5 MOTORCYCLES THAT ARE NOTORIOUSLY EXPENSIVE TO MAINTAIN

[DickB]

"The Can-Am Spyder

Can-Am makes some interesting trikes that will certainly garner you some attention out on the road. We hopped onboard a few of these unique 3-wheeled rides in our 2024 Can-Am Spyder and Ryker Review and relished its ergonomics, but weren't so positive about the weighty price. Unfortunately, while these trikes have a number of compelling features, according to a survey by Consumer Reports, they also have nearly twice the reported problems than other variants of motorcycles.

Many owners have reported VSS (vehicle stability system) errors, which relate to the braking components. A VSS fault could indicate something as benign as a malfunctioning sensor, or could spell disaster, warning of a serious safety issue. While there are methods to clear the fault code, the solution is often an overhaul and recalibration of the sensors by the dealer.

Other reported problems involve the transmission and rear shocks. One Spyder owner reported a maintenance cost of nearly $2,000 over the course of five years. Although that same rider claims, even after parting with his cash due to maintenance, the Can-Am was well worth it."

5 Motorcycles That Are Notoriously Expensive To Maintain - SlashGear

While most of them don't cost as much as buying a new car, some motorcycles are so expensive to maintain. Here are five models to watch out for.

www.slashgear.com

 

[Mikey]

Sooooo, where do you want to go with this post? everything man-made will have problem of some sort! And yes, you have to work through them as they come up. As far as them being the most expensive to own, I do not know about that! Shop cost is the same for whatever you ride!

 

[jcthorne]

Dealing in both the BRP and Harley dealer worlds, I can tell you the grass is not greener on the other side. For the customer or the dealer. Service costs on new Harleys are roughly the same as on Spyders and they both have issues.

 

[BajaRon]

There are reasons to be soberly negative about something. But this is Christmas! A time set aside to be thankful for what we have and appreciate the blessings we've received.

Life is a struggle. And admittedly, the Can-Am Spyder is less than perfect. I'm 73 and can attest to the failures of the human body, both hereditary and self inflicted. But it's been a great 'Ride' and I'm thankful for all of it.

We've got riders come into our shop who have dealt with cancer, loss of a limb, and all kinds of health issues. They get incredible and, in my opinion, irreplaceable joy from their Spyder or Ryker. Nor is it necessary to have any infirmity at all to get a load of smiles from riding a Spyder. It's a GREAT machine in spite of the occasional blemish.

If you have an issue with your Spyder, we here at Spyderlovers are a community and are happy to do all we can to help. And that, my friend, is what life is all about.

I am very happy Lamont talked me into getting that 1st Spyder in July of 2007. I though he was crazy! But then I'd known him for over 20 years at the time and frankly, I shouldn't have been surprised.

Please take a moment to be thankful.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

 

[racoon]

I have a subscription to Consumer Reports so I tried to find the "...according to a survey by Consumer Reports, they also have nearly twice the reported problems than other variants of motorcycles."

I could not find a motorcycle owner survey .

I did find this paragraph in an article titled "Motorcycle Buying Guide" that was originally posted in May 2015, and was last updated November 17, 2021:

At the other end of the spectrum, three-wheeled bikes had significantly greater risk of repairs, especially those with two front and one rear wheel. Can-Am, which makes only trikes, was almost twice as likely to experience a problem as most other types of motorcycles.
Among those bikes needing repair, 45 percent incurred no expense—suggesting that many riders are performing the work themselves or having the bikes repaired under the original manufacturer's warranty.

Motorcycle Reliability and Owner Satisfaction - Consumer Reports

When it comes to motorcycles, reliability and satisfaction are not necessarily tied together, Consumer Reports says. Japanese brands have the edge when it comes to staying out of the repair shop, but an American brand has the happiest owners.

www.consumerreports.org

 

[Bangorbob]

Well said Ron!!!!

 

[blacklightning]

As it was said, anything made by man is going to have flaws. Yes, it can get expensive, but it is just something that we have to deal with when dealing with materialistic items. I have noticed a drop in quality over the past 3-4 years, but I am still happy with my choice and would make it all over again.

 

[Mikey]

There are reasons to be soberly negative about something. But this is Christmas! A time set aside to be thankful for what we have and appreciate the blessings we've received.

Life is a struggle. And admittedly, the Can-Am Spyder is less than perfect. I'm 73 and can attest to the failures of the human body, both hereditary and self inflicted. But it's been a great 'Ride' and I'm thankful for all of it.

We've got riders come into our shop who have dealt with cancer, loss of a limb, and all kinds of health issues. They get incredible and, in my opinion, irreplaceable joy from their Spyder or Ryker. Nor is it necessary to have any infirmity at all to get a load of smiles from riding a Spyder. It's a GREAT machine in spite of the occasional blemish.

If you have an issue with your Spyder, we here at Spyderlovers are a community and are happy to do all we can to help. And that, my friend, is what life is all about.

