How do you feel about modern Bike Tech?

[Kratos]

How do you feel about the computer built bikes these days? Do you feel like they are too sensitive and throw codes everywhere? Or do you feel like the ups outweigh the downs since they can diagnose where the problem is located?

So many threads on codes being thrown. I wonder if people wish the bikes were "simpler" and less "techy".

 

[donnellpj]

Funny you should ask,..

This thread says a lot I think, both good and bad.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?43304-IT-FINALLY-HAPPENED

 

[boborgera]

I don't know if all the tech stuff was because of the EPA, Or a combination of saving money [for the company] and doing away with independent shops.:dontknow:

 

[Kratos]

I don't know if all the tech stuff was because of the EPA, Or a combination of saving money [for the company] and doing away with independent shops.:dontknow:

I do kinda miss being able to take it to your buddy down the road and fix any problem on it. Now, it's all to the dealer we go...

My uncles and I used to turn wrenches on these machines. Boy what a time. Now when they come over, they just look at it, and move on. They're not gonna dare put a wrench on it.

 

[Spyder Monkey]

The problem is not the existence of the codes, it is the fact that BRP will not share the internals of talking to its system with anyone but authorized dealers, basically extorting the end user.

Look at the OBDII codes in the automotive world. Those have been a great thing for shade tree mechanics.

The codes would be great if BRP would share a little more detail about what they mean and what causes them. If I had the "dictionary" of what the codes really mean, it is only a few hundred bucks for the hardware to talk to the ECU.

It is a long term project of mine to try to hack the interface but I doubt I will ever get very far.

David

 

[Littlebadwolf]

And you really think BRP is gonna release BUDS to the common mechanic?...Take another puff on the pipe...Absolutely no way..You really think the dealers are willing to give up thier ridiculous labor rates just to plug it into your harness? Not only do they control the diagnostic code, they control the replacement equipment and the distribution chain..Then the dealers play thier political game where if you don't buy your Spyder from them, they're not gonna service it in a timely manner...even when you're on the road, hundreds of miles from home...

 

[catfish]

I hate this computer they call a motorcycle now day's, But one good thing about this high tech. world we live in today is when your motorcycle [computer] log's off and leaves you on the side of the road you can get on your "cell phone" and have a wrecker equiped with a GPS to come and get it and take it to the dealer for some high tech. and high $ repair's.
And it's not just a spyder thing, the harley's are just as bad :banghead:.

 

[Pennyrick]

If you don't like the reliability of high tech buy an AMF Harley... there should still be some out there.

 

[NancysToy]

It's the world we live in. I am part dinosaur myself, but I have had to adapt like everyone else. There is no need to debate it or cry about it, we just need to get used to it.

 

[bruiser]

It's like going from carbs, points and generators to fuel injection, DIS, and ECMs with electronic dashboards thrown in for good luck. I'll add to that some forklift/industrial equipment companies will not share their codes with non company techs.

 

[Ivorspyder]

I have a Travel company where everything in our offices is high tech so I dont mind it.I think in the long term it's helpful.I notice the complete difference between my 03 Goldwing and the RT,but that's progress.

 

[bruiser]

What I would like to see is an effort by BRP to collect known fault sequences from the field in an on board database that would get a better picture of what goes wrong when something actually does.

What should happen is the administrator looks at the fault codes, their sequence and immediate history. From that it could determine to do nothing except display a message that battery voltage was being monitored instead of unleashing the Dogs of LimpMode.

:agree:

 

[grumpybob]

It's the world we live in. I am part dinosaur myself, but I have had to adapt like everyone else. There is no need to debate it or cry about it, we just need to get used to it.

:agree: And it is not going away!!

 

[pro10is]

The problem is not the existence of the codes, it is the fact that BRP will not share the internals of talking to its system with anyone but authorized dealers, basically extorting the end user.

Look at the OBDII codes in the automotive world. Those have been a great thing for shade tree mechanics.

The codes would be great if BRP would share a little more detail about what they mean and what causes them. If I had the "dictionary" of what the codes really mean, it is only a few hundred bucks for the hardware to talk to the ECU.

It is a long term project of mine to try to hack the interface but I doubt I will ever get very far.

David

:agree:

The problem is not the new technology, that's progress. In fact it's about time someone designed a motorcycle that's as high tech as a typical new car. People were also once upset about fuel injection replacing carburetors. The problem here is not the new technology, the problem is propriety technology. BRP is wrong to limit BUDS exclusively to BRP dealers. The auto industry doesn't do this, OBD-II is open source for the most part and service equipment is low cost and readily available to all. We own our Spyders, not BRP, and we are entitled to obtain the information and equipment necessary to service them.

 

[MikeinGA]

The problem is not the existence of the codes, it is the fact that BRP will not share the internals of talking to its system with anyone but authorized dealers, basically extorting the end user.

Look at the OBDII codes in the automotive world. Those have been a great thing for shade tree mechanics.

The codes would be great if BRP would share a little more detail about what they mean and what causes them. If I had the "dictionary" of what the codes really mean, it is only a few hundred bucks for the hardware to talk to the ECU.

It is a long term project of mine to try to hack the interface but I doubt I will ever get very far.

David

:agree: Without BUDS you can't even change brake fluid. DOT 4 brake fluid should last a lot longer 12,000 miles. If you don't do it by the book they will void the warranty. I ask a person that was going to by a Spyder why he didn't, he said that the maintenance cost would cost him thousands of dollars a year for two Spyder. One for him and one for his wife. I know a couple that sold theirs Spyder for the same reason, they traveled alot, so they bought a Honda and said the maintenance was 1/4 of the cost of a Spyder.

Mike

 

[r1100rider]

How do you feel about the computer built bikes these days? Do you feel like they are too sensitive and throw codes everywhere? Or do you feel like the ups outweigh the downs since they can diagnose where the problem is located? So many threads on codes being thrown. I wonder if people wish the bikes were "simpler" and less "techy".

I always hear this with new cars as well and I just look at them and say maybe the old car(bikes) were better in some ways but I'll take my modern cruise control a/c to make a cross country trip in any time over a 55 chev or old BSA and an old car with 100k or bike with 25 k miles was pretty much wore out so I think overall we have made progress

 

[Bob Denman]

I have had; and am having, some issues with the 'puters. :shocked:
But it's the tune that's being played by the band, so I'll dance to it! hyea: :thumbup:

 

[spyder3rdr]

I have had issues with the computers throwing codes...I don't let them get in my way ... I RYDE ... I have thought alot about getting the wiring dia. for the Aprilla RSV ( same engine) and making my own wiring harness minus all the safety devices ( steering sensor , yaw sensor , traction control , etc.) so I can ryde it like i want without the Nanny telling me NO ... don't do that

 

[shelbydave]

One of the main problems isn't that we have all the codes / computers and such, it's that BRP owns it on this machine. BUDS is very similar to OBD2 as far as diagnosing, but since it is proprietary, it does us no good. If there was a standard that all motorcycles and rec vehicles had to use, (like OBD2), that would open it up to those who could buy the tool to read the data.
This could either be an opportunity or killer for BRP at this moment. They appear to be a leader in computer diagnostics for rec vehicles. If they took the lead to start creating standards, they may be able to capitalize on that, or if they keep their stuff a secret, somebody - probably Honda, will mimic this concept on their cycles, then proceed to standardize. The latter could leave BRP out in the cold.