DPS Problems, We Can No Longer Ignore "The Elephant In The Living Room"

[BLACK WIDOW]

BRP

Unlike Black Widow, I do NOT have faith BRP will resolve to solve ongoing problems with our Spyders. Mine has run faultlessly so far...but I only have 1500 miles on it....yes, the growing cloud of suspicion has set in, and I'm truly sorry to say that.:ani29:

I have not had any real problems with my Spyder either with almost 7000 miles but 7000 miles isn't many miles and BRP needs to address the issues that many are having. If they would do this before things get out of hand they would restore faith and creditability in the Spyder; that is slowly slipping away. I honestly think they will do this; If they don't i'm afraid we may all own a collectors item. I certainly hope not!!nojoke

Michael:doorag:

 

[Bulldogger]

Two questions is the steering electronic, and if it is, is it motor failures or electronic board failures

 

[Magic Man]

Evan did Lamont get his fixed

Not yet. He has talked to them but not had a chance to get it in to the dealer yet.

MM

 

[Magic Man]

Two questions is the steering electronic, and if it is, is it motor failures or electronic board failures

It is electronic.

It is a sealed non "in the feild serveced unit" and BRP has not said what the cause of failed units has been so far.

MM

 

[BRPjunkie]

I think they do make planes and trains. Different division or branch of the same parent company.


So did the plane engine surge and gotten you there faster than usual? :joke:

BRP was spun off from Bombardier several years ago and they no longer make airplanes or are affiliated with that company. BRP is strictly recreational products now.

 

[Lamonster]

If and when you hear from BRP it will be posted on SpyderRyder like this was, not on our boards.
http://spyder.brp.com/en-US/Share/C...rticleID=fb85b365-84b8-4256-9294-4d14e8a6b5ae

I can tell you for a fact that it is being looked into by BRP and has not been ignored or over looked by them. Just because you're not getting a daily update from BRP doesn't mean that it is not being addressed daily. I got an email from Pitmom and she has been in touch with BRP directly to try and figure out whats going on with her unit. Like I said in another post it could be as simple as a resetting of the steering angle sensor and the torque sensor. I guess anything over 2 degrees will throw it into limp mode but under that can cause it not to act right.

Yes my power steering went out in Daytona but the only thing it effects is my slow speed steering, it was fine on my 600 mile ride home and I spent plenty of time over 70 mph with one hand on the bars. I'm not concerned to the point some of you are and I know it will get fixed in time. I have over 42,000 miles on my Spyder now and other than a wheel bearing I've had no other issues.

I run and read a lot of message boards and every bike has some sort of issues, some pretty major but for some reason people still buy them. I'm sure BRP will work through these and I'm sure after that there will be a new crop of problems springing up, at least that's what I see on other boards.

If you are a potential Spyder owner and these post have scared you off then you should move on and find something that will fill your needs. If you're a owner and you're afraid to drive your Spyder now you should either sell it or file a complaint and take legal action. I really don't see what other choices you have.

I think it sucks that I run a "SpyderLovers" forum and there are so many problems that seem to take over the board but I still think for the most part folks are happy with their Spyders and most of them have never had a problem with their units. The fact is messages boards are where these problems are brought to light and the focus is almost always on the problems and not those who have no problems.

 

[3wheeldemon]

:agree:Magic Man: Great post, objective and right to the issue. As I said yesterday, machines fail and electronics glitch but we should expect the steering and the brakes of any vehicle to either fuction or fail safe.

PS: Who is HUGH?

3WD

 

[LaughingHeart]

Thanks, Magic Man, for your well thought out post. I too love my Spyder!! Other than a fan relay going out, I have had no problems to date. However, I have to say that hearing about the steering issues others have had has taken a bit of the fun out of riding. I now am watchful for possible problems. I would like to see this addressed by BRP directly and soon.

 

[Saluda]

Mine still says happy owner at the bottom, more concerned and aware though. Also sympathetic to all who have had the big problems and to those that may have lost out on an oppurtunity to own a different and enjoyable vehicle (when all is going right).

 

[BLACK WIDOW]

Spyder

If and when you hear from BRP it will be posted on SpyderRyder like this was, not on our boards.
http://spyder.brp.com/en-US/Share/C...rticleID=fb85b365-84b8-4256-9294-4d14e8a6b5ae

I can tell you for a fact that it is being looked into by BRP and has not been ignored or over looked by them. Just because you're not getting a daily update from BRP doesn't mean that it is not being addressed daily. I got an email from Pitmom and she has been in touch with BRP directly to try and figure out whats going on with her unit. Like I said in another post it could be as simple as a resetting of the steering angle sensor and the torque sensor. I guess anything over 2 degrees will throw it into limp mode but under that can cause it not to act right.

Yes my power steering went out in Daytona but the only thing it effects is my slow speed steering, it was fine on my 600 mile ride home and I spent plenty of time over 70 mph with one hand on the bars. I'm not concerned to the point some of you are and I know it will get fixed in time. I have over 42,000 miles on my Spyder now and other than a wheel bearing I've had no other issues.

