As a new intrested owner

[smartin436]

Bought my 2011 RTS SE5 on 8-20-11. I did have an issue with my trans, it got stuck in 4th gear. It spend about 10 days in the shop. The customer service that I got from my dealer and from Carlo at BRP was great.
The Spyder is relatively new vehicle and I too went into the purchase expecting that I may see an issue or two. I currently have about 2600miles on her right now.
I rode Goldwings for several years and had a horse riding accident last year, I broke my right hip and found it difficult and sometimes painfull trying to hold up the bike at stop lights etc. I explored the option of putting a trike kit on our 2010 wing but decided to go with a Spyder instead and have not regreted the decision at all. It does take a little time to get used to handling it, it is NOT a motorcycle, but by 500 miles I had it figured out and adjusted to my liking.

Bottom line..........If I hit the lottery tommorow and could buy anything I wanted to ride, I would ride a Spyder.........Only change would be building a bigger garage so that I would have room for more Spyders!!!!:spyder2:

 

[ARtraveler]

:welcome: You see everything about the :spyder2: here both good and bad. There have been owners with good experiences and there have been some bad experiences, and some really bad experiences. Those with really bad expriences have had issues with a bad machine, bad service from the dealer, and in a very few cases--help lacking from BRP.

I have been on the site since Feb 2010 and feel like the complaining has gone down quite a bit--which indicates to me that things are getting better. There are a few sour grapes people who had bad experiences and bailed. They come back faithfully to get a dig in once in awhile because they really were ticked off at their experience(s). Its a free site, so we see a lot of that.
I also felt going in, that there would be issues with the :spyder2: because it was totally new and had a lot of innovations on it--a recipe for problems. I like what I saw and took the plunge anyway.

I put my money down 6 months before I got my first :spyder2:. In the beginning, they were going to ration the new :spyder2: and not every state was going to get them. My dealer sold a LOT of CanAm snowmobiles--so we got them in AK anyway. I had the 2nd 2008 GS to hit AK--the dealer got the first. The following year I bought my then spouse, a 2009 RS SE5--one of the first semi auto-s here. In 2010, I traded my 2008 GS for a premier edition #474-2010 RTS.

Between the three :spyder2:'s, we have logged over 65,000 miles. The 2008 is still going strong with its new owner, the ex is still riding hers, and I am still riding the 2010--it will have over 21,000 miles on it before I park it for the season.

I have had very few issues with any of the three :spyder2:'s I have owned. The most major was the computer crashed on the new 2009 at about 1500 miles. They replaced it quick and free of charge. No additional issues.

I think you will find most stories just like mine. I don't feel the :spyder2: needs to be defended. It is a very big ticket item and most everyone will be unhappy if it runs badly sometimes. I am the same way--if I would have got a piece of junk--I would have been long gone also--if they could not have fixed it right.

 

[bikeguy]

I love my RT and my wife loves it even more. I loved riding my BMW, but after dropping it twice at stops with my wife onboard, it got to where it was hard to enjoy riding it down the road because I was worrying about where we were gonna stop and whether I'd put my foot down in a hole or on a round rock or a slightly slick spot or - on and on. Yes, I'm vertically challenged and I'm getting old, too, but I've been riding for a long, long time and I didn't want to quit. So we started looking at 3-wheelers and, to me, the Spyder felt so much better than conventional trikes that there was never a question as to what I wanted. Took the 2010 RT home in April of 2010. Now have just over 20,000 miles with only a couple of minor issues, nothing that was even remotely close to stranding us on the road. Love it!

Cotton

p.s. Let me also say that we have a good dealer and that makes a big difference.

 

[Bob Denman]

I see that we've got happy animals in here too!

 

[COOLMACHINE]

I wish someone else would make this configuration

I keep hoping someone else will make this 3-wheel configuration.

 

[flamingobabe]

1 year 4 months 3 days....I'm still as excited as I was the day I decided to do this Spyder thing....28,000 something miles.....had a few snags in the beginning...but I think it was my fault...but BRP fixed it...clutch on semi-automatic....the parking brake could use a going over...but I love my Spyder..........

