from home is not going to work. Now if I can find some fool to take it as a trade for something that runs.
What a mistake, biggest POS I have ever owned.
Goodbye SpyderCrap
Oh by the way bought new in Aug. 2018 now has six thousand miles, miracle its made it this far.

Does Iowa have a Lemon Law? Most states do. The South Carolina law is designed for situations like yours. Here's an example.

If a problem occurs within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles and the dealer is given a reasonable time to fix it and the problem occurs two more times. The 2nd two times does not have to be withing the 12 month/12,000 period. The Lemon Law can then be enacted. The dealer must replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price.

Do some investigating in Iowa.

 

[CA Railwhale]

If Iowa has a "Lemon Law" you can probably get the bike replaced since it has spent so much time in the shop. Check it out, if nothing else a "Lemon Law" complaint will get Can AM's attention very quickly. edit: I did a quick search, Iowa HAS a Lemon Law, but it may or may not cover a Spyder. Check with a lawyer, they will usually give you a initial consultation for free.

 

[h0gr1der]

In my neighborhood, I can choose between two dealers. There is the really slow one that is usually competent (when their ONE tech is not on vacation). But every single time there is a problem the bike is in the shop for 3 weeks to a month..... or longer. The other option is to go to the large national franchise dealer. I tried them twice for different problems. Each time the bike was not repaired. They were arrogant telling me they know what they are doing and I didn't know anything. Willing to take my money for doing nothing..... The lack of a good service dealer network has been eye-opening for me. I found out about this only after purchasing my Spyder. I love my Spyder. I have put 30,000 miles on it in the last couple of years. But they have not been trouble free. Those of you who are lucky enough to have a good, skilled and caring dealer for your servicing are fortunate. Way too many of us don't. And that's the reason my Spyder will be the last BRP product I will invest in. Bottom line for me..... It is the incompetent service network and lack of timely parts availability that is driving me away from the brand. Nothing to do with the product itself..... Jim

This is kind of what I'm talking about, somewhat (only somewhat) tongue in cheek about a dealer ratings sticky. Kind of like Angies List, or those contractor ratings websites. In my opinion, the sales department in the dealership is a moot point, because if you bought the thing there the deal must have been good enough. For my take, the service department and parts department are what counts, with service making up about 90% of customer satisfaction, and parts making up the other 10% based on parts availability. I would be willing to go on record about how my dealer performed, as I have done in past posts. I think mine is mediocre to fair based on the amount of time, and some BS I recently had to put up with from the service writer. I'd be willing to ride farther to get better service. I do believe that how poorly they operate has an availability factor, meaning less competition may allow them to perform poorly and still make money.

 

[Tazzel]

https://www.motorcycle.com/top10/the-10-most-reliable-motorcycle-companies.html/2

https://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2015/04/who-makes-the-most-reliable-motorcycle/index.htm

Apparently not, looks like you've also had a bout with a water pump....

and...…. your point is? fixed under warranty. I was more upset at brp for not having spare parts but it never broke down and I could continue to ride. Are you saying you never had a vehicle that needed work at any point???? your living in a magical world then.

 

[C. Lee]

I agree completely about dealer incompetence. They are poorly trained on our machines a d they seem to. E grossly understaffed, at least in my area of Ohio. The dealers by me are all owned by the same company with the exception of one and the won't take appointments. They say "just drop it off and we'll get to it when we can". I wish you good luck. Chris

 

[Dudley]

Started having trouble the first week in June (P0172) took it to the dealer checked a few things and reset the code
a week later the same thing but it spent a week in the shop and that is how it has been the whole summer. They have
changed out senors and the like but nothing seems to work, It has been in the shop for a week and was informed that
it will be there for another week (August) so much for summer riding.
I am not a wealthy man and have worked hard for everything I have, Eighteen thousand dollars for something that I cannot
trust to ride five miles from home is not going to work. Now if I can find some fool to take it as a trade for something that runs.
What a mistake, biggest POS I have ever owned.
Goodbye SpyderCrap
Oh by the way bought new in Aug. 2018 now has six thousand miles, miracle its made it this far.

Me thinks, you have a vacuum line with a leak. Hardest thing to find. My second Spyder, 2010 RT spent a month and a half in the shop. I told the shop to work on it when he could. HE was ready to set it on fire before he thought of a possible vacuum line leak. Changed the line, Bingo.

 

[Godlover]

If I'm correct - Iowa still has a lemon law - might work...

 

[WisconsinDavid]

I am a newcomer to a used Spyder and have not encountered this ... yet. That said, I can see that service/support is the weak link with owning a Spyder. From the get-go that is what has had me nervous about traveling and being stranded on the road without a competent dealer near at hand. I owned Harleys for 25 years (and Hondas before that) and although service could be expensive, always was able to get moving again quickly. I kind of shudder hearing the experiences/expenses people have endured on these machines. It may be the straw that breaks the camel's back and moves me back toward two wheels in the future.

 

[ChicagoSpyder]

Isn't part of the problem that there are no Can-Am only dealers? I know where I am there are only "powersports" dealers who also carry other brands, not to mention jet skis, atv's and off road vehicles. If this was say a Honda, I would think the dealer would be more interested in a getting the correct parts and knowledge to fix the bike. Also if they wanted to keep the customer happy (for a bike that has been waiting this long to be fixed) they would have a loaner or demo bike on hand. I know the dealers I went to had less knowledge than I had and it seemed like the Spyder was just something they had to have on the floor to complete their selection.

