Please Help Me

[greendean]

Good Day: I own a 2009 RS SE5 it has been in the dealer for 60 days as of today. I love the ride and miss it a lot. I have been forced to file
under Washington State Lemon law a replacement or repurchase from BRP. I will not bore you with all the details. The short of it 19,000 miles
and Drive belt,Tires, shifting clutches, centrifugal clutch, 2013 long block incompatible and now the short block will arrive today. I'm past irritated
frustrated and pissed. Yesterday I was informed from my (Senior customer service Representative) that my use of the vehicle is not compatible
with the spyder. I purchased it to commute 60 miles a day in the Seattle area city and freeway driving 30 to 60 miles an hour. The Spyder was
designed to ride hard I was told high RPM's that you must shift above 4500 RPM for the system's to work the way they were designed. She is
working on replacement of my spyder with a 2010 rs se5 new no miles. The updates in the 2013 rs se5 they will cost me to much she says for
them to do a replacement with the local dealer they have several ion stock.So my question is this continue to wait it out for a 2010 possible same
problems and probably needs all current updates at least 2more weeks? Maybe get mine back next week? Without motor vibrations? Or cash out
will probably require State Attorney General for resolution 3 to 4 weeks? Class action Law suit for misrepresentation on vehicle when purchased.
1to 2 years at least. I really miss the ride and feel like an idiot for buying a BRP product that was such a new concept. Not knowing that they
are such a poor customer service company. They have sent the wrong parts multiple times communication is poor at best. Told many things that
have been wrong or not come to fruition. So How say you? Thanks Loved my Spyder Now I morn Dean A Owen

 

[CyncySpyder]

Coming from a similar situation back in 2010, once you get Lawyers involved, all cooperation from the manufacturer usually comes to a halt, as everything forward has to go thru legal representation, leaving you hanging for who knows how long. Any corporation has a legal dept and the finances to use them, most of us can't claim the same, so we're on the loosing side of the battle, usually speaking of course.

In my experience, working with the dealership was futile, as they were incompetant and blamed everything on BRP, when I later descovered, many of the things I was told by the dealership either were wrong or not followed thru on, but they NEVER claimed ANY responsibility and blamed EVERYTHING on the manufacturer. Don't get me wrong, NO company is perfect and neither is BRP. But I think most would be surprised about how many issues and problems are actually dealer related and not the manufacturers fault.

It wasn't until I found a reputable dealer that I could trust (Len at PitBull PowerSports) that my problems became clear and I was able to regain faith in the product and satisfaction with the company. I took a loss and traded our issues away, but Len has made our past 2 years of Spyder Ownership an experience that is truly priceless.

I know exactly how frustrating it can be, but legal is rarely the best nor easiest route to go, when all you want, is what you paid for in the beginning. Good luck & I hope it all works out for you ray:

 

[MikeinGA]

I hope that it works out in your favor.

 

[PrairieSpyder]

I am so sorry you are having these problems and I hope they will be resolved soon. I don't geel qualitfied to answer your direct questions, but can only say :welcome: to this forum.

 

[NoJive]

I hate to see these stories...but from reading other peoples issues, it seems that time and time again, it all boils down to a poor dealer, and not necessarily BRP as being at fault.

 

[Bob Denman]

Wow!
We do need a little more detail...
Exactly what busted? Why are they saying that it busted, and was the bike under any warranty still?
With whom are you speaking with at BRP?
We're pulling for you; Good Luck! :thumbup:

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

You mentioned that you were told that your use of the Spyder was not compatible with it. That's pretty hard to believe. If your issues were that you were in traffic a lot well that's where the bike really does well in my opinion, just have to keep RPM's up in first or second gear, sound terrible but the Rotax motor likes it. As far as vibration the V Twin power plant configuration does have vibration as compared to other engine designs. How much is acceptable is hard to say on a forum without "being there" to feel and see it first hand. Anyway lots of luck and I hope it works out in the long run for you.

