New Spyder owner having buyers remorse

[NancysToy]

I love the "Frankensmurf" moniker! Your positive outlook and sense of humor through all this is refreshing and welcome. Enjoy the Ryde!

 

[Farmbanker]

It's Alive! Frankensmurf is Alive!!!

So, yesterday was October 5th and Damien with BRP calls me to tell me that he had been in communication with Metro Motorsports and that my bike was ready for me. Had a nice chat and it ended with him saying that he hoped that he would never have to talk to me again (for a reason like this). As I hung up, Metro called me with news that my bike was ready and they wanted to deliver to to me and pick up the loaner.

I bought my bike on September 5th, blew it up on September 8th and got it back with a new engine on October 5th. In the meantime I put about 500 miles on the loaner bike. So all in all, not too shabby. Bike was all cleaned up and seems to run great. ODO reads 259 miles which is fine since I told them to ride it and check it out thoroughly. I did point out to the fella delivering my bike that the front brake lines on both the loaner and my bike were both not routed correctly as was mentioned on this forum. (I have learned so much here.) We agreed that this will be fixed when I bring it in for its 600 mile oil change.

I put my RAM mount on my bike and passenger armrests and hope to take it for an all-day ride on Monday. Only got up to mid 40's today so I decided to heck with that. Wish me luck! ray:

 

[ARtraveler]

Sounds like a great outcome so far. It is amazing how fast your problem was taken care of. I am sure your way of handling the situation was a large factor in getting things solved. This will be a good model for anyone else who may have similar major issues with their :spyder2:

 

[SPYD3R]

​

keep us posted...

 

[Farmbanker]

Runs good but......

Today was my first chance to take the bike out after it was delivered to me. It was really windy so my wife and I only put 37 miles on the bike. Ran great. However.....after parking it in the garage I noticed a small puddle of oil under it. I also noticed one where it was sitting previously. Looked underneath and saw that it appeared to be leaking while driving as oil covered the underside. So, I followed directions and checked the oil. NOTHING on the dipstick. Called dealer, they are picking it up tomorrow. Oil leaks ARE the one think I worry about with changed out motors......I wonder if there is an end to this saga.......

 

[ARtraveler]

One would think that they would have caught oil leaking while the :spyder2: was still in their shop. Please continue to keep us posted. They need to get this right for you.

 

[NancysToy]

At this point I would be seriously considering asking them to trade for the loaner you had, havve them refund any price difference, replace your mods, and provide an extended warranty a a good-will measure...with maybe some additional goodies thrown in to sweeten the pot. Both BRP and the dealer need to bend over backwards to make this right and keep you as a customer. That would be a good place to start!

 

[jScotD]

he's a lot more patient than I..

I suspect an untightened oil hose, and I know nothing about these machines, since I havn't taken one apart ..YET..

He's doing the right thing.. you can get more bees with honey than vinegar

 

[Recluze]

I have been there with cratered Rotax engines. In my experience they cannot be fixed. I went through 4 engines and $7k before I realized how weak BRP dealer network is. Walk away. Never look back

You need a new machine. I got as far as you have several times before I gave up after a year or so and sold everything I owned with a BRP brand on it.

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

At this point I would be seriously considering asking them to trade for the loaner you had, havve them refund any price difference, replace your mods, and provide an extended warranty a a good-will measure...with maybe some additional goodies thrown in to sweeten the pot. Both BRP and the dealer need to bend over backwards to make this right and keep you as a customer. That would be a good place to start!

While he's at it, he should ask for the RT-622. :thumbup::thumbup: They could only say no and the OP is in a good position to make such demands.

Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

 

[Jeriatric]

It's a one in a million problem that deserves a one in a million solution. BRP should replace the machine, or at minimum, BRP and your dealer should work something out that allows that to happen.

nojoke

 

[Farmbanker]

Hard to argue with any of the comments posted. Thanks to all for the input. Here's the latest: got my bike back today, bad o-ring on the draing plug. However.....while it was in the shop the multifunction display went white (just like it did the day the original engine blew). They do not know why but the dealer knew I am riding tomorrow. So they took the cluster from the red demo bike I was riding and installed it in this bike. I understand why not new since I told them it had to be back today. Now the Frankensmurf moniker is even more fitting. Since the demo bike had 100 more miles than my bike, the cluster shows the mileage from the demo bike. Dealer did disclose this to me. So......gonna ride it like it should be ridden tomorrow, try to get 2-300 miles on it tomorrow. On more issue and my patient approach may come to an end. Just sayin'.......

 

[ARtraveler]

I am in total agreement with you Farmbanker. There is a time when patience comes to an end. If the problems continue--you either have one of those proverbial lemons, or the dealer is short on mechanical abilities. In either case--I am now at the point that I would suggest demanding a new machine.

This is starting to sound like a new soap opera: How about: "As The Wrench Turns"?

Please keep us posted. Once again, you paitence is to be admired.

 

[NancysToy]

Hard to argue with any of the comments posted. Thanks to all for the input. Here's the latest: got my bike back today, bad o-ring on the draing plug. However.....while it was in the shop the multifunction display went white (just like it did the day the original engine blew). They do not know why but the dealer knew I am riding tomorrow. So they took the cluster from the red demo bike I was riding and installed it in this bike. I understand why not new since I told them it had to be back today. Now the Frankensmurf moniker is even more fitting. Since the demo bike had 100 more miles than my bike, the cluster shows the mileage from the demo bike. Dealer did disclose this to me. So......gonna ride it like it should be ridden tomorrow, try to get 2-300 miles on it tomorrow. On more issue and my patient approach may come to an end. Just sayin'.......

