ESI Easy Risers and the nightmare of cable slack

[daveinva]

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with my dealer... they got the parts and are installing them now, hopefully my bike will be ready tonight (woohoo! ).

Even better, the tech managed to get an EXTRA INCH out of my cables. I didn't speak with him directly, so I don't know how he did it, but I'm 99% sure he found that mythical phantom twist-tie buried deep underneath the panels that I never could find myself even with half my Spyder apart in my driveway.

(Sadly, this little error of mine still is gonna cost me an arm & a leg, but lesson learned: I can tackle things involving nuts and bolts and minor light work, but anything involving this much wiring, leave to the professionals next time).

Fingers crossed that everything's golden now, and I get it tonight...

 

[wyliec]

UPDATE: Just got off the phone with my dealer... they got the parts and are installing them now, hopefully my bike will be ready tonight (woohoo! ).

Let us know the breakdown of the $457 charge when you get your spyder back, if you don't mind.

 

[daveinva]

Let us know the breakdown of the $457 charge when you get your spyder back, if you don't mind.

Will do. My guess is that the final price will be a bit different, either up or down-- my dealer threw in some nice misc. costs at the last service ("$10 for shop towels"... you itemize that, really?).

BUT, I have a 15% off coupon that I held back from using during my 600 mile service just in case I ended up with expensive service later on. I'M PSYCHIC! :joke:

 

[ARtraveler]

Wow! opcorn:opcorn:

 

[daveinva]

Okay, got my Spyder home safe and sound this evening. Yay!

One near soul-crushing goof, however: after starting it up and running through the "pre-flight" drill to ensure that everything worked the way it's supposed to, I noticed my right foglight was out. Grrrrrrrrrrr.

I was really tired after work, I was hungry, the dealer was only open for another 20 minutes... I was all set to just write it off as a burnt bulb and worry about it when I got home.

BUT, I figured, needed to tell the dealer just in case it was more than that, so they'd at least know that it happened while on their watch.

I walked back inside and, miracle of miracles, my service rep said, "We've got time, let me see if the tech can check it out real fast. If they can fix it, all the better, if not we'll take care of it for you tomorrow, okay?"

Sure enough, a connection was loose inside, but they fixed it right up in a jiffy and I had my Spyder all healthy again. Now THAT was excellent dealer service! :thumbup:

Alas, two downsides (there are always downsides, no?):
1. It was clear they left the Spyder outside for a while during the three weeks I left it there. My Nelson-Rigg passenger seat bag *was* black when I dropped it off; it's now a sun- and rain-faded shade of gray. Grrr.

2. Worse, and more worrying: while hanging out in the rain, the stainless steel bolts that ESI supplies with the Easy Risers set are showing signs of rust! I know, stainless isn't ALWAYS stainless, but I'm still surprised that there was so much discoloration. I'll have to clean those bolts off good and watch them for anything more worrisome in the future.

The final damage, after that 15% coupon I had handy:
$139.99 for a new turn signal/switch housing
$94.00 in labor to diagnose problem (1 hour)
$188.00 in labor to replace switch housing and find one inch of extra cable slack (2 hours)
$23.90 in shop supplies
$8.20 in tax

Grand total for my mistake: $411.09. Yup, think I learned my lesson there!

Anyway, I know plenty of folks in the D.C. area have had their issues with Coleman Powersports, either in Falls Church or in Woodbridge. I've now used the Falls Church location twice, and while the plural of anecdote is not data, I'm very happy with their service. Even with only one lead Spyder tech and plenty of Spyders rotating through the service department, my 600 mile service was turned around in 4 days, and this problem (requiring a special order part) was fixed in less than 2 1/2 weeks from dropoff. Sure, it ain't dropping off a car for same-day service, and the prices around here are still steep as heck, but the dealership was always responsive to my concerns, and especially this time around, having them take it back in to work the foglight issue at the very end of the workday really impressed me (yeah, even though it was their fault, they did the least they could do to make me happy). Hopefully, from here on out I won't have to use them for anything at all other than routine service.

Just next time I'll ask them to put the rain cover on if they leave it outside in their backlot. :doorag:

Thanks again to all the Spyderlovers members who gave me advice on this one, your help was invaluable!

