We'll see if we can work you in ????

[ThreeWheels]

I'm travelling from out of state.

In Gatlinburg down from CT.

My Spyder got a check engine light yesterday. It cleared after a few minutes. I called the local dealer to see if they could toss it on the computer to see if I have a problem.

I was told to drop it off, they can surely get to it by the end of the day.

Either that or call in the afternoon. They'll try to work it in if no one else calls before me.

Mind you, I already called at 8:30 am.

Just to read the computer?

I'M TRAVELLING FROM OUT OF STATE!!!!!

Anybody at BRP ever hear of customer service??

GSS would never treat anyone so poorly.

 

[NancysToy]

I would not worry about it if it cleared. This happens occasionally. Probably got a hunk of crud on the O2 sensor for a moment. I'd ride unless it repeats. You can check for active fault codes on an RT by hitting "Mode", "Set", and the turn signal cancel simultaneously.

Now for the meat of the problem...the dealer. I understand some dealers are busy, have limited staff, and have other lines to service and sell. Nonetheless, if the Spyder is to seriously compete with the Harleys, Goldwings, and especially the BMWs in the realm of serious touring, dealer support for the traveler is going to have to improve. Most dealers for the makes that support cross-country touring, will move heaven and earth to aid a traveler in distress. I have to believe that there is some sort of factory encouragement and/or incentive for so many dealers to do this. I'd love to see BRP institute some measures to improve their support structure.

 

[effgjamis]

AMEN !!!! Scotty

 

[Dochands]

My one and only concern about our wonderful bikes is the service networks. :agree:

I am not mechanically inclined but have had the sinking feeling for the last year or so that whatever goes wrong next on my bike is because the dealer did not service it properly if at all. And we can't all go to Cowtown. :clap:

BRP needs to wake up and realize that this is going to be the fatal flaw with the Spyder. Unless they begin to address this now and get the bike in a proper dealership network I fear my bike is going to sit next to a lawnmower, watercraft, and ATV awaiting maintenence quietly rusting.

 

[jedd]

:agree:With Scotty on this 100%

Jim:thumbup:

 

[murphybrown]

I have experienced what we all want!!!

As some of you know I had a Spyder Tech error on an oil/filter/service done at the dealership in No Platte, NE. I lost my oil on the road...I have had nothing but SUPER excellent help from the following dealers>there has not been one Spyder Service as I move across the country to my home in WA..that didn't go out of their way to accomodate me.
No Platte, granted the issue started with the human error...but who of us hasn't done something wrong? I only know one guy who walked on water and made it work...so yes the issue started with the work done in No Platte, NE..manifested itself along the road south of Buffalo, WY...But No Platte has worked with dealers in Gillette, WY, Billings, MT and now Spokane, WA to get my needs met. Everyone of these dealers has been super, even offering to take me to Starbucks (if available in their area)...yep, would have been nice if this hadn't happened..delayed my return by 3 days...but life/sh$% happens...and yes Cowtown is off the charts wonderful for customer service: But put the following in your list that also qualify for Gold Star Service: No Platte, NE: Gillette, WY: Billings, MT: Spokane, WA. :2thumbs:

 

[ARtraveler]

:agree:and will also jump on the bandwagon. Dealer service is one of my pet peeves. Based on what I have been reading for over a year--there are some dealers that should not be in business.

Whatever happened to customr service? It is so common to read about someone getting blown off by the dealer and told they will get to it when they get around to it.

Customers with problems on the road, should be given priority when it comes to diagnostics--so they can find out what, if anything, is causing the glitch.

BRP needs to do something about the problem of service--which seems to be pretty haphazard. If I did not have the dealer I work with, I am sorry to say, I would be back to driving another brand. The Spyder is to techy for me--so I rely on the dealer to keep it running.

I am fortunate to have such a dealer here in Eagle River/Wasilla. When my glitches came up--they had the machine on buds in about 20 minutes. When a fellow rider from the lower 48 had problems--he got right in. They figured out the problem, and had him on his way.