 

[Sarge707]

14,000 in 2 Years, Never left me stranded and usually end up riding 3 hours before I get home!!!! Love the Acceleration!nojoke

 

[stutzmason]

If I died today ...

it would take the undertaker a week to get the smile off my face from ryding. :doorag::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

to new owner

welcome:2thumbs: :2thumbs: :thumbup: even though I have the dealer HELL that's not BRP's fault. I have a bum right leg...bum right arm ...balance issues and I'm a very young 64. If it weren't for the spyder I wouldn't be riding anymore. I traded my 03 Gold Wing 3 years ago for an 08 sm-5 and have never looked back....This family has been great as you will find out. don't hesitate to ask for info or help that's what we're here for :thumbup:. again WELCOME Mike Long

 

[Wattsmyname]

If you have never had a BMW,Honda etc you will probably be very happy, its not that it's bad but just not as good as it could be. Great example, compare a BMW tank bag to the Can Am tank bag- there is absolutely no comparison on the quality/workmanship. Also keep in mind that you can buy two Can Am tank bags for one BMW. Its the only machine like it so you really have no choice. Just keep in mind its a relatively new machine and it is fun to ride once you get use to it, if coming from two wheels, plan on a few hundred miles until you start to really like it. Good Luck!!

 

[SheWolf]

I haven't got one either. I come from a long history of bikes, quads, sleds (and a couple of old school death-trikes, you know the ones:yikes, and I finally managed to get my a$$ on an RS last week. All I can say is....holy crap! It is a LOT of fun, and I only spent just under a couple of hours in the seat. If I had the cash to drop right now, I'd have one, no questions asked. Even thinking about that ride makes my face hurt from smiling. So I can't say that coming from years or bike riding and going onto this thing was a turn off like so many motorcyclists claim. It was the exact opposite. It was an adrenaline rush that made me almost go straight home with it and let the dealer keep my car.

 

[Spyder Rush]

Thank you all

I want to thank everyone for your responce. You have given me some needed confidence as i look forward to my purchase.

Except for Big Red 1: I am 53 and have been maried three times....I needed a little more than that!!!!!!

As with life and marriage, ya pays your money and ya takes your chances. ​

 

[Gordy]

I dont think that brp have done too bad, the spyder is only 4 years old where as all the other bike manufactures have any where from 50 to over 100 years experience and still have their problems.On a trip to colorado last year had to push son in laws new gold wing to start it, spyder never missed a beat went to portland oregon this year and spyder ran perfect even pulling a camper trailer. have 33000 kms on it with very little problems. 2010 rts

 

[Dtryke]

Very happy

Bought a used 2009 SE with 400 miles 2 months ago. Put 1200 miles on it so far and no problems!! It's the best way to relax your mind from the day to day stuff. Love it and wouldn't trade it.

 

[Questions]

Go for it. You wont regret it.

 

[DocRags]

Wishing you the best of luck with your upcoming purchase...we've had our :spyder2: since last June and have absolutely loved it. No major issues...just small ones (tires, broken rear fender brackets, etc). We've got a 2008, so we figured it was a potential problem year (being Can-Am's first production year). It's the only bike I'd look at getting (I've got balance problems so a 2 wheel is out and the :spyder2: is SOOOOO much cooler looking than any standard trike). We're approaching the 20,000 mile mark (7000 mile road trip this summer with 3 different :spyder2: rallies) and have had an absolute ball riding it. As others have mentioned, the camaraderie between fellow Spyder riders is unbelievable. We've even been invited to stay overnight with fellow Spyderlovers we've just met. Problems with dealerships/availability of parts in a timely manner/etc are things some of us experience, but this seems to vary by location. You'll find the:spyder2: will draw a far amount of attention whenever you stop, so when you plan to go somewhere make sure you add in extra :chat: time for that. You never make it in the time you think you will because you end up talking about the bike. Good luck and :welcome:.

 

[rock]

very happy

we have 2010 rts limited and are thrilled with this bike the ride is awsome and it handles like a high tech sports car. we have 13500 miles of super time on this bike.

 

[Bigmeech]

900 miles on my 2011 rs-s and could not be happier!!! They are all right about people wanting to talk to u about the Spyder because everywhere i go someone is asking me about it or crowding around it in awe.... But i dont blame them, i did the same thing the first time i saw one in person!!!!!!!

 

[alicej]

Fairly new on my Spyder

I purchased mine end of July. I hated it and was scaered to death of it. (Harley 2 Wheel Ultra Rider for 25 years then purchased a Tri-Glide in Nov.2009.) Had a serious accident with the Tri-Glide, totaled it with less than 500 miles on it and did very serious damage to my left side. Tried all last winter to learn to get on the Ultra in garage and could not do it. If I did get on it I could not pull the clutch or use the heel-toe shifter. Automatic and three wheels was the only choice; and guess what???? After 1000 miles I LOVE MY FreddY FrYke :spyder2: