RT Service.

[ARtraveler]

So we should start a rate your dealer thread! We could sit around talking about oil and tires....

Forgive me, it's the boredom. Haven't ridden in 23 days, I'm Jonesing bad!

Back to your regularly scheduled thread.

A rate your dealer thread was also suggested a ways back. The problem with such a thread is that it is usually not fair. There are three sides to every story, the victim, the dealer, and what really happened.

And then we get the problem that on most forums, the people with a gripe are heard the most. Those who are happy, usually do not chime in.

It usually turns into dealer bashing more often than not.

A true dilemma.

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING: This is a generic statement and your experience may be different.

 

[Jeriatric]

And here I was thinking of getting the local dealer to do the 28k maintenance on my 2014 RTS because I'm feeling lazy. Maybe I'm better off just buying the parts, sucking it up for a weekend and doing it myself.

Anyone know where I can get a printed service manual? Should I get the most current 2019, or a 2014 specific? I've heard there are errors in the older ones that aren't corrected till recently.

2014 specific - watch eBay & amazon for postings - prepare yourself they're not cheap.

 

[h0gr1der]

A rate your dealer thread was also suggested a ways back. The problem with such a thread is that it is usually not fair. There are two sides to every story, the victim, the dealer, and what really happened.

And then we get the problem that on most forums, the people with a gripe are heard the most. Those who are happy, usually do not chime in.

It usually turns into dealer bashing more often than not.

A true dilemma.

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING: This is a generic statement and your experience may be different.

MR. ARtraveler,

I forgot to put the:joke: symbol in there. I assumed once I mentioned tires and oil most folks would grin/grimace!

 

[007james]

You’re right about Dealers not wanting to do Warrantee work. Why should they, when the are limited to doing the absolute minimum BRP will agree to, in order to do Band Aid patch up repairs that might last long enough until the Warrantee expires. I doubt that ANY Dealer will work on Warrantees, ahead of non Warrantee Cash Customers that pay up front, and the Dealer doesn’t have to wait to get reimbursed by BRP for labor and parts. Of course, there are a few exceptions, but unless BRP gets an improved Act together, and takes some Customer Service lessons from Harley Davidson, I doubt they will be selling their 100 Year Anniversary Spyder Models with matching Wearing Apparel as Harley did in 2003 One Hundredth Anniversary. BRP is more interested in Sales of new Models to Dealers, than servicing old Customers that already have bought Spyders and Warrantees have expired. “ It is what it is”, and I really can’t see BRP attracting many new Dealers, at least, serious Dealers, willing to offer Harley Davidson Quality Service to Spyder Owners. In order to offer a decent Business Model to service Spyders, BRP should open Factory Service Only Service Centers, with Factory trained and employed Techs, at least enough in every area, to handle all Service, from Oil and Tire changes, to Warrantee work, and complete Engine and Tranny rebuilding capabilities, at reasonable prices and fast turn over. They should also offer transportation Pick Up & Delivery Service, for Limp Home Mode Vehicles that leave Owners stranded in strange places away from home! The Dealers should not be burdened with what they presently have to do to keep Spyders or Can-Am Vehicles operating properly during peak riding Seasons.
007 James

I am beginning to think that the dealers are so backed up with warranty issues and non-support from Can Am on their part availability, that it is almost impossible to get a rig worked on in a timely manner. Parts wise, Can Am is the worst. New 2018 RTL (400 miles) missing crush washer on timing adjuster. They sent the wrong one the first time. It is a different size than the drain plug washer. Three weeks waiting for that. Left hand module failure (down shift and reverse) Two weeks for that to get here from Detroit. Now, three weeks to get dealer to install it. Waiting list daoncha know. Miss my wing. Maybe I should have triked it.

 

[2dogs]

A rate your dealer thread was also suggested a ways back. The problem with such a thread is that it is usually not fair. There are three sides to every story, the victim, the dealer, and what really happened.

And then we get the problem that on most forums, the people with a gripe are heard the most. Those who are happy, usually do not chime in.

It usually turns into dealer bashing more often than not.



A true dilemma.

WARNING, WARNING, WARNING: This is a generic statement and your experience may be different.

Would you not want to be warned of a dangerous curve ahead? I just don't understand why speaking out about poor customer service is offensive to some. I would be willing to meet in the middle and start a rating system from the top down. Rate the best dealers first and leave the worst to fall to the bottom or no mention at all.

 

[bikerbillone]

Agree with 2dogs, I can't see anything wrong with posting a good experience or a bad experience with dealer. Try and post the facts without color and let the reader decide how to digest it. Look, the dealer doesn't care one way or the other, he's gonna get more shop business than he can handle no matter what.

