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Three "Simple" Things (that BRP can do)

daveinva

New member
Just a little teasing thread.

Been thinking about things on the Spyder that people don't like, cause more problems than they're worth, contribute to *serious* problems that give people headaches. In my ignorance, I tend to think these things are, or should be, simple fixes for the manufacturer, i.e. we're not talking items that add hundreds (let alone thousands) of dollars to the price or years of redesign, but minor little tweaks that could/should appear in any model year.

To kick off the thread, here are three ones right off the top of my head:

1. Improved battery connectors. If the firstpiece of advice in every single problem thread on Spyderlovers is "check your battery connections," than perhaps BRP could save itself-- and its network of dealer mechanics-- hundreds of hours of headaches (oh, and customers hours of travel/labor costs) by simply making it easier for the battery to be more tightly connected (or, conversely, make it so the Nanny isn't so twitchy when the connectors are loose).

2. A factory/dealer standard option for a dash-mounted 12v plug. I'm surely not alone in never having once used my dealer installed frunk plug, but like many other Spyder owners I certainly use constantly the plugs I later mounted in the dash. So why would BRP not have a standard option for a dash plug instead of a frunk plug of limited (at best) utility?

3. A line-in jack for the RT radio. Who designs a factory radio that requires a thousand dollar cellphone/CB harness upgrade (or complex series of aftermarket installs) to beam tunes via Bluetooth to a helmet when a 35 cent headphone jack in the dash can accomplish 90% of the same goal? Perhaps a company that'd rather have you buy the thousand dollar upgrade... nahhhh. :D
 
These are some good items for BRP to consider.

I would add: an idiot light prior to "limp mode" shutting down the bike while going 70mph trying to pass a propane truck.
 
I agree but with everything, Spyder, car, house, job, there is always something that we ask ourselves, why:dontknow: How many times at work have you shook your head wondering why they do things this way or that. Or why does my Hyundai have leather, top notch stereo, power everything but I have to manually move fwd/back my seats? Hopefully with enough feedback, the "problems" with last years model will be addressed and maybe changed on next years. Shocks for both the RS & RT have been upgraded to name one problem fixed. Nothing is perfect and what may be a "flaw" to some may not be to others.
 
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Three simple things that BRP can do:
1. Put their dealers through some serious (and required!) training before they even get to thinking about selling and servicing Spyders!
2. How about a "Reset" button that shuts the computer up and lets you ryde the bike home...
3. Another vote for the dash-mounted 12 volt plug. :thumbup:
 
Three simple things that BRP can do:
1. Put their dealers through some serious (and required!) training before they even get to thinking about selling and servicing Spyders!
2. How about a "Reset" button that shuts the computer up and lets you ryde the bike home...
3. Another vote for the dash-mounted 12 volt plug. :thumbup:

Agree totally!
 
I did an ooops on the idiot light suggestion--you are so right when you point out that would not be a "simple" fix.

There have been enough scarry reports about limp mode shutting down the Spyder, that I am now viewing it as a possible safety issue--which IMO--I believe should be addressed.
 
SIMPLE FIXES

DAVE AND BOB mentioned some simple fixes very worthy fixes.....power seats not very easy or simple try and do that yourself......oh yes BRP does like to make MONEY. and WHY are a fair amont of dealers incompetant but still charge for EXCELLENCE ???????.....Mike...:agree:
 
I agree about the battery. I had to really squeeze around plastic to check my connections and found them not as tight as I like them, so I tightened them. I will check again the next oil change and look at the covering plastic to see what can be done with a blade and Southern Engineering to make it a lot easier to get to the battery.

I think one of the best changes would be to run on two electrical operations. Plain and simple current to idiot lights for low brake fluid, headlight/tail light out, low oil pressure/low oil. Run the VSS, Traction Control, etc., through the computer as it does now. This shouldn't be Rocket Science to do.

And for those of us who like to add on electrical gadgets, provide a pre-installed plug-in board to make it easier and more trouble free to add on without causing unknown issues to pop up because of "nanny" not liking what she is reading and throws the "limp mode" Gremlin at you.
 
