Hi all!!!!! I've been interested in the spyder for awhile and i have ridden 2 wheels before.....but since I've had a balance issue now the wife won't let me have a 2 wheeled motorcycle......understandable......any who......love the idea of the spyder......I'm interested in buying a used one and was wondering what are the models with the least problems..you see I've had all hondas and don't want to end up with a bike in the shop all the time....one know that you don't hear about the spyders that don't have problems........ I just want to narrow it down a bit....was thinking of 08 or 09....I've got a nice 09 in the area for good price and thinking of pulling the trigger.....kinda long winded first post so what are your thought......thanks...
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newbie with some questions.......
- Thread starter Rockdog
- Start date
coz
Active member
most reliable and least expensive
typically the gs, rs is more trouble free than the rt. it is a much simpler machine.
a gs, rs will cost much less to buy.
a manual clutch will be less finicky than the semi- auto on any model.
there you have it, good luck with your search and research.:thumbup:
typically the gs, rs is more trouble free than the rt. it is a much simpler machine.
a gs, rs will cost much less to buy.
a manual clutch will be less finicky than the semi- auto on any model.
there you have it, good luck with your search and research.:thumbup:
Chupaca
New member
Welcome..!!
glad you stopped by. This is the right place and hope to welcome you to the roadster world soon. The GS/RS are the simplest in the line. They also have the least amount of problems having less that can go wrong. If you have a nice unit see if they can check if all updates and history is available with vin# at any dealer. We have an RS and have really enjoyed it. Wife an I ryde every chance we get and do a bit of traveling as well....being used it should be tested and owner can fill you in on it...good luck..!!
hyea:
glad you stopped by. This is the right place and hope to welcome you to the roadster world soon. The GS/RS are the simplest in the line. They also have the least amount of problems having less that can go wrong. If you have a nice unit see if they can check if all updates and history is available with vin# at any dealer. We have an RS and have really enjoyed it. Wife an I ryde every chance we get and do a bit of traveling as well....being used it should be tested and owner can fill you in on it...good luck..!!
hyea:
Dan_Ashley
New member
I have a 2012 RT. The only problems I've had are the wife won't let me Ryde in the living room anymore.
I've looked at this site off and on for couple years ....read a lot on the forums during that time......all the good and bad......figured id get some good info from you all...which did.....like vin # check....I've been riding a honda rancher atv with electric shift trans...the rs/es would be nice but clutch would be fine to.....going to look on craigslist in area and in couple of years use or sell for down on rt....that's the plan anyway...thanks the welcome and ideas.
Bob Denman
New member
An RS from 2010, or an RT from 2012 might be your best bets... :thumbup:
Cruzr Joe
New member
Dragonrider
New member
The RT from 2010 to 2012 have been pretty trouble free. There were some early issues with the DPS, but that was fixed by BRP. I put almost 10,000 trouble free miles on my 2010, the 2011s were improved a bit, and the 2012s had all the kinks worked out. You really can't go wrong with any of those years. In fact, you can probably find some great deals on NEW 2011s or 2012s right now.
Personally, I would avoid the 2013s, regardless of price.
Most of the used RTs on this site have been well loved and cared for, and most carry extended warrantees (another point I would recommend.)
If you are older, or taller, or larger, you may never get comfortable on a RS or RSS - I could never get upright enough, when I had my RS. While they are cheaper, there is a reason.
Having owned and ridden both, I would only recommend the RT.
Personally, I would avoid the 2013s, regardless of price.
Most of the used RTs on this site have been well loved and cared for, and most carry extended warrantees (another point I would recommend.)
If you are older, or taller, or larger, you may never get comfortable on a RS or RSS - I could never get upright enough, when I had my RS. While they are cheaper, there is a reason.
Having owned and ridden both, I would only recommend the RT.
ARtraveler
R.I.P. Dwayne
Not Bob, but here would be my take. The RS has now been pretty much unchanged since day one. Early problems were quickly corrected. I have had two. 2008 SM5 and put 23,500 trouble free miles before trading off. 2009 SE5 that has 25K and is still going strong with original owner.
For the RT, it is said that 2012 is probably the best year--since they have had the least amount of problems reported. I have a 2010 RTS with 36K miles and still going strong. Also have a 2011 RT with 10K miles (purchased new in 2012), and no problems.