 

[h0gr1der]

Would you not want to be warned of a dangerous curve ahead? I just don't understand why speaking out about poor customer service is offensive to some. I would be willing to meet in the middle and start a rating system from the top down. Rate the best dealers first and leave the worst to fall to the bottom or no mention at all.

I think it would be hard to compare apples to apples. You'd have to have ratings categories.

For instance (Sales), my dealer did good in sales, good price and pleasant experience, (Service), the service department seems good, no broken tabs, etc., (Integrity) BUT... In my estimation they have offered to screw me twice on aftermarket installations, once quoting ± $1200 labor to install an ISCI handbrake (± $2700 total), and once quoting about 4 hours labor to install a Baja Ron sway bar, which they can't get. (Efficiency) Another item is repair time. Although they seem to do good work, my new RTL is now in day 25 to replace a water pump and left handlebar switch pack with no end in sight yet.

So with all that said, how do you rate my dealer. (Availability) By the way, it's the only credible dealer in the state. The other dealer lost me when they said they wouldn't work on anything not purchased there. That counts a lot! Scarcity is a big factor in how much BS the dealers can dish out.

 

[2dogs]

I think it would be hard to compare apples to apples. You'd have to have ratings categories.

For instance (Sales), my dealer did good in sales, good price and pleasant experience, (Service), the service department seems good, no broken tabs, etc., (Integrity) BUT... In my estimation they have offered to screw me twice on aftermarket installations, once quoting ± $1200 labor to install an ISCI handbrake (± $2700 total), and once quoting about 4 hours labor to install a Baja Ron sway bar, which they can't get. (Efficiency) Another item is repair time. Although they seem to do good work, my new RTL is now in day 25 to replace a water pump and left handlebar switch pack with no end in sight yet.

So with all that said, how do you rate my dealer. (Availability) By the way, it's the only credible dealer in the state. The other dealer lost me when they said they wouldn't work on anything not purchased there. That counts a lot! Scarcity is a big factor in how much BS the dealers can dish out.

It is up to an owner to see that his entire business runs flawlessly and to quickly correct any flaws that occur. Running a successful business requires an owner's full attention. There are some very sloppy owners out there as well as some very competent owners, and each deserves the appropriate recognition.

 

[Wahrsuul]

And what state is that, h0gr1der? Be nice to know who/where to avoid. I have 2 dealers in the area, but since they're 2 locations of the same dealer, I don't think it makes much difference. From what I'm hearing, I'll just pick a few extra tools and so things myself. Though if there was a decent shop within 100 miles or so, I'd consider taking it there.

 

[h0gr1der]

And what state is that, h0gr1der? Be nice to know who/where to avoid. I have 2 dealers in the area, but since they're 2 locations of the same dealer, I don't think it makes much difference. From what I'm hearing, I'll just pick a few extra tools and so things myself. Though if there was a decent shop within 100 miles or so, I'd consider taking it there.

PM sent.

 

[Fat Baxter]

I'm coming around to the notion that Spyders are too complex for most motorcycle shops. I'm having front end issues with my 2014 RT-S which the dealer can't solve, and I'm at the point where I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of it. If this bike can't be fixed for a reasonable amount of money in a reasonable amount of time, why bother?

Updated: Let me be clear. If I had known I was going to have these problems getting my bike serviced, I would not have considered the Spyder at all.

 

[2dogs]

I'm coming around to the notion that Spyders are too complex for most motorcycle shops. I'm having front end issues with my 2014 RT-S which the dealer can't solve, and I'm at the point where I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of it. If this bike can't be fixed for a reasonable amount of money in a reasonable amount of time, why bother?

Updated: Let me be clear. If I had known I was going to have these problems getting my bike serviced, I would not have considered the Spyder at all.

Baxter, if you have frontend problems get ahold of Squared Away. They're venders on this sight and are very helpful folks. They'll do their best to help you get straightened out, I'm sure.

 

[Jeriatric]

I'm coming around to the notion that Spyders are too complex for most motorcycle shops. I'm having front end issues with my 2014 RT-S which the dealer can't solve, and I'm at the point where I'm seriously thinking about getting rid of it. If this bike can't be fixed for a reasonable amount of money in a reasonable amount of time, why bother?

Updated: Let me be clear. If I had known I was going to have these problems getting my bike serviced, I would not have considered the Spyder at all.

