Response to survey

[OldDog]

I completed a survey regarding the Can Am Spyder today. I hope to have one before long. I answered the questions as best I could. I did not hesitate to praise this innovative product. At the same time I honestly answered questions about quality, reliability, and perceived trust in the company. The Spyder is improving in quality, but it has a ways to go to earn trust as a fault free platform. Don't beat me up for expressing my opinion. I appreciate the many Spyder owners who have little or no problems for sure. However it still troubles me to read of someone who drops $30000 for an RT limited only to have catastrophic failure within a short period of time, then get the run around. I will add that the listing of the good dealers is a good thing. The 2013 model year brings much anticipation and excitement. Let's hope it is a banner year.

 

[flaggerphil]

You completed a survey on the Spyder, including comments about reliability, and you don't own one? Or did I misunderstand that?

 

[d.o.spyder-rts]

:agree: with Phil. If you don't own a spyder, how can you honestly answer any questions about the spyders quality and reliability? Not trying to beat you up, you are intitled to your opinion, but unless you own one its a little hard to address issues of quality and reliability. Dale

 

[ARtraveler]

RE: catastrophic failure: there was a recent post about one happening at 86 miles--but do not recall any other incidents of that nature. Is that the one you are referring to? The owner was in contact with BRP and dealer almost at once and was not given the run around.

Also surprised you were surveyed as a non-spyder owner.

opcorn:

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

In order to understand this better, who were you "surveyed" by? Was this an informal local marketing survey or a Magazine survey. I am curious as to what would be accomplished by asking for opinions from a segment of a population with no experience with a product unless it was to gather information on perceptions. If that was the surveys intent then the poster's opinions and perceptions would be in line with the intent. If its otherwise, as a 63 year old male I think I'll fill out a survey on how it feels to be pregnant.

 

[Saluda]

Don't own, don't know. Many threads are people looking for help, venting or looking for solutions. I feel most of the happy ones don't post as often. We're extremely happy. Is the machine perfect, no. Don't know of any machines that are.

 

[Bob Denman]

Catastrophic failures??? :shocked:
Oh... The cam chain "bustage"...
I don't know if he posted the ongoing progress in here or not...pps:
BRP is popping for a new engine and he's being provided with a loaner while his is being repaired. :thumbup:
So far; so good!

But that is a pretty rare thing!

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

Just to provide some perspective. If you check any issue of "Motorcycle Consumer News" you will note all kids of recalls on major brands such as Ducati, BMW etc. this month they have two one for brake failure in a Ducati and another Ducati with a seal that dumps oil on the back wheel. Makes limp mode sound downright friendly!

 

[boborgera]

Sometimes to criticize the Spyder in this Forum is akin to Standing in the middle of a Trailer Park and Yelling

Wall mart Sucks.:roflblack: :joke:

 

[Jeriatric]

Sometimes to criticize the Spyder in this Forum is akin to Standing in the middle of a Trailer Park and Yelling

Wall mart Sucks.:roflblack: :joke:

:agree: :chat: :roflblack::roflblack::roflblack:

Good one Bob!

 

[Jeriatric]

I completed a survey regarding the Can Am Spyder today. I hope to have one before long. I answered the questions as best I could. I did not hesitate to praise this innovative product. At the same time I honestly answered questions about quality, reliability, and perceived trust in the company. The Spyder is improving in quality, but it has a ways to go to earn trust as a fault free platform. Don't beat me up for expressing my opinion. I appreciate the many Spyder owners who have little or no problems for sure. However it still troubles me to read of someone who drops $30000 for an RT limited only to have catastrophic failure within a short period of time, then get the run around. I will add that the listing of the good dealers is a good thing. The 2013 model year brings much anticipation and excitement. Let's hope it is a banner year.

At the same time I honestly answered questions about *perceived quality, reliability, and trust in the company.

 

[OldDog]

The problem with communicating on the internet is that things can be easily misinterpreted. I openly admit that I do not own a Spyder simply because it is not in the cards for me right now for a number of reasons. Could I buy one outright, yes. I am not trying to alienate myself from this forum. It just troubles me greatly that buying one is a gamble.

