Doesn't DESS work well as a security device?

[Peter Aawen]

Kinda comes down to this. If your DESS goes out on you away from home, at least you still have your spyder. If you disable your DESS and your spyder gets stolen then you have no spyder. Think I'll stay with the DESS. JMHO Sometimes it feels like if I didn't have bad luck I'd have no luck at all.

That's pretty much my reasoning at this point. Glad to see someone else thinks similarly.

That's why I bought a trailer. LOL Sooner or later..........................well you know. It can happen to anyone at any time anywhere. AAA can do the initial tow and a bus/airline ticket can get you home then another trip to get the spyder. Always try to preplan. Don't stress out!

You guys are kinda missing the point.... Juuust imagine for a moment that you had NO IDEA if you'd be able to start your Spyder again EVERY time you turn it off!! And THAT applies for EVERY outing &/or trip you do on your Spyder - be it just a quick run down to the shop; or a 3 month tour of the furtherest and most remote part of the country! Then add in that there's a good chance you've already had this problem AND had it 'fixed' at least once already, if not more, only now it's doing it again! And possibly this problem didn't begin until AFTER you'd left home this time around! Plus, even if you can find a dealer, when they try, it all works fine, so since you've got no history with them, they just fob you off as an idiot punter who can't turn the key properly and then press the start button; but as soon as you leave their premises, you're back to getting it started maybe 1 out of every 3 tries - and then there's the times you hafta wait 4 hours between start attempts for it to even look like working; or the times it happens when you're really remote, alone, and there's no phone signal; or you really just wanta get home for the surprise party you're throwing your wife, or whatever - doesn't matter, you just have NO CONFIDENCE any more that your Spyder will start when you want it to cos it's failed before, it's failed frequently, seemingly randomly, and despite being 'fixed' repeatedly (probably at least once at your expense, not counting what it cost you for the tows, the extra accommodation, the flights home, the costs of trucking the Spyder home, etc, etc, etc!) IT'S NOW BLOODY WELL DOING IT AGAIN!! :gaah: Can you do that; maybe feel juuuust a little of it?? :dontknow:

I've got a 'reliable & fun to ride' 2013, so I'm really only an observer in all this, but I've seen quite a few with this particular DESS issue now, and those posts you've put up above & pretty much everything else you've posted on the subject suggests that you don't really realise the range of emotions &/or the depth of the frustration, anger, stress, and being screwed over by BRP yet AGAIN that many of those who've experienced this issue actually feel - especially amongst those who've had repeated issues &/or been caught out somewhere that was dangerous or difficult to get home from.... :banghead:

Ps: and to those who think that their DESS actually protects their Spyder from theft, just check out Navydad's earlier post. He's not wrong! 'Security' is just a word used on the sales brochure....

 

[Deanna777]

Any issues since, Deanna? Maybe the gremlin got scared off by your new dashboard treatment ... :2thumbs:

UtahPete:

NO DESS issues since then.

I think the gremlin did get scared because of my new dashboard treatment.

Deanna

 

[UtahPete]

I was just rereading Deanna's epic post and realized that 4 years ago I had become concerned enough that I asked where I could find someone with BUDS to disable my DESS. Never got a response so I haven't done it. Ironically, I realize now that JCThorne was at the 2016 Redrock rally and could have done it, but I wasn't aware of the issue at the time.

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

You guys are kinda missing the point.... Juuust imagine for a moment that you had NO IDEA if you'd be able to start your Spyder again EVERY time you turn it off!! And THAT applies for EVERY outing &/or trip you do on your Spyder - be it just a quick run down to the shop; or a 3 month tour of the furtherest and most remote part of the country! Then add in that there's a good chance you've already had this problem AND had it 'fixed' at least once already, if not more, only now it's doing it again! And possibly this problem didn't begin until AFTER you'd left home this time around! Plus, even if you can find a dealer, when they try, it all works fine, so since you've got no history with them, they just fob you off as an idiot punter who can't turn the key properly and then press the start button; but as soon as you leave their premises, you're back to getting it started maybe 1 out of every 3 tries - and then there's the times you hafta wait 4 hours between start attempts for it to even look like working; or the times it happens when you're really remote, alone, and there's no phone signal; or you really just wanta get home for the surprise party you're throwing your wife, or whatever - doesn't matter, you just have NO CONFIDENCE any more that your Spyder will start when you want it to cos it's failed before, it's failed frequently, seemingly randomly, and despite being 'fixed' repeatedly (probably at least once at your expense, not counting what it cost you for the tows, the extra accommodation, the flights home, the costs of trucking the Spyder home, etc, etc, etc!) IT'S NOW BLOODY WELL DOING IT AGAIN!! :gaah: Can you do that; maybe feel juuuust a little of it?? :dontknow:

