crazycanuck
New member
Yay for #8 and #9 :clap:
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The 10 Most Reliable Motorcycle Companies
- Thread starter Jeriatric
- Start date
TicketBait
RT-S PE#0412
Jer, you are part of that die hard following, The people are great, well most of them
The Can-Am brand is so much more reliable now.My suggestion is sell the FJR since you also have the Chieftain now and trade in your Spyder and get a trouble free 2015-17 RT, you already got the trailer. Head over to Berts Mega Mall tomorrow on the FJR and talk turkey with them. Since I am not going to SF, I am going on there canyon cruise. http://www.bertsmegamall.com/--3-wheel-weekend-2017
opcorn::thumbup:
JerryB
New member
Hi wyliec,
Re: Can't always start off at numero uno.
While my memory is not pefect, I do believe that Lexus, after one year of being on the market, was #1 in reliability & customer satisfaction. Probably why I am now on my 3rd Lexus.
To get to #1 in their first year, BRP ( IMO ) had a tough hill to climb due to it's being such a radical departure from conventional design.
My Spyder ( bought used @ 4,000 miles ) has been almost 100% problem free; just a couple of little things. JerBer has had an entirely different experience; anyone reading his post should reach the same conclusion.
Jerry Baumchen
PS) Again, I say that if BRP would let the independent mechanics have the parts at the same discount as their dealers, I think we would have less of the JerBer type of experiences. End of rant.
Re: Can't always start off at numero uno.
While my memory is not pefect, I do believe that Lexus, after one year of being on the market, was #1 in reliability & customer satisfaction. Probably why I am now on my 3rd Lexus.
To get to #1 in their first year, BRP ( IMO ) had a tough hill to climb due to it's being such a radical departure from conventional design.
My Spyder ( bought used @ 4,000 miles ) has been almost 100% problem free; just a couple of little things. JerBer has had an entirely different experience; anyone reading his post should reach the same conclusion.
Jerry Baumchen
PS) Again, I say that if BRP would let the independent mechanics have the parts at the same discount as their dealers, I think we would have less of the JerBer type of experiences. End of rant.
bscrive
New member
My wife's Spyders have been pretty much trouble free, but would we keep one if it wasn't covered by warranty...NOPE.
As soon as Honda or Yamaha comes out with a three wheeled trike, we will be trading in the F3 for one of those.
These bikes have some issues that will cost thousands to fix when they are out of warranty. We won't take that chance, not at those kind of stats.
If my wife would ride a two wheeled bike, she would be on that instead. Probably a VTX1300, but she doesn't feel safe on two wheels which is why she is riding a Spyder.
As soon as Honda or Yamaha comes out with a three wheeled trike, we will be trading in the F3 for one of those.
These bikes have some issues that will cost thousands to fix when they are out of warranty. We won't take that chance, not at those kind of stats.
If my wife would ride a two wheeled bike, she would be on that instead. Probably a VTX1300, but she doesn't feel safe on two wheels which is why she is riding a Spyder.
cptjam
Registered User
Wow
I ride a KTM 1290 SuperAdventure. I follow SpyderAnn around the country. Both of our bikes have been great! She has 100K in a bit over 3 years, and I have 50K in 20 months. Trouble (reasonably) free! IDK if this is because we fix little things easily, or we do good maintenance, but we are pretty happy with our choices. I'll be happy when BRP buys Ann's bike, and puts it in the museum. And gives her a new F3T to wail on for 100K miles. It seems that if you actually ride them, they depreciate madly! Why? These are good bikes! Use them, enjoy them, and ride them! We do, and if it means we take a loss, the experience is priceless! JMHO, Joe
I ride a KTM 1290 SuperAdventure. I follow SpyderAnn around the country. Both of our bikes have been great! She has 100K in a bit over 3 years, and I have 50K in 20 months. Trouble (reasonably) free! IDK if this is because we fix little things easily, or we do good maintenance, but we are pretty happy with our choices. I'll be happy when BRP buys Ann's bike, and puts it in the museum. And gives her a new F3T to wail on for 100K miles. It seems that if you actually ride them, they depreciate madly! Why? These are good bikes! Use them, enjoy them, and ride them! We do, and if it means we take a loss, the experience is priceless! JMHO, Joe
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
Surveys submitted to CR by 11,000 owners of 12,300 motorcycles bought new from 2008 to 2014. That means there is only one year of the 1330 represented in the stats. Be interesting to see what the difference is next year with 2 years of 1330s in the stats. I kind of wish they would include owners who bought used, but maybe that's not a large enough population.