 

[Jharpo]

Replace

I also have a 2009 GS. For my 16,000 miles, I have had absolutely no major problems. If you keep your repaired bike, you will never trust it. Take the 2010. Updates should take no more than 2 days, not weeks.

 

[bruiser]

Like so many others, first post is all complaints and bashing BRP. Wish him luck.

 

[Chupaca]

my opinion..!!

Anything legal is a battle between others your on the sidelines with little to say or do and a longer wait till resolved. It's about laws. You will never trust your unit again so move on to the new one. Updates are fast mostly computer and you will be back on the road. Good luck..!! :thumbup:

 

[bullant12]

Just my 2 cents worth here. If the 2009 has been nothing but issues, I'd take the 2010 and find another dealer. I have a feeling that the dealer has been not communicating with BRP properly and did not setup your 2009 properly. I would also drop all the legal issues because in the end, all it will do is hurt your pocket and will go nowhere. Also, I cannot see the Class Action Suit going anywhere either because the :spyder2: IS made for long distances (see all the many posters here who have done long travels) and the Misrepresentation of the machine will be thrown out of court (I want to see a lawyer backing this lawsuit...:roflblack.

 

[revjvegas]

I hate to see these stories...but from reading other peoples issues, it seems that time and time again, it all boils down to a poor dealer, and not necessarily BRP as being at fault.

:agree:
If I showed you the video that I shared with the GM of the teardown/inspection I did after I had my bike in for warranty work, you'd be as shocked as he was at what I showed him. Sometimes it is also more about the service manager who does a poor job of running that department in the back and the issues just never being brought to the attention of upper management.

It's sad that it is such a challenge for us to find competent and trustworthy mechanics to work on these machines.

 

[gimpygary62]

Just traded in my gs 2009 se5 with 30k for a 2013 rss se5 as I couldn't trust it. I would have had a lot more miles on the bike but it spent a 3rd of time in the shop. Some folks didn't have any trouble at all with the 1st gen machines but others have had plenty. I chose a new payment over the aggravation and down time. Only trouble I'm having with the 2013 is the vendors are all still scrambling to get their aftermarket goodies developed!opcorn:

 

[jerpinoy]

I hope you'll get this resolve. Good luck

 

[Sarge707]

If my 2009 GS (25,000 Miles) had All them problems and they offered me a Zero or low mileage 2010 I Would Jump on it right away!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!nojoke

 

[78OldRide]

2010 RT SE5

I have the 2010 RT SE 5 if you go with it make sure the throttle body is covered. Had to replace mine due to recall and fault code.
Since then the bike runs like a champ. Best of luck.
Gary

 

[ARtraveler]

Sorry to hear of your problems. Like a few, a first post with complaints about the product and bashing BRP do tend to run up a few red flags.

Based on what you have said so far:

RE: not fit for the use you are giving it--IMO: that is just absurd. I do concur with those that say you need to keep the revs in the 4500-5500 range. Around town at 30mph--thats second gear tops. 45mph--thats third gear tops. Highway up to 55-60--thats fourth gear. Above 65--fifth gear. The motor sounds like its reving to hard--but it is not--that is what it is supposed to do.

RE: Dealer--it sounds like you have a bad one. We have seen this many times. Their communication with you the customer is not necessarily what they are hearing from BRP.

RE: Lemon Laws & Lawyers. This should be a last resort thing. Bringing up that subject with the manufacturer will shut down the process of helping you one on one. They will let the legal process take its course. And we all know how that works.

RE: Offer of a newer machine: Take the money and run.

I am current and past owner of four :spyder2:,s. A 2008 GS, a 2009 RS, a 2010 RT-S, and a 2011 RT-A & C. Over 84,000 combined miles and not a major mechanical problem with any of them. I do have a good dealer and mechanical support.

Hope you get your problem solved.