I would also stay away from 2013's as many have reported issues and problems.
You might be well advised to check out the for sale thread on this site. You can look up the owner and see if they have a good :ani29: or one with problems. You will find most on here to be very good and well cared for.
Craigslist scares me a bit, because you cannot always be assured you are dealing with someone reputable.
Good luck on your hunt. Let us know what you end up with. :thumbup:
For the RT, it is said that 2012 is probably the best year--since they have had the least amount of problems reported. I have a 2010 RTS with 36K miles and still going strong. Also have a 2011 RT with 10K miles (purchased new in 2012), and no problems.
I would also stay away from 2013's as many have reported issues and problems.
You might be well advised to check out the for sale thread on this site. You can look up the owner and see if they have a good :ani29: or one with problems. You will find most on here to be very good and well cared for.
Craigslist scares me a bit, because you cannot always be assured you are dealing with someone reputable.
Good luck on your hunt. Let us know what you end up with. :thumbup:
Michael211_2000
New member
Hmm, I found and bought my 2012 RS SE-5 off CraigsList and it's been great 3K miles and going. I've bought and sold everything from riding lawn mowers (John Deere at that!) to my SeaDoo PWC to full sized boats using CraigsList and find it to be a great resource.
When buying used, it's always best to be sure you've researched the item you're looking to buy so you know what problems to look for. Ask questions of the seller, ask for paperwork (ie. receipts and stuff), don't wear rose-colored-glasses really look hard at the machine with a critical eye, check the fluid levels etc before any money exchanges hands. A little common sense goes a long way. Any factory or extended warranty still in effect is a real plus too!
As to which model Spyder, a lot will depend on how much you're looking to spend AND what kind of riding you want to do with it... for longer trips, a touring model will offer more built-in storage space among other amenities, but they're heavier machines (ie. mpg suffers) some 2013 have had heat problems (currently being addressed by BRP finally I've read!) and you'll pay thru the nose for one! A sport model (GS or RS like mine) is better for shorter day trips, is a lighter weight machine (ie. a bit better mpg, better accelleration!), lacks some of the fancier bells and whistles but you can add your own bells and whistles that suite just your needs as you want, and are much more reasonably priced!
ps. I love the SE-5 tranny, I prefer to enjoy the ride rather than working a clutch. The SE tranny's shift faster than any human can clutch and shift an SM tranny! It's not that I can't manual shift with a clutch, I've driven 18 wheelers with as many as 18 gears... I just prefer not to have to!
Good luck!
- Michael
When buying used, it's always best to be sure you've researched the item you're looking to buy so you know what problems to look for. Ask questions of the seller, ask for paperwork (ie. receipts and stuff), don't wear rose-colored-glasses really look hard at the machine with a critical eye, check the fluid levels etc before any money exchanges hands. A little common sense goes a long way. Any factory or extended warranty still in effect is a real plus too!
As to which model Spyder, a lot will depend on how much you're looking to spend AND what kind of riding you want to do with it... for longer trips, a touring model will offer more built-in storage space among other amenities, but they're heavier machines (ie. mpg suffers) some 2013 have had heat problems (currently being addressed by BRP finally I've read!) and you'll pay thru the nose for one! A sport model (GS or RS like mine) is better for shorter day trips, is a lighter weight machine (ie. a bit better mpg, better accelleration!), lacks some of the fancier bells and whistles but you can add your own bells and whistles that suite just your needs as you want, and are much more reasonably priced!
ps. I love the SE-5 tranny, I prefer to enjoy the ride rather than working a clutch. The SE tranny's shift faster than any human can clutch and shift an SM tranny! It's not that I can't manual shift with a clutch, I've driven 18 wheelers with as many as 18 gears... I just prefer not to have to!
Good luck!
- Michael
Motorcycledave
Active member
Spyder Tony
New member
I purchased an '08 GS that is pristine. One thing that I did, and would recommend, is to get the bike in the shop of a reputable dealer (preferably before purchase, but after works too) and have them do what my dealer calls a "New Bike Inspection"...they will go through the bike & let you know the internal condition. Like a car, it may be shiny and pretty on the outside but s$%t on the inside as far as the internal components. Keep in mind that there may be a reason the bike is being sold. I mention this because I know somebody who has an '09 that the dealer cannot figure out why he is having perpetual codes thrown & limp modes. His solution...he's selling the bike. It will simply be the next person's problem unfortunately.