Three simple things that BRP can do:
1. Put their dealers through some serious (and required!) training before they even get to thinking about selling and servicing Spyders!
2. How about a "Reset" button that shuts the computer up and lets you ryde the bike home...
3. Another vote for the dash-mounted 12 volt plug. :thumbup:

1. Ditto
2. Triple Ditto !!!!!
3. Ditto
 
1. Revise limp mode for safety reasons. (Should be cheap if the programming can be modified.)
2. Dash mounted Powerlets.
3. Replace analog gauges with other functions, like voltage and oil pressure. Why repeat what is already available in the multifunction display? Additional gauges would be an actual upgrade, too...as originally intended. Should be cheap, as one gauge costs about the same as another.

I'll add another, maybe cheap, maybe not. Make the diagnostics OBD II compliant, so the diagnostics can be read with a standard meter.
 
Three simple things that BRP can do:
1. Put their dealers through some serious (and required!) training before they even get to thinking about selling and servicing Spyders!
:thumbup:


fully agree on this one. But thanks to all of you I can keep my service folks in the know. ;)
 
Three simple things that BRP can do:
1. Put their dealers through some serious (and required!) training before they even get to thinking about selling and servicing Spyders!
2. How about a "Reset" button that shuts the computer up and lets you ryde the bike home...
3. Another vote for the dash-mounted 12 volt plug. :thumbup:

Bob's number one comment should be the law...There are only about 50 BRP certified tech's in Canada and the closest one to me is 2 hours away in my home town. I live right near the Capital of Alberta and there are 2 dealers same company different locations and the service at one shop is beyond horrible. How can BRP as a company not train techs to work on a Machine as much as this crazy:banghead::banghead:
 
I'll add another, maybe cheap, maybe not. Make the diagnostics OBD II compliant, so the diagnostics can be read with a standard meter.
:agree::agree::agree:

I've stated this before and I'll say it again: We own our Spyders after we purchase them and have every right to service them ourselves. We should not be forced to rely on a dealer with proprietary, yet simplistic, software to read faults and reset codes. The majority of automotive industry does not force this requirement upon vehicle owners and neither should BRP.
 
1. Bigger engine (at least bring the original/unmodified Aprilia RSV Mille engine)
2. Turbo (BRP have that on the Doo's; btw, any news on the lawsuit with Arctic Cat?)
3. Speed competitions (I can wait to run against a BRP factory ryder).
 
Three simple things that BRP can do:
1. Put their dealers through some serious (and required!) training before they even get to thinking about selling and servicing Spyders!
2. How about a "Reset" button that shuts the computer up and lets you ryde the bike home...
3. Another vote for the dash-mounted 12 volt plug. :thumbup:

I was talking to relatively new dealer a few weeks ago. I asked about the training their techs had and was told they had to have been a Spyder dealer for a year before they could send anyone to the factory for training. In the meantime, they use the video training in their dealerships. I was quite surprised to say the least. I would think if a dealer wanted to foot the bill for training, they would be accepted.
 
I agree with all of the original post, plus third brake light, paint rear of Spyder the color of bike, and cover the right side hole with at least a matching vent. Should cost too much for any of this, I wouldn't think. :dontknow:
 
1. Bigger engine (at least bring the original/unmodified Aprilia RSV Mille engine)
2. Turbo (BRP have that on the Doo's; btw, any news on the lawsuit with Arctic Cat?)
3. Speed competitions (I can wait to run against a BRP factory ryder).
Not so simple and cheap, though...LOL.
 
3. Replace analog gauges with other functions, like voltage and oil pressure. Why repeat what is already available in the multifunction display? Additional gauges would be an actual upgrade, too...as originally intended. Should be cheap, as one gauge costs about the same as another.

I could only give three, but this was my number four, no joke! nojoke

Then again, I don't mind the analog speedo and tach. I *do* mind an analog speedo that uses, what, 1/4th of the dial driving at highway speeds down here in the states? Waste o' space...
 
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