I wanted to see how much my experience resonates with people here on the boards. Last Thursday evening, I drove 65 miles from my house in Northern Virginia to Gettysburg PA (where I vacation on weekends) so that I could get my Spyder to Hanover PA to the excellent dealership there. I got my ST in June but found that the clutch fluid was leaking--turned out to be a crimp in a gasket, which they promptly fixed last Friday. Well done Hanover Motosports!
Anyway, during that evening ride up to Gettysburg PA, which was the most extended riding I have done on my Spyder, I encountered the SAME darn issue that others have talked about and that I experienced even going 15 miles to work during the heat of summer (albeit a pretty mild summer at that in Northern Virginia). Was going 65 mph the whole way, and the temperature after dark was about 65 degrees, with that big bright moon in the sky--perfect riding weather! About halfway there, my right foot got so freaking hot that I had to hold it out multiple times to cool it off. My unintentional "seat warmer" also started kicking in, meaning that the temperature under the seat was rising precipitously. During a 95 degree day in July, using my thermal gauge I measured 150+ degrees at the gas cap and under the seat--too hot!
So on last Friday, I explained again to the owner of my dealership in Hanover PA my situation. She had been very sympathetic before but we kind of let the situation ride while I gathered my data. When she heard what happened with the heat and my foot on that nighttime ride the previous night, she gave me BRP's number and said she would fully support any case I lodged. So yesterday I called the BRP customer line. A very nice :thumbup: French Canadian woman listened to my story and commented when I was done, "I completely understand--what would you like us to do?" I mentioned our forum and the panel fix that others have had success with, and again she agreed that that would be a reasonable next step after a few checks on her end. She looked up my Spyder (by VIN), looked at the applied flash upgrades, and then gave me a six-digit case number. She then checked on the color of my Spyder (Pure Magnesium) and commented that the panels were indeed in stock. She then told me to have the Hanover PA dealership call their tech line and that the panels would be en route after they communicated with each other. End of call--lasted all of 7 minutes. Absolutely wonderful customer service :thumbup:, such to the point that I broke out my college French and thanked her with an emphatic "merci beaucoup," to which she responded in French in a very pleased tone. I always think it polite when you know a word or two in somebody's native language to try to use it--never has failed me in my world travels.
The moral of my story is this. Do your research and have facts. Have the support of your dealership if you are as lucky as I am to have purchased through a very reputable dealer (go Hanover Motosports!). Be patient and kind with the BRP customer rep and don't eviscerate them--hey, they didn't design the flaw, the engineers did! And break out a little "merci beaucoup" (thank you very much), "je vous souhaite une bonne nuit" (I hope you have a good night--if you are calling in the late afternoon as I did), and "au revoir" (goodbye) when you get the type of customer support I did.
I could not be more pleased with my dealer, with BRP, and especially with the customer service rep. I think I will stay with BRP and Spyders for many years to come! :clap:
Anyway, during that evening ride up to Gettysburg PA, which was the most extended riding I have done on my Spyder, I encountered the SAME darn issue that others have talked about and that I experienced even going 15 miles to work during the heat of summer (albeit a pretty mild summer at that in Northern Virginia). Was going 65 mph the whole way, and the temperature after dark was about 65 degrees, with that big bright moon in the sky--perfect riding weather! About halfway there, my right foot got so freaking hot that I had to hold it out multiple times to cool it off. My unintentional "seat warmer" also started kicking in, meaning that the temperature under the seat was rising precipitously. During a 95 degree day in July, using my thermal gauge I measured 150+ degrees at the gas cap and under the seat--too hot!
So on last Friday, I explained again to the owner of my dealership in Hanover PA my situation. She had been very sympathetic before but we kind of let the situation ride while I gathered my data. When she heard what happened with the heat and my foot on that nighttime ride the previous night, she gave me BRP's number and said she would fully support any case I lodged. So yesterday I called the BRP customer line. A very nice :thumbup: French Canadian woman listened to my story and commented when I was done, "I completely understand--what would you like us to do?" I mentioned our forum and the panel fix that others have had success with, and again she agreed that that would be a reasonable next step after a few checks on her end. She looked up my Spyder (by VIN), looked at the applied flash upgrades, and then gave me a six-digit case number. She then checked on the color of my Spyder (Pure Magnesium) and commented that the panels were indeed in stock. She then told me to have the Hanover PA dealership call their tech line and that the panels would be en route after they communicated with each other. End of call--lasted all of 7 minutes. Absolutely wonderful customer service :thumbup:, such to the point that I broke out my college French and thanked her with an emphatic "merci beaucoup," to which she responded in French in a very pleased tone. I always think it polite when you know a word or two in somebody's native language to try to use it--never has failed me in my world travels.
The moral of my story is this. Do your research and have facts. Have the support of your dealership if you are as lucky as I am to have purchased through a very reputable dealer (go Hanover Motosports!). Be patient and kind with the BRP customer rep and don't eviscerate them--hey, they didn't design the flaw, the engineers did! And break out a little "merci beaucoup" (thank you very much), "je vous souhaite une bonne nuit" (I hope you have a good night--if you are calling in the late afternoon as I did), and "au revoir" (goodbye) when you get the type of customer support I did.
I could not be more pleased with my dealer, with BRP, and especially with the customer service rep. I think I will stay with BRP and Spyders for many years to come! :clap:
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