As with the last report on this matter, I'm glad Don's alright and no one is injured. I understand the upset of a Spyder Ryder who watches his/her baby go up in smoke. However:
I just spent a week in the Smokies with upward of 300 Spyders of all modifications. Seemed that about 80% were RS's ... and 20% RTs. These machines were filled up daily; many "topped of" to avoid running out of gas in the hills, and subjected to very demanding, hot and challenging driving conditions. We had no fires. I think someone reported a problem that resulted in a limp mode drive to a repair.
Before making omnibus statements that enjoin the general Spyder community to park their bikes and "stop riding," and stay home, let us be clear that this problem seems to be limited to earlier GS/RS's. No reports that I've seen with the RTs, knock on wood. I think the total number of fire incidents reported on this site now totals eight or nine, and yes, any number, even a small percentage, is too high in that regard.
I agree that there needs to be a response from BRP, and the Spyder Community needs to work together to figure out what's happened this handful of bikes. I don't agree (yet) that the solution is to defame the machine, BRP; encourage others to park their Spyders and stay home, not ryde and/or tarnish a favorable perception of Spyder ownership.
Again, this in no way lessens my sympathy toward owners who've experienced the problem; if it happened to me, I'd be mortified. I certainly understand Don's exasperation. It's a natural way to feel. However, I'm simply encouraging that we work together to objectively isolate this issue to produce more light than heat. The questions I would have include -- What year and model were the bikes involved? How many miles on the odometer? How many of the bikes that incurred a fire actually had the factory recalls on the fuel vents performed? Has anyone spoken to BRP? What did they say?