wyliec
New member
I said can't always; I didn't say can't.
Fat Baxter
Member
I got my 2014 RT-S in September of that year. Other than having to find a third party to install non-OEM tires, I haven't had any issues. I currently have 19,400 miles on it. And I now have a local dealer who actually works on an appointment basis!
Before my Spyder, I rode BMWs for 32 years. The '82 airhead was reasonably reliable, and I liked the fact that I could do most of the basic maintenance on it. Back then, BMW prided themselves on keeping the bikes as mechanically simple as possible. BMW also kinda expected the owner to be somewhat technically knowledgeable about the bike. In fact, the owner's manual included a chart of torque values for all fasteners, and there was an electrical circuitry diagram. It even showed how to use the screwdriver for the toolkit to measure the oil in the final drive. Little helpful nuggets like that.
Then I got an R1100RT in '99, one of the so-called oilheads. The owner's manual immediately conveyed a change in BMW's expectations of owner involvement. Yes, it had the usual oil viscosity chart, but nowhere did it mention where any of the drain plugs were, nor did it point out the location of the externally-accessible oil filter. No wiring diagrams or torque chart. The manual was focused on operating the bike, not maintaining it. The new expectation was that the owner would bring it in to the shop and let the technicians do their magic; just leave your credit card number. Personally, I think the motorcycle side of BMW was overly influenced by the auto side and forgot how they earned their reputation.
The other thing was that, when things failed on the road, they now tended to fail catastrophically, beyond the rider's ability to repair at roadside. I'm talking about final drive failures and transmission seizures. Yes, many bikes ran flawlessly for many miles, even 100K's of miles. But their record introduced a worrisome niggling of apprehension -- is my bike gonna crap out on me in the middle of nowhere?
Also, it turned out that the oilheads required, for ideal longevity, that the splines on the input/output shaft between the engine and transmission, be lubricated with a dab of grease every 20k miles. This requires an almost complete teardown of the bike to split the engine and transmission, at a pretty price. And nowhere was this mentioned in any service manuals; it just "came out" in one of the BMW forums as a bit of inside information. A bit of a scandal, that was. And if you didn't do this, you risked shearing the splines off the shaft -- another one of those catastrophic failures.
The final straw involved their miniscule dealer network. When my RT hit 73k miles, the only dealer in my state went under, leaving me with a 15-year old bike approaching middle age mileage-wise, and a full-day, one-way haul to the nearest dealer.
Screw BMW and all their drama. So I bought a Spyder.
Before my Spyder, I rode BMWs for 32 years. The '82 airhead was reasonably reliable, and I liked the fact that I could do most of the basic maintenance on it. Back then, BMW prided themselves on keeping the bikes as mechanically simple as possible. BMW also kinda expected the owner to be somewhat technically knowledgeable about the bike. In fact, the owner's manual included a chart of torque values for all fasteners, and there was an electrical circuitry diagram. It even showed how to use the screwdriver for the toolkit to measure the oil in the final drive. Little helpful nuggets like that.
Then I got an R1100RT in '99, one of the so-called oilheads. The owner's manual immediately conveyed a change in BMW's expectations of owner involvement. Yes, it had the usual oil viscosity chart, but nowhere did it mention where any of the drain plugs were, nor did it point out the location of the externally-accessible oil filter. No wiring diagrams or torque chart. The manual was focused on operating the bike, not maintaining it. The new expectation was that the owner would bring it in to the shop and let the technicians do their magic; just leave your credit card number. Personally, I think the motorcycle side of BMW was overly influenced by the auto side and forgot how they earned their reputation.
