Motorcycle dealerships

[Questions]

Hi all,

I am a 2009 SE-5 owner, and have had it for a year now. My Spyder is also my first entry into the motorcyle/powersports realm. Prior to this, the only dealerships I had ever been in where for cars. It has had a few mechanical issues, but I love this thing.

My Spyder is currently in the shop for its 5K servicing and it also had a couple of issues. Like needing a new belt due to a rock that struck/stuck to it.

I dropped it off two weeks ago, and they tell me the belt still hasn't come in. This isn't the first time they have told me that BRP is slow in sending them new parts. The dealership I bought the Spyder from has always taken a long time when servicing my Spyder.

I have noticed that motorcycle dealerships are much different in servicing than car dealerships. In the first three months that I owned my Spder, the dealer had it for almost half that while trying to complete repairs on the electrical system that was causing major defaults.

Do you all find that dealers will regularly keep your Spyders for 2 and 3 weeks at a time? In my area there are a couple of other dealers, one of which I really don't want to go to. So before I go off to another dealer, I was wondering if anyone had similar issues.

I can have my car serviced for significant issues, and be driving it in a couple of days, but with my spyder, I have to use a calendar to gauge when I might get it back.

Hope you all are having fun riding:sour:!

 

[docdoru]

welcome
Ask for a copy of the request placed through BRP. You'll be surprised. opcorn:

 

[dave711]

I have never had to leave mine there overnight.... They take appointments and service is pretty quick and the have the parts.

 

[JimAlpha]

welcome

 

[fastfraser]

welcome Do most of the work on the :spyder2: myself .Only one time was it in the shop for an extended amount of time (6 days ) waiting for a wiring harness that went bad .( corroded terminals )

 

[BajaRon]

welcome
Ask for a copy of the request placed through BRP. You'll be surprised. opcorn:

You're such a cynic Doc! :lecturef_smilie: That's what I like about you! hyea:

And a great idea! Would be interesting to see what happens. If you get the old soft shoe shuffle you'll have your answer.

 

[BajaRon]

Hi all,

I am a 2009 SE-5 owner, and have had it for a year now. My Spyder is also my first entry into the motorcyle/powersports realm. Prior to this, the only dealerships I had ever been in where for cars. It has had a few mechanical issues, but I love this thing.

My Spyder is currently in the shop for its 5K servicing and it also had a couple of issues. Like needing a new belt due to a rock that struck/stuck to it.

I dropped it off two weeks ago, and they tell me the belt still hasn't come in. This isn't the first time they have told me that BRP is slow in sending them new parts. The dealership I bought the Spyder from has always taken a long time when servicing my Spyder.

I have noticed that motorcycle dealerships are much different in servicing than car dealerships. In the first three months that I owned my Spder, the dealer had it for almost half that while trying to complete repairs on the electrical system that was causing major defaults.

Do you all find that dealers will regularly keep your Spyders for 2 and 3 weeks at a time? In my area there are a couple of other dealers, one of which I really don't want to go to. So before I go off to another dealer, I was wondering if anyone had similar issues.

I can have my car serviced for significant issues, and be driving it in a couple of days, but with my spyder, I have to use a calendar to gauge when I might get it back.

Hope you all are having fun riding:sour:!

Are they doing the belt replacement on warranty? Is the original so bad it can't be ridden?

If it's not warranty I'd order the belt and put it on myself. Probably get it sooner and sure would cost a lot less.

If the current belt is rideable I'd ride it till the new one came in. Sometimes you just have to overcome and conquer.

 

[Questions]

dealerships

the belt has to be replaced. And the dealership says it isn't still in warrenty. I live in the country, and sometimes ride on some gravel roads. Nothing crazy, just a strech every once in a while. I am guessing that is when it happened.

If I was a mechanic...which I am not, I would try to replace it myself. So I am at their mercy.

 

[SpyderWolf]

Unfortunately we are seeing a large number of threads relating to bad service from dealerships lately. The latest trend seems to be telling customers everything is back ordered from BRP, and they have no idea when it will arrive. While this can happen, it is also a very convenient way to shuffle you to the background while they work on things that are going to make them more money. I think Doc had a great idea, as you should be able to tell whether the belt is really on back order or not. It might also be worth sending an email message to [email protected] and informing them of the situation to see what they might have to say about it.

Best of luck getting your Spyder back soon.

 

[docdoru]

There are situations when the costumer is informed that the "parts are back-order". Why one may request a written order? There are MANY services with old software, cannot communicate directly with BRP parts or the ordering process involved opening 3-4 databases. Updating the service ordering software may save 2-3 weeks of waiting. opcorn:

 

[Questions]

Dealer

Thanks for all the info. There are some good ideas here. I have been learning a lot about Spyders and dealers. I realized some time ago, that because the Spyder is still so new to the market, there aren't a lot of people out there servicing and even selling them.

Just like with cars, not all dealers aren't equal. I have been amazed how long they have been willing to hold onto my Spyder. The longest wait time has been 3.5 weeks. I had a default warning lights (dps and traction control warnings)occuring. And had to have it towed back to the dealer twice! At that point, I was considering the "Lemon Law". When I mentioned that to the service dept. (after about the second week of them holding onto it), they finall got the situation fixed.

