RT wouldn't stop despite braking & Kill Switch operation - any others?

[Kennethsmithdo]

My wife and I were riding to Charleston SC on 22 April. It was raining hard but no worse than what we have ridden in before. During the ride on I 95 the traffic slowed down; I slowed but my wife riding behind me couldn't stop or slow down. We were connected via Bluetooth and all I could hear was her saying was "She won't stop, she won't stop!" My wife hit the brakes, down shifted, and even hit the red shut off button; and instead of stopping, she kept going, revving up instead of slowing down. My wife avoided hitting me in the rear by swerving to left and then somehow, she went back onto the highway and the bike flipped, throwing her off, and then rolling on my wife. Thank GOD no cars hit her, and that she walked away with only bruises to her legs, a sprained left wrist, and whiplash.
My question is, have any other Can Am Spyder owners had this problem where the bike will not stop no matter what they did? I need answers and help before someone else experiences what my wife experienced, but worse.
Thank you
Doc & LifeSaver
New Jersey Buffalo Soldier MC

 

[Papa]

Very glad to hear your wife is ok. Very bad situation. I will be monitoring this thread to hear what you find out, so please post any finding.

 

[Pennyrick]

If the engine didn't shut down when the kill switch was engaged, the Spyder should go back to the dealership for a full-bore review of the system.

Wet soles on boots or shoes have been know to slip off the brake pedal. That happened with my wife's RT recently after we stopped to put on rain gear, her first application of the brake pedal resulted in the foot slipping off.

That doesn't explain the continued revving of the engine however.

I'd be skeptical of what is being described in what is really a panic situation.

 

[Bob Denman]

:yikes::yikes: I'm glad to hear that she'll be okay and avoided what certainly could have been a much worse conclusion to this episode!
:agree: with Double Trouble: this bike needs a full run-through at a dealers to see what; if anything, could have caused this.
Please let us know what your find, and I hope that your Better-Half heals up quickly! :thumbup:

 

[wyliec]

I'm glad to hear your wife is okay. I'd take it to the dealer.

Just wondering if you've started the spyder since (I don't mean have you ridden it) and tried the kill switch again?

 

[ARtraveler]

I had a similar situation in wet weather. Panic stop needed. Slammed on the brake and it would not stop. Turned out I had part of the brake and my boot was pushing agains one of the panels. So the brake was not going all the way down. Is it possible that this is may have happened?

Not stoping when kill switch applied: their is definately something wrong there. Dealer should examine this system.

 

[Kennethsmithdo]

In spite of being scared she was very calm and controlled. She told me through our blue tooth ever thing she did and yes even when I started her can am to move off the highway it revved up and stayed revved up! We had a problem last year with the egine revving up while riding in Vermont. It went to shop and a recall was present. We thought it was fixed. Towing to shop today for investigation.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Scary situation, glad she is ok

nojoke So sorry you guys experienced this. Gotta be harder even to hear your loved one go thru this & knowing that their isn't a damn thing you can do about it in the moment. Only experience I can relate, 9 days after Teddy & I had our 2010 RT-S , we were coming to a stop sign & I motioned the guy standing at the crosswalk thru, and as our SE5 equipped Spyder came to a stop, it immediately lurched forward and the man had to push his hand off our frunk, or we would have hit him, albeit at only a very low speed. Went in the shop the next day & that began the SE5 safety recall back in 2010 to replace the 3 weighted needle bearings in the SE5 centrifugal clutch. Once fixed however, we've not had a similar issue. Teddy & I use his Spyder as our ONLY mode of transport, so we ryde in all weather conditions & in heavy rain, have noticed a time or two of my foot slipping on the brake pedal. Always worked fine once I hit it a second time tho. Never had an issue with it over revving or the kill switch not working:dontknow:something your dealer really needs to look into (IMHO) Hope they get it all figured out for you and that your wife heals up well ray: Keep us postedopcorn:

 

[chris56]

glad that it got a "happy end" .. if you ride longer time in the rain there is a waterfilm on the brake disks - so the first second you have the feeling "nothing is happening" also by some cars .. but this sounds like a different problem ..

 

[DynamoBT]

This is one reason why I will always ride a Spyder with a manual clutch. HOWEVER the engine cut off switch should have worked!!!!! The failure of the engine cut off switch to cut power to the engine is reason for a full overhaul of your Spyder. I believe it is not safe as is. Trailer it to the dealer. I would not ride it again until it has been thoroughly gone over by a trained Spyder technician.

Glad your wife was not seriously hurt!!!! She kept her cool and most likely saved her life for it.

 

[Farmboy]

Sorry to read this... What year? manual or auto? the 2010 has a recall on the brakes!! The rod on the peddle can come lose and you lose all braking. But that would not account for the stop button from not killing the motor tho.

 

[Farmboy]

couldn't stand it, went out and ran mine a crossed my pasture at 50 mph and hit the kill switch and it died like it should. "cows went crazy" STAMPEDE":roflblack:
Glad my brakes worked...that fence was coming up fast...
Any way please keep us posted on this and your wife's recovery.

 

[MikeinGA]

My wife and I were riding to Charleston SC on 22 April. It was raining hard but no worse than what we have ridden in before. During the ride on I 95 the traffic slowed down; I slowed but my wife riding behind me couldn't stop or slow down. We were connected via Bluetooth and all I could hear was her saying was "She won't stop, she won't stop!" My wife hit the brakes, down shifted, and even hit the red shut off button; and instead of stopping, she kept going, revving up instead of slowing down. My wife avoided hitting me in the rear by swerving to left and then somehow, she went back onto the highway and the bike flipped, throwing her off, and then rolling on my wife. Thank GOD no cars hit her, and that she walked away with only bruises to her legs, a sprained left wrist, and whiplash.
My question is, have any other Can Am Spyder owners had this problem where the bike will not stop no matter what they did? I need answers and help before someone else experiences what my wife experienced, but worse.
Thank you
Doc & LifeSaver
New Jersey Buffalo Soldier MC

Wow! What a driver your wife is, she did all the right things. I'd call BRP, this is a safety problem. The only other thing else she could have done is turn the key to off. I would call the State and get in touch with the Vehicle Safety Department and make a report. If it was my wife I would call a lawyer and let the lawyer get in touch with BRP. I am glad to hear that she walked away from this one. That's IMHO.

Mike

 

[Chazzman]

Well I would have BRP involved if what you state is accurate because you have a product liability issue. The insurance company will probably handle this in that manner. What ever happened I am very glad to hear your wife is OK.. Keep us updated please.

 

[Boriken]

I am glad that your wife is OK, please do keep us informed as to her healing progress.

 

[Derek Paisley]

so very sad to hear of this. Glad she is ok though.

She must be a tough lady! Good for her for keeping it together!

 

[Jeriatric]

Like many others have said. As long as the better half is OK....everything else will come clean in the wash. She deserves a BIG pat on the back for staying cool under fire. Pat - Pat!!

 

[SPYD1]

She had GOD as a passenger!!!

 

[Jeriatric]

She had GOD as a passenger!!!

Roger that!! :thumbup:

 

[smurfette]

Thank God!

Glad to hear your wife is going to be ok.ray:She definitely had the "Big Guy" watching out for her!!!