Well ...
Well I'm not sitting in an arm chair and this is what I've done:
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My history with my bike follows.
I made arrangements in June, 2013 to fly into Dallas, to purchase my 2013 ST-L from Louis Powersports in Greenville, TX. I then spent 6 days on the road before returning home to Cloudcroft, NM. Whenever I stopped I noticed extreme heat rising from my bike and, when riding, extreme heat on my inner leg above the ankle and above the knee on the left side, to the point I had to ride without my leg touching the bike. Every evening when I got off my bike for the night my leg had red, blotchy burn marks from the extreme heat. When I stopped in Santa Fe to visit friends, they were were appalled at the heat coming off the bike. Both of them actually had to back off from the bike, even though it was a chilly night. They are both avid motorcycle riders and he has a 2013 KTM Adventure which uses the same engine as my Spyder.
1. When I got home I called my salesman in Greenville, TX concerning the heat I was experiencing. He told me he had heard of no problems with heat on the 2013 ST's. I also called BRP Customer Service several times, one gentleman I spoke with very rudely suggested I wear proper riding gear. I informed him that as a former ATV Safety Instructor I wear ALL THE GEAR ALL THE TIME. I was frustrated because the heat coming off my bike is obviously NOT caused by my riding gear. It is a poor design with lack of air flow in the engine compartment and the left side exhaust pipe being too close to the panels and not properly heat shielded.
2. My local dealer is in Las Cruces, NM (2 hours from my home) so I called and spoke with, the Service Manager. He also said he knew of no problems with heat on the ST's and suggested I come in so they could check out the bike.
3. The next time I was in Las Cruces I stopped in to introduce myself and had the Service Manager touch the panels on the side of the bike, he was shocked at the heat on the panels. He made an appt. to have me come in so they could check the bike as he said there was definitely something wrong when he felt the panels and saw my red, blotchy burned leg.
4. July 26, 1013 - During a thorough inspection they found an overheat error code and further examination revealed the coolant was almost totally empty. They thought there must be a leak since I had the 600 service done in Albuquerque in June only days after I purchased my Spyder, but could find none. They filled the reservoir with coolant (Engine Ice) and we thought the problem solved. Unfortunately within a few days the bike was back to being so hot that I, once again, had to ride with my leg not touching the side. The panels were so hot that I could not touch them or the screws securing them, with my hand or put my leg on them when riding.
5. The next time I was in Las Cruces, I stopped in and had the Service Manager touch the bike panels and, once again, he was amazed as he had thought we had solved the problem. He asked me to make an appointment to bring it back for further examination. The Service Manager also asked me to call the BRP Technical Line and, although they asked I not call them again directly, they said I should take it back in to the Service Department. I am sure you have record of that call as I asked the gentlemen I spoke with to make record of our conversation. He was extremely personable, friendly and helpful.
6. August 13, 2013 This time I left the bike with Las Cruces Motorsports for a few days. Although they could find nothing wrong the Service Manager told me that with the kind of heat I was experiencing the engine components were going to start being affected. Their technicians installed some heat shield on the right and left side on my bike, hoping it would help. They have gone out of their way to help me at all times.
7. I brought my bike home and, because I was still experiencing the extreme heat on the panels, installed extra shielding on the left side panels and screws, as well as the oil reservoir and tubing coming from it; wrapped/siliconed and tent shielded the exhaust; and shielded the front and sides of the gas tank because it was so hot I was afraid the gas would burn me or explode when I opened the gas tank. Also added some heat shielding to the left side of the bike. After I did all this I noticed extreme heat coming from under the seat so I used heat shielding to close off any openings; also, because of the extreme heat on my left leg above the ankle my husband built and attached a deflector to deflect the hot air away from my lower leg. All of this has cost me much time, effort and $300-$400 for materials, along with the time and gas it is costing me to drive the repeated 2 hour, 1 way trips back and forth to my dealer.
The deflector my husband made is no longer working and I now have to ride with a pot holder strapped to my leg so I don't get burnt. I have attached some pictures of the heat shielding I have added on the left side.
