I bought a '14 RTL in November of 14. It was a 60th birthday/retirement present. As far as reliability, I would ride it anywhere. I rode mine almost 19k in two years. My only real issue was the tires. If you have someone who is willing to put car tires on, don't worry about it. Ride to your hearts content. My wife is just very anal about being close to help.
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It's Becoming Clear To Me...
- Thread starter RinconRyder
- Start date
RinconRyder
New member
As I said before, I understand both sides of this discussion.
But I have never owned either an Indian or Victory (or a Harley) and for the very same reasons I outlined before.
A trip interrupted by a machine failure, whether or not you are "rescued" by AAA, is a trip ruined.
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
It looks like you have answered your own question. :bowdown::bowdown: :bowdown:
DGoebel
Well-known member
Ex-Rocket, I think you're worried because you're skipping Minnesota on that trip, Iowa probably thinks the same. C'mon by let us know...
Rincon, I've only owned my '13 RTL since last October, over 4k miles since then (including 4+ months of winter storage_) and I'm still working full time.... Friday another Spyder rider and I are heading out to do 1800 miles this weekend taking the scenic route to try the Smackdab Run (Summer Solstice run, plus there and back again) and I'll have my AMA card (Roadside assistance included) and a spare gallon of gas for the long stretches in the Dakota's on 281.
More worried about the driver than the Spyder...<G>
BRPcare
New member
First Timer,
We are sorry to read that your Spyder and customer support did not meet your expectations. If you'd like, send us your VIN, name and contact of your service dealer with a full description of what happened and we will be happy to make a follow up for you.
Thanks,
Sandra - BRPcare
PrairieSpyder
New member
I think you'll risk machine failure any time you use a machine. It's just part of modern living.:lecturef_smilie:
RinconRyder
New member
True. There are no guarantees but some machines are definitely more reliable than others.
In my old Goldwing group we had two Harleys. The rule was the last Wing to show up at the meeting point had to tow the peach basket. Why a peach basket you ask? To catch the falling Harley parts of course. :2thumbs:
Bob Denman
New member
Based upon your recent comment: your path is clear... :thumbup:
Gumbeau
New member
Curb your fear
I too was paralyzed by the fear of a complicated problem with the "Big Dawg" (the name I gave my 2014 RTL) so I limited the distance of my rides. While I enjoyed riding around short to medium distance rides with other Spyder riders, something was missing. So, I gathered my courage and set out on a solo ride from San Jose California to San Diego. The trip was almost 1000 miles round trip. I rode down, spent a week with family (which included Father's Day) and returned on Monday after Father's Day. The Big Dawg simply performed well. Despite record breaking heat in California, the spyder, and I, made it just find. I think I was far more beat than the spyder after the trip. My advice, go for it.
I too was paralyzed by the fear of a complicated problem with the "Big Dawg" (the name I gave my 2014 RTL) so I limited the distance of my rides. While I enjoyed riding around short to medium distance rides with other Spyder riders, something was missing. So, I gathered my courage and set out on a solo ride from San Jose California to San Diego. The trip was almost 1000 miles round trip. I rode down, spent a week with family (which included Father's Day) and returned on Monday after Father's Day. The Big Dawg simply performed well. Despite record breaking heat in California, the spyder, and I, made it just find. I think I was far more beat than the spyder after the trip. My advice, go for it.
RinconRyder
New member
One more time......
I am not "paralyzed" by the fear of something going wrong. I have been riding bikes for over 50 years and have travelled across the USA many times (and most times on rural two lane roads with services few and far between). I am though concerned about the reliability of the Spyder as far as my wife taking long trips. That's what the OP was about.
Can we all put this thread to bed please?
Spyder_Cowgirl
GOS member (Girls On Spyders)
Thread to Bed
Not quite ready to "put this thread to bed" (as you requested). I realize you are concerned about your wife getting stranded, alone, in the middle of nowhere. However, instead of looking at that as doom and gloom ... look at it as a new adventure. You see, I disagree that having to be "rescued" ruins a trip. It simply changes the dynamic of the trip, and possibly the route / stops taken ... but it certainly does not ruin it. Who knows, she might break down just minutes from one of our "Spyders to the Rescue" members ..... or the "SpyderCodes" app on her phone could tell her enough to get moving again on her own. You just never know .... I do most of my riding with hubby (him on his Indian and me on the Spyder); neither one of us would hesitate to take either machine a long distance alone. It's just that we prefer to ride together.
How does your wife feel? Is she as worried, or simply aware and willing to be prepared to "handle it?"
Hope you involve your wife in whatever decision you make. If she wants to make the Spyder "her" ride, maybe that frees you to get something for yourself and then the two of you can ride together (I know, finances may not permit that ... just a thought).
Good luck to you, and to your wife .... try not to let fear guide you. Rather, use it to keep you and wife vigilant as you ride.
