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Hey all.....

Mac

Mac

New member
The wife, ahhhh, whats her name, just bought a 2010 rs black and red. :shemademe_smilie: I sorta encouraged her to do so 'cause I figured she would like to learn/ride her own bike. I have a wing and all though I like having her ride with me, I like to go solo. :D

*****Houston, we have a problem.*****

Lookin' at all the write ups here on the board, yes there are happy riders, but there seems to be a lot of problems with the bike. Does this 'bike' have all these problems, or are they being over blown by a few riders? :gaah:

Case in point:
1. Clutch breaking
2. Oil in the air box
3. Exhaust rivits falling out
4. Re-packing of the exhaust
5. Adjusting valves
6. Brakes pads
7. Drive belt adjustments.
8. Bad bearing.
9. Noises in the front and rear of the engine.

Lately I'm use to riding a bike that doesn't break down. I owned 3 Harleys and got very tired of once a week taking tighting, replaceing, repairing stuff. I got spoiled by mother Honda.

Do I have to go back to the old days and repair this machine on a weekly bases, or have the stealer do it in order to have the other half ride her own bike of should we just sell it now? (2010 with less than 1000 miles on it). :helpsmilie:

Inquiring minds NEED to know... Thanks... :popcorn:
 
I rode my RS SM5 120,000 miles and surpassed all the 9 "case in point" and more. :thumbup:
 
I bought a 2010 RT holdover (saved a boatload which is being used for mods) I was a little apprehensive because the 2010 was apparently full of issues. Anyway, I took the plunge and have had ZERO problems. (Knock on wood). As mentioned I have made mods, but not due to any serious issues.

I am very happy with my Spyder! :2thumbs::spyder2::2thumbs:
 
Most are happy.

Hey Mac,
Most spyder owners are very happy with their machine. Probably the vast majority. Maybe a few more problems with the first couple model years but that happens.
As far as being blown out of proportion, when you are stuck at home for 4 months and over 4 grand in repairs, while everyone else is out riding, that tends to leave an impression on you. Especially when you have rode 3 other bikes for a total of 75 thousand miles without so much as a hick-up.
I had enough of my spyder and recently sold it.
Will I buy another spyder? No, and I hate to say that because they are so much fun and extremely stable. Love the anti-lock brakes. I miss mine but not the problems.
I hope either Kaw, Suz, Honda, or Yama will make one. That I will buy.
I sincerely hope your wife will have the best of luck with hers and that will most likely be the case! Hop on that thing and ride like the wind. Just be sure to let her know that now she will become an instant "Rock Star."
Jerry
 
:welcome:

You need to let your wife ryde her new Spyder and handle any issues as they arise, these are definitely not machines that need wrenching every week in order to keep them running.

1. Clutch breaking - it has happened to some, as with any other machine.
2. Oil in the air box - If you overfill the oil tank it has to have some place to go, and in this case it is the air box. A quick search on here will show you some remedies for it as well if you are really that concerned about it.
3. Exhaust Rivets - the ones I know of that have the most problems seem to be on the Hindle, and those are just the heat shield rivets. Rivets do break at times, and cans fail, but we don't hear that much about it.
4. Repacking can - this usually comes with the territory of running a performance exhaust. Some packing lasts longer than others, and can also be effected by how you ride.
5. Adjusting Valves - There are many Spyders with over 30,000 miles on them that have not needed a valve adjustment. When they were checked everything was within spec. BRP is getting ready to change the recommended check interval from what I understand as well.
6. Brake pads - the first generation squealed a lot, 3rd generation supposedly corrected that issue. These are a wear item, so they will eventually need to be replaced.
7. Belt adjustment - for most people once it is in the proper position it stays there. Some of us have had issues where something caused the belt to get out of alignment, requiring a new front pulley and belt, but we seem to be the minority of owners.
8. Bad bearings - another wear item that will eventually have to be replaced, but I don't think there is a higher level of failure with the Spyder wheel bearings than on any other machine.
9. Noises in the engine - I don't know what this would be referring to. It is an engine and you can hear it run, but I haven't ever heard anything out of the ordinary.