Also, My dealer pulled the VIN# on my bike and was able to pull the service history on the bike PRIOR to my purchase. This information was critical to my decision to buy this particular bike. It had a killer custom paint job, but I needed to know it was mechanically sound as well. In my opinion, a combination of a good reputable dealer (for service purposes), due diligence in doing your homework on the prospective bike, and having the prospective bike checked out by a certified BRP tech preferably, will yield many happy miles and hours on the open roads.
The only real thing the purchase of my '08 GS cost me is the heated handgrips, Bluetooth, and Zumo nav from my '13 ST-L which now belongs to my girlfriend. In the end, i'd gladly do it again, for now we ryde together every chance we get.
Good luck on your purchase, my friend!!!
Also, My dealer pulled the VIN# on my bike and was able to pull the service history on the bike PRIOR to my purchase. This information was critical to my decision to buy this particular bike. It had a killer custom paint job, but I needed to know it was mechanically sound as well. In my opinion, a combination of a good reputable dealer (for service purposes), due diligence in doing your homework on the prospective bike, and having the prospective bike checked out by a certified BRP tech preferably, will yield many happy miles and hours on the open roads.
The only real thing the purchase of my '08 GS cost me is the heated handgrips, Bluetooth, and Zumo nav from my '13 ST-L which now belongs to my girlfriend. In the end, i'd gladly do it again, for now we ryde together every chance we get.
Good luck on your purchase, my friend!!!
Michael211_2000
New member
After buying my RS last summer I went over to a Can-Am dealership near me and asked if they could pull the VIN info on it's maintenance history from their computer... they told me that they would only get any history if it'd been worked on at THEIR dealership previously and nowhere else. Since I bought this RS from outside of Texas, there wasn't much point.
Is there any central database on Spyder VIN's maintenance that dealerships can actually access, or not? This dealership near me said that there wasn't. IDK.
- Michael
Sorry for not getting back..been cold out side in oregon...been dealing with frozen pipe.....:yikes:....the kids and wife are starting to smell funny but I'm still just fine...well...internet still works ..so there's an 08 and 09 near me at a stealer ship..... im going to take a look at soon....08 ....$11000... with 9000 miles......and 09 with under 5000 miles for $12000.....both are RS ......08 manual and 09 electric shift......just have to talk the wife aka.....the accountant....into it......we'll see how it goes....thanks again for all the help...
Spyder Tony
New member
Michael...I got the history on the bike that had been worked on at Cowtown in Missouri...and it was my local dealer in CA that pulled the info. To clarify...I am referring to all the recall/safety/warranty/service records. In fact, there are 2 dealers within a 30 mile radius and BOTH of them pulled the bike's history. To my knowledge, this is BRP information, so any dealer should have access to it (this is just my conjecture though).
Magdave
New member
Sorry for not getting back..been cold out side in oregon...been dealing with frozen pipe.....:yikes:....the kids and wife are starting to smell funny but I'm still just fine...well...internet still works ..so there's an 08 and 09 near me at a stealer ship..... im going to take a look at soon....08 ....$11000... with 9000 miles......and 09 with under 5000 miles for $12000.....both are RS ......08 manual and 09 electric shift......just have to talk the wife aka.....the accountant....into it......we'll see how it goes....thanks again for all the help...
I would be careful buying from a Dealer best to say who they are so you can find out if they are reputable here. Don't forget they mark up a lot. My local dealer has a 2011RTS for $23900 that is a stupid price it has 9k on it. They have been sitting on it since last June and probably will continue. Don't let the naysayers drive you off a 2013. Yes the RT's/ST's had some issues that may have been fixed. A lot of people have had no issues. People forgot about the 2011 steering going out no one knows if any one died because of that and still recommend them.2013 can be had for a good price. A warranty is a must. They come with 2 yrs but you can buy 3 more for ~800 all day long. Some deals like BRPs current one gives $2500 off + 4 yr warranty on 2013s expires on 2/10.
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