The dealer I purchased from is BRP only which is unusual, but think about trying to be the business of only selling Ski Doo's, Sea Doo's, Can Am ATV/UTV's and Can Am Spyders.

 

[UtahPete]

Isn't part of the problem that there are no Can-Am only dealers? I know where I am there are only "powersports" dealers who also carry other brands, not to mention jet skis, atv's and off road vehicles. If this was say a Honda, I would think the dealer would be more interested in a getting the correct parts and knowledge to fix the bike. Also if they wanted to keep the customer happy (for a bike that has been waiting this long to be fixed) they would have a loaner or demo bike on hand. I know the dealers I went to had less knowledge than I had and it seemed like the Spyder was just something they had to have on the floor to complete their selection.

:agree: Can-Am needs to rethink their SERVICE network!!! Let independents and multibrand motorcycle shops in on the action. Can-Am dealers would benefit from not having to change their whole service department to accommodate tiny volume Spyders.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

I am a newcomer to a used Spyder and have not encountered this ... yet. That said, I can see that service/support is the weak link with owning a Spyder. From the get-go that is what has had me nervous about traveling and being stranded on the road without a competent dealer near at hand. I owned Harleys for 25 years (and Hondas before that) and although service could be expensive, always was able to get moving again quickly. I kind of shudder hearing the experiences/expenses people have endured on these machines. It may be the straw that breaks the camel's back and moves me back toward two wheels in the future.

hyea: ……. however for every Spyder out there ….. there are 40 Harleys and 35 Honda's ( conservative est. ) ….. Mike hyea:

 

[007james]

Harleys are so simple, as compared to ALL Spyders. Plus, Harley Dealers are dedicated to selling and servicing ONLY Harleys,
So they are like comparing apples and watermelons! What I really like about Harleys is, the “ Three Hole Oil” changes. The Engine oil, the Primary oil, and the Tranny and Clutch Oils, are all separate, and easy to change. All 3 holes take the same Oil, but do not contaminate each other. Spyders are obviously High Tech, as compared to Harleys, but High Tech Machines require Highly trained, dedicated Technicians to Service them. The only way that will ever happen, is, BRP will have to only recruit Dedicated Can-Am only Dealers, and require those Dealers to send their Service Techs to be trained at the Factory, and Certified EVERY year, same as Auto Mechanics and Harley Mechanics must do. All I am thankful for, is, I sure am glad my Spyder can’t fly, or I would have crashed and burned long ago, and would be buried! Imagine trusting any Spyder with wings, or if it was an Ultralight Aircraft? Rotax does build light Aircraft Engines, but how many Spyder Owners would trust Spyder Dealers to keep them in the air with out crashing?
007James

hyea: ……. however for every Spyder out there ….. there are 40 Harleys and 35 Honda's ( conservative est. ) ….. Mike hyea:

 

[Jeriatric]

Imagine trusting any Spyder with wings....how many Spyder Owners would trust Spyder Dealers to keep them in the air with out crashing?
007James

I wonder?

 

[h0gr1der]

Imagine trusting any Spyder with wings, or if it was an Ultralight Aircraft? Rotax does build light Aircraft Engines, but how many Spyder Owners would trust Spyder Dealers to keep them in the air with out crashing?
007James

I flew ultralight aircraft in my younger life, both Rotax 447 and 503 engines. Best in the business at that time, and I still believe Rotax power-plants to be generally excellent. Any yes, I did stake my life on these simple 2 cycle engines. Now that was the most fun you can have with your cloths on! Of course I did all my own maintenance.

 

[UtahPete]

I don't think anyone is questioning the technology. Just the service network. Would you trust your ultralight to an ATV shop?

 

[Jeriatric]

Of course I did all my own maintenance.

The point.

 

[h0gr1der]

Well, bringing the subject closer to what we were talking about, I'm allegedly going to get my Spyder tomorrow, pending more BS from the service writer. He took time to call me late Friday, saying my work was done. July 2nd to July 26th to replace a water pump and handlebar left switch pack, parts received on the 18th. However, they are 90 miles one way, would close before I got there, and are closed Sunday and Monday. To add insult to injury, the service write says my bill is $1700. I had the 3000 mile service done for about $350 the rest is supposed to be warranty. He said his paperwork wasn't done, so I may have to fight that battle when I get there tomorrow. No wonder folks are quitting Can Am. I just thought Comcast Cable was awful!

 

[Jeriatric]

Well, bringing the subject closer to what we were talking about, I'm allegedly going to get my Spyder tomorrow, pending more BS from the service writer. He took time to call me late Friday, saying my work was done. July 2nd to July 26th to replace a water pump and handlebar left switch pack, parts received on the 18th. However, they are 90 miles one way, would close before I got there, and are closed Sunday and Monday. To add insult to injury, the service write says my bill is $1700. I had the 3000 mile service done for about $350 the rest is supposed to be warranty. He said his paperwork wasn't done, so I may have to fight that battle when I get there tomorrow. No wonder folks are quitting Can Am. I just thought Comcast Cable was awful!

For real?