New issue with Spyder

[BajaRon]

Watching the back end of other Spyders the tail does take a beating. Rough roads give that long swing arm and big tire a real workout. Most likely the reason so many lose their license plates.

My license plate came off between Ventura and San Luis Obispo on this trip. At that point I was riding alone and lucky that I didn't lose it altogether. That stretch of 101 has some pretty rough spots. I had a zip tie in one hole of my plate and that saved me. Otherwise, I would have had to add my name to the missing plate list.

 

[northramp]

:yikes::yikes::yikes:

 

[dltang]

I had posted a picture of my rear fender brackets cracking last fall with about 18,000 miles.

http://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7653&highlight=mcgone

When I took it to the dealer they found that the I7 PLX Givi saddle bags bracket was hitting the top of the rear fender bracket. The PLX then squeezed the read fender brackets in and the bracket cracked at the rear fender.

I replaced the rear fender brackets and ground off the PLX portion to get more clearance.

Did you have bags mounted? I see you ahve a hitch now.

Never had bags mounted and the hitch is not on the swingarm or anywhere near it. So I highly doubt that has anything to do with it. Thanks though.

 

[dltang]

We ride all winter deb salt snow potholes still worth it

Definitely worth it tatt2r :2thumbs:

 

[spyryder]

Deb,
You're running the Kumho Ecsta AST 225/50r-15.
I'd seriously consider lowering your tire pressure from the 45 psi which you have it set at. That Kumho has almost double the load rating of the OEM tire. 1356 lbs. vs 694 lbs. for the stock tire. I doubt that you'd have more than 400lbs load on it. It must be hard as a rock at that pressure with that little of a load.

 

[dltang]

This should definetely be covered under warranty.These fender brackets are a rather involved metal stamping with some degree of forming stress present in the finished component.I think alot of us have felt the drive belt harmonics and most are aware of the V-Twin buzz vibration through the foot pegs and bars....all normal V-Twin quirks.
So....take a stressed component in to a zone of constant vibration and the slightest imperfection in a stamped or welded joint.......crack propagation will occur.With out knowing the specs on the steel and having a visual inspection on the bracket before it was powder coated it is just speculation as to what is causing the component to crack.....but no matter....should not fail unless subject to stress from add on mods that these brackets were not designed to accomodate.

Of all the mods I have, nothing is on my rear fender unless you consider the custom paint job. I will let everyone know what the dealer says. I will try to get up there on Thursday.

 

[WaltH]

I had this exact same problem on Spyder #1 - about 1" on both sides. I didn't have a chance to get it repaired, but there was an earlier report of someone getting this problem covered under the warranty. I had intended to do a warranty claim. BRP has covered things less serious than this.