Up for auction is my 2000 Honda RC51
(RVT1000R / SP1). Per the VIN#, XXXXXXXX194 this RC51 is just the 194th one to roll out of
the factory early in the first production year. There were rumors,
unsubstantiated, that a couple hundred RC51's were hand built by one tech at a
time to ensure quality for the press corps. I don't know if that is true, but
this is certainly one of the first batches to be produced.
So why am I selling? I am only reluctantly selling due to a career change and move this past June 2016. I no longer have my man-cave/garage and do not want to
store the bike outside or my storage unit for 1-2 years. I have decided it would be
better to see the bike go to a new home where it can be used properly. On the other hand, I am in no rush to sell and if I end
up keeping this baby forever, I could live with that easily.
I am the second owner. I bought it around March 2007 with about 5,600 miles on
the clock. I took one test ride and within 10 minutes along a curvy road and
after hearing the gear driven cams, and the exhaust note as I decelerated into
a turn, quickly came back and paid the man what he wanted before he came to his
senses and changed his mind. Now it has about 10,500 miles but I still ride it so
this may increase slightly. Clear North Carolina title. No liens, no title
issues. I have babied this bike and made some great improvements cosmetically,
and to the performance as detailed below. The bike has never been in the rain
as long as I have owned it, and always stored in my garage. I am a 40 year old
guy so the bike has never been wheelied or abused in any way. Comes with two
keys. Being sold as-is, with no warranty.
PAINT/COSMETICS
Never been down or dropped. No rash. Paint is glossy and most people cannot
believe this is a 2000. No cracks in the fairings. No major chips in the paint other
than typical tiny nicks on the front leading edges of the fairing (from small
road stones, etc). and small scratches consistent with road use. I am extremely OCD about my bikes. Foe example, the front upper fairing developed a tiny crack at a screw location that bothered me, so I bought a brand new OEM color matched replacement fairing from Honda that cost me about $600. That is how well this bike was treated!
You will not find a used 2000 RC51 in better condition unless it has been
stored away and never used. I really have nothing else to say about the
cosmetic condition because it is simply in great shape.
ENGINE/EXHAUST/CLUTCH/TIRES
The engine is stock, and starts and runs flawlessly. I have never had any
issues with the engine performance or reliability. Just keep this bike on a battery tender and she starts right up.
Nothing more I can say. I just have not had issues whatsoever. Valves are not
due to be checked on RC51's until 16K miles, so no worries about that for a
while.
It has the very rare and very expensive Akrapovic full titanium and
carbon fiber exhaust. This was on the bike when I bought it. There are some
small scrapes on the bottom/side of the down pipes from what the prior owner
said was him scraping it on a garage wall while storing it. No big deal. I put
heat guards over that section of the pipes anyway so you never see it. With
this exhaust (no restrictors) nothing sounds like this bike. It is loud, but
makes a beautiful tone, like an offshore power boat in my opinion. Go ahead, live a little and do that high speed pass through the school zone, retirement village or residential neighborhood. You'll set car alarms off as you thunder by. You will scare small children and make grown women crave your company.
No clutch, brake or other issues at all. I have replaced the front and rear
brake pads with EBC HH race pads within the last 3-4 thousand miles or so.
At around 8,000 miles I replaced both tires with fresh rubber. Up front is a
Dunlop Q2 (Qualifier 2) 120/70 ZR17. In back is the same tire in 190/50 ZR17.
They are hardly broken in.
MAINTENANCE/SERVICE
As to maintenance, In addition to any other items listed above, I change the
oil and filter myself every year because I don't put many miles on the bike
year to year. I always use Castrol High Performance Synthetic motorcycle
oil 10W-40. I last did this most recently at 9,900 miles. The drive
chain/sprocket is in great shape. Does not need to be replaced at this time.
I changed the antifreeze about 2-3 years ago. As noted I have replaced the
front and rear brake pads. I also regularly bleed the brakes and clutch. No
other issues with forks shocks, electrics, etc. I replaced the battery about
2-3 years ago and it has no issues holding a charge and starting, etc. It has a
battery tender pigtail installed.
ADDITIONS/IMPROVEMENTS
The original owner had the Akrapovic exhaust installed. He also had the frame
sliders installed in the factory-provided location, and professionally drilled
the holes in the fairing for the sliders. These are the real frame sliders and
have the connecting bar straight through the bike as Honda intended.
Also during the time that I have owned this bike, I installed the following:
* Power Commander III USB
* Convertibars Rhino adjustable clip-ons (they are the best thing you can put
on these bikes. Still sporty but riding position can be adjusted many ways)
* Hotbodies Undertail with integrated led brake and turn signals (I have also
wired additional rear turn signals for added visibility)
* Proton front flush mount led turn signals.
* LED turn signal flash corrector to have the LED signals flash at the factory correct
slow blink rate.
* Pro-Grip hand grips which are safety wired; bar end weights to reduce vibration.
* Swing-arm spool sliders
* Puig Windscreen (factory spec/height)
* Replaced battery and installed battery tender pigtail
* CNC machined aluminum front