I am very happy Lamont talked me into getting that 1st Spyder in July of 2007. I though he was crazy! But then I'd known him for over 20 years at the time and frankly, I shouldn't have been surprised.

Please take a moment to be thankful.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Well said Ron!!! Merry Christmas!!

 

[Arion]

Perhaps part of the problem, if it's accurate to described it this way, is that those of us who are well into the senior citizen realm remember the days when machines were much simpler and straight forward (though not necessarily more reliable). In those bygone days both dealer/shop repair rates and parts prices were much less. It seems a bit unreasonable to expect highly complex and sophisticated comfort and safety feature-laden machines to be inexpensive to maintain and repair. Like so many things today, Spyders are in essence computers of wheels. And enjoyable!

 

[AndysF3S]

"The Can-Am Spyder

Can-Am makes some interesting trikes that will certainly garner you some attention out on the road. We hopped onboard a few of these unique 3-wheeled rides in our 2024 Can-Am Spyder and Ryker Review and relished its ergonomics, but weren't so positive about the weighty price. Unfortunately, while these trikes have a number of compelling features, according to a survey by Consumer Reports, they also have nearly twice the reported problems than other variants of motorcycles.

Many owners have reported VSS (vehicle stability system) errors, which relate to the braking components. A VSS fault could indicate something as benign as a malfunctioning sensor, or could spell disaster, warning of a serious safety issue. While there are methods to clear the fault code, the solution is often an overhaul and recalibration of the sensors by the dealer.

Other reported problems involve the transmission and rear shocks. One Spyder owner reported a maintenance cost of nearly $2,000 over the course of five years. Although that same rider claims, even after parting with his cash due to maintenance, the Can-Am was well worth it."

5 Motorcycles That Are Notoriously Expensive To Maintain - SlashGear

While most of them don't cost as much as buying a new car, some motorcycles are so expensive to maintain. Here are five models to watch out for.

www.slashgear.com

Most of the VSS faults appear when starting the Spyder and are nothing more than a battery that can't maintain sufficient starting voltage.

My battery was replaced on warranty and I lost cruise control for a while but this was also repaired under warranty. Other than that 1 1/2 years of riding and almost 10,000 km./6000 miles nothing more than an oil change and premium gasoline.

 

[ARtraveler]

It is for sure Christmas, and thanks Ron for speaking up on that point.

Regarding the article, I also found that to be interesting. Never owned a HD so dodged a bullet on that one. Owned 7 Spyders between 2008 and 2023 though. They introduced me to the $300 oil change. The $1000 valve jobs on the 998's. Turns out, they were not needed. I did two before I quit drinking that Kool-aid. $1500 driving lights, $1000 fairings, and $1500 saddle bags (before the RT's).

All the other brands of motorcycles I owned (including every rice burner brand and every size from 80cc to 2000cc; I got away with oil changes, batteries, tires, and a few tune ups. They never cost me $1000 per bike like most of the Spyders. I still had a good run with Spyder, owned 7, over 200,000 Spyder miles, and would do it all over again.

Comments good so far, but a reminder to play nice. We have not had to enforce any rules since changing over to the new format, but they still stand.

 

[BajaRon]

I want to be clear that I didn't mean to get on DickB for his post. He makes a valid observation that should be considered by those interested in getting a Spyder. To be weighed appropriately with owner feedback, I think.

The Spyder starts out expensive (if you buy new) and can cost a goodly amount to maintain. Though this can be greatly mitigated if you do some of the work yourself.. And where else can you find a comparable vehicle? I think BRP has improved the product a good deal since its inception 16 years ago.

Do we want to discuss how long Harley has been at it? They have not yet achieved perfection. Not to mention Ford, Chevy, etc. Beyond the statistics, much has to do with the Eye of the Beholder.

Have a Great Christmas and a Wonderful New Year! Things, they are a changing. Hopefully, for the better. We'll see.

 

[CloverHill]

I do most of my own work so my cost to "maintain" has been minimal... oil, filters, brakes, fuel and cleaning supplies.

Where my costs have been is in upgrades such as Tires, Seat, Suspension, and Lighting which was not mandatory so I have not considered these a cost to maintain until the need arises to replace them from wear.

I have been lucky enough not to have any issues even though my poor F3 has been through hell and back with a reframe and swing arm being replaced from accidents so I have not had any repair costs other than the deductible for the accidents.

 

[DickB]

I want to be clear that I didn't mean to get on DickB for his post. He makes a valid observation that should be considered by those interested in getting a Spyder.

No problem. My post was not meant to be so much my personal observation as much as passing along an article that I thought might be of interest. Personally, I am not so concerned about high maintenance and repair costs, as I do almost all myself.

