NHTSA Complaint #10631419 — 2013 CAN-AM SPYDER RT

MY RETURN FROM A SPYDER GATHERING WAS ABOUT 100 MILES TOTAL, INCLUDING SOME STOP AND GO TRAFFIC THRU SEATTLE, AIR TEMPERATURES IN THE LOW 80S (F), AND COMPLETED WITH ABOUT 40 MILES OF OPEN HIGHWAY CRUISING AT 50-60MPH AND AIR TEMPS IN THE HIGH 70S. DURING THIS ENTIRE RIDE, I STRUGGLED TO FIND A POSITION IN WHICH I COULD PLACE MY RIGHT BOOT WHERE IT WAS NOT UNBEARABLY HOT! THE SPYDER NEVER SHOWED ANY SIGNS OF OVERHEATING, BUT MY BOOT SURE DID!!! I WILL ADD THAT I WAS RIDING IN JEANS, LEATHER CHAPS, HIKING BOOTS AND HEAVY SOCKS. POSITIONING MY BOOT IN SUCH A WAY AS TO TRY TO COOL IT DOWN SOME WOULD PLACE IT CONCERNING FAR FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS FORCED TO CHOSE BETWEEN SOME HEAT RELIEF AND SAFETY. ? TOWARDS THE END OF MY RIDE, I FINALLY WAS STOPPED BY A TRAFFIC LIGHT, AT WHICH POINT I SMELLED GASOLINE FUMES VERY STRONG THRU MY FULL FACE HELMET! I ALMOST BAILED OFF, BEING CONCERNED THAT THERE WAS A RISK OF FIRE! I TRIED TO LOOK UNDER THE BIKE TO SEE IF FUEL WAS LEAKING BUT THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I HAD TRAFFIC BEHIND ME. THE FUEL GAUGE AT THIS POINT READ A BIT LESS THAN HALF A TANK. I WAS HOME IN MY DRIVEWAY IN JUST ANOTHER 5 MINUTES. MY WIFE AND MY NEIGHBOR BOTH CAME OUT TO MEET ME AND ASK HOW MY FIRST LONG RIDE WENT. THEY BOTH SMELLED THE GASOLINE ALSO. I OPENED THE SEAT, WHICH WAS ALSO EXTREMELY HOT UNDERNEATH AND ALLOWED THE SPYDER TO COOL DOWN BEFORE PARKING IT BACK IN MY GARAGE. *TR