BRP's Trained Dealership Technicians

[Pampurrs]

I wouldn't spend much time worrying about it. I read similar threads and many 'issues' threads before I bought my first Spyder in 2013. I still bought it! I don't disagree with the above but I am just going to jump on my Spyder and ride.

I will have to admit that my dealer experience to date has been positive. I took my '14 RT in for first service and mentioned that my ignition ke was 'sticky' sometimes so Service manager said we'll take a look but will probably replace. Also mentioned a vibration in the front at certain speeds, so they replaced both front tires. Yes these turned out to be known issues with the ifnition and tires but the fix was immediate so to me no big deal.

Any time I have gone to the dealer for service, usually the first thing I am asked is which demo I want to take while they work on the bike.

I don't want to dismiss the big picture but I think for the majority, we just jump on and ride. It sounds like there is a good dealer or two near you. Mine is 3.5 hrs away.

The nearest "good" dealer to me is 140 miles away. I'm going to strive to get real good at working on my own Spyder. I have performed work on my Victory, and my previous Hondas, so I may as well learn my way around this mystical Spyder machine :yes:

 

[Bob Denman]

:shocked: 140 miles? Think of it as a good excuse to go find a good coffee shop! :thumbup:

 

[Pampurrs]

:shocked: 140 miles? Think of it as a good excuse to go find a good coffee shop! :thumbup:

Oh it's a great ride up to Prescott Valley. The thing that scares me is something happening where I have to leave the :f_spider: and ask someone to come pick me up :yikes:

 

[Bob Denman]

Sleeping bag, and a bag of Gummy Bears... :thumbup:

:joke:

Prescott Valley?? :yikes:
The Missus and I were kind of looking at that area as a place for our eventual relocation out of the Northeast...
As I recall; we quit looking, when we couldn't find an apartment that included garage-parking for the Spyder... :banghead:

 

[Pampurrs]

Sleeping bag, and a bag of Gummy Bears... :thumbup:

:joke:

..... and a six pack :cheers::cheers:

 

[Trbayth]

Don't.... please realize this. What you read here is a small faction of owners. The stories you read here are from those that had problems. You rarely hear from all the others (probably 80% I am guessing) that do not or have not had issues.

And you also don't hear from the 80% that have had problems but don't post on forums about it. They just grit their teeth and get it fixed then tell their friends not to buy a Spyder because they're more trouble than they're worth.

Machines this expensive and specialized should be of better quality. It's not 2008 and the first model year anymore.

 

[Bob Denman]

You can't count those that you don't know about... :shocked:
80% that don't post? Where did this number come from?
Should the machines be showing better quality by now? HELL YEAH! :2thumbs:
But I wouldn't pull a number out of my butt to make the conversations more interesting... :lecturef_smilie:

 

[ARtraveler]

It has been awhile since we have had a similar thread. Someone posts a thread with a complaint or discussion about something that can be improved. All others who have had a bad experience or know someone who does, chimes in.

Before we know it we have five pages of gloom, despair and agony, Oh me, deep dark depression and excessive misery. Oh Me....if it weren't for bad luck, I have no luck at all, ...:roflblack: :roflblack:

There are good dealers as well as the bad ones. Here, two out of three are great to do business with or get service from. I just avoid the third dealer. :yes:

 

[SpydermanCT]

Perhaps BRP should give a call to MMI, and see if a co-operative effort could be arranged. :thumbup:

http://www.uti.edu/programs/motorcycle

I think this is a good possibility and would be a great investment long term for BRP and the the dealer body. No they don't turn out a tech that can do it all but it could develop a pool of potential superstar in the rough.

And you also don't hear from the 80% that have had problems but don't post on forums about it. They just grit their teeth and get it fixed then tell their friends not to buy a Spyder because they're more trouble than they're worth.

Machines this expensive and specialized should be of better quality. It's not 2008 and the first model year anymore.

I respectfully disagree if your stating that 80% of Spyder owners have had problems and that they feel Spyders are more trouble than they are worth. I've met a lot of Spyder owners on the road, at dealerships and at events like SpyderQuest. The vast majority love their Spyder and for the most part have been relatively trouble free. They are machines built by humans and some problems are going to crop up from time to time. Every single manufacturer has quality control problems at some level, some more some less.