I've got a 'reliable & fun to ride' 2013, so I'm really only an observer in all this, but I've seen quite a few with this particular DESS issue now, and those posts you've put up above & pretty much everything else you've posted on the subject suggests that you don't really realise the range of emotions &/or the depth of the frustration, anger, stress, and being screwed over by BRP yet AGAIN that many of those who've experienced this issue actually feel - especially amongst those who've had repeated issues &/or been caught out somewhere that was dangerous or difficult to get home from.... :banghead:

Ps: and to those who think that their DESS actually protects their Spyder from theft, just check out Navydad's earlier post. He's not wrong! 'Security' is just a word used on the sales brochure....

:agree: with you Peter 110% ..... however you are preaching to the wrong choir..... a long time ago I posted how and where I moved my NEW replaced DESS module..... it gave 5 min. access ( even in the Dark ) to complete the job ...... If two others here on this Forum actually did what I did I would be surprised ...... Mike :thumbup:

 

[UtahPete]

UtahPete, Look at the Thread that I started( KEY CODE AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).The above thread has a lot of excellent info about the DESS. Deanna

That's exactly what I'm doing Deanna. Only 300 more posts to go!

 

[PMK]

Active DESS or disabled DESS, if a thief wants the Spyder, they will most likely have it gone in sixty seconds. Tilting flat bed hauler, have everything ready, winch cable extended, back in, fully lower tilt bed and drag Spyder onto the truck and gone.

DESS is valid to keep a punk from using a big screwdriver, then twisting the key switch to on.

Unless you securely chain your Spyder to a non movable object to deter it being dragged onto a flat bed that method is always viable.

If you believe in DESS, and many folks do, excellent. It is a live by the sword / die by the sword adventure.

Those that disable DESS, with minimal effort can install other deterrents. No, not enough to prevent the flat bed type grab and gone, but simple things to keep it from being ridden away.

Installing an alarm. A basic alarm might deter a theft, but honestly, does better at keeping your Spyder from being a photo op for folks to sit on and get their photo taken.

Use a 1/2 cover. While a crook may know how to quickly overpower a key switch, they may not want the added exposure to remove the cover.

Being fuel injected, a Spyder will not run without a fuel pump. Super simple to add a remote fuel pump kill switch. Will not stop it from being stolen on a flat bed, but will keep it from starting.

For the John Wayne types, maybe consider installing a tracker under the bodywork. This may allow you to recover your Spyder, whether you gather your own friends and ammo or see if the police have an interest.

Years ago, I offered locally the service of disabling DESS for minimal cost. Owners had no interest in doing that. Honestly, I am absolutely fine with that and no longer offer to disable DESS. If a friend were stranded a reasonable distance away, yes I would get there and get them home by disabling DESS. Folks I do not know, would need to be towed to the dealer. Dealers are a fickle bunch. If an owner had a DESS failure, then I disabled DESS to get them going, and they took it to the dealer for repair, it would get ugly and expensive.

Flat bed hauler for the win...gone in sixty seconds, DESS or no DESS.

 

[missouriboy]

Well ...How much were you charged .... changing the Antennae shouldn't cost much for parts and labor .... the actual DESS module now costs about $ 150 for the part .... however the entire FRUNK has to be removed to get to it, I know I've done it. a dealer might charge $350 for labor alone .... good luck ... Mike :thumbup:

Replacement covered by warranty.

 

[K80Shooter]

Any time that I travel with my spyder and plan on staying somewhere I always have a lock and chain with me that I use.

Of course, they can still get it with a bit more trouble.