 

[greendean]

Thanks for the replys

Good Day to all
Thanks for the input. I will answer some of the questions. Yes still under warranty till end of May. No doubt there is plenty of blame to go around the dealer is far from clean hands. Probably 65% of the long delay. Communication between the Two are big factors
west coast east coast dealer hours all contribute. BRP has sent the wrong parts clutch basket to complete wrong motor. It all began in January with a simple 18000 mile service they found a leaky seal replaced cam bearing and seals oil in air box. Between then and March 13th I had a loss of power decreased fuel economy and it began to backfire 3 times. To that point I had wear items like tires brakes and drive belt some updates.Really no issues. Service at dealer was ok at best very poor communications. Just for info I am a mechanic I maintain a fleet of over 350 machines everything from a track hoe to a weed eater. I was a service Manager for 18 years. I am certified with Toro Textron John deere Kobota. I understand vibration in v twin design motors. Also I have posted on this
blog before and some how they disappeared. I am normally not one to complain. I do Love my spyder and I miss it. The dealer has supplied me with a loaner a Yamaha 1300 it is no spyde. I do appreciate that. There is so much more to this saga. Yes there is always two sides to a story. Martina my Senior customer service representative made the statement that the stop and go 30to 35 mile an hour traffic for 35% of my commute could make the spyde not the right machine for me. She stated that it was designed to ride hard high rpm 4500 and higher. She did recount that statement after talking to her technicians. Stating shifting on the se5 the systems are designed to operate at 4500 rpm and my commute should be fine that being that there had been no problems till now I should be fine with the 2010. I posed this to everyone because in all my years I have never been through anything like this I have felt like an idiot with nothing I can do. $24,000.00 plus was an investment to me for what I anticipated as at least 4 years of service at least. I am use to making things happen I fix or repair equipment down time waiting for parts max time 2 weeks waiting for parts once. These are the reasons I'm perplexed. I will take the 2010 hopefully they can get it here at least another 1-2 weeks.
Thank you all for your input. Life truly is an Adventure Dean A Owen

 

[daveinva]

Here's the thing about the RPM slice of this that confuses me.

1. I have an RS. I use it as a daily driver, in the city. The high RPM is never an issue, because that just means I don't upshift higher than I need to be, i.e. in stop-and-go I ride in first, second, and when I'm lucky, third gear.

Basically, traffic makes absolutely no difference to the Spyder, you just ride it in the lower gears. So what if it's louder? Big whup, I wear a helmet and ear plugs.

2. IIRC, a dealer can hook up the bike to BUDS and see the RPM history, so they know where we shift our bikes. (I've seen earlier threads on this subject). Based only on the above, it sounds to me like the OP's dealer did just that, and saw that the OP was shifting below the recommended levels, i.e. lugging the engine.

Now, that may be a subjective conclusion from the dealer-- is there a technical, BRP-defined definition of HOW MUCH lugging of the engine is enough to void a warranty, I don't know? If not, the dealer could be using this an excuse for poor setup/poor diagnostics. But I guarantee that there exists SOME point where the dealer and/or manufacturer can say, "The rider consistently kept the RPMs too low for too long and inflicted the damage him/herself."

Anyway, without more information, I'm not blaming the OP, and like all Spyderlovers, I wish them all the best. But I must admit this wouldn't be the first time where a rider, either through dealer-induced ignorance or their own error, rode the Spyder at too-low an RPM.

Not including the OP in this category, but my head has smacked more than once from reading the number of Spyder owners who insist, absolutely insist, on riding a high-RPM, low-torque motorcycle as if it was a low-RPM, high-torque motorcycle. :banghead: Ummm, people, the Spyder is NOT a Harley, and no amount of upshifting to higher gears is going to convince our French-Canadian friend that it's a product of Wisconsin.

 

[Bob Denman]

4500 rpm? The clutches start locking up at 3500 rpm, and are fully engaged at 4000...
She needs to get her story straight. :gaah:
And that's right from two BRP reps... :thumbup: