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Second hand Spyders - what faults & issues to look out for??

JRawle2

New member
Hi Spyder Lovers,

I don't have a ride yet, just started looking, and thought this might be the best place to get info.

I'm in Goulburn, NSW, Australia and looking to purchase a 990cc manual. Having said that, I'm not against the auto, just a bit old school, so happy to get feedback on them as well.

Is there anything I should be on the lookout for as far as inherent faults or issues?

Cheers,

John
 
The 2012 & on versions had a few upgrades that helped improve these machines a lot; and while the 2013 & on versions did originally have some over-heating issues due to the application of even more of the upgrades in anticipation of them coming out with the bigger motor (brakes, suspension, frame, etc) only when it came to time, that bigger 1330 triple motor wasn't ready so the V-twin was stuffed back into the hole, but those dangerous over-heating issues were resolved under recall. :thumbup:

That being the case, if you are really looking for value for money in the sweetest & most exciting ryde you can get, you should probably aim for a 2012 or IMHO, a 2013 with the heat recall work done, cos they were the pinnacle of the V-twins in soo many ways! :ohyea:

The RS/S & ST's that continued with the V-twins up until 2015(?) DID inherit some of the 2014 & on DESS & other issues that came bundled with the newer 1330 motors, so while they are good & can still be a great deal, they aren't necessarily 'as refined' a package & as trouble free as the tried, tested, upgraded, and proven 2012/2013's were - and even with the 2012-13's, if you want the better suspension & Brembo brakes, you've gotta go for a 2013! :yes: Just make sure it's had the heat recall work done - big air intake pods filling the entire gap under the mirrors is an indicator on the RT''s; while 2014 panels on the 2013 RS/S & ST models is the give-away! :2thumbs:

Good Luck! :cheers:

Oh, and beware of those older low milage units - even if there's not a drastic mechanical failure or accident behind their low milage, sitting around for that long is likely to have caused all sorts of things that will likely take time & money to resolve, IF you can ever resolve them! Deteriorated hoses, brakes, brake fluid, corroded electronic connections, tires that are well beyond their 'safe to use as a plant-stand' age, fuel contamination & corrosion inside the fuel system, etc, etc, etc!! So if you do want to risk all that, make sure you get an appropriately low price to match the low milage & the high 'sitting & deteriorating time! These things are MADE to ryde, and rev hard at that, so a 'gentle' life isn't necessarily a good thing - regular use & maintenance is a much better indication of a potentially a good buy! :ohyea:

And even at their best, the OE tires of that 2014 & earlier vintage were basically crap! :yikes: So if THEY haven't been replaced within the last couple of years &/or upgraded to proper car tires recently, then I would strongly suggest you don't ryde one of them too far if at all! Admittedly, the OE spec tires have improved a lot since 2014, but they are still one of the poorest examples of black round things to keep the metal bits off the road that you are likely to find, so if you can, IMHO a Spyder running proper 'Passenger' car tires run at an appropriate (lower) pressure for the (lighter) load a Spyder places upon them would be a much better initial purchase option! You may not be able to get exactly the OE spec sizes in many good name car tires (possibly by design on BRP's behalf, in an attempt to thwart those contemplating upgrading! :cus: ) but there are heaps of 'close enough' sizes that fit the legal size constraints here in Oz & meet or exceed the load & speed requirements too - a search here or on OzSpyderRyders Forum will give you enough reading on tires to put you to sleep every night for the next 10 years! :rolleyes:

Drop me a PM if you want anymore 'local Ozzie' advice or help - I'm in SA, but there are quite a few NSW Ryders on the OzSpyderRyders Forum, & I can probably put you in touch with some of those more local to where you are. :thumbup:
 
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Thanks Peter,

That's awesome info, just what I was looking for.

I'm a retired bike mechanic so I'm not averse to some tinkering but do take on board your comments about the low mileage.

What sort of mileage are they good for with the correct servicing? I'm assuming like most screamers servicing is crucial.

Another option that has come up is a 2014 RS SPE SE5 with 18,540km.

Cheers
 
There's more than 'just a few' Spyders here in Oz that are pushing 200,000 km, and there's many with over 100,000 km; so given just their regular servicing (which is not really particularly onerous either ;) ) I don't think reliability or longevity is a major issue for any of them! :thumbup:

That 2014 RSS might fall foul of the DESS problems that are a real pain - the Security System just refuses to recognise the key, so you can't start AT ALL! These issues only arose after someone smart decided to upgrade the 2013 & earlier system that was largely trouble free by 2012/13, and they stuffed it up!! The issues initially crop up intermittently, so you can be out on a ryde, stop for lunch, then just not be able to get going again for a few hours/days; but unless fixed or the security system is turned completely off, over time they happen more & more regularly until it fails completely & you're left with a Spyder sized & shaped Lawn Ornament! :gaah: So ask if that 2014 still has a functioning DESS/Security System - if so, you may need to get it fixed &/or disabled! :rolleyes:

They are bloody nice rydes tho! And once you get the hang of it & learn how to ryde one just within the Nanny's intervention limits, they can corner like a rocket sled on rails and stop faster than anything else on the road (so watch those rear-vision mirrors when you stomp on the RHS pedal :shocked: ) and once you get the ECU Upgraded (gimme a yell for contact details ;) ) not much will keep up with them in the twisty stuff with shortish straights - it's really only once the corners open out into sweepers & the straights get longer that the dirty great wall of air these Spyders hafta push ahead of them comes into play... but until then, watch out! :ohyea:
 
Awesome info, thanks again.

I've had 4 separate rides and had a blast.

Chucked one into a roundabout in Newcastle at ridiculous speed, picked up the inside front, just started to drift the rear as I got on the gas and the TT cut in.

I'm very much looking forward to owning one.

Cheers
 
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