Lastly, don't use Doc as a guide because he is an animal when it comes to ryding his Spyder. :D

Hopefully your wife will get many miles of trouble free ryding enjoyment out of her Spyder, and your mind will be more at ease as well. :thumbup:
 
I recently had a string of bad luckwith my new spyder. It was in the shop 3 times before the first 600 mile check. Now that the work has been done, I have 300 miles of carefree riding. Confidence in the spyder is improving. :2excited:
 
Thanks everyone...

.... you sorta put my mind at ease for a while. I'm
sure she will not ride like a bat outta hell or anything.
I just keep up with it like my 'wing, and get a maintenance book
and do it myself.
 
Mac said:
.... you sorta put my mind at ease for a while. I'm
sure she will not ride like a bat outta hell or anything.
I just keep up with it like my 'wing, and get a maintenance book
and do it myself.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a good plan. :thumbup:

The only issue you will run into with self maintenance is there are times when the Spyder is required to be hooked up to BUDS. This can only be done at the dealer. The good news is it is usually the bigger items like steering control recalibration that requires the connection.
 
Mac said:
Case in point:
1. Clutch breaking
2. Oil in the air box
3. Exhaust rivits falling out
4. Re-packing of the exhaust
5. Adjusting valves
6. Brakes pads
7. Drive belt adjustments.
8. Bad bearing.
9. Noises in the front and rear of the engine.
Click to expand...

1. Clutch breaking - * Use the right oil and don't install the turbo

2. Oil in the air box - *Don't fill oil to the line or overfill - This is a personality disorder of the spyder, but nothing serious. There are easy fixes for it.

3. Exhaust rivits falling out - *Some have had build quality issues with the Factory Hindle exhaust option

4. Re-packing of the exhaust - * Just about any after market "race" can will need repacking if you ride it hard enough for long

5. Adjusting valves - * ??? They get checked at 12,000 miles and most have not needed adjusting until into the 40k+ range... Most complaints deal with dealer charges to do 12k service.

6. Brakes pads * 13k on mine with Generation 1 pads... and they only squeak when they are real dusty... quiet after a wash.

7. Drive belt adjustments. * At 600 miles service, 6k and 12k on if needed - makes sense doesn't it?

8. Bad bearing. * Some had rear wheel bearings go bad due to the original tension spec on the belt... BRP has since revised that lower.

9. Noises in the front and rear of the engine. * It is a Rotax... It sounds a bit trashy/mechanical at higher revs... especially if you have a tall shield reflecting the sound back at you... It is normal, and it is subtle enough that it doesn't bother most people... Coming off another bike, you will notice it until you are used to it.
 
Seriously though... :welcome:'s spouse! :2thumbs: The folks who don't have trouble are too busy to type because they're out blissfully Spydering away! She's gonna love that red beauty... and you're gonna be so jealous because of all of the attention that she gets with it! :shocked: :opps:
 
:welcome:...........I have a 2009 red and black RS (the fastest color):roflblack: and have had none of the problems mentioned.......OK maybe a squeaky brake every once in a while but not all of the time. It doesn't seem to be a big deal. Hopefully you have a great dealer like mine (Cowtown USA):firstplace: that will help you if one of these things rears it's ugly head. In the long run, don't worry, just enjot the ride.:congrats:
 
I just turned my 600 miles :2thumbs: and will be taking it in soon for the required checkup. I have had zero problems with this machine. I have never been on bikes before, so this is new and exciting. Get the warranty if possible to ease any future worries... GL :thumbup:
 
2009 gs sm5--new, 1100 miles, not a peep out of it....purrs like a rotax...

:2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs::2thumbs:
 
DON'T RAG ON HARLEYS

THE WIFE? OR YOUR WIFE. I'VE RIDDEN HD MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE. MY TWO OLDER ONES WERE SKETCHY BUT MY TWO NEWER ONES WERE VERY GOOD,THE LAST OF WHICH I JUST SOLD, TO B U Y A SPYDER.I JUST WANT TO TRY NOT HAVING TO BALANCE ANYMORE, AND HAVE TWICE THE POWER.SO THERE.WWWWAAAAAAA! P.S.I WILL LOVE MY SPYDER,,,,,,,,,SOON
 
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