Your thoughts on used 1999 RSV

[Phoneman1981]

Hello Everyone: Value your opinion. Local owner has his 1999 RSV up for sale. Above average condition. 83k miles.new E3 tires. Lots of chrome bling. Studded Mustang seat with matching drivers backrest. Asking $3900. I am trying to help a friend locate a bike for he and his wife. What do you think?

[utadventure]

I purchased my '99 in Jan 2014 and paid $3600.00. Been a great deal so far. Mine had about the same mileage and tires were in good shape but not new. I wish I could have bought a Mustang seat and backrest for $300.00....LOL

 

Sounds like a good deal. Good luck!

 

Dave

[cowpuc]

Doesnt Gary (Venturous) have his 02 for sale in our classifieds for the same money? I only ask cause I know he has already swapped out the problematic rear shock for a Hagon (or something like that) and even that is a huge plus.. Plus its 3 years newer..

As always, value is set between a willing seller and a wanting buyer, way it seems to have always worked in my dealings with stuff.. Understanding that, I think an 02 for 3900 is fair and 3 for a 99 would be closer to the mark.. Of course, that is just my opinion which,, in reality is probably not worth even the time it took to read it

 

By the way Phoneman, THANK YOU for helping out your friends!!

[BigLenny]

Phoneman, I see your still rollin the RSTD. Stay strong my brother. RSTD'S RULE!!!!

[djh3]

Know bike and maintenance vs unknown might be helpful also. If the rear shock has been changed thats almost $500 right there without labor. Add to that any records and its a plus.

[DragonRider]

I would be all over that if I was looking, not even broken in yet and a lots of bling...............buy it.

[midnightrider1300]

If bike has been maintained that is a good deal , has a lot of miles left

[Phoneman1981]

Thanks everyone for your comments. I value your opinions. I will pass them on to my friend. I learned the current owner purchased a new Victory. He also just installed a brand new

battery on the 99. Looking like a good deal for someone.

[YamahaLarry]

Bought my '99 RSV a little over a year ago. It had 25k miles and had been well taken care of. A few very minor blemishes, but that is to be expected for a 15 year old bike. Paid $4600 for it. Didn't have the bling you speak of, like studded seats, but did have the saddle bag rails, trunk luggage rack, LED brake lights and brake light bar under the trunk, LED accent lighting (which I removed), rear lowering kit (which I removed), driver backrest and factory driving lights.

 

Haven't had to do anything to it except oil changes and ride it. Did replace the tires recently with white walls.

 

In the past couple of months, my rear shock has began leaking a little, so fixin' to have to fork out close to $500 for Hagon, or I could spend $100 more and go back with the OEM replacement. And, seeing what others get in gas mileage, I am suspecting that my valves may need adjusting very soon. Getting 36 to 38 on open hwy running at 80 +/- most of the time, and get around 42-43 when I do back road riding, and carbs are in sync.

 

I didn't consider my purchase a steal, but considering all other bikes available at the time, a good buy.

 

Lots of miles on the one you mentioned, but from all I have read, these engines are practically bullet proof.

[Freebird]

I don't understand your reasoning for thinking the valves need adjusting due to the gas mileage. 36 - 38 is excellent at those speeds. I'm not saying that everybody shouldn't check the valves at some point but I don't think you have any issues with gas mileage.

[YamahaLarry]

I don't understand your reasoning for thinking the valves need adjusting due to the gas mileage. 36 - 38 is excellent at those speeds. I'm not saying that everybody shouldn't check the valves at some point but I don't think you have any issues with gas mileage.

 

Have read some people claiming they get as high as 46 mpg at non hwy driving, and I have once got that. I do have close to 37k miles on the bike now, and doubt valves have ever been checked.

 

I log every expense into an app, including gas purchases and here are some of the numbers for the past 404 days of logging, and 11, 798 miles:

 

Best fuel consumption: 46.07 mpg

Average fuel consumption: 39.02 mpg

Worst fuel consumption: 33.00 mpg

 

The worst one was during a bike ride that I hosted and for some reason had to jump start the bike when kickstands had to be up. Not sure why battery died sitting there for about 2 hours in cold weather. But the rest of the day during our stops, I left it idling.