I had a repair required on my used Ryker right after I bought it (broken roller), and due to a time constraint, special tools required, and my inexperience with the motorcycle at the time, I did have it repaired by a dealer. Since then, other than tire mounting and balancing (I do remove wheels and take them in), I have done all of my maintenance and repairs. On the Ryker that included oil, coolant, final drive oil, and belt changes, two fuel pump replacements, leaking exhaust gasket replacement, Steering Update Kit installation, and a SAS replacement. On the Spyder it was sourcing (for a 10-year-old model) and installation of over 20 parts to repair front end crash damage (I bought it that way to fix it up), rear caliper replacement, oil and coolant changes, front wheel alignment, and yaw rate sensor replacement. I just discovered that the Spyder speedometer can be calibrated with BUDS Megatech, so that will be next. Oh, and custom stereo, Garmin Zumo, and aux driving light installations on both. Add the cost of all that at a dealer.

For those not doing their own maintenance and repairs, concern over the cost is valid. Spyders and Rykers by nature are subject to higher costs than two-wheelers because of additional systems and the configuration that they have, such as stability control and wheel alignment. I would have been surprised if Spyders were not on the list.

Caveat emptor.

 

[baxter]

Unless I missed it, I did not read about models years that information was about. Granted older ones may have had some issues while newer ones little to none. My experience with VSS fault is a battery on its last leg while other issues were self inflicted with add in's.

 

[tntnj]

I do most of my work , you have to remember this a grown up toy, Toys cost money Just like hobbies they cost money too. Call it a hobbie or a toy , you need the bucks to own it and to maintain it from the dealer or learn to fix what you have .

 

[Jeffrider]

I think a lot of us older riders remember (perhaps too fondly) the good old days. Back then our bikes did break down but a spare set of points, some plugs, some wire, duct tape, and rudimentary tools would often get us back on the road and safely home. I never had an old bike go into limp mode because a sensor reading to a Can Bus didn't add up. Roadside repair is seldom possible with the high tech vehicles of today. When they fail it usually means calling a tow truck and an expensive visit to the repair shop. That's why people are less than enthusiastic about reliability ratings.

 

[racoon]

I think a lot of us older riders remember (perhaps too fondly) the good old days. Back then our bikes did break down but a spare set of points, some plugs, some wire, duct tape, and rudimentary tools would often get us back on the road and safely home.

I owned and maintained several air cooled Volkswagens, back in those days. ;D

There was a really good tome written by John Muir and Tosh Greg, first published in 1969, and it has had at least 19 editions. The latest edition has 480 pages. The title?

How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive: A Manual of Step by Step Procedures for the Compleat Idiot

Often referred to as the Idiots Guide.

That was when things were really simple, with carburetors, distributors, and feeler gauges to set the gap in the points. And to adjust the valve clearances in the heads. I went through several copies of the book, as some of the pages got a bit greasy while I was in the garage thumbing through it while working on my VWs.

It had a chapter on rebuilding the transmission, a daunting task requiring a number of specialty tools. The beginning of that chapter recommended you think about just swapping the transmission with a known good one, or taking it to a custom shop for a rebuild. And then it dived into how to use the specialty tools to do the rebuild.

There was even a chapter on how to buy a Volkswagen, which recommended you climb into the vehicle, get into a lotus position, and meditate on whether that specific VW was worthy of joining your family.

Now? For my last couple of vehicles the most I'll do is check the fluid levels before a long trip, or schedule a service appointment through the local dealer website.

 

[bikerbillone]

I follow Ron's common sense comment's carefully knowing that he's seen it all with BRP. At the ripe old age of '71', experience goes a long way, I compete with him looking at 92 come February. Jus sayin, not riding my 20 RTL as much as I used to, but the Mrs and I still enjoy the short trip and it sits in the garage patiently awaiting the start up and a trip to wherever. Whatever 'hiccups' our Spyder may have had, and they are few, we still enjoy the ride.

 

[PURPLEON3]

There are reasons to be soberly negative about something. But this is Christmas! A time set aside to be thankful for what we have and appreciate the blessings we've received.

Life is a struggle. And admittedly, the Can-Am Spyder is less than perfect. I'm 73 and can attest to the failures of the human body, both hereditary and self inflicted. But it's been a great 'Ride' and I'm thankful for all of it.

We've got riders come into our shop who have dealt with cancer, loss of a limb, and all kinds of health issues. They get incredible and, in my opinion, irreplaceable joy from their Spyder or Ryker. Nor is it necessary to have any infirmity at all to get a load of smiles from riding a Spyder. It's a GREAT machine in spite of the occasional blemish.

If you have an issue with your Spyder, we here at Spyderlovers are a community and are happy to do all we can to help. And that, my friend, is what life is all about.

I am very happy Lamont talked me into getting that 1st Spyder in July of 2007. I though he was crazy! But then I'd known him for over 20 years at the time and frankly, I shouldn't have been surprised.

Please take a moment to be thankful.

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Very well said!