Yet another SE5 problems thread...

[redbarber]

After trying for four years to find a "ryde" for my wife, we finally settled on the :spyder2:. Physical limitations prevented her from mastering two wheeled riding, and her small hands could not pull and hold that SM5 clutch for any length of time, so we bought the SE5. It seemed the perfect answer at the time:2excited:. (Believe me, Bonecrusher, if she could have managed the clutch, we'd be on the manual for sure!).
Our 2008 has less than 250 miles on it, and already we are experiencing strange shifting issues.:banghead: Yesterday it locked in 3rd gear twice while stopping. She was sitting at the stop sign, in 3rd gear, with the engine almost racing. She had to hold the brake with alot of force to keep the Spyder stopped. After playing with the shift switch for a while, and finally shutting off the ignition and "rebooting" the whole system, she was able to get it into first and ride off. We've had issues with fast idle and surging when stopped, as well as problems shifting between first, neutral and reverse. She is still learning how to ride the thing, and I don't relish the prospect of losing weeks of prime riding weather while the dealer back-orders parts and searches for bulletins. I am really disappointed so far. Payment book arrived today, adding insult to injury. My only bright spot, I did buy the Best warranty, so eventually it will be right. But all the posts here are sure discouraging. We were hoping to ride up to a motorcycle resort in N.C. in a couple of weeks, but I am starting to fear taking the Spyder that far from home. This weekend will be the big test, plan to ride as many miles as we have daylight.
I see references here to a bulletin: 2008-5, a Gear Position Sensor, a spring, a shift solonoid, and a software upgrade. Is there anything else I can arm myself with when I go to the dealer? Is there anything I can do MYSELF that will improve things at all?ray:

 

[spyryder]

She was sitting at the stop sign, in 3rd gear, with the engine almost racing. She had to hold the brake with alot of force to keep the Spyder stopped.

Sounds like she "may" have forgotten to release the throttle? :dontknow:
I'd make sure she fully understands the characteristics and shift patterns (which you mentioned in another thread). Has she practised in a parking lot as shown in the manual?:read:
It just might be a matter of getting accustomed to it.

 

[Firefly]

After trying for four years to find a "ryde" for my wife, we finally settled on the :spyder2:. Physical limitations prevented her from mastering two wheeled riding, and her small hands could not pull and hold that SM5 clutch for any length of time, so we bought the SE5. It seemed the perfect answer at the time:2excited:. (Believe me, Bonecrusher, if she could have managed the clutch, we'd be on the manual for sure!).
Our 2008 has less than 250 miles on it, and already we are experiencing strange shifting issues.:banghead: Yesterday it locked in 3rd gear twice while stopping. She was sitting at the stop sign, in 3rd gear, with the engine almost racing. She had to hold the brake with alot of force to keep the Spyder stopped. After playing with the shift switch for a while, and finally shutting off the ignition and "rebooting" the whole system, she was able to get it into first and ride off. We've had issues with fast idle and surging when stopped, as well as problems shifting between first, neutral and reverse. She is still learning how to ride the thing, and I don't relish the prospect of losing weeks of prime riding weather while the dealer back-orders parts and searches for bulletins. I am really disappointed so far. Payment book arrived today, adding insult to injury. My only bright spot, I did buy the Best warranty, so eventually it will be right. But all the posts here are sure discouraging. We were hoping to ride up to a motorcycle resort in N.C. in a couple of weeks, but I am starting to fear taking the Spyder that far from home. This weekend will be the big test, plan to ride as many miles as we have daylight.
I see references here to a bulletin: 2008-5, a Gear Position Sensor, a spring, a shift solonoid, and a software upgrade. Is there anything else I can arm myself with when I go to the dealer? Is there anything I can do MYSELF that will improve things at all?ray:

While I can't help you because I know nothing about the SE5 - please make sure your wife is always thinking of how to kill the bike in case of emergency. Maybe have her use the kill switch a few times on a back road to get the feel for it - so if she gets stuck again like that she can at least bring it to a stop.

 

[bone crusher]

After trying for four years to find a "ryde" for my wife, we finally settled on the :spyder2:. Physical limitations prevented her from mastering two wheeled riding, and her small hands could not pull and hold that SM5 clutch for any length of time, so we bought the SE5. It seemed the perfect answer at the time:2excited:. (Believe me, Bonecrusher, if she could have managed the clutch, we'd be on the manual for sure!).
Our 2008 has less than 250 miles on it, and already we are experiencing strange shifting issues.:banghead: Yesterday it locked in 3rd gear twice while stopping. She was sitting at the stop sign, in 3rd gear, with the engine almost racing. She had to hold the brake with alot of force to keep the Spyder stopped. After playing with the shift switch for a while, and finally shutting off the ignition and "rebooting" the whole system, she was able to get it into first and ride off. We've had issues with fast idle and surging when stopped, as well as problems shifting between first, neutral and reverse. She is still learning how to ride the thing, and I don't relish the prospect of losing weeks of prime riding weather while the dealer back-orders parts and searches for bulletins. I am really disappointed so far. Payment book arrived today, adding insult to injury. My only bright spot, I did buy the Best warranty, so eventually it will be right. But all the posts here are sure discouraging. We were hoping to ride up to a motorcycle resort in N.C. in a couple of weeks, but I am starting to fear taking the Spyder that far from home. This weekend will be the big test, plan to ride as many miles as we have daylight.
I see references here to a bulletin: 2008-5, a Gear Position Sensor, a spring, a shift solonoid, and a software upgrade. Is there anything else I can arm myself with when I go to the dealer? Is there anything I can do MYSELF that will improve things at all?ray:

Make sure you document all this and take it to the dealer when you get a chance...you don't want a lot of road mileage if there are gear issues...could be dangerous...