 

[bikeguy]

I agree with Scotty. My dealer has been excellent but that won't help if I'm 1000 miles from home. I feel confident about being able to fix most problems that might occur on the road myself. But I know I can't fix everything and that's where a network of good Spyder dealers is invaluable. BRP has done a good job of responding to customer needs so far. Maybe the supporting measures for the dealer network is the next step.

Cotton

 

[bikeguy]

Always good to know where the good dealers are, MurphyBrown. Let me also say that your attitude toward problems is the best. I read somewhere that the only difference between a disaster and an adventure was your attitude. You are destined to have a lot of adventures and very few disasters.

Cotton

 

[draboo]

As some of you know I had a Spyder Tech error on an oil/filter/service done at the dealership in No Platte, NE. I lost my oil on the road...I have had nothing but SUPER excellent help from the following dealers>there has not been one Spyder Service as I move across the country to my home in WA..that didn't go out of their way to accomodate me.
No Platte, granted the issue started with the human error...but who of us hasn't done something wrong? I only know one guy who walked on water and made it work...so yes the issue started with the work done in No Platte, NE..manifested itself along the road south of Buffalo, WY...But No Platte has worked with dealers in Gillette, WY, Billings, MT and now Spokane, WA to get my needs met. Everyone of these dealers has been super, even offering to take me to Starbucks (if available in their area)...yep, would have been nice if this hadn't happened..delayed my return by 3 days...but life/sh$% happens...and yes Cowtown is off the charts wonderful for customer service: But put the following in your list that also qualify for Gold Star Service: No Platte, NE: Gillette, WY: Billings, MT: Spokane, WA. :2thumbs:

Thank you so much for that dealer list. We will be taking that same route starting June 1st.

 

[Dudley]

Ahhh the dealers (?) discussion again. The horrors I have heard from posts about dealers could fill a book. I worked for a Honda dealer in the early 80s. ANY traveler that stopped with an issue was attended to in 30 minutes or less. This had nothing to do with Honda policy. It was the dealer's policy. The CanAm dealers need to get their heads out of the sand and their greed under control. I don't think any Spyder owner would have any problem with their Spyder repairs delayed a few hours so a traveler could be made whole. I can't understand how some of these dealers stay in business. Running a successful business isn't money first, it's customer first. A "customer" is anyone stopping at the dealer, whether he/she spends money or not. Cowtown, with their service/sale practice will boom to be the biggest dealer in Missouri, mark my words. Any Spyder having to spend over two weeks in the service department, except for major engine work is totally uncalled for. "Parts are on back order" is a dealer's way of blaming BRP for their lack of concern for you. I have stated many times before, it is your right to see the parts order for your repairs especially if the dealer claims it's back ordered. Put them on the spot...it's your downtime, not theirs. In almost three years of riding Spyders any part that had to be ordered was received by my dealer in less than a week. (The RT had to have an upper ball joint replaced...parts were received in 6 days...dealer never took the steering apart until the service was done...no down time). BRP has the inventory, but no parts can be moved without a parts order. I know BRP doesn't pay full price on warranty repairs, but guess what, neither does any other company, Ford, GMC, Honda, etc. It's part of doing business. If a dealer can't deal with this in getting someone serviced, they need to shut the doors.
And getting seasonal toys worked on before Spyders??? If someone waits until they want to snowmobile or use their watercraft until the week before, tuff. A good service department works on a first come, first served. An even better department will always have a Spyder tech available.

 

[docdoru]

We'll see if BRP learn something from The Guts & Glory Rally (postpone for 2012) and Hoka Hey Motorcycle Challenge: this are not IBA's 1K "do-it when you want" . :shocked:opcorn:

 

[musicarcade]

I created a list of "Spyderlovers recommended service departments" a little over a year ago. I will post it again shortly and all of you can let me know who should be added to it and who needs to be taken off due to going out of business or change in mgmnt, prodeedures, ticked you off, etc.

It covered quite a few states and since I plan on ryding across the country by myself in late Sept. I certainly want to update it.

