FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions

[Gwolf]

This thread has active links to Can Am help videos and previous posts on the Spyderlovers Forum dealing with questions or problems which come up frequently. Click on a link and jump to your answer, or at least more information than you had before.

Click the spoiler buttons to open the subject. Click again to close the subject.

Spoiler: #1- Preemptive Strikes

(1) The cable controlled latches on the seat & frunk. It is a recurring problem if you lock the keys in the frunk or need to get under the seat and the cables have stretched slightly, the ignition key will not open them. There is a whole other section dealing with how to get the seat to release or how to open the frunk when the key will not release the latching mechanism. There are certain things you can do before hand to make out of adjustment latch bolts, stretched cables and whatever else is preventing things that are supposed to open from doing it. If you go ahead before the problems occur and put emergency latch releases on them, The fix should not take more than an hour at most. Doing it now will be better than having to go through the problems of getting the stuck latch open, and then needing to fix it also. How to get a stuck latch to open is one of the most frequently asked questions on the forum.
(2) The oil drain plugs.The same preemptive strike recommendation goes for them. The drain plugs are in a bad place to begin with. They are upside down and unless you have been turning wrenches for several decades, you will have to stop and think about which way loosens or tightens. Next problem is the plugs have tiny little Allen hex or Torx bits that go in the OEM plugs to turn them, The under side of the engine has a lot of plastic covers in the way, one of the plugs is on a slightly tilted alignment, the little Allen or Torx fittings in the plugs may be stuffed full or hard dried mud or hardened limerock dust so that the tools do not go in deep enough, and visibility under there is not good. The thing to do is before your very first oil change, order the after-market plug set with the large hex heads on them that a socket will fit on. Get the OEM plugs out and drop them in the coffee can where the other stuff you will never use again is stored.

Spoiler: #2-Motorcycle Laws and Licensing

★ Current Motorcycle Laws of All 50 States --LINK-- AMA Database
State by state laws of the USA that pertain to motorcycles provided and updated by the American Motorcyclist Association.
The AMA database is the most comprehensive and accurate place to find out about the motorcycle laws in every State. The website asks you to sign in, but you don't have to. All you have to do is, where you fill in the blanks on the main page, just put the State you are researching in the first blank space. All the State laws that apply to motorcycles will pop up for the State you selected just below where you are. It's easy to switch to a different State... put another State in the first blank space. You can filter for specific laws, but there's no need to do that unless you want to.
★ A general guide to the laws of Australia which pertain to motorcycles from the Australian Government Licencing Information Website.
-- LINK - Jump to website
★ Visitor & Tourist Guide to some of the laws and license requirements for Motorcycle Touring in Europe..- LINK - Jump to Website
As stated on the website, be sure to research further the specific laws of the countries you plan to visit.
★ Most other countries have specific laws and provisions for licencing of visitors and tourists. Research the specific countries you wish to visit . The American Embassy in those countries should be able to provide you up to date and accurate information.
★ Introduction and Information on the Motorcycle Safety Foundation - LINK - Go to MSF website

Spoiler: #3-Seat Latch Won't Release

Turn on the sound for your device in order to hear the video sound track.
★ (1) U-Tube Video - Putting emergency release cable on your seat latch-3.24 minutes-- Using Fishing leader

★ (2) U-Tube Video by Keith Johanson forum member how to put emergency release cables
on Frunk and/or Seat Release Latches- 9.36 minutes-- Using Bicycle brake cables

★ (3) U-Tube Video by Martin The Vlogger on removing Passenger Seat for Spyder RT 20+ - 3.04 minutes-- RT 20+ Pax Seat Removal

★ (4) U-Tube Video Spyder RSS seat removal and installation- 6.02 minutes-- Spyder RSS seat removal and installation

★ (5) U-Tube RT Seat Pin Adjustment- 4.54 minutes -- Adjusting RT seat lock pin

★ (6) Removing Seat when the key will not unlatch it. Spyderlovers Forum Thread link, with pictures of latch and many other links, during the entire removal of a seat when the key no longer unlocked it. -- Member Poasttown successfully removes a seat that is locked and key won't work.

★ (7) Another stuck seat that won't unlock thread -- Some useful suggestions on this thread

★ (8) More stuck seat threads -- https://www.spyderlovers.com/thread...a-key-any-hints-on-how-to-get-it-open.147576/

★ (9) And more stuck frunks and seats -- https://www.spyderlovers.com/threads/frunk-and-seat-wont-open.121204/

★ (10) U-Tube Video - Martin The Vlogger gets in a LOCKED FRUNK without any tools. -6.58 minutes.
Best method yet! LINK TO Video- How To Do It!