 

[boborgera]

Alas, two downsides (there are always downsides, no?):
1. It was clear they left the Spyder outside for a while during the three weeks I left it there. My Nelson-Rigg passenger seat bag *was* black when I dropped it off; it's now a sun- and rain-faded shade of gray. Grrr.

2. Worse, and more worrying: while hanging out in the rain, the stainless steel bolts that ESI supplies with the Easy Risers set are showing signs of rust! I know, stainless isn't ALWAYS stainless, but I'm still surprised that there was so much discoloration. I'll have to clean those bolts off good and watch them for anything more worrisome in the future.

QUOTE]

1, Auto Zone sells fabric spray [black], I use it many times on my bags [Nelson Rigg] :thumbup:
2, Most cycle shops sell Simichrome Polish, It comes in a tube under 2 oz, It's the best stuff for crome or stainless steel. :thumbup:

 

[daveinva]

1, Auto Zone sells fabric spray [black], I use it many times on my bags [Nelson Rigg] :thumbup:
2, Most cycle shops sell Simichrome Polish, It comes in a tube under 2 oz, It's the best stuff for crome or stainless steel. :thumbup:

Thanks on both, I'll check them out!

 

[bone crusher]

Dave,

Followed this thread and wow...sorry to hear this. I took the easy way out and had the dealership install the ESI risers...this way, they were responsible for everything...guess they did a pretty good job! If you want a good dealership, go to Talbot Powersports in Easton, MD...yeah, it's a bit of a drive for you, but not too bad...over the bay bridge and about 15 miles more...they are platinum ranked...have done a lot of mods for me...no issues provided what I have them install is not dangerous for the bike...got a little flack for the HIDs, but they still did them and actually liked the install.

 

[daveinva]

Dave,

Followed this thread and wow...sorry to hear this. I took the easy way out and had the dealership install the ESI risers...this way, they were responsible for everything...guess they did a pretty good job! If you want a good dealership, go to Talbot Powersports in Easton, MD...yeah, it's a bit of a drive for you, but not too bad...over the bay bridge and about 15 miles more...they are platinum ranked...have done a lot of mods for me...no issues provided what I have them install is not dangerous for the bike...got a little flack for the HIDs, but they still did them and actually liked the install.

Yup, you always rave about them, I think the next big mod I'll do I'll take it out there, especially if it's aftermarket-- like I said, I've been happy so far with my dealer's service, and the convenience (it's five miles away) compensates for the labor differential. BUT, after hearing them gripe about me putting the risers on-- and knowing that they'd never consider doing something like that-- I'll have to find another dealer to do any other big mods I want to do.

That said-- I think I'm set on my big mods hyea:. I'm comfortable installing my floorboards when they get here, hopefully this week, and the last big purchase I plan is an upgraded seat, which I can also install myself. I think the only other future mods I may be uncomfortable messing with myself would be replacement shocks, but I'm likelier to go the new RT shock route vs. Elkas, so even my timid dealer should put the former on for me.

Still, want to get out there sometime soon...

 

[bone crusher]

Yup, you always rave about them, I think the next big mod I'll do I'll take it out there, especially if it's aftermarket-- like I said, I've been happy so far with my dealer's service, and the convenience (it's five miles away) compensates for the labor differential. BUT, after hearing them gripe about me putting the risers on-- and knowing that they'd never consider doing something like that-- I'll have to find another dealer to do any other big mods I want to do.

That said-- I think I'm set on my big mods hyea:. I'm comfortable installing my floorboards when they get here, hopefully this week, and the last big purchase I plan is an upgraded seat, which I can also install myself. I think the only other future mods I may be uncomfortable messing with myself would be replacement shocks, but I'm likelier to go the new RT shock route vs. Elkas, so even my timid dealer should put the former on for me.

Still, want to get out there sometime soon...

I had the RT shocks installed at the dealership...they even ordered the parts for me and did it at a very competitive price...(if you go this route, just have them look up my file...I'll give you info if we PM)...

They also put in my ESI HIDs (only thing they griped about a little...however, they did it and all has been fine save for a bad ballast from ESI...they did replace it though)...dealer installed lots of other stuff too...I don't mind paying labor...they tend to do a very good job...