I hope you are mistaken about that. There is no o-ring on the drain plugs...only crush washers.

 

[jScotD]

terrible.. hope my 2012 doesn't turn into this kind of nightmare

 

[Farmbanker]

Frankensmurf Rides Again!

Yesterday was a good day. Rode with a friend of mine, his Harley, my new/rebuild RT-S. Rode about 150 miles and it ran like a champ. Probably too early to really claim victory but it was the first decent length ride sincd buying the bike in September. No oil underneath, smooth, solid ride. Another 100 miles and should be ready for 600 mile service. I wonder at what point I can become confident and go for a really long ride.

At a stop for lunch an older couple on a blue Goldwing pulled up. Fella said he was about 70 and his two wheels were getting to be a bit much for him anymore and he may soon have to give up riding. Asked if I wanted to trade. I didn't relate that my bike had been a bit of a difficult witch for its first thirty days but I did tell him that if he wanted to continue to ride he should try out a Spyder.

 

[Ivorspyder]

Yesterday was a good day. Rode with a friend of mine, his Harley, my new/rebuild RT-S. Rode about 150 miles and it ran like a champ. Probably too early to really claim victory but it was the first decent length ride sincd buying the bike in September. No oil underneath, smooth, solid ride. Another 100 miles and should be ready for 600 mile service. I wonder at what point I can become confident and go for a really long ride.

At a stop for lunch an older couple on a blue Goldwing pulled up. Fella said he was about 70 and his two wheels were getting to be a bit much for him anymore and he may soon have to give up riding. Asked if I wanted to trade. I didn't relate that my bike had been a bit of a difficult witch for its first thirty days but I did tell him that if he wanted to continue to ride he should try out a Spyder.

Nice to hear you had such a nice ride yesterday and your RT ran well.Hopefully this will be the case in the future.Take the long ride.Whats the worst that can happen is you call AAA.Happened to me twice in the past 2 weeks first with my Jeep and today with Motorhome luckily in the park both times with newish batteries going bad.
Good news is my RT is running well 3500 miles problem free so guess you win some lose some.

Ivor:spyder:

 

[Debedwards93]

Glad things worked out for you! Sounds like you have a good dealer. I need to find a better one for sure!!

Buyer’s remorse quickly fading…..

Thanks to everyone who posted. A lot of passion in some posts and certainly some in mine as well. I’m going to give you an update but I feel compelled to explain the back story of how I bought the Spyder for the benefit of anyone considering a purchase. The reason will be pretty clear:
When looking at these machines I researched all kinds of sites and saw both positive and negative things about them. Being a motorcycle owner, having been a farmer, and general novice mechanic I have experienced a variety of machines and mechanical issues. I also knew that it was unlikely that many of the satisfied people were taking the time to post. So it appeared to me that they were no more or no less reliable than any other complex machine.

Then I decided to see how I would need to go about ensuring I got a good deal. I looked all over the internet and got quotes from a few shops that were very reputable and competitive. I asked for quotes from places that I felt I would certainly buy from if the deal was right so I wouldn’t be wasting a lot of people’s time. Armed with an idea of what the bike I wanted was worth I went to my local dealer, Metro Motorsports in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Our salesperson Mike was right up front with me that if we were going to be test driving and he was going to be giving me a number, he wanted to know he wasn’t being used without having a chance to actually do a deal with me. So we shared with him where we were looking at buying and gave him an idea of what the price would need to be. I also stressed that being local had value to me so I would consider that when he made an offer. He was higher than our lowest bid but it was close enough and fair enough that we were satisfied with the deal. Both my wife and I believe strongly in doing business locally when you can.

Here is why this back story is so important. Having a great dealer has a value you cannot quantify when you have a mess like I had with this particular bike. Something I am sure all posters here know pretty well. Here are my results as of today:

Jonah who is the head of the service department called me and said that he and Jarod at Metro along with their certified Can Am mechanic spent a lot of time on the phone with Can Am. The mechanic decide to take all the little broken pieces and put them into a pile and send the picture to BRP. Apparently that convinced them that there was a heck of a lot more floating around in that motor than just a few pieces. BRP agreed to a new motor. (Base hit for customer service.)

In addition, Metro and Can Am agreed to switch a new unit sitting on the floor to a demo unit that I can ride while mine is laid up. (On to second base for customer service.) They delivered it today. It's a bright red one. Probably should have bought it in the first place.

Jarod requested that Can Am provide an extended warranty on the bike. A BRP's request I cannot comment on that.

So to say that I am happy with both my dealer and Can Am at the moment is a very true statement. Really I, can’t say enough about what Metro did to help me out and I will also say that it appears that Can Am is trying to do the right thing as well.

So I think we are tee’d up to score one for overall customer service and a satisfied customer if this all turns out as hoped. If something happens this loaner bike though I am going to have to admit that I am cursed and give up entirely.

Much of this only confirms what many of you have said and I appreciate your words of wisdom and how they gave me some hope that I wouldn’t have to get into a pitched battle with Goliath over this deal. I will keep everyone posted on the progress which is probably not going to be much for about a week or so. Both the mechanic and service manager are going to Can Am school after next week so my motor may or may not be fully installed before they go. Given that they have provided me a bike to take on the rides, that sting is no longer there.

I’m glad I bought from a dealer who really seems to care and am hopeful for a happy conclusion to this whole ordeal.

 

[ARtraveler]

Glad things worked out for you! Sounds like you have a good dealer. I need to find a better one for sure!!

There can be a light at the end of the tunnel. I followed this situation from its beginning and it started out very similar to yours. Once again, most of us suggest giving it a chance. :thumbup:

 

[Dan_Ashley]

I am very happy this has worked out for you.