As far as the BEST warranty goes...good move! I'm more than sure your problem will be resolved well before the BEST even starts (really at the 2 year mark)...

Good luck and get the darn thing fixed...we are certainly getting into prime riding season soon...(have to keep convincing myself of this as here in MD it's raining virtually every day and we'll be in the 40s again next week...argh!)

 

[Degaman]

Three words: Gear Position Sensor!

 

[NancysToy]

The Spyder SE must throttle down in order to downshift. Anything that interferes with that; operator error, GPS, or sticking throttle body, will cause a problem. The Gear Position Sensor can indeed affect the CANBUS (electronics) and cause the idle to vary widely. It can also cause the gear selection problem all by itself. I would not tell the dealer how to fix it unless necessary. I would start by telling him what is wrong. You might mention the service bulletin and ask if he is familiar with it. A good dealer will address this quickly, although you may have a wait for parts.

BTW, my wife had the same problem with small, weak hands. She never could master a bike clutch, but didn't want to wait eight months for the SE to be introduced. She bought one of those spring lever hand exercise things and worked out her hand until her Spyder came. It did the trick! She managed a bike clutch through her MSF course, and has been happy with the SM5 ever since. The adjustable clutch lever and the vacuum assisted clutch (yes, it's actually easier with the engine running) helped. After she experienced them on a demo Spyder, she decided to go that route.
-Scotty

 

[Don in E Texas]

We purchased a SE5 because the wife's left hand could not operate the clutch - short fingers... She had no problem on one of the dealers Kaw. motorcycles. Now have 1,000 miles on the bike and NO issues. Smooth shifting as it should be. I'm sure your :f_spider:will be fixed and meet your full expectations:yes:

don

 

[opticat]

I believe the latest service bulletin is 2009-1. It addresses the spring and angle sensor. My SE performed better after that fix, but still sticks in gear although not as often.

 

[Dudley]

We have an SE5. My wife had never driven any type of motorcycle before the Spyder. When we got it, she saw the DVD from BRP, and she read the owner's manual before she ever tried to drive it. The first time she drove was on a 2 mile hard packed dirt road. She has since progressed to blacktop country driving. One of the first things I showed her was to have the throttle fully closed when coming to a stop. When coming to a stop from whatever gear you're in, completely close the throttle and hold it that way until stopped (you do the same in your car with an automatic, you take your foot off the foot pedal to apply the brakes). Let the auto shift do it's job and shift down for you. It will get you all the way to 1st. The RPMs have to be at 2500 to shift down each gear until it goes from 2nd to 1st, then it shifts at 1500. If the throttle is not fully closed this cannot happen. Learning the particulars of the Spyder takes time and practice.

 

[aubierules]

It will get you all the way to 1st. quote]
not everytime...just ask my service dept:yikes:

 

[Dudley]

It will get you all the way to 1st. quote]
not everytime...just ask my service dept:yikes:[/quote

That's the way it works if all is well. When it doesn't you take it to service, and BINGO works like a charm so they can't figure out why it didn't work for you! Ever had that happen with a car? Spyders are no different, I guess.:banghead:

 

[aubierules]

It will get you all the way to 1st. quote]
not everytime...just ask my service dept:yikes:[/quote

That's the way it works if all is well. When it doesn't you take it to service, and BINGO works like a charm so they can't figure out why it didn't work for you! Ever had that happen with a car? Spyders are no different, I guess.:banghead:

true:chill:

 

[Firefly]

I believe the latest service bulletin is 2009-1. It addresses the spring and angle sensor. My SE performed better after that fix, but still sticks in gear although not as often.

I don't think my SM5 shifts as good since my last service - when they fixed the steering by changing the gear sensor. I'm wondering if it might be the new BRP blend oil they are using.

Seriously thinking of draining it and switching to Royal Purple.

 

[Dudley]

I don't think my SM5 shifts as good since my last service - when they fixed the steering by changing the gear sensor. I'm wondering if it might be the new BRP blend oil they are using.

Seriously thinking of draining it and switching to Royal Purple.

I am very satisfied with RP in my SE5. Have 700 miles since oil change on 25th. Shifts smoother, the engine is quieter, appears to run cooler (that's still to be proven in hotter than 82 ambient) and I haven't had any oil drip on my right side scoop from the air filter (can't know if the RP made that difference, but it hasn't dripped) and I have not had any crawl in first gear in stop and go traffic. Changing to a different oil was a hard decision for me to make (warranty and all). But after what I read on their site and talking to one of their technicians I changed.