Advice for 2005 RSV?

[samklr650]

Hi, I'm new here and just signed up yesterday for the trial period. I need some advice because I'm considering buying a 2005 RSV from a local dealer. It only has 8K miles on it. Is there anything I should look at before buying the bike?

[Sylvester]

Ride it under a demo and listen for the whine. Sometimes this can be severe. Most all RSVs have this whine due to the straight cut gears in the transmission. The rear mono shock is a known failure point on these machines and many go to an aftermarket shock like Hagon, YSS and others.

 

Other than that it will last for over 200,000 miles. I have over 180,000 on my 02. Good maintenance is the key to long life on RSVs.

 

[ragtop69gs]

Welcome to the forum.

 

For starters, take a look at THIS Thread, it will answer many of your questions.

[Bert2006]

Welcome to the forum.

 

For starters, take a look at THIS Thread, it will answer many of your questions.

 

And dont let its contents scare you away. Chances of having all of those problems on one bike are low.

 

I bought a 2006 with 32k miles on it last summer and it does require attention and regular maintenance as they are complex machines. The up side is that there is advice available on this site for any possible issue that you may face. And if you come up with a new issue, folks will take up the challenge and find a fix very fast.

 

Best $12 I have ever spent.

 

Welcome aboard......

[samklr650]

Well, I spent some time looking over the thread and there wasn't anything that scares me to bad. After 6 years touring on a KLR, this bike will be a piece of cake! Maintenance don't scare me, I work on Jet engines for a living and I'm a certified Motorcycle Mechanic. I graduated from MMI in 1991.

 

Thanks's for your help!!

[Eck]

Appears you have the confidence you need based on your maintenance skills.

 

I will add my 2 cents:

 

 

• The RSV is a very top heavy bike and in slow motion, is hard to hold up / control. Be careful
  
• I would definitely do the ignition by-pass mod ASAP...it is a very well know problem.
  
• Check to see if the rear shock is leaking. Lay on floor and pull up on rubber boot to visually check for presence of any oil. If so have the dealer replace it before you buy it.
  
• Check goose neck bearing adjustment. This is an easy fix that you can do yourself.
  
• Remove, clean up, and re-lube drive shaft and rear splines
  

If I can be of any help with maintenance questions feel free to email me here on the site or you can call me at two five 6 - four 29 - eight six 23.

 

I owned an 05 RSV fro about 5 years and I really enjoyed that bike. (see pic attached below)

Edited January 29, 2014 by Eck

[RandyR]

These bikes are relatively simple to work on. You won't find a better all-around touring bike.

[Mike G in SC]

Check with the dealer. It MIGHT still have warranty.

 

RSV & RSTD come with 5 year from the date FIRST sold to first owner.

So, a 2008 wth that extreem LOW mileage may have been first sold a couple of years later.

(sat at the dealer a year or three,,,, happens.)

If it was not sold new till after Feb 2009, it may still have a transferable warranty.

The dealer can tell in seconds with the VIN. At most warranty transfer may be $50 or free if dealer wants to see a bike.

 

Welcome, Mike G

[steamer]

Have the dealer change all the fluids. find out haw long it's been sitting.

If more then a couple months, dump the gas and cleann the carb's

[wrenchrob]

Buy it! You will love it!

[The Tooch]

I owned an 05 RSV fro about 5 years and I really enjoyed that bike. (see pic attached below)

 

Hi Eck

 

I've been thinking of putting the white walls on my 05 for that old school look but wasn't sure.

Thanks for that picture, they look great! Who makes those do you remember and were they the stock size?

 

Thanks Dave.

[Yammer Dan]

You a Sea-Foam fan?? Taking bags off 1st time is a itch. But that V-4 is sweet.

[MikeWa]

The RSV is one of the most trouble free bikes ever made. Make sure it runs good when you buy it. Then ride it and enjoy it.

 

Mike

[rutman]

You a Sea-Foam fan?? Taking bags off 1st time is a itch. But that V-4 is sweet.

 

why is that?

[Eck]

Hi Eck

 

Who makes those do you remember and were they the stock size?

 

Thanks Dave

 

 

Dave, I sent you an email....I didn't want to hack this thread..

[dacheedah]

Tires over 5 years old need replacing, don't care how they look.

[samklr650]

Well, the weather warmed up to a balmy 41 degrees, so I'm going after work tonight and test ride the bike. If all goes well and I like the ride, I'll purchase it next week.

[djh3]

Yea I agree with the majority on the subject. Even if everything looks brand new and out of the box. I would allow $$ to replace tires, I would replace the oil, fuel filter and drain the fuel in it. Bleed and purge the hyd system (brakes and clutch) Look the hoses over for brakes. You might even talk them into changing the antifreeze. Sound like alot of things, but once you own it you can gradually change these things and probably would have.

[dacheedah]

slap on some leveling links, push the trunk back an inch, maybe some relays and ride it

[samklr650]

Well I showed up at the bike shop and they had the bike ready. It was stumbling a bit at idle and when taking off, so that told me carbs needed cleaned. When I would shut it off and restart it, it would start right up, but had a slight hesitation. This told me it needed a new battery.

 

The ride was way better than I expected! I rode it 23 miles on two lane and 4 lane roads. It was one of my frequented routes, so I was able to fully evaluate how the bike performed. I was pleasantly surprised! I enjoyed the ride so much that when I got back to the bike shop, I almost went by it to ride some more. had it not benn close to their closing time I may have done just that.

 

At the shop, they agreed to clean the carbs and put in a new battery. We agreed on a price and I told them to give me the weekend to consider it. My son and I went to the Cleveland International Motorcycle Show yesterday, and though I fell in Love with the Indian Chief touring bike, I didn't find anything that excited me like RSV. I want to give the Indian a few years to work out their bugs before considering it, plus make sure their gonna be around. But I made up my mind I,ll be riding a RSV by weeks end

[Bert2006]

Welcome to the club, you will not regret it.

[bongobobny]

Yup! despite their little nuances the RSV is one of the most comfortable touring bikes around and are very dependable. You will enjoy many many miles of pure riding enjoyment!!

 

Be sure to check out Freebird's Maintenance Day June 7th...

[djh3]

Congrats. I hope you decide to become a member, I assure you if you do any kind of fixing or just about anything it will be worth the $12.

[eusa1]

Welcome to the rsv!

Don't let any dealer charge you to transfer the warranty!!

It takes 2 minutes and yamaha does not charge the dealer to do this.

Be sure to transfer even if the warranty has expired, that way any recalls or owner notifications will find you.

Ask lots of questions here, we are a family that loves to help.

Enjoy- mike:cool10:

[samklr650]

Well a deal has been struck with dealer! So after the paper work with Credit Union goes through I'll be the proud owner of a RSV Midnight Venture! Now we need the weather to break so I can get her home.

 

I'll probably spend the rest of the winter going over the bike and getting her ready for spring. I would like to install a trunk rack ( advice on one to buy needed) and a Bagger Shield ( those look very practical, what do you guys think?) and then I'll start racking up the miles!

 

I will definitely purchase a membership on here! There is allot of great advice and tips and hopefully I'll hook up with some local Venture riders.

 

Thanks for all the advice so far! You guys are great!