 

[Mikey]

At the end of the day, it's whatever makes YOU feel good, and makes you able to sleep at night!! Me, I buy insurance, and know that if I have to, there's buses and taxis that will get you back home. I hate things that cause me troubles, like the self-adjusting air system that a lot of us have, if it's a weak link and has the possibility of costing me a lot of money and go again, it will be disabled in MY world!! I have had things taken from me in my life, thieves are just that, thieves, and if they want what you got, well they will have it!! So, if you think BRP should keep on putting this junk on your bike and it makes you sleep better at night in that hotel, good luck and good day! Now like said above, what oil do you use?

 

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

Active DESS or disabled DESS, if a thief wants the Spyder, they will most likely have it gone in sixty seconds. Tilting flat bed hauler, have everything ready, winch cable extended, back in, fully lower tilt bed and drag Spyder onto the truck and gone.

DESS is valid to keep a punk from using a big screwdriver, then twisting the key switch to on.

Unless you securely chain your Spyder to a non movable object to deter it being dragged onto a flat bed that method is always viable.

If you believe in DESS, and many folks do, excellent. It is a live by the sword / die by the sword adventure.

Those that disable DESS, with minimal effort can install other deterrents. No, not enough to prevent the flat bed type grab and gone, but simple things to keep it from being ridden away.

Installing an alarm. A basic alarm might deter a theft, but honestly, does better at keeping your Spyder from being a photo op for folks to sit on and get their photo taken.

Use a 1/2 cover. While a crook may know how to quickly overpower a key switch, they may not want the added exposure to remove the cover.

Being fuel injected, a Spyder will not run without a fuel pump. Super simple to add a remote fuel pump kill switch. Will not stop it from being stolen on a flat bed, but will keep it from starting.

For the John Wayne types, maybe consider installing a tracker under the bodywork. This may allow you to recover your Spyder, whether you gather your own friends and ammo or see if the police have an interest.

Years ago, I offered locally the service of disabling DESS for minimal cost. Owners had no interest in doing that. Honestly, I am absolutely fine with that and no longer offer to disable DESS. If a friend were stranded a reasonable distance away, yes I would get there and get them home by disabling DESS. Folks I do not know, would need to be towed to the dealer. Dealers are a fickle bunch. If an owner had a DESS failure, then I disabled DESS to get them going, and they took it to the dealer for repair, it would get ugly and expensive.

Flat bed hauler for the win...gone in sixty seconds, DESS or no DESS.

:agree: .... A simple hidden toggle switch can dis-able any combustion engine. I had two on my 63 XKE, and never lost any sleep about where it was parked ...... just sayin .... Mike :thumbup:

 

[EdMat]

If you want to add a great slow um down feature or to keep the rug rats off at wally world strap one of these to the frame under the tupperware.

 

[2dogs]

You guys are kinda missing the point.... Juuust imagine for a moment that you had NO IDEA if you'd be able to start your Spyder again EVERY time you turn it off!! And THAT applies for EVERY outing &/or trip you do on your Spyder - be it just a quick run down to the shop; or a 3 month tour of the furtherest and most remote part of the country! .....

That's just what owning and riding a BRP product is all about. You're a monitor here and you've read EVERY post I suspect. Also being an owner I would guess that in the back of your mind you may be wondering just if and when your spyder may let you down? It can happen to anyone with any ride at any time, but the spyder seems to have an established reputation. So, as I mentioned, don't stress out! Have a plan for when it happens and when it does a new adventure starts. Because I, and I suspect others as well, have been pushed into the 3 wheel ownership position our options are/were limited. That being said, we should be mature enough to take anything that's thrown our way and deal with it responsibly and effectively. Of all the rides I've owned only two gave me the confidence that they could take anywhere and never let me down, but sadly the spyder is not one of them. So, it is what it is and just plan ahead for when it and if it may happen.

Ryde More, Worry Less! :thumbup: :riding:

 

[jcthorne]

And I don't remember there being even one instance of a DESS-equipped Spyder getting stolen.

Spyders get stolen. DESS has nothing to do with it.

As a security system its next to worthless as it has a loop hole big enough to drive a city bus through.

You do not need a valid key to disable DESS using BUDS. IE flat bed a Spyder to your shop. Disable DESS using readily available software. Cut new key and bike starts.

The 2013 and older bikes using the original DESS system were actually pretty secure as you could not bypass the system nor program a new key without a valid one.