Australia is a different kettle of fish to America.
Eg
1 we Cannot buy additional best warranty, or any extended warranty
2 warranty is normally one year, sometimes two
3 we used to have a name at brp head office in Sydney, but he has left and now, no matter what, you can't get past reception. Leaving messages is a waste of time.
4 dealers here are mainly multi brand dealers. If they get beyond the 'they all do that', 'never heard of that' or 'you're doing it wrong' responses, then they have to fight brp.
5 everything costs way more here
this forum and/or a good dealer is all the difference in the world in our spyder experience
dealers are also few and far between. We ride 300 klm each way for a service. There is a dealer across the other side of Melbourne (1.5 hours each way, in traffic, plus tolls). There are two independent service establishments. And there is the 'big' multi brand dealer. That's it.
The biggest frustration for our Brisbane guy is that he has spent $65000 on two bikes, plus services and fixes, and he cannot talk with or directly contact anyone other than his dealer.
additionally, except for this forum I would not know that your Steve from brp care is also our go-to guy. Fine, but not exactly in our time zone, ie, dealers can't speak with him on our behalf.
The spyder concept is brilliant, but if the owner isn't hooked in to forums and/or has some mechanical knowledge, we are back to 'they all do that'
a dealer I no longer go to told me -
1 don't wrap your exhaust, it will get too hot
2 spyders do not need or benefit from a better swaybar
3 they all do that (cue chorus)
4 another piece of dead wrong info, details currently escape me
Another major dealer had 3 fellows standing over me telling me that spyder laser alignment does not exist, it is only for 4wd vehicles.
180 degree spin is just not on, for a regularly "officially" serviced bike. The fact that it had to repeat 30 times before brp would take it seriously sums up the level of brp customer service we sometimes get.
My advice to mrrabbit is - find another dealer asap, and link into the Brisbane rider networks - lots of skill and knowledge available. My successes with brp have been when I provide them with all info, part numbers, and usa prices - if I don't do that, I am told the item does not exist.
It is up to me, as I see it, to learn and research - then and only then do I approach a dealer re any issue.
Mrrabbit, get on to brp Sydney, in Botany Bay, asap. I have found that if I approach them properly, I do ok - but that was when we had a name to contact! Also try a help call to Mike Hatton of spyder mates in qld - our new spyder ambassador - and ask for his help as a conduit to brp. Head office. Cheers.
Ps his post clearly comes from years of frustration with brp. Don't be too hard on him.
