I Hate To Be Negitive B-U-T

[PinkRosePetal]

Every time I do something to my new 2020RTL it seems to me the Spyder lacks the quality I have gotten used to with Jap bikes. ....IMHO for the price they get for these machines the quality should be much better. I mean it isn't like this is the first or 2nd year for Can Am to be producing these machines.

...... and everywhere I look I am looking at poor quality. I want to like this machine and take ownership of it and call it my own and trust it but it's not easy. :banghead:

I agree. The concept is excellent but some of the design, materials and finish is shocking. BRP should be embarrassed. Here's just a few pictures from the motley collection of faults. Two different rear sprockets, rear grease seal at less than 400 miles, rusted spacer, corroded rear wheel adjusters, the well known front driveshaft splines... theres plenty more too!

Regarding voting with our feet, we love the riding and I'll keep our present ones going but we won't be buying another.

 

[trikermutha]

My god do you leave your bike parked outside all the time?? The corrosion is really more than normal. And the one looks like your seal went bad .

All that just doesn't happen over night or days.

I haven't heard of one Bike or car manufacturer that doesn't have issues.

All we can do is pick what we think is going to last and not have issues.

Carry on!

 

[WisconsinDavid]

I have an older 2010 RS and so far it has been flawless and the design seems well executed. I've owned hondas and harleys and don't notice an unusual dropoff with the Spyder I own, which is amazing since their production numbers are much smaller than the bigger brands. I hope the troubles spoken of on here are anomalies. I have ridden the tri-glide and much prefer the spyder concept to that cobbled harley metal... even though I remain a Harley fan. If I hadn't broken a leg/ankle which makes a heavy bike not a good idea, I'd still be on my big bagger - riding a cushy sofa down the highways and byways

 

[Navydad]

Retired from a vehicle manufacturing factory. We built class 8 trucks better known as semi trucks. Every vehicle is built to a price point. Want a better Toyota? Step up to a Lexus, but expect to pay more. Every part on a vehicle with the exception of government mandated stuff is constantly under scrutiny. How can we make this part lighter/cheaper/faster etc. Vendors are constantly being badgered to lower prices, work faster, or supply better quality. I like my RT and I realize if it had been built with the upgrades and quality that we want I wouldn't have paid the extra $$$ that Can Am would surely charge. I hate to throw out the cliche You Get What You Pay For, but it pretty much rings true when buying a vehicle.

 

[pegasus1300]

Things do get better as they built more. Most of you don't remember the days when the Japanese first came in. They were only slightly more reliable then the British, but only because Joseph Lucas didn't build their electronics. And yet ask any 1200 Goldwing owner about changing the alternator when the plug that connected it to the Rectifier fried and took them both with it. Or Yamaha Venture owners about how long it took to correct the 3rd gear problem or the bad frame welds or the crummy rear shock, or early Suzuki and Bridgestone owners about rectifiers dying in less then 5 000 miles, or melted pistons in Bridgestone 175 that took the cylinder with them. Early K1 Kawasaki whose frame was so flexible that it should have been called the "Garden Gate" instead of the Norton it was applied to. There have been plenty of teething problems in the powersports industry to go around. Honda 3 wheel dirt atv so unstable they were banned from the US and ( BTW not applicable to converted trikes). Honda Goldwing with cracked/broken frames. BMW that can't keep a rear end in their bikes without special treatment. Kawasaki with their beautiful 1300 6 cyl, that was so hot you couldn't ride and you had to stop every 1000 miles and adj the cam chain or it became so loose that it would skip a tooth and not start. And the amazing thing is that in every case, the owners loved all of the above machines, corrected the faults themselves and went on. In most cases the company went on and still makes machines to. Well Bridgestone didn't but it was forced out, either make tires or make motorcycles, but not both. So do complain to BRP, loud, and often and yes they will hear. Sometimes it will make a difference sometimes not and sometimes it will take awhile. For me right now the Spyder is the only way to go. To better ride then a converted trike, better handling. 59,500 miles on a 2012. Some problems but I 'll just work with them as they come up. Happy TRAils Ryders

 

[jiffy]

I understand new owner issues with Spyders. But, if you look at the history of Jap bikes they started selling in the USA in the Sixties and Seventies. I would hope by now they are getting it right. They are all Middle Aged companies. Can-Am started selling here in 2007. Just a teenager now. Sure I have had issues, but Can-Am made good on repairs. I have had more problems with Dealers than Can-Am. With all of the Tech on Spyders jammed into a package this size they are not that undependable. They are one of the few engineered as a three wheeler available. Check the price of the others. Spyder is competitively priced. So I'll get off my soapbox now. Enjoy your new Spyder and good luck finding a good dealer.

 

[Highwayman2013]

American quality has been dropping since corporate America decided to go for "rape-me" level profits. That's why so many things are foreign made - because corporate America doesn't pay it's workers enough to afford an American-built product of the same level of quality as foreign made.

So what does this have to do with the Spyder? Made in Canada.

 

[askitee]

I agree with you Doug, considering the RTL is BRP's "flagship" product, its quality has a lot to be desired. Here in Aus an RTL will set you back $45,000. My wifes car new cost $14,000 and is better built. soap box back in the cupboard

 

[bikerbillone]

Paul, your comment #25 has lot of merit. On the GW which we were both previous owners, remember digging deep in the guts of the machine just to change the air filter? Gosh that was fun. :gaah:

 

[KX5062]

Paul, your comment #25 has lot of merit. On the GW which we were both previous owners, remember digging deep in the guts of the machine just to change the air filter? Gosh that was fun. :gaah:

Then you'd LOVE to check the valves on a Honda VFR 800 Interceptor.