I hope they can get me fixed sometime next week. That would be my third week without me driving it. Bummer!

If I was mechanical, then maybe some of this would be mute and I could do it myself. But, I'm not and as a result must rely on professional mechanics most of the time.

It sounds like most of you have had pretty good success with servicing, or do much of the work yourselves. I think i will need to try another dealer/service.

Thanks guys!!!

 

[Longlegs]

I think a week is a reasonable amount of time for a dealer to have a machine. Maybe my expectations are too low for some peoples opinion, but most of the dealerships I have been to only have one or two people to work on all their lines of machines. Plus they are somewhat limited on space to put them. I would rather they give me an appointment than leave my stuff outside.
But after reading thread after thread about backorders, it really makes me wonder what is going on. I feel I have a great dealer and I currently have a DPS on backorder, and I truly believe him. I also overheard a BRP guy at the Chicago owners event telling an RT owner that the air shocks were on backorder from their supplier, so again no reason not to believe the backorder situation.
I can see where having a new product out there can make it difficult to know what parts and how much of them would be needed, but it seems to me they can keep building new ones so there has to be some parts out there. Plus some of the issues, like DPS or drive belts, seem to be pretty common and so they should have a handle on that by now. Actually drive belts is something they should never be out of.
From my standpoint BRP really needs to step it up in the replacement parts division. In fact I have a phone number for BRP Wausau WI. I think that is where there US parts distribution is at, so maybe I'll call there tomorro.

 

[BajaRon]

the belt has to be replaced. And the dealership says it isn't still in warrenty. I live in the country, and sometimes ride on some gravel roads. Nothing crazy, just a strech every once in a while. I am guessing that is when it happened.

If I was a mechanic...which I am not, I would try to replace it myself. So I am at their mercy.

Belt replacement isn't all that difficult but I know what you mean. No matter how easy (realitively) it might be, if you can't do it, it really doesn't matter.

Too bad you don't live closer to us. Just drop it off at Lamont's house! :roflblack:

Or, you could ship your Spyder to me via UPS. Would accomplish the same thing! :yikes:

 

[Frig]

It sounds like my dealer. 3 weeks to service a leaking water pump plus some 6,000 mile service items that they couldn't do during that service. When I got home (1 hour away) the 3 lugs on the left side weren't even hand tight. I called them and said if anything had happened on the ride home, their name of the dealership would be getting changed to my name. He fully understood what I was saying and was very apologetic.

 

[docdoru]

Every week with the Spyder in the shop is biting the original factory warranty time or Best or Best Plus.....opcorn:

 

[Smylinacha]

Every week with the Spyder in the shop is biting the original factory warranty time or Best or Best Plus.....opcorn:

Yup

 

[Questions]

dealers

Yes, motorcycles dealerships aren't the same is size as Toyota, Ford and the like. My dealership has only two service techs. In the year that i have been going there, one week is the bare minimum. I live an hour away and trying to arrange drop off and pick up can be a little tricky.

It seems to me that hiring another tech might be a good thing to do. Times might get slower in the winter, but here in Va. some people ride then too. I had some servicing during the winter as well and it still took a while.

I also agree that BRP needs to step up the pace. It seem like the phrase "back order" is used way too much. Like it will excuse all sins. One week is fine, two or three is getting ridiculus.

It gets to the point where Lemon Laws may start to come into effect. I considered it two months after I bought my Spyder. I also have thought about forwarding on my motorcycle payments onto the dealer. If they want it so long, the begin making my payments:2thumbs:

Oh well, I guess there are more important things in life to worry about....aren't there?:dontknow:

Having said all that, the Sypder is a wonderful machine and I truly love riding it. I hope to have many years of wonderful riding. I look forward to the future with the Spyder line. I bet the RS and RT are only the beginning.

I think what BRP might need is some healthy competition from the folks from Honda, BMW and the like. I bet they can come up with a cool three wheeled version too.

 

[boborgera]

I think what BRP might need is some healthy competition from the folks from Honda, BMW and the like. I bet they can come up with a cool three wheeled version too.

:agree: And if [when] that happens, It will leave the Spyder in the Ash Heap of History.

 

[Roger]

Belt replacement isn't all that difficult but I know what you mean. No matter how easy (realitively) it might be, if you can't do it, it really doesn't matter.

Too bad you don't live closer to us. Just drop it off at Lamont's house! :roflblack:

Or, you could ship your Spyder to me via UPS. Would accomplish the same thing! :yikes:

Now that is funny and true :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

 

[jgwoods]

Sorry to hear of the long delays for parts. MA has a lemon law that applies to the Spyder. If they keep it for repairs for 15 days in the first year- The have to buy it back from me.
One of the problems this causes for others in states where there is no lemon law, or it doesn't apply to the Spyder, is that parts get sent to the lemon law states, and to the dealer that has the hottest problem, the one most likely to be a buy back.
I know this from my days as a Volvo service manager.