The other thing was that, when things failed on the road, they now tended to fail catastrophically, beyond the rider's ability to repair at roadside. I'm talking about final drive failures and transmission seizures. Yes, many bikes ran flawlessly for many miles, even 100K's of miles. But their record introduced a worrisome niggling of apprehension -- is my bike gonna crap out on me in the middle of nowhere?
Also, it turned out that the oilheads required, for ideal longevity, that the splines on the input/output shaft between the engine and transmission, be lubricated with a dab of grease every 20k miles. This requires an almost complete teardown of the bike to split the engine and transmission, at a pretty price. And nowhere was this mentioned in any service manuals; it just "came out" in one of the BMW forums as a bit of inside information. A bit of a scandal, that was. And if you didn't do this, you risked shearing the splines off the shaft -- another one of those catastrophic failures.
The final straw involved their miniscule dealer network. When my RT hit 73k miles, the only dealer in my state went under, leaving me with a 15-year old bike approaching middle age mileage-wise, and a full-day, one-way haul to the nearest dealer.
Screw BMW and all their drama. So I bought a Spyder.
PistonBlown
Active member
What's interesting with this is the innovation side. No one can dispute that Can-am is leading on the innovation. They have gone where no-one has gone before - and those that have tried to copy them have never got there product to market (I'm looking at you Honda Neowing). The next most innovative manufacturer is BMW, who's 9th on the list. At the top we've got the Japanese manufacturers turning out bikes that, at best, can be described as evolving from previous years.
As IdahoMtnSpyder pointed out this survey was of the 2008 to 2014. So in that range you have the 2013 models with there heat issues. We all know that was a big muck up by Can-am that really damaged the brands image - but it was something they eventually put right. We all moan about Can-am's customer service but that article says 45% of the work was covered by BRP. On a new Honda I had a gearbox gave up the ghost just after the first service and had a major battle to get it sorted under warranty.
As IdahoMtnSpyder pointed out this survey was of the 2008 to 2014. So in that range you have the 2013 models with there heat issues. We all know that was a big muck up by Can-am that really damaged the brands image - but it was something they eventually put right. We all moan about Can-am's customer service but that article says 45% of the work was covered by BRP. On a new Honda I had a gearbox gave up the ghost just after the first service and had a major battle to get it sorted under warranty.
Peteoz
Well-known member
You bought a Magnum and put a trunk and crash bars on it, Joel? Why didn't you buy a Cross Country?
Pete
missouriboy
Active member
I love my Victory Ness Magnum. But I would rather have the new Indian Roadmaster.
BINGO! The ultimate explanation for the withdrawal of the Victory: Customer Preference. If the Powers That Be were able to perceive this market sentiment, then their decision was likely a very wise one.
Someone mentioned the "seemingly overnight success" of the Indian... but, no, it was the prior success of a century-old brand that overwhelmed the Victory, in spite of the Victory's high quality and initial success. IMHO.
Buckeye Bleau
New member
It really is too bad that you have those issues. If I were you I would get out of that Byke and get me a Victory or Star as they are rated much higher and nary a problem do they have. Seriously, I would not like all the problems you have, if not the dealer, then it must be the Byke.
As for me, 22,245 miles and nothing, except for fuel guage light and compressor replaced at 21k under warranty.
Joe
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
You're right. I skated right over the bit about being a 2014 survey. This subject was :bdh: two years ago when the survey came out. It really isn't valid any more.
Jeriatric
Thinks out loud
IdahoMtnSpyder
Active member
True, but as a buying guide for today not so much.
Bob Denman
New member
But if a buyer is researching in anticipation of the purchase of a new bike: it a worthless survey to them.
Jeriatric
Thinks out loud
Worthless
Maybe, maybe not.
I would think that's for the individual to decide.
Not you, or me.
Maybe, maybe not.
I would think that's for the individual to decide.
Not you, or me.
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