 

[Centurion]

And you also don't hear from the 80% that have had problems but don't post on forums about it. They just grit their teeth and get it fixed then tell their friends not to buy a Spyder because they're more trouble than they're worth.

Machines this expensive and specialized should be of better quality. It's not 2008 and the first model year anymore.

Really? Wow, maybe you should just "dump" your low quality machine. I like mine and I think a few others here do so as well.

ps, the web site is called "Spyder Lovers"! :dontknow:

 

[SpydermanCT]

I will tell you one issue for SURE that causes the long delays for service. I hear this every time out here no matter the dealer.

They DO NOT STOCK PARTS! Or if they do it is stuff for regular service (filters, etc).

When I had the set screw issue I talked to the dealer up front. Sent them the BRP Technical Service Bulletin, and showed them the parts they needed. Bottom line... THEY WOULD NOT ORDER the parts (which was nothing more than gaskets) until they got my Spyder and took it apart.

Thus I waited a full week while parts came in. Had they had the parts or were willing to order them BEFORE I brought my Spyder in, the job would have been one day.

This is a common theme out here and is very annoying.

Bob

A very valid point. From my experience and what others have posted BRP's parts network varies greatly. Don't think I've ever waited more that 48 hours for a part yet I've had very minimal problems and they were pretty common to a 2010 RT. Others have had to wait unreasonable amounts of time to get a part or parts. Possibley because if the part is not stocked in the USA customs from Canada slows delivery?

I can say that a parts department with shelves full of special ordered parts that were not prepaid for and not picked up can tie up a lot of money. Obsolescence returns from automotive manufacturers allow somewhere in the 6% of the total yearly purchases. You can have a lot of money tied up in parts that might never sell. This would not be applicable to your specific request Bob. There is no doubt that my dealer would have ordered the parts for your request prior to your appointment.

 

[jaherbst]

That's why I suggested that some communication between BRP, and MMI might be useful... :thumbup:
:lecturef_smilie:And make it PDQ!

To sum this up, there are not enough Spyder certified mechs. BRP thought that any old power sports mech could work on the Spyder Too. WRONG The Spyder is very different from your Dads Honda 350. Once again make sure your mech is factory certified on the Spyder and ask to see his certificate. It will save you a lot of headaches.

Jack

 

[SpydermanCT]

To sum this up, there are not enough Spyder certified mechs. BRP thought that any old power sports mech could work on the Spyder Too. WRONG

Jack

i completely agree there are not enough Spyder certified techs but do you really think this is BRP's business plan Jack? Low customer satisfaction ratings mean less repeat sales, reduced parts sales and that's how BRP makes money, selling more units and parts.

Maybe we could get one of our sponsor Can Am dealership people or Lamont to chime in and tell us what is available and required by BRP?

Where I work, as an independent dealership for Nissan, it is a franchise requirement to have a specific number of technicians trained. If I don't, warranty reimbursement for work we do can be denied and ultimately could be a violation of our franchise agreement with the ultimate penalty of losing the franchise.

 

[jaherbst]

i completely agree there are not enough Spyder certified techs but do you really think this is BRP's business plan Jack? Low customer satisfaction ratings mean less repeat sales, reduced parts sales and that's how BRP makes money, selling more units and parts.

Maybe we could get one of our sponsor Can Am dealership people or Lamont to chime in and tell us what is available and required by BRP?

Where I work, as an independent dealership for Nissan, it is a franchise requirement to have a specific number of technicians trained. If I don't warranty reimbursement for work we do can be denied and ultimately could be a violation of our franchise agreement with the ultimate penalty of losing the franchise.

Ride Now only has one certified Spyder mech at each dealership including the mega mall spots. Hardly enough to service the Spyders out here. Some of their dealerships do not have any BRP Spyder certified mechs. I have been into service and asked if Scott my certified mech will be working on the Spyder. Reply was no but (Johnny) knows a lot about them. My reply, sorry he does not know enough to work on my Spyder, I will wait for Scott. No one else is to do the work. Again I reiterate, make sure whoever is doing your work is qualified (BRP Spyder Trained and certified) and that no one else does the work. 90% of the dealer caused problems will disappear.