I run and read a lot of message boards and every bike has some sort of issues, some pretty major but for some reason people still buy them. I'm sure BRP will work through these and I'm sure after that there will be a new crop of problems springing up, at least that's what I see on other boards.

If you are a potential Spyder owner and these post have scared you off then you should move on and find something that will fill your needs. If you're a owner and you're afraid to drive your Spyder now you should either sell it or file a complaint and take legal action. I really don't see what other choices you have.

I think it sucks that I run a "SpyderLovers" forum and there are so many problems that seem to take over the board but I still think for the most part folks are happy with their Spyders and most of them have never had a problem with their units. The fact is messages boards are where these problems are brought to light and the focus is almost always on the problems and not those who have no problems.

Lamont, I certainly hope you are right about BRP actively working the issues that have obviously spawned concern among owners and potential owners. I enjoy my Spyder and have considered selling the Wing because I like riding the Spyder much more, but I never had any concerns of being dumped with the Wing and actually never gave it a thought (may have been false security). BRP can do a lot to ease concerns by simply letting owners know they are working for us and not trying to skirt the issues. I have faith that they will do this and restore confidence in the Spyder faithful. I understand your point in running a SPYDER LOVERS forum when it seems as though all the post are SPYDER HATERS. I know there is a lot of over reaction here but there are valid issues involved and what better place to air them than on a popular forum. Things will settle and we will get back to talking about oil and octane soon enough.


Michael

 

[smokster]

I couldn't agree more Magic Man.
It also concerns me that they went right into the RT series without making our GS series safe. Fix one problem before starting another.

 

[Dragonrider]

It's winter now - so it's "fireside chat" time, or "hanger talk" time, for pilots - so all the "fears" and "niggly bits" rise to the fore.

I also appreciate Magic Man's comments, as well as Lamont's. Both are spot on.

As I've said before, I'm lucky enough to have more than one ride, and I bought the Spyder for fun. It replaces the ATVs I've had for 35 years, and gives me the same pleasure, and will grace my garage for years to come.

We all buy toys for our own reasons, and as a road-able ATV, the Spyder has similar quality, fewer use limits, and offers "bragging rights" akin to a Boss Hoss(r).

Two thing HAVE changed for me - (1) the Spyder is not going on any extended trips until I'm sure the safety issues have been resolved, and (2) sorry MM and ISCI, I'm not adding more farkles to a limited use bike (see #1).

Like medicine, it's really hard to diagnose a problem when (a) there are few cases, (b) there's a paucity of data, AND (c) your limited data comes from tech with a very limited level of expertise. Remember that a drug that has adverse reactions in 1/5MM, and that 1 person is little Johnny next door, becomes highly visible in our "instant" communication world.

Be aware and cautious with your toy - all toys are inherently dangerous - you picked it - use the computer on your shoulders - and give BRP engineering a chance to sift through the data. Remember a bad fix is much worse than NO fix.

A friendly reminder from a Doc...

 

[Putt-Putt]

I just got off the phone with BRP. I was told they know nothing about any steering problem after the 2nd. update. And that the 2nd update was just for the evap. canister to correct the surging & backfiring. (Wich they said was caused by having an after market exhaust.) And has nothing to do with the DPS. :dontknow: :dontknow: :dontknow:

 

[WackyDan]

more concerned and aware though.

Bingo. I think that sums up everyone's state of mind. BRP should recognize that idle chatter like this can be very destructive to a brand/product. While I'm sure they are working on the issues, there certainly can be a manner in which they address this to the Spyder community that their lawyers could agree to...

Though my Spyder is in the shop this week, I'm not all that concerned provided they can get the actual parts into the dealer fast enough. I haven't had steering issues, fires, or bad engines that some have had, and I enjoy this machine beyond description.

I'm just concerned like the rest of you that some of these issues are LAGGING in being addressed and resolved.

 

[Magic Man]

This whole trying to "pretend there is nothing wrong" and it's "just a few of us" with these major concerns is just the kind of denial I am referring to here.

I do love my Spyder and would not have ordered a RT if I did not.

Yet just because I love it, and I really "want it all to work out for the best" does not mean I will any longer "ignore the elephant in the living room" and suppress my concerns and doubts about such an important safety issue any longer.

At first I was one of the few to jump in to defend BRP and try to be sure it was not people crying "the sky is falling" too fast, all the while overlooking my own major DPS system malfunction.

But now it's just too many people, and too often for these all to just be "knee jerk" overreactions. There just has to be more to it than that.

If some people want to pretend that riding a bike with malfunctioning steering is somehow some sort of reflection of your manhood, than call me chicken.

I know that if my Spyder were to have this kind of failure I would not ride it 700 miles, more or less ask my wife to drive it even 1 mile like this.

That is why I said it's time to stop "IGNORING THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM" and stop thinking it is somehow "normal", nor to be expected that people should have to drive their Spyder 700 miles with malfunctioning steering, more or less around the block.

If you have the guts to swing a leg over a bike with steering problems and ride it 700 miles at 70mph hats off to you! Because you really are brave and that's no lie. But, nobody can guarantee us that a bike with these beginning stages of steering problems won't freak out and have it cause some "white knuckle moments" whenever it feels like it.