The survey was not by BRP. I think it was some kind of Marketing survey. I apologize for stepping on toes. I love this forum. You don't know how much I wish I were going to the rallies and rides. The camraderie here is great. I was expressing my honest observations based on my readings here and with conversations with some owners. I've always wanted an RT-limited. Before the Spyder came along, I was seriously considering a Goldwing.

 

[Cruzr Joe]

The problem with communicating on the internet is that things can be easily misinterpreted. I openly admit that I do not own a Spyder simply because it is not in the cards for me right now for a number of reasons. Could I buy one outright, yes. I am not trying to alienate myself from this forum. It just troubles me greatly that buying one is a gamble.

The survey was not by BRP. I think it was some kind of Marketing survey. I apologize for stepping on toes. I love this forum. You don't know how much I wish I were going to the rallies and rides. The camraderie here is great. I was expressing my honest observations based on my readings here and with conversations with some owners. I've always wanted an RT-limited. Before the Spyder came along, I was seriously considering a Goldwing.

Hang in there OldDog, things will work out, and maybe someday you will be riding your Spyder right along side of us.

Cruzr Joe

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: :2thumbs:
Bob,
If somebody has a problem with their bike and unloads in here, (And I've done it!), nobody tries to slam back. I have found that pretty nearly 100% of the folks would either be sympathetic with an issue, or they would offer some course of action to alleviate it. :thumbup:

The only thing that does set off the fire alarms; is if somebody who doesn't own one starts up a "Gripe-fest"... :gaah:
But it's okay to scream about Wal-Mart all that you want in our trailer park... :roflblack:

 

[MMcc]

Early failure

In the electronics industry we used a term for that. Maybe not the most politically correct but it was called 'infant mortality':yikes:. Electronic devices can be prone to failure early in their useful life expectancy. For this reason most manufactures used a 'burn in' cycle. This was to weed out the components that would most likely fail early. This is not something that can be easily done with the mechanical side of the spyder. My dealer said that they go through a pre-delivery checklist and ride after set-up which will hopefully catch all the bugs. Is it perfect? No, but as manufacturing quality improves so does the product life expectancy. I really think BRP is trying hard to produce a good product. My 2011 RT is an improvement over my 2008 GS. Early owners of any product always weigh risk vs reward. I was willing to take the risk because the reward was so great. :yes:

 

[OldDog]

Sometimes to criticize the Spyder in this Forum is akin to Standing in the middle of a Trailer Park and Yelling

Wall mart Sucks.:roflblack: :joke:

That's funny.! It makes me think of Toby Keith's trailer park video. :roflblack:

 

[Oldmanzues]

These "surveys" always remind me of the one about Sex before marraige.
According to poll results, 90 % plus people were not in favor of it. the fact that it was taken right Sunday service at the local Catholic church might influence the results.
Oldmanzues

 

[Bob Denman]

They should survey the wives to see how they feel about sex after marriage... :shocked:

 

[Ga Blue Knight]

"

The problem with communicating on the internet is that things can be easily misinterpreted. I openly admit that I do not own a Spyder simply because it is not in the cards for me right now for a number of reasons. Could I buy one outright, yes. I am not trying to alienate myself from this forum. It just troubles me greatly that buying one is a gamble. "

I understand your point of view. Keep in mind that the Internet or even this great Forum is not a complete or statistical sample of all Spyder owners. Current guesstimate is that around 50,000 to 60,000 Spyder Roadsters of all type and all years have been sold worldwide. There are just about a little less than 10,000 members of the Forum with about (my guess) 1,500 to 2,000 sometime participants with a hard core group of posters of around 500. Folks that are happy with their ride are riding for the most part. Posters are either those with issues or those who like to help or just like to talk about their favorite form of transport. When you look at the problem bikes they are usually early in the model year, with exceptions of course.

Yes buying any electro-mechanical devise is a gamble but I truly believe that the odds are greatly in favor of you getting a good working fun to ride Spyder. If the odds are against you there is always the warrantee. I'm 63 I don't want to wait until I'm too old to ride to wait for the perfect bike because after riding motorcycles for the last 40 years I have found they don't exist and most likely never will. You make your choices and take your chances, that's life!

 

[Arr MiHardies]

One reason your perceived reliability might be so low is that most people use forums as Emergency Rooms. They come in to get help then leave. The rest are either too busy riding, or just not the kind the frequent forums. As a result, there appears to be a larger ratio of problems vs non problems.