NancysToy
Motorbike Professor
Time for an update, I guess. I got my RTS back from the dealer last week Friday. Since I have owned it, it has been in the shop three times, for a total of about 11 weeks. I am not too thrilled about the way the dealer handled this last problem. They did what BRP authorized, but did not follow the prescribed procedures in the shop manual. I am not sure why. One thing is for certain, there can be a lot lost between me telling the service manager the symptoms, him typing it into the computer for the tech, the tech telling him what to tell BRP, BRP's reply, and finally the service manager relating the approved fix back to the tech. Sometimes this chain is short-cut, but at every step it loses something in the translation. Especially difficult if there is no trouble code to go by. A friendlier system would help a lot of us...as would a US parts warehouse, to avoid parts ordering and customs delays. Overnight shipping should mean receipt the next day...not the next week or two
I have only had a chance to do 100 miles or less to test everything that was done, this time and the last. I won't cover every issue, or go into gory detail, but here is my take on things:
1. The madly bouncing fuel gauge, which was lighted only intermittently, was replaced with the newest design. It works very well, and is much more accurate, to boot. :thumbup:
2. The panels with flawed paint were replaced with good ones. :thumbup:
3. The Spyder has not fouled a plug, and runs way better than before. The new ignition and ECM have doubled the power, quite literally, and have allowed me to go up a gear, riding in much the same rpm range as Nancy's GS. Much smoother, too! :thumbup:
4. The faulty taillight assembly was replaced. :thumbup:
5. The revised belt tension makes things much smoother. I can now take the typical 1/4 turn in the middle of the belt...the old "seat-of-the-pants" belt test. I do not know the final setting on the BRP gauge. The Krickit shows a mere 130 lbs when the Spyder is not jacked up. :thumbup:
6. The unpredictable handling, squirming, darting, and speed wobble are gone. The Spyder is fairly well behaved in the wind and behind trucks, although there is still some influence. I wish the steering was a little slower and less sensitive, but I can live with this. The cure was adjustment of the steering sensors (not the after-alignment reset) and a small toe-in adjustment. The dealer didn't think he accomplished much, but the difference is night and day! Tire pressure doesn't seem to matter much now, but a little lower than what I run on the GS seems to be best if it is hot outside. I do recommend keeping the rear suspension set at the appropriate level, as described in the Operators Guide. Too high (stiff) and the steering becomes quicker, with a resulting squirminess. I would like to see BRP increase the caster on this model to compensate if the suspension is set too high. This would also slow the steering, which would not hurt. I also recommend setting the front shocks higher than recommended. Tentative :thumbup:
7. The long cranking on warm restarts is being worked on by BRP. Their work-around of cracking the throttle slightly, seems to help in this situation. My long cranking when cold was resolved by the new ignition.
8. The low oil pressure light for 30 minutes after the oil change was never explained. The remnant P0524 code and resulting limp mode is being worked on by BRP. It should reset. The work-around is to run the engine at around 3,000 rpm for 15 seconds until it does reset. Not comforting, but it works for now. Not advisable if the oil pressure light remains on.
At this point, BRP wants me to ride the machine and monitor what happens. Since they have fixed the ignition and handling issues, this can be done. It will take me some time to feel comfortable with this machine's reliability again, as you can well imagine, but I am willing to give it a try. I am not sure if I am ready to spend money on accessories for my RTS yet, or even bother to install the trailer hitch, but hopefully that time will come. This is a lot like starting over, so it will take me some time to overcome my skepticism.
I do applaud BRP for their concern, assistance, and kindness during this ordeal. I also applaud their willingness to respond to what they have seen by making adjustments in design and procedures, partly as a result of what they learned from my Spyder. With a machine this complex, final proof always comes after the machines are on the road. A good manufacturer learns and responds, long after the first production machine leaves the factory. While I would have preferred not to have become an inadvertent Guinea Pig, I am happy that progress on the model continues. I think BRP listens well.
So, it is time to try to work in some riding, and to try to build some confidence. See ya on the road!
I have only had a chance to do 100 miles or less to test everything that was done, this time and the last. I won't cover every issue, or go into gory detail, but here is my take on things:
1. The madly bouncing fuel gauge, which was lighted only intermittently, was replaced with the newest design. It works very well, and is much more accurate, to boot. :thumbup:
2. The panels with flawed paint were replaced with good ones. :thumbup:
3. The Spyder has not fouled a plug, and runs way better than before. The new ignition and ECM have doubled the power, quite literally, and have allowed me to go up a gear, riding in much the same rpm range as Nancy's GS. Much smoother, too! :thumbup:
4. The faulty taillight assembly was replaced. :thumbup:
5. The revised belt tension makes things much smoother. I can now take the typical 1/4 turn in the middle of the belt...the old "seat-of-the-pants" belt test. I do not know the final setting on the BRP gauge. The Krickit shows a mere 130 lbs when the Spyder is not jacked up. :thumbup:
6. The unpredictable handling, squirming, darting, and speed wobble are gone. The Spyder is fairly well behaved in the wind and behind trucks, although there is still some influence. I wish the steering was a little slower and less sensitive, but I can live with this. The cure was adjustment of the steering sensors (not the after-alignment reset) and a small toe-in adjustment. The dealer didn't think he accomplished much, but the difference is night and day! Tire pressure doesn't seem to matter much now, but a little lower than what I run on the GS seems to be best if it is hot outside. I do recommend keeping the rear suspension set at the appropriate level, as described in the Operators Guide. Too high (stiff) and the steering becomes quicker, with a resulting squirminess. I would like to see BRP increase the caster on this model to compensate if the suspension is set too high. This would also slow the steering, which would not hurt. I also recommend setting the front shocks higher than recommended. Tentative :thumbup:
7. The long cranking on warm restarts is being worked on by BRP. Their work-around of cracking the throttle slightly, seems to help in this situation. My long cranking when cold was resolved by the new ignition.
8. The low oil pressure light for 30 minutes after the oil change was never explained. The remnant P0524 code and resulting limp mode is being worked on by BRP. It should reset. The work-around is to run the engine at around 3,000 rpm for 15 seconds until it does reset. Not comforting, but it works for now. Not advisable if the oil pressure light remains on.
At this point, BRP wants me to ride the machine and monitor what happens. Since they have fixed the ignition and handling issues, this can be done. It will take me some time to feel comfortable with this machine's reliability again, as you can well imagine, but I am willing to give it a try. I am not sure if I am ready to spend money on accessories for my RTS yet, or even bother to install the trailer hitch, but hopefully that time will come. This is a lot like starting over, so it will take me some time to overcome my skepticism.
I do applaud BRP for their concern, assistance, and kindness during this ordeal. I also applaud their willingness to respond to what they have seen by making adjustments in design and procedures, partly as a result of what they learned from my Spyder. With a machine this complex, final proof always comes after the machines are on the road. A good manufacturer learns and responds, long after the first production machine leaves the factory. While I would have preferred not to have become an inadvertent Guinea Pig, I am happy that progress on the model continues. I think BRP listens well.
So, it is time to try to work in some riding, and to try to build some confidence. See ya on the road!
