Spyder fire

[Chrison3]

Thursday 9/1/11 started out as a beautiful day here in New York. I went into Brooklyn to take care of some personal business, since the day was so beautiful I decided to take a ride via the Brooklyn bridge into Manhattan. All good to this point and made my way to the village to visit a family member. I hopped on the West side highway and was heading for the 59th street bridge. I was on 59th between Madison and Park in traffic when I could fell the cowling between my legs becoming increasingly hotter. This was followed by a smoke. I turned off the ignition and was able to push it to the side of the road. Then the flames started growing to about a foot above the spyder I tried putting it out with 2 fire extinguishers from local delivery drivers with no luck. There happened to be a contractor across the street washing off some tools with a hose who was able to put out the fire. We all have read about the fires. When you are standing on the crowded streets of Manhattan at 1 PM with all the heavy pedestrian traffic reality sets in. Not only was my life in jeopardy but all those who were walking by. The gas cap was partially melted and there were no explosion fortunately the scars are to the Spyder. There is a long list of warranty related repairs which have been done on this vechicle. Other owners who have found themselves in similar situations understand the fear that you felt during a fire. Just passing along some information to the Spyder community. I will be contacting all parties who I feel might have some involvement in the fire happening. I am fortunate to have walked away from this with only emotional scars and not physical. If I had made it to the 59th street bridge and the fire happened I am ceratin that the outcome would have been much different. To those with trouble free Spyders enjoy your machines but above all be safe. Spyder owner but no longer a rider.

[ohema52]

So sorry to read this..Glad you are alright..What year and model did you own?

[Paladin]

egads !!!!!!! well the most important part is that no one was hurt, you can replace the bike.

any ideas of what caused it?

[Bob Denman]

There are a lot of questions floating around that we'd like to see the answers to...
Please keep us in the information loop on this one!

[Chrison3]

I can and will only state the facts. I have my personal feelings on the how's and why's but for obvious reasons can not discuss these here. The Spyder is a 2009 se5 which I purchased last November as a new leftover. At around 600 - 700 miles I devolped a problem in which the Spyder would stall at first on rare occasions and then constantly when I would come to a stop and I could not restart it. It would eventually restart but after numerous tries. 1st dealer looked at it I rode it about a mile had to return it since it had gotten worse. I count this as 2 times the same dealer. I was then told that they could not fix the problem and to take it to another dealer which was another branch owned by the same person who had a tech. who was more familiar with Spyders. The second dealer changed the Gear Position Sensor and on a test ride the tech almost was hit by a truck when the machine stalled on him. I took it back to the purchasing dealer 112 mile trip on a trailer and rolled it off when I got there. What was done now is a laundry list to the tune of $4,000 in parts and $4,000 in labor all covered by BRP. The repair list was so long that the person filling it out had to write in microscopic sized print. Changed was the DEES, instrument cluster, speedo meter, ENGINE HARNESS, FRAME HARNESS, ECM just to mention some of the parts swapped and or replaced in trying to remedy the problem. I received the Spyder back in the end of May and up until the fire it ran well. I am not going to assume what the cause was of the fire but this was an unmolested machine except for the work done by the dealer to remedy the problem. I could have been hit when it stalled on numerous occasions most recently a few days ago could have ended up extra crispy. Even with all of this I would still like to own another Spyder. I believe them to be innovative fun, fun machines that I loved riding it..... I feel that me basing a decission on just my experiences would be selling BRP short and the complexity of repairing the machines can be challenging for the best of techs. I can see a new 2012 rolling off the assembly line into my driveway in my future. My glass is still half full. I have always felt that given the opportunity to make things right it usually happens. To all ride safe on your Spyders, pass the word and have faith and hope.

[Bob Denman]

Your attitude through all of this is very refreshing!
Good luck with a successful conclusion to this matter...

[Paladin]

yeah what Bob said

I think it's like any other vehicle sometimes you get lemons and some take a while to go sour.

I know a guy who had a /11 AC version and had nothing but problems after about 5000km.. had so many issues that the dealer finally gave up and gave him his money back by trading him up to a brand new 2011 RT Ltd.

I was surprised when he drove up to the group I was going with.. then he told me what happened..

hopefully you can get another one that will give you many more trouble free miles

[sassapnts]

Bless your heart and your optimism! Glad to hear you were ok through the fire. That's scary stuff...

Please do keep us updated on how your situation turns out.

[shrevspyder]

i can definatally relate to your experiance,and am glad another ride eacaped unharmed. i posted my tragidy a couple of moths back.i also had an 09.they so far figure its a throttle body issue.my old one is still at the lab being looked at.keep your head up!it will get alot better when you go in to purchase your2012.im now rideing a 2011 gun metal grey beast and have had no problems.