When I bought my '09 RSV in 2010, it was three months old and and only had 2500km. Pretty much brand new. Original owner must have paid $18,000....I paid $14,000.
Before buying, I test rode the Gold Wing, the Electra Classic....and to me the RSV was the right fit, and looks the way a bike should look. Seating position, rider/passenger comfort was all there.
Over the last four years I've spend approx $6,500 in accessories and "upgrades" to make it mine. Most parts are OEM but others are from Carbon One, SlowRollWV. OEM accessories are hard to find now.
Would I buy a new 2012/2013 RSV ?
YES (if my RSV were totaled or stolen) :
- 5 year warranty
- $14,000 is a great deal
- still the most comfortable (for me) and reliable touring bike out there
- still has the configuration I wanted in a touring bike 4 years ago (v4, shaft drive, liquid cooled)
NO :
- lack of OEM accessories
- potential 2015 Venture - depending on price and configuration (better have v4, shaft drive)
With other touring bikes :
- Victory - don't like the V lines of the bikes
- HD - don't measure up to the RSV, hate the shaking, not as comfortable, not shaft drive
- Gold Wing - not a comfortable riding position for me, doesn't have the "look" of what I see as a bike
I'm not in a position to "upgrade" to a 2015 Venture. My RSV has 68,000km and still has many more miles in it. Potentially might be the last bike I own and might ride it as long as I ride. If I come into money and the new Venture has what I see as necessities in a touring bike (v4, liquid cooled, shaft drive, riding position, passenger comfort) then I might consider an updated Venture.
If I continue to average 14,000km per year, when I retire in 10 years at age 65 the RSSV will have 200,000km on it. Will still have lots of retirement miles in it.