8. September 5th, 2013 - I took my bike in for the recall to add heat shielding to the area around the Master Cylinder. The fact that this had to be done says BRP Technical Department is aware of the heat problem. They also developed the new Air Flow Panels for the 2014 ST's - which tells me they have come up with a fix for a problem they know exists on the 2013's
9. January 18th, 2014 - I took my bike for the Jan 23, 2014 Campaign 2013-0015 and 0016 on . The updating of the ECM Software temporarily, and slightly, lowered my engine temperature from 5 bars to 4. As of 2 weeks ago it is back to a consistent 5 bars once the engine is warm.
10. After all of the above, the side panels are still extremely hot and although (because of the shielding I have added) I am not having to wear a pot holder on my upper leg anymore, I still have to ride with my leg away from the panel within 20 minutes of beginning my ride because the panels are so uncomfortably hot. This is a danger to me and those I am riding around. I am still having to wear a large thermal pot holder on my lower leg to keep from getting burned. I wear BRP Caliber Riding Pants, boots, jacket, gloves and helmet - I am properly geared up.
11. On April 10th, 2014 I rode approximately 45 miles on my bike. On on the way home I realized my butt was getting warm, to the point of being uncomfortable. This is something new, it has never happened before. As a matter of fact, I just completed a 1200 mile round trip ride two weeks ago, with my sheep skin cover on, and did not experience a hot seat at all. Anyway, when I got home I checked the top of my sheep skin. Because it was warm to the touch I placed my hand underneath to check the seat, it was even warmer than the sheepskin cover. I lifted the seat and was hit with a wave of heat and noted the plastics under the seat, to include the gas cap, were hot to the touch. I went into the house and got my temperature gun to take a reading of the plastic under my seat (150.5 F) and on the side of my bike (183 F), and this was after my bike had sat for 5 minutes while I went in the house to find my temperature gun. I have attached photographs of these heat readings.
In conclusion, I believe all of the above stated issues are caused by the heat trapped inside the engine compartment, due to the lack of airflow. I'm really concerned that, as I was told by the Service Department at Las Cruces Motorsports, the engine components are going to start failing because of the extreme heat that has no way to escape. I've done everything I can with no success, I'm tired of the heat taking away the pleasure of my riding experiencing and worrying about the damage it may be doing to my ST-L .
Many owners on this site (although not all) are experiencing problems with the heat in the engine compartment causing failing components. This is due to the lack of air flow the 2013 ST's. I really would like this problem addressed before the engine components in my bike begin failing, as has happened to others who own the same year and model, with more miles then mine. A preventative approach is definitely best.
I am extremely impressed with the new Airflow Panels on the 2014's and have heard that a few 2013 ST owners have installed them and it seems to be alleviating the problems. I do not believe I should have to purchase these panels when I paid so much for my Spyder to begin with. It is BRP's responsibility to fix their design problem.
I spent over $23,000 on my bike, not counting taxes, registration, interest, the money spent trying to fix the problems inherent in the 2013's, etc, etc. When I purchased my Spyder I believed I would have a top of the line, quality product - I do not. I was so very surprised at the issues. I do not have the money to purchase a 2014 or another bike. Even if I wanted to, although I have had it less than a year with less than 8000 miles, my 2013 ST-L has dropped in value and reputation because of the problems associated with it so I cannot even use it as a reasonable trade-in.
I have so many people approach me when I am on the road on my ST. They are totally fascinated with my bike and want to know how I like it. I am not comfortable recommending my CanAm Spyder to them knowing that it has a design problem that BRP is aware of, but not actively addressing.
I love my Can-Am ST-L, I gave up my Honda Shadow 750 and BMW F650GS to ride my Spyder exclusively. I do not want another bike, I do however want so much for my riding experience on my Spyder to be as fabulous, worry free and fulfilling as I thought it would be when I purchased it.
My CanAm Service Department and I have pursued every avenue available to us to fix the problem. We are at a stand still and do not know where to go from here except for BRP to purchase and have the 2014 Air Flow Panels installed on my bike ...
OK, now I'm off my soap box ... Tada :clap:
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pps:
nojoke
