[Jim Bays]

There may have been some discussions on the steering problem with my Spyder, but my computer has been down for about seven weeks now, and I
missed any comments that may have come up.
I received a recall notice saying the bike may be hard to turn and could result in an accident. I took mine in to have it put on the computer in mid
October even though I had experienced no problems. Within two weeks, while on an outing with a group of " harley" riders, who don't give me too much hassel, I begin to get a shimmey from right to left. Thought at first it was lousey road conditions. Got into a town and was to turn left, wouln't budge until I really forced it. Doing about 65 about 15 miles out and here came the shimmey again, but this time it was worse and the left tire lifted off the ground, I was slightly scared s_ _ tless by now. Slowed down, and did
ok for about 8 miles doing 35 and was crossing a 4 lane when all of a sudden
it turned a sharp right and over the bank I went. Been in my dealers shop over two months and can't get any info except haven't received the part yet. Is this going to happen again? anyone know or experienced this.

 

[Spyderman]

There may have been some discussions on the steering problem with my Spyder, but my computer has been down for about seven weeks now, and I
missed any comments that may have come up.
I received a recall notice saying the bike may be hard to turn and could result in an accident. I took mine in to have it put on the computer in mid
October even though I had experienced no problems. Within two weeks, while on an outing with a group of " harley" riders, who don't give me too much hassel, I begin to get a shimmey from right to left. Thought at first it was lousey road conditions. Got into a town and was to turn left, wouln't budge until I really forced it. Doing about 65 about 15 miles out and here came the shimmey again, but this time it was worse and the left tire lifted off the ground, I was slightly scared s_ _ tless by now. Slowed down, and did
ok for about 8 miles doing 35 and was crossing a 4 lane when all of a sudden
it turned a sharp right and over the bank I went. Been in my dealers shop over two months and can't get any info except haven't received the part yet. Is this going to happen again? anyone know or experienced this.

So you did not have any problems until the reflash?

 

[Faithit]

There may have been some discussions on the steering problem with my Spyder, but my computer has been down for about seven weeks now, and I
missed any comments that may have come up.
I received a recall notice saying the bike may be hard to turn and could result in an accident. I took mine in to have it put on the computer in mid
October even though I had experienced no problems. Within two weeks, while on an outing with a group of " harley" riders, who don't give me too much hassel, I begin to get a shimmey from right to left. Thought at first it was lousey road conditions. Got into a town and was to turn left, wouln't budge until I really forced it. Doing about 65 about 15 miles out and here came the shimmey again, but this time it was worse and the left tire lifted off the ground, I was slightly scared s_ _ tless by now. Slowed down, and did
ok for about 8 miles doing 35 and was crossing a 4 lane when all of a sudden
it turned a sharp right and over the bank I went. Been in my dealers shop over two months and can't get any info except haven't received the part yet. Is this going to happen again? anyone know or experienced this.

I had a similar problem with my 2008 at about 6K: dealer had it trucked back to them where it took about 5 weeks to figure it out: apparantly there was some kind of computer feed-back through the gear shift: it was fine after that. Then there was a recall for a retrofit relating to the steering. That was 7k ago & the bike steers perfectly now. Faithit

 

[Barbwire]

Just go my '08 back from a second fix for the steering issues and thanks to rain and snow don't have a clue if it is fixed. Mine was fixed once and then started up again. BRP has been excellent at helping me with the issue though.

 

[[email protected]]

I was wondering if my problem is the same. I just disconnected the battery to do some welding then reconnected it now as I ride along speed irrelivent my steering becomes vauge and a bit stiff like I can be reiding thru a long turn and then it seems to lock up and not go the way I want it too.

 

[armountainrider]

Just picke up an 08 demo and didn't get 20 mile whenthe Check DPS readout appeared. no real probles until today on my way back from Dallas. It seemed like the sterring was sticking when I applied a little pressure to change lanes. had to apply a little more pressure and then it felt like it got unsuck, but also caused a quick input to the steering. Then at 65 on the interstate went to turn left in a wide sweeper and wouldn't turn left period. had to grab the brakes and luckily got to the shoulder. had to really force it to get it to turn left. that only happened once but the intermittent stuck problem happened the reso of the way home. Check DPS still on, goes to dealer Tuesday.