All the best .... Ann
Not quite ready to "put this thread to bed" (as you requested). I realize you are concerned about your wife getting stranded, alone, in the middle of nowhere. However, instead of looking at that as doom and gloom ... look at it as a new adventure. You see, I disagree that having to be "rescued" ruins a trip. It simply changes the dynamic of the trip, and possibly the route / stops taken ... but it certainly does not ruin it. Who knows, she might break down just minutes from one of our "Spyders to the Rescue" members ..... or the "SpyderCodes" app on her phone could tell her enough to get moving again on her own. You just never know .... I do most of my riding with hubby (him on his Indian and me on the Spyder); neither one of us would hesitate to take either machine a long distance alone. It's just that we prefer to ride together.
How does your wife feel? Is she as worried, or simply aware and willing to be prepared to "handle it?"
Hope you involve your wife in whatever decision you make. If she wants to make the Spyder "her" ride, maybe that frees you to get something for yourself and then the two of you can ride together (I know, finances may not permit that ... just a thought).
Good luck to you, and to your wife .... try not to let fear guide you. Rather, use it to keep you and wife vigilant as you ride.
All the best .... Ann
Bob Denman
New member
Some of the most memorable trips involve a bit of "ingenuity" along the way! nojoke
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Since this is still live...
Please remember that sites like these usually speak bad vs. good on about a 10/1 ratio. Those with good tales are usually out riding, except for a few of us. :roflblack::roflblack:
Many have posted about not worrying to much about it. Many have posted success stories (and I am one of them). I drive in a state where it is as remote as it gets. No dealers to pull into for a quick fix. One dealer, and he is five miles from my starting place. The next dealer is 1500 miles away in the Yukon, or in Seattle.
I still drive em, and I like em. Not ready to sell them off yet.
Please remember that sites like these usually speak bad vs. good on about a 10/1 ratio. Those with good tales are usually out riding, except for a few of us. :roflblack::roflblack:
Many have posted about not worrying to much about it. Many have posted success stories (and I am one of them). I drive in a state where it is as remote as it gets. No dealers to pull into for a quick fix. One dealer, and he is five miles from my starting place. The next dealer is 1500 miles away in the Yukon, or in Seattle.
I still drive em, and I like em. Not ready to sell them off yet.
ricford
New member
Your map shows Mississippi, Arkansas and Texas. How could you have missed Louisiana?
First Timer
New member
Question as to if the dealer was the HD Dealership that I purchased the Spyder from. No, he's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is a HD and BRP dealer, very good dealership, just over 300 miles away to try and get any service done. Did contact BRP and gave them the dealership name and information about my Spyder and what's been going on with it. They did contact the dealer, all the parts where not in yet and BRP told me they had it scheduled to be fixed on Wednesday past after all the parts can in. BRP told me there was nothing they could do about the dealerships service because they are privately owned and operated.
Picked the Spyder up yesterday, seems to be in working order again, but now the right rear side compartment latch will not operate or open the compartment, so here I go again.
Picked the Spyder up yesterday, seems to be in working order again, but now the right rear side compartment latch will not operate or open the compartment, so here I go again.
First Timer
New member
Well, the wife and I rode out to diner last night on the Spyder. Guess what now......the parking brake hung up again and wouldn't release. After about 20 minutes of playing around with different things it finally released. This was the same issue that was fixed last fall before the winter. Got the Spyder back home in the garage and parked IT. Leaving for a 2 week vacation, so maybe that will give me time to cool down before going back into the dealer. Going to call them some tine next week to set a appointment for when we return. Hopefully, he will order the part for the brake that way it will be here when I take it in, we'll see. But, they will still have to look at the latch for the side compartment to see what it needs to be fixed. more than likely, I would guess another 2 weeks to get parts in again.
All I can say is, NOT impressed with the Spyder. The wife and I love the ride and handling of the trike, but I'm not sure if I want to keep putting up with these issues, the dealership problems and their network if we would travel anywhere (not sure if I would chance that) or the time it takes to receive the parts from BRP to fix their product.:banghead:
I'm really thinking about selling the Spyder after these last problems are fixed before any other issues.
Sorry guys, just don't think I want to hassle anymore.
...the parking brake hung up again and wouldn't release. After about 20 minutes of playing around with different things it finally released. This was the same issue that was fixed last fall before the winter. Got the Spyder back home in the garage and parked IT. Leaving for a 2 week vacation, so maybe that will give me time to cool down before going back into the dealer. Going to call them some tine next week to set a appointment for when we return. Hopefully, he will order the part for the brake that way it will be here when I take it in, we'll see. But, they will still have to look at the latch for the side compartment to see what it needs to be fixed. more than likely, I would guess another 2 weeks to get parts in again.All I can say is, NOT impressed with the Spyder. The wife and I love the ride and handling of the trike, but I'm not sure if I want to keep putting up with these issues, the dealership problems and their network if we would travel anywhere (not sure if I would chance that) or the time it takes to receive the parts from BRP to fix their product.:banghead:
I'm really thinking about selling the Spyder after these last problems are fixed before any other issues.
Sorry guys, just don't think I want to hassle anymore.
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