These are man made machines and they will have some problems from time to time, that is no big deal and to be expected. It's just time we see this one for what it is, or worse yet what it could be and step up now and address it.

MM

 

[jabba11]

While I agree there are some problems associated wit the DPS that need to be worked out and they appear to be serious I will say that it hasnt stopped me from riding my spyder at all. I am sure if it happens to me things may change but I am aware that there are many who have ridden their spyders thousands and thousands of miles without a glitch and I am betting the number of those folks is higher than those that have had major problems. In addition at this point I would say that the chances are even higher of me getting creamed by some idiot in a car than having the steering drive me into traffic. Also we should consider that for some of us riding is not a hobby or a toy it is our major mode of transportation and a source of daily enojoyment that we desire. I dont have a garage full of bikes. I have a spyder. Its not asking too much for BRP to make it safe and dependable. I hear that one alot one these boards and it bugs me. Things like "you have to pay to play" or the spyder being reffered to as our toys. I dont see my spyder like that. I wont be winterizing my spyder I plan to drive it and the other day I saw some folks complaining about salt rusting it out etc. If that is true then this is another issue that should be addressed by BRP. I love the spyder. It has HUGE potential and if BRP wants to realize it they need to fix things in a timely and appropriate manner. Also here I will say that while I only have just over 3000 miles on mine it has given me NO real problems. A few squeaks and squeals and such a little hesitation etc but it gets me everywhere I have gone so far wihtout a hiccup. I know there may come a day when something goes wrong..that happens withyour car somtimes too, and when that day comes ill bear that in mind. ALl that being said this DPS could be a death nail fro this machine if they cant figure it out, or if someone gets hurt becasue of it and the press gets hold of it etc.

 

[j45p3r]

While I agree there are some problems associated wit the DPS that need to be worked out and they appear to be serious I will say that it hasnt stopped me from riding my spyder at all. I am sure if it happens to me things may change but I am aware that there are many who have ridden their spyders thousands and thousands of miles without a glitch and I am betting the number of those folks is higher than those that have had major problems. In addition at this point I would say that the chances are even higher of me getting creamed by some idiot in a car than having the steering drive me into traffic. Also we should consider that for some of us riding is not a hobby or a toy it is our major mode of transportation and a source of daily enojoyment that we desire. I dont have a garage full of bikes. I have a spyder. Its not asking too much for BRP to make it safe and dependable. I hear that one alot one these boards and it bugs me. Things like "you have to pay to play" or the spyder being reffered to as our toys. I dont see my spyder like that. I wont be winterizing my spyder I plan to drive it and the other day I saw some folks complaining about salt rusting it out etc. If that is true then this is another issue that should be addressed by BRP. I love the spyder. It has HUGE potential and if BRP wants to realize it they need to fix things in a timely and appropriate manner. Also here I will say that while I only have just over 3000 miles on mine it has given me NO real problems. A few squeaks and squeals and such a little hesitation etc but it gets me everywhere I have gone so far wihtout a hiccup. I know there may come a day when something goes wrong..that happens withyour car somtimes too, and when that day comes ill bear that in mind. ALl that being said this DPS could be a death nail fro this machine if they cant figure it out, or if someone gets hurt becasue of it and the press gets hold of it etc.

I'd just like to point out that the winter in KS and the winter in ME are quite different. The amount of salt used on the roads up here would rust out a sherman tank in due time. It just makes it so hard to keep anything nice during the winter months. If it isn't the salt it's the sand getting in all the nooks and crannies. I don't really consider the Spyder a full time toy, either, I commute on my Spyder all Spring, Summer and Fall, but once that first snow storm is in the forecast, it's going into hibernation. Unless BRP makes a Spyder out of all plastic it will always have the potential to rust.

 

[Questions]

<snipped >
I think it sucks that I run a "SpyderLovers" forum and there are so many problems that seem to take over the board but I still think for the most part folks are happy with their Spyders and most of them have never had a problem with their units. The fact is messages boards are where these problems are brought to light and the focus is almost always on the problems and not those who have no problems.

I would agree with you "partially". My husband and I have owned over 25 motorcycles between us in 30 years and have a couple besides the Spyder in the garage. We also have spent a ton of time online , and what can't be ignored is that the 2 main Spyder forums have FAR more posts by folks with serious problem than any other forum we frequent , even the Triumph forum!!! :shocked: On our Yamaha forum , where we share thoughts and setup group rides 99% of the posts are related to adding a accessory or where to ride. The Spyder forums looked alot like that 8 plus months ago, now that type of post is losing ground to quality issue posts in a big way.

Yes all bikes have issues , the Spyder just appears to have more than average and steering is a BIG one. I for hope they get it figured out , I do not want to a: pay for a steering unit once my warranty is up or b: have an issue that could cause a crash.

 

[Smylinacha]

Thank you - BINGO - you hit the nail on the head Magic Man! :2thumbs::2thumbs::clap::bowdown:

 

[Smylinacha]

I love it! Yup!

:agreeerhaps the answer is to do away with the onboard computors and go back to the one sitting on top of your neck.