Spoiler: #4- Parts, Shop, & Repair Manuals

★ Official BRP Operator's Guide Manuals for Spyder and Ryker, all years, all models. These are for digital downloading in PDF format.
This is the standard Operator Manual, containing all the specifications, explanation of controls, meaning of dash symbols, starting/stopping procedure, trouble shooting guide, and all the other information that is in the Operator Manuals. If you bought used and did not receive the manual, or just want a digital copy for the smart phone, download the correct year and model for your Spyder or Ryker. If you are considering buying a new or used Spyder or Ryker download the manual for it and get all the most important information for the one you are considering.
Click to go to BRP Download Website
International in several languages, current through 2026 models, contains instructions for adjusting dash for MPH or KPH, setting clock, modes, controls, and other information the owner should know. Random Sample Screen Shot of the Owner Guide Index;

★ Official BRP Spyder and Ryker Shop & Repair Manuals Website with manuals listed for most models and years.
--- BRP Manuals This link opens the BRB Spyder & Ryker Manuals website in another tab if you have tabbed browser.

★ On line Parts Manuals for Spyders, Rykers, and many other brands of recreational vehicles. You will need to fill in the information requested, such as model, year, and on or off road. When you have submitted enough information the website will open with illustrations and exploded view of most of the parts categories of your model. the illustrations have identification numbers on them or on arrows pointing to smaller parts that will cross reference to the factory part number for that part. It is international and lists the Japanese, European, North American, etc parts separately.
Parts Manuals

Spoiler: #5- Pictures Too Large

Threads that have information and hints on posting your pictures:
★ (A) Attach files and post Thumbnails on new forum software
Attaching Files and posting thumbnails
★ (B) Trouble up-loading Pictures / Making pictures smaller
Making pictures smaller
★ (C) About re-sizing pictures
About re-sizing pictures
★ (D) Finish up the job...... Properly insert the thumbnail and finishing up by Peter Aawen - step by step. Only one post.
Go to the post on finishing up the job

Spoiler: #6-Click Too Find VIN NUMBER

Nice Tutorial on finding the VIN number on 1330 Ace Spyders!
If you have tabbed browser, right click the link and open in a new tab.
No tabbed browser, just click the link..........
-- VIN Number Tutorial

 

[Gwolf]

Test area for the FAQ - nothing here is complete. This posting area is being used to test the equations
which make the FAQ operate correctly.

 

[Little Blue]

Sounds like a great idea. I hope you are able to make it happen. I will be watching this Thread.
Thanks for your time.

 

[Gwolf]

Sounds like a great idea. I hope you are able to make it happen. I will be watching this Thread.
Thanks for your time.

It is already happening. I have several pages of links to repair videos, Shop Manuals, and Parts Manuals under the spoiler tabs. The FAQ is active now. You can open the spoiler tabs and browse if you like. Just added an on line parts manual which has exploded diagrams of different parts groups for most models and years.

 

[Little Blue]

Okay I will check it out in more detail.
Thanks for your time.

 

[Gwolf]

Recently added to Manuals Section is the PDF Operator Manuals links for all Spyder & Ryker through 2026 model. Digital copies of the full manuals for download with all the information contained in the hard copies.

Don't bother sifting through the smoke and mirrors of the new models advertising websites. Download and read a manual for the one you are interested in to see if it is up to all the advertising hype.

 

[Gwolf]

New content just added that everybody needs to see. U-Tube Video by Martin The Vlogger shows you clearly, exactly how to open the frunk without using any tools. It only takes him a few minutes and the frunk is open.

It is (10) U-Tube Video under the Seat Latch Spoiler Tab.

Everybody should watch how he does it, because you can do this on the side of the road or in a motel parking lot, just anywhere quickly and easily. It will work if you lock the keys in the frunk. It will work if the cable is stretched or the pin is out of adjustment. I think the only time it would not work is if the unlocking cable was broken on the frunk end.

 

[Gwolf]

Far as I can go with that page. It may not look like much text when it is closed up, but it was way too much.
When I added the last few sections it would no longer post and I got a message that said the forum was limited to 10,000 letters or spaces per page. Had to go back in and delete the least important information or none of it would post. I copied the whole thing and pasted it in my word processor, clicked on the word count and it was 12,000 words and spaces. Took out all the images, all the double spacing that was not essential and got it below the max so it would post. The only way I can go further is to use consecutive pages on the thread, but not today.
If I continue with the FAQ it will written on the word processor so I can keep up with word count. Should have done it on the first page, but did not even know the word count was restricted until I went over it.

Might have to start a new thread and reserve about the first 4 or 5 pages to get very much information on it.

Got several of the most frequent questions covered with that one and that was the main goal.

 

[Peter Aawen]

Is that limit 'per page' or 'per post'??

I know that there's 'post word count limit', but I don't think I've seen a 'page word count limit' - so I believe that you should be able to fill up one post to just below its limit, submit that, and start the next post.

It's the same with pics really, it's just that the Forum's 'hard stop' limit for pics is '10 per post', but many small screen devices will only show '6 pics per post'!!

 

[Gwolf]

Is that limit 'per page' or 'per post'??

I know that there's 'post word count limit', but I don't think I've seen a 'page word count limit' - so I believe that you should be able to fill up one post to just below its limit, submit that, and start the next post.

It's the same with pics really, it's just that the Forum's 'hard stop' limit for pics is '10 per post', but many small screen devices will only show '6 pics per post'!!

That is true, it is only the single post. I was using the next post to arrange the next part I was adding to the top post. The post limit on the first post did not affect the content of the second post, so it is a limit per post, not per page. When I pasted in my word processor it took about 4 pages because my word processor or set up for a certain paper length and allows for margins. I can continue on to the next posting box.

It is counting not only the visible text, but also the invisible code I was using to control what was showing on the screen. Had to put it in edit mode and then select all. There is not a whole lot of BB control code in there, but it is a fair amount with 6 spoilers set up.

Can't tell if it is word count or if it was a space and letter count limit. Had some space when I deleted all the images. Put back some of the content just a few sentences at a time until it hit the limit and then backed off one whole sentence.

Not really a problem, because there should not be a lot more serious questions to write about. The second post should be enough room. It just caught me by surprise and then I had to lower the count. I would guess it is probably the characters including spaces that is limited, since I had it very close to the limit and the count is 7,999. Limit probably 8,000 characters and spaces. I can set Libre Office to watch that as I am adding text.

Selected all, copied and pasted it into Libre Office. The word count tool gave me this;

 

[Peter Aawen]

Hmmm, innnterrresting??

Just for kicks & giggles, try doing a cut & paste (not a 'reply') to copy your entire first post as it is now into another post in this thread. If it takes it, then you should be able to add multiple posts that size the the thread, so it'll help keep all the FAQ's in the one place, but if anyone else posts in it, the FAQ posts may not be consecutive. Still, I believe we can sort that if necessary.

Give it a go, I'm now quite interested to see what'll happen?

 

[Gwolf]

Hmmm, innnterrresting??

Just for kicks & giggles, try doing a cut & paste (not a 'reply') to copy your entire first post as it is now into another post in this thread. If it takes it, then you should be able to add multiple posts that size the the thread, so it'll help keep all the FAQ's in the one place, but if anyone else posts in it, the FAQ posts may not be consecutive. Still, I believe we can sort that if necessary.

Give it a go, I'm now quite interested to see what'll happen?

I have already done that. I had all the content I deleted to get the first post down so it would save stored in the second post. I have since moved all that extra out to Libre Office and stored it on one of my external drives. There was several more paragraphs that was to go in the first spoiler to maybe convince people to put the emergency release cables on the seats before the cable stretched and no longer opened the seat. Had a couple more paragraphs about changing out the OEM drain plugs for the hex head plugs too. It probably wouldn't help if they did read that. Most of them not gonna do anything about it until it strips out or the cable stretches and won't open the seat.

 

[Peter Aawen]

So it will do that? Meaning the size limit, whatever it's based on, is per post? And you shouldn't need to start a new thread, as mentioned in post #8 - we just need to get everything in line here.

 

[Gwolf]

So it will do that? Meaning the size limit, whatever it's based on, is per post? And you shouldn't need to start a new thread, as mentioned in post #8 - we just need to get everything in line here.

Right, it is based on some number of characters and spaces per post. The first post is full, but plenty of room on the second post. No need to start a new thread. I will just clear out the rest of the stuff in the second post and drop right on down there. Everything is in line. Don't even see any need to link the first post to the second either. They will operate just fine as separate systems. The only links will appear to be the numbering system carrying on down into the second post.

It would not matter that much where the next part was anyway. This is virtual reality. I can stick a small button on the end of the last space available and teleport the reader to the next part..... or even stick two buttons there and offer them a choice of going forward to the next section or going backward to the previous section. They are still choosing where to go, I would just be providing the roads. It would be more convenient with it all in one place, but people are instantly jumping all around to different forums and locations all the time anyway.

 

[Mikey]

I think you're doing a noble thing here. and good luck with it sincerely, but I hit your parts link and just for kicks tried to highlight a part and get a price and it didn't do much. I don't know if you had intended it to, but it didn't work well! Good luck I hope the higher ups work with you and make something good out of this post!!

 

[Gwolf]

I think you're doing a noble thing here. and good luck with it sincerely, but I hit your parts link and just for kicks tried to highlight a part and get a price and it didn't do much. I don't know if you had intended it to, but it didn't work well! Good luck I hope the higher ups work with you and make something good out of this post!!

It was working fine. I will check it again. I checked it. You have to put all the info in so it can find the right model and year. It won't give you a price. That is not what it is for. It is to find the exact part number you are looking for. They couldn't put a price on the web where they have a website with 15 or 20 thousand parts. They could never keep up with all the price changes. You get the exact part number and then you have to order the part through a dealer. There is nothing in the other manuals where you can find the part numbers.

I just got this from it.
If you needed the part number for the gasket or some other part, where else would you get it?

Something else it does too. If you took something apart and can't remember just how it was put together, the exploded illustrations would show you exactly where each part goes,.