A lot of problems are caused by owners who try to do work that is over their head. In other words, if I cannot fix it then I will take it to the dealer to fix. (after I have really f----d it up) First he has to figure out what damage you have done before he can start on the original malfunction. Then you grouse about the time and charges. Would have been less had you not tinkered with it and took it strait in for repair.

Analogy: Man's got to know his own limitations. (Clint Eastwood)

Jack

 

[Gray Ghost]

Perhaps BRP should give a call to MMI, and see if a co-operative effort could be arranged. :thumbup:

http://www.uti.edu/programs/motorcycle

When I was starting at MMI Orlando there were a couple of Spyders that were part of the training fleet, but they weren't being used. They were destroyed at some point before I graduated. The brand training at MMI is all aligned with the factory, they have regular meetings to determine that the school is teaching what the factory wants technicians trained on. As for certification at certain levels, you can meet the requirements while at MMI, but you only get the certificate when you are actually working for a dealer of that brand.

Unless things have changed, the only brands MMI trains are HD, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and BMW.

 

[jaherbst]

When I was starting at MMI Orlando there were a couple of Spyders that were part of the training fleet, but they weren't being used. They were destroyed at some point before I graduated. The brand training at MMI is all aligned with the factory, they have regular meetings to determine that the school is teaching what the factory wants technicians trained on. As for certification at certain levels, you can meet the requirements while at MMI, but you only get the certificate when you are actually working for a dealer of that brand.

Unless things have changed, the only brands MMI trains are HD, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda and BMW.

Unfortunately some of the Spyder dealers think that once they graduate from MMI they can work on anything including the Spyder. NOT This is where the trouble begins and you get lousy maintenance and cannot get your Spyder fixed.

MMI does not train for Spyder maintenance. Only BRP trains certified Spyder mechs and issues a Certified certificate with the mechs name and that he is certified to work on the Spyder. They are scarce as hens teeth! Most Spyder dealerships have to spend a lot of money to get them trained and certified and try to get by without training their mechs. It is a lot cheaper for them. To the best of my knowledge BRP does not require dealerships to have certified Spyder mechs. Can anyone add to this or correct me if wrong?

Jack

 

[Dubliner]

:shocked: 140 miles? Think of it as a good excuse to go find a good coffee shop! :thumbup:

It would have to be some coffee shop if you had to wait three weeks for them to start on it

 

[Bob Denman]

Unfortunately some of the Spyder dealers think that once they graduate from MMI they can work on anything including the Spyder. NOT This is where the trouble begins and you get lousy maintenance and cannot get your Spyder fixed.

MMI does not train for Spyder maintenance. Only BRP trains certified Spyder mechs and issues a Certified certificate with the mechs name and that he is certified to work on the Spyder. They are scarce as hens teeth! Most Spyder dealerships have to spend a lot of money to get them trained and certified and try to get by without training their mechs. It is a lot cheaper for them. To the best of my knowledge BRP does not require dealerships to have certified Spyder mechs. Can anyone add to this or correct me if wrong?

Jack

I don't know what the tuition costs are for MMI, nor do I know what BRP may charge for it's training... :shocked:
One is in the business of education, and other: building powersports products...

...Perhaps BRP should farm out it's training, to MMI? :dontknow:

 

[MikeT]

I know this question is a little off topic; but related to it. I know that BRP knows what dealerships have:
A. Master Techs, and
B. Certified Techs
Do they make make this information available, or is it up to the individual to call around to the dealer(s) in their state to find out this information ??????

 

[jaherbst]

I don't know what the tuition costs are for MMI, nor do I know what BRP may charge for it's training... :shocked:
One is in the business of education, and other: building powersports products...

...Perhaps BRP should farm out it's training, to MMI? :dontknow:

Anything to get more Spyder specific training would help Bob. This seems to be the biggest nightmare with those of us who own Spyders. Motorcycles are not much different or cars for that matter. Not enough people qualified to do the job and you get second class maintenance and have to return to solve the same problem.

Jack