I was already planning on one of my stops to be at Cowtown during my journeynojoke

 

[Wheeler~]

:thumbup:Scotty. I agree completely! The dealership probably feels they're putting their personal customers first. In reality they are damaging their image. In a case like this extra hours to resolve this issue should be warranted if necessary.

 

[Yardageman]

Be sure an add Escondido Cycle Center ( southern Calif.) to you list. Hetm in service relly onows his Spydets. They have been excellent in getting me in and out in the past month on my new RTS as I have been traveling around Calif., Neveda and Az. The past month.

 

[DynamoBT]

I'm not, and never will be a "touring" rider. But my interactions with just local dealers has been an education. Silly me. I thought if you had a product that a particular dealer serviced, that they would want your business. But, no. That was not the case when I asked around about bringing my Spyder in for work this spring. :dontknow:

I'm taking my Spyder to the dealership that is the farthest away of all the dealers I checked into. This dealership sells lots of brands of motorcycles, and also ATV's, Snowmobiles, and Honda lawnmowers and generators. They did not put one product line above another. They said they'd work on my Spyder any time I could get it in. But, another dealer said that they didn't want to see my Spyder until all their snowmobile customers had been serviced. They literally said, "Call us in May". :yikes: I just did not get it. :hun:

In my mind, Service is the heart of a dealership. Not Sales. The dealership that sells and services lots of brands of motorcycles got that. The dealers whose business was primarily Ski-Doo's and added on the Spyder as an "off season" money maker just don't get it. I don't know who educates dealers as to changing their point of view towards the Spyder and customer service. If manufacturers play that instructional role, then BRP has some work to do. But, if we are at the mercy of dealers who have never dealt with motorcycle enthusiasts before but only Ski-Doo's we're in trouble. These primarily snowmobile dealerships are heavily invested in snowmobiles. They often have racing machines and support a race team. We Spyder ryders are just hobbyests in comparison. We are going to take second fiddle to their main product line every time. And that's not exactly the customer service we would all like to see.

I don't have answers. I just know what I've run into. Spyders need to be treated equal to any other product line of a dealership. And from where I'm sitting, that's not happening. It's just not right.

 

[boborgera]

I can't understand how some of these dealers stay in business. .

The reason they can stay in business is Simple No competition,
Once another major manufacturer comes out with a reverse trike things will change. 90% of Spyder owens haven't a alternative and have to put up with the nonsense, For one reason another they'll only ride a reverse trike. Also in my opinion it seems the nature of a lot of Spyder buyers is buy it where its cheaper and service it else wear

 

[MMcc]

Dealer to be included in list

Please add Honda House in St. Cloud MN to your list of good dealers. When Limp mode showed up they took it right away and determined a sensor and switch needed replacement. Vic, the mechanic took time to explain to me the procedure. Unfortunately they did not have the sensor or switch in stock but would order it that day. The service manager called me when the parts arrived and said the tech would install them this morning and I could pick the spyder up after lunch. When I arrived the bike was ready and done under warranty. Again they took the time to explain what was done and gave me the confidence to bring the spyder back to them for future service. Not the feeling I had with another dealer.

 

[Raptor]

Scotty, you are right on again. One of the reasons I am hesitant to take our Spyders very far from home is lack of faith in the dealer network.

Musicarcade has an EXCELLENT idea of compiling a database of known trusted dealers that we can extend to a national level. But parts availability can be another serious problem as well. You might be broke down and your Spyder is at a wonderful dealer, but if they can't get the parts you are just as, well, you know. I think it would be cool to get proactive and start working on this list. What do you think? And I so hope that BRP is paying attention to this...

 

[bjt]

In defense of many of the BRP dealers, until the Spyder, most of their products were quads, snowmobiles or watersport products which longterm breakdowns only caused an inconvenience and not stranding you on the road. (I haven't heard of anyone SeaDoo'ing across the country.) I think that many of those dealers will have to learn to accomodate us cross country riders. If not, they'll still do their business in other powersports products but lose out on Spyders. :sour:

ps. my dealer sometimes fits into the above category....