Common knowledge it is unliked by most techs because it's a time consuming machine to work on. Aside from that, most don't want, or care, to learn something new when they can skate by doing what they've been doing year after year to two wheelers, the good ones, blindfolded.

 

[ARtraveler]

Would you not want to be warned of a dangerous curve ahead? I just don't understand why speaking out aboMyut poor customer service is offensive to some. I would be willing to meet in the middle and start a rating system from the top down. Rate the best dealers first and leave the worst to fall to the bottom or no mention at all.

Just to clarify. I have no problem of being warned about bad dealers. The problem is that a person with a particular problem who does not get what he wants then goes after a dealer and tries to get them with untruthful reviews.

 

[Fat Baxter]

Baxter, if you have frontend problems get ahold of Squared Away. They're venders on this sight and are very helpful folks. They'll do their best to help you get straightened out, I'm sure.

FWIW, I just had the dealer do a laser alignment. The results are that alignment is spot on, and toe-in is on spec. Yet the squirrely handling persists.

And another dealer data point: it took me two months to line up this appointment. Two months!!!

 

[Jeriatric]

FWIW, I just had the dealer do a laser alignment. The results are that alignment is spot on, and toe-in is on spec. Yet the squirrely handling persists.

And another dealer data point: it took me two months to line up this appointment. Two months!!!

Don't want to further irritate you with questions, but how old are the fronts and are they OEM Kendas?

If they are you wouldn't be the first with a bad tire. There have been many OEM Kendas with bad casings or they were manufactured out of round.

 

[canamjhb]

Don't want to further irritate you with questions, but how old are the fronts and are they OEM Kendas?

If they are you wouldn't be the first with a bad tire. There have been many OEM Kendas with bad casings or were manufactured out of round.

Count me as one of those with BAD Kendas. To my untrained eye, they looked good. After addressing everything else I could think of, the tires were replaced. Suddenly the bike behaved as it should. Replacing the Kendas is easy, relatively inexpensive, and a worthwhile thing to do even if they are "serviceable". If I were you, I would order new tires (lots of recommendations on this forum), pull the front wheels, have a tire store mount and balance the tires and see if that doesn't solve your problem. In my opinion, it would not be wasted money regardless of the outcome. Good luck..... Jim

 

[IdahoMtnSpyder]

Don't want to further irritate you with questions, but how old are the fronts and are they OEM Kendas?

If they are you wouldn't be the first with a bad tire. There have been many OEM Kendas with bad casings or they were manufactured out of round.

Baxter, I concur with this comment. I had a bad tire that made my Spyder pull to the right even though the laser alignment was dead on. If you have good tires (not Kendas) on the front and are still having issues, I suggest you let another experienced Spyder rider take yours for a spin. Doing that will likely confirm whether the issue has to do with how you are handling the Spyder, or that there really is an independently verifiable problem with it.

 

[h0gr1der]

FWIW, I just had the dealer do a laser alignment. The results are that alignment is spot on, and toe-in is on spec. Yet the squirrely handling persists.

And another dealer data point: it took me two months to line up this appointment. Two months!!!

Mr. Baxter,

I just gave away a set of almost brand new Kenda take-off because I couldn't get one of the fronts to balance. In removing them I noticed the sidewall and tread area to be flimsy compared to the Vredesteins I put on. Lo and behold, my handling got better immediately thereafter. FWIW, the rear Kenda didn't make as much of a difference as the fronts. Remain persistent, find a dealer that gives outstanding service, and the Spyder becomes a whole different experience.

The rest of the story; I just got my Spyder back after a 29 day warranty repair hostage situation. Had them do the 3000 mile service at 1960 miles because time and distance (they're 90 miles one way). Long story short, they did a fairly good job with all the usual caveats.

Minuses- A few missing washers on the bolts against the paint. Time it took to get parts (why not have one of each item that has a TSB, like the left handlebar switch pack), time it took to install parts (9 days after the parts arrived, they were done). Coolant was low. Belt came back too tight, vibration was apparent. Dealer reported finding belt "way out of spec" so he tightened to 950 Hz, whatever that is. Measured 200 lbs in the air, just slightly under that on the ground. Belt was so tight it was rubbing the outside flange at the front. Right now I'm just finishing up re-tensioning the belt and re-aligning the rear wheel.

Pluses- No broken tabs that I found. No missing fasteners. No damage to bike. they honored my request to lower the axle torque because I have never seize on the threads, and put the split pin back in like I had it because I don't bend it over, just spread it slightly and shorten it.

So that's what I consider an honest opinion on my dealer. I will use them for warranty repair. I'll probably do the rest myself and save the receipts.