 

[Trbayth]

It would be nice to keep this civil. I hinted to this in post #10 above.

"the site is called Spyder Lovers...not Spyder Haters. Let's not go there."

I also gave the option of voting with your checkbook. If you think that they are so bad...don't buy them. One should do due dilligence on a $30K purchase. Don't drink the Kool-Aid. I like Kool-Aid and I am now on number six. Yes, they are not perfect, they do have some quirks...but I totally love my two Spyders. I would do the same thing all over again. :bowdown:

Totally agree on drinking the Kool-Aid. We're a 3 Spyder family and it's quite likely we'll be a 4 Spyder family within the next couple of months.

For us it's simple. No Spyder means no riding. And we want to ride.

 

[troop]

As stated in another thread, if any of the Japanese Big 4 built a Spyder type vehicle, BRP would be in a world of hurt ...

 

[Eckhard]

As stated in another thread, if any of the Japanese Big 4 built a Spyder type vehicle, BRP would be in a world of hurt ...

And they would have to try harder to make a good bike. Perhaps they would succeed.

In the mean time I am happy that it is built or at least assembled in Canada, part of North America B.T.W, with an engine that is built by people, Austrians if I believe what I've read, being paid first world wages. That is more than I can say about most of the motorcycles on North American roads at the moment.

 

[2dogs]

When there comes a time in your life that you need three legs to hold you up and keep you from falling over, and you want to continue riding with the wind in your face, you're gonna need three wheels. For many of us it is just an unavoidable fact. So, it's ok to criticise the faults built into your ride, but don't be hateful about it. We all come to this site to find help and hopefully correct the problems.

 

[MONK]

...only because Joseph Lucas didn't build their electronics. And yet ask any 1200 Goldwing owner about changing the alternator when the plug that connected it to the Rectifier fried and took them both with it.

Some of those (and others) were so bad they had a reputation built around them. Lucas, Prince of Darkness. Or how the 1200 'Wing alternator problem was so bad, aftermarket companies designed and built/sold brackets to add car alternators instead of replacing the OEM unit that would inevitably fail yet again.

So far, after about 3k miles, my 2018 RTL hasn't had any issues other than stripped bolt heads. That's not a manufacturing flaw but a purchasing flaw. (BRP should have bought train loads of RED Loctite instead of the yellow stuff.) I'm planning on buying another Can Am in the next few month/year as I think the F3 will suit my riding better than my RT does. I understand the possible issues and I'm still willing to buy another. After 3k miles, my OE Kendas seem to be wearing well and provide decent traction, too. (Of course, that could change rapidly and the Kanines or aftermarket tires are probably better.)

To each, his own. Semper Fi. E Pluribus Unum.

HAGO!

 

[UtahPete]

As stated in another thread, if any of the Japanese Big 4 built a Spyder type vehicle, BRP would be in a world of hurt ...

I doubt it, seriously.

 

[UtahPete]

I understand new owner issues with Spyders. But, if you look at the history of Jap bikes they started selling in the USA in the Sixties and Seventies. I would hope by now they are getting it right. They are all Middle Aged companies. Can-Am started selling here in 2007. Just a teenager now. Sure I have had issues, but Can-Am made good on repairs. I have had more problems with Dealers than Can-Am. With all of the Tech on Spyders jammed into a package this size they are not that undependable. They are one of the few engineered as a three wheeler available. Check the price of the others. Spyder is competitively priced. So I'll get off my soapbox now. Enjoy your new Spyder and good luck finding a good dealer.

I agree that the Spyder's weak spot is the lack of dealer support in most of the country. It's not the engineering or quality control.

 

[pegasus1300]

I think that given time the Big 4 could give BRP a run for their money, but besides the engineering it takes time and to learn how to assemble a new product and not make mistakes or omissions. new assembly lines need to have bugs worked out, new assembly procedures need to be learned, revised, streamlined. It all takes time and Cam Am has a 12 year head start which they will need to work hard to maintain. I too like my Spyder and will stick with it. I would buy a new one today if I had the money.

 

[ARtraveler]

I think that given time the Big 4 could give BRP a run for their money, but besides the engineering it takes time and to learn how to assemble a new product and not make mistakes or omissions. new assembly lines need to have bugs worked out, new assembly procedures need to be learned, revised, streamlined. It all takes time and Cam Am has a 12 year head start which they will need to work hard to maintain. I too like my Spyder and will stick with it. I would buy a new one today if I had the money.

I like what you are saying. A few years ago, I would have jumped on the first Japanese Spyder-type lock, stock, and barrel. Money is also an issue these days now that I am retired and no longer teaching on the side.

Today, I would adopt a wait and see for a couple years at least, to see how everyone else likes them. (beta testers). :roflblack:

I am guessing a first version would be a little less than what we are used to, and for a little more money. The old "sell it for what the market will bear." They know there are some who are going to jump on them right now, regardless, if and when.

 

[RapidSpyder]

...For us it's simple. No Spyder means no riding. And we want to ride.

No truer words, and sure better than the alternative.