 

[Spyderman]

Just picked up an 08 demo and didn't get 20 mile when the Check DPS readout appeared. no real problems until today on my way back from Dallas. It seemed like the steering was sticking when I applied a little pressure to change lanes. I had to apply a little more pressure and then it felt like it got un-stuck, but also caused a quick input to the steering. Then at 65 on the interstate I went to turn left in a wide sweeper and wouldn't turn left period. I had to grab the brakes and luckily got to the shoulder. I had to really force it to get it to turn left. That only happened once, but the intermittent stuck problem happened the rest of the way home. The Check DPS is still on, and goes to dealer Tuesday.

Glad to hear you got home OK. One of the things that makes the Spyder so unique is the heavy use of safety electronics. Heavy steering is one thing, but this sounds very scary.

In one of the videos I recently found it was stated that the program was almost canceled after the forth prototype because of the vehicle dynamics. The result was the ABS, VSS, Variable electric power steering. We are relying on electronics now more then ever, cars will be heading to electronic power steering soon and the new RTS has an electronic throttle (i.e. no more cable to the throttle body).

 

[diceman]

steering problem

This is a little late, but I had the same problem on my 2008 Spyder. I had taken it in for its 10,000mi service and when they reset the computer the problem you described occured. It was really bad at low speeds. The dealer ended up replacing the power steering unit and that seems to have corrected the problem.

 

[Chris]

Hi guys. My Spyder almost killed my nephew and myself on Sunday. The steering felt very stiff and wouldn't turn right. Then it veered of to the left violently and I couldn't correct it. I put a lot of force on the bars then it suddenly oversteered to the right, lifting the right wheel off the ground! Luckily I was on a straight part of the highway and managed to stop. I checked everything over but found no obvious problems. I decided to ride the Spyder home but it was doing it constantly at any speed. The most scary ride so far on the Spyder. My dealer now has my Spyder but I'm not holding my thumb (LOL> I have a paralysed left arm). I refuse to ride this Spyder until I know that a problem has been found and corrected. I cannot ride a "normal" bike anymore as I am a paraplegic (left arm paralysed, above-the-knee amputated left leg). Please BRP, sort this out. Our BRP agents here in South Africa are a joke.

 

[IdleUp]

Hello I'm sort of puzzled how or what could actually lift the the front wheel off the ground. Can you explain how this could happen if you didn't hit something?

Thanks

There may have been some discussions on the steering problem with my Spyder, but my computer has been down for about seven weeks now, and I
missed any comments that may have come up.
I received a recall notice saying the bike may be hard to turn and could result in an accident. I took mine in to have it put on the computer in mid
October even though I had experienced no problems. Within two weeks, while on an outing with a group of " harley" riders, who don't give me too much hassel, I begin to get a shimmey from right to left. Thought at first it was lousey road conditions. Got into a town and was to turn left, wouln't budge until I really forced it. Doing about 65 about 15 miles out and here came the shimmey again, but this time it was worse and the left tire lifted off the ground, I was slightly scared s_ _ tless by now. Slowed down, and did
ok for about 8 miles doing 35 and was crossing a 4 lane when all of a sudden
it turned a sharp right and over the bank I went. Been in my dealers shop over two months and can't get any info except haven't received the part yet. Is this going to happen again? anyone know or experienced this.

 

[Latemarch]

Hello I'm sort of puzzled how or what could actually lift the the front wheel off the ground. Can you explain how this could happen if you didn't hit something?

Thanks

He had a lock-up of the steering and when it broke loose that caused a sudden swerve.
If you have ever really turned the steering hard in a corner it's not all that hard to get a wheel to lift.
Of course when the wheel lifts the nanny will cut in and bring it back down, but it's not all that hard to get a wheel to lift.

 

[Bob Denman]

Gee... you've got me to wondering if maybe a set of outriggers isn't a good idea...