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Any reason NOT to buy a 2012 RT Limited?

K

KC61

New member
Is there any reason not to buy a 2012 RT limited? Has about 5,000 miles on it at a Can-Am dealership for $11,000. Didn't know if there was any specific issues with this year and model.
Thanks
 
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2012 is supposed to be the best year for the 998. Price would be a consideration.
 
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The 2013's had some issues, but the 2012 should be good given the understanding that it's the previous generation with the limitations of the older design. This website is a great resource for doing some minor modifications that make it better to live with.
 
Do some due diligence and check out NADA and KBB book prices. $11K sounds high for a 2012. The engine is no longer made and dealer support has gone by the wayside. Parts are also an issue these days.
 
Stepping up to to a 1330 motor and SE6 would be a better choice in the long run if you plan on keeping it for a while. Low miles on a twelve year old machine might not be the best way to go. The 990 engine creates a lot of heat on the driver, so if you are going to ride it in the summer months in Kansas be aware of that and the fact that the 990 is a busier engine that runs at higher RPM's.
 
Another consideration is that some dealers (mine in particular) does not take any trades on a 2014 or older Spyder. I had a 2012 Spyder I was hoping to trade on a new Spyder. I ended up selling it outright.
 
I think you would be happier with a 2014 or later RT with the 1330 engine and SE6. Lower RPM’s and less maintenance. The 2012’s also do not have the Brembo brakes while the 2014’s and later models do. Hopefully you can find a 2014 or later RT that is within your budget.
 
Having experience with the 998cc and 1300cc I gotta suggest that it'd be potentially foolish to dip down to the older, unsupported, parts-difficult-to-access machine just 'cos the mileage is low.
 
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Low mileage on a 12 y/o bike means serious due diligence. Tires, seals, O-rings, dry out, and fluids get murky.
Best to avoid unless you like to do lots of work on the machine yourself.
 
ARtraveler said:
Do some due diligence and check out NADA and KBB book prices. $11K sounds high for a 2012. The engine is no longer made and dealer support has gone by the wayside. Parts are also an issue these days.
Click to expand...

:agree: .... and parts will be an issue .....plus a lot of dealers won't work on them .....:thumbup:
 
The 2012 RT is a good machine. But I would be looking at a lower price. $11k is too much. $9k would be a better price point.
 
My first spyder was a 2012. I then bought a 2016 RTL 1330. To me the 12 was a 5 speed manual hot rod. I loved the blue color. I currently have a 2020 RTL. It wouldn't bother me a bit to get a 2012 IF the price was right.
 
I have a 2011 RT-S and I love it. I actually like the high rev engine and up to this point I have had no problem with parts. Good luck in your search, just find what fits you physically and money wise.
Leon
 
 
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I have that exact model and color of Spyder. It has 79,000+ miles on it and is still going strong. I like that you can still grease the 'A' Arm bushings and service is relatively easy. It does have the smaller 14" front wheels and only a 5 speed. You will need to learn to leave it in gear longer. I would also offer him $9,000 and see what he says.

2016.jpg

Ask the selling dealer if he is willing to service it after the sale. Consider contacting motorcycledave.com, a sponsor here, about his insert to make the seat more comfortable. If you get it, ask me about a deal on a driver's backrest.

Ps: the color is called Lava Bronze
 
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I respect Pegasus's assessment of that MY, but IMO RayBJ's assessment of a low mileage 12 year-old Spyder outweighs the first opinion unless you are prepared to deal with possible parts and service with the machine.
 
Bangorbob said:
2012 is supposed to be the best year for the 998. Price would be a consideration.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest that once they had the 'Heat Recall' work done, the 2013+ V-Twin Spyders were the TRUE pinnacle of the V-Twin Spyders. nojoke

The Heat recall work was only necessary because BRP didn't get the new 1330 motor ready in time to release that year, so they ended up stuffing the V-Twin motor back into a frame that'd been prepared/optimised for the wider & shorter 1330 & then wrapping it all back up in the smaller tupperware, messing up the air flow thru/under their skirts & so crippling all the associated underbody cooling; but once that recall work was done, as evidenced by the big scoops under the mirrors on the RT's & the changed side panels on the RS/ST Models, they had all the new frame & suspension mods the later 1330's got, plus the bigger/better Brembo Brakes & the 15" front wheels to go over them; so apart from the bigger/heavier tupperware & the slightly larger gas tank giving a slightly better touring range, the 2013+ V-Twin Spyders had all the best bits the 1330's could offer while they kept the revvier, more responsive V-Twin motors that made for a more exciting & sporty ride! :ohyea:

And for most critical parts, the V-Twin engines and the 5 Speed gearbox were in use in other makes of machines too, Aprillia amongst them; and funnily enough, while parts for the BRP Unique brake & frame components on the 2008-2012 Spyders are becoming hard to get, if you're not wedded to going OEM, parts for the 2013+ V-Twin Spyders are still fairly readily available, and some tech's who'll work on those other makes of machines will even work on the 2013+ Spyders too, at least here in Oz! ;)

But that 'shared platform for the motor/trans' thing leads on to one the other most significant mods you can make to them - the Aprillia's (& others) running the same engine & gearbox DID NOT have the Rotax motor's power output choked down like all the Spyder's did & have regardless of the motor; so for a relatively small outlay, and no change to the maintenance schedule &/or reliability of the V-Twin, you can get the ECU Upgraded to unleash juuust a little of, running right thru to ALL of (& maybe even then some too! :ohyea: ) the tried and tested somewhat higher potential in the Rotax 998 V-Twin motor's power output, well beyond the paltry 109/115 hp deemed 'safe' for the perceived 'not so capable' Spyder Ryding market envisaged by BRP & their legal/marketing teams et al!! :banghead:

So yeah, do watch out for the really low milage offerings in V-Twin powered Spyders out there; but certainly, I wouldn't knock back a good 2012 for the right price, only if you can find one that's been reasonably maintained and hasn't spent its life slowly dying thru lack of use somewhere, I'd suggest you could do a whole lot worse than any of the 2013+ V-Twin Spyders once the heat recall work has been done - with one of them, you'll get the absolute best of the V-Twins teamed with all the good frame, handling, and braking stuff the later 1330's get - only with the V-Twin & the lighter tupperware, you've still got the revvier & more exciting engine in a lighter & more responsive package! :ohyea:

Just Sayin' :thumbup:
 
KC61 said:
Is there any reason not to buy a 2012 RT limited? Has about 5,000 miles on it at a Can-Am dealership for $11,000. Didn't know if there was any specific issues with this year and model.
Thanks
Click to expand...
NO

NO, would be the quick answer...
BUT I would NOT Pay {$12,000} that much.
$8,000 or less is my Tip.

Do Your Homework. Definitely ask lots of questions from the Spyder Forum First.

My Best Tip. ....Just PM me and I will tell you.

Yours, ...... :thumbup:
 
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