 

Just been going by what many say here about gas mileage, miles on bike and have this extreme fear that my tolerances on 1 or more valves could be approaching, or even below the min tolerances.

 

However, I do somewhat dread the job. I am a mechanic from a prior life, and can handle a wrench, but it seems to be quite a chore.

[YamahaLarry]

Another note, bike runs great.

[Freebird]

Never hurts to check the valve clearance at some point but regardless of what you may have read about other people getting, I can assure you that your gas mileage is very good from what you stated. If you are getting 36 - 38 at speeds +/- 80 MPH. I would say that you are average or above what most get. 42 -43 backroad riding is good also. I've seen a very few of those reports of upper 40 MPG but they are very rare and not normal.

[YamahaLarry]

Never hurts to check the valve clearance at some point but regardless of what you may have read about other people getting, I can assure you that your gas mileage is very good from what you stated. If you are getting 36 - 38 at speeds +/- 80 MPH. I would say that you are average or above what most get. 42 -43 backroad riding is good also. I've seen a very few of those reports of upper 40 MPG but they are very rare and not normal.

 

That makes me feel better and the numbers I gave in last post are as accurate as the odometer will allow. I am hoping to tear the bike down maybe around the end of July to repaint it and figured that would be a good time to go ahead are replace the rear shock, front fork springs, adjust head bearing and check/adj valves. And, if I have enough funds at the time, get the Rick Butler seat work. I really love the bike and do not have any plans of getting rid of it in the next several years.

 

It doesn't need a paint job, but doing it in memory of a dear 6 year old friend of mine that died last year from pediatric cancer. Her favorite colors were purple and pink, and will be painting the bike in 2004 Honda Kelly Magenta Candy. Hoping to be able to use the existing paint job on the bike as the base coat.

[Tisunac]

If maintenance was done right, there's still plenty of life in that bike. Yea, it might be worthwhile to check the rear shock. And don't be surprised if carbs needs an adjustment. A few hundred bucks would take care of that. Some rubber hoses might need replacement, depending on how often the bike has been ridden. And was it garaged (or in a shed) or not.

One thing is for sure - you can't find a better, more equipped TOURING full dresser bike for that money. Full fairing, music, trunk, hard bags, excellent engine,... And please make sure your friend knows it's a top-heavy bike. It won't feel like a Goldwing, or an Ultra Classic for that matter. It is a heavy bike. Leveling links and a smaller front tire helps (tire helped me A LOT at slow speeds) but it will still be a heavy bike. If they ride two-up they might want to take it for a spin first. Not only on a highway, but in a stop-and-go traffic, at the gas station, turning left or right from a dead stop at the intersection,.... It needs some muscle, some adjustment. I'm 6'3" and occasionally have to "wrestle" it, when riding two-up and have to stop uphill, or U-turn or... The guy I bought a bike from (several years ago) was significantly shorter and it was too much for him. He liked the bike but was at the edge of dropping it daily. Once you "learn it" it's fine...

 

A lot of accessories available to make it yours (theirs). From pure appearance, to handling, to comfort, to wind protection, to handling,.... IMO, an excellent way to experience a full touring bike, on the budget.

[Wrench]

[Getting 36 to 38 on open hwy running at 80 +/- most of the time, and get around 42-43 when I do back road riding, and carbs are in sync.

 

I didn't consider my purchase a steal, but considering all other bikes available at the time, a good buy.

 

Lots of miles on the one you mentioned, but from all I have read, these engines are practically bullet proof.

 

I've had 2 Ventures, the first was an '04 Midnight that had 26k when I sold it and currently a '99 with 33k. The mileage you mention is spot on with my experience on both. I bought the '99 3 years ago from another member here who had spent several $$'s getting it back into shape after a long garage-sit and I gave what was then about the going price according to internet & craigslist pricing. To me, $3900 doesn't sound bad, even with 83k miles. If you keep these things maintained they'll run forever, I've seen a few with close to 200k on them.

[Zzyzx]

I have a 99 RSV I purchased used 5 years ago with 5200 miles on it. About all I have had to do other than regular maintenance is replace tires.

She runs very well and did a 10K mile coast to coast ride last yeas with no issues, except a rear tire replacement in Atlanta.

 

Getting her ready for another long ride this year and have no issues with jumping on and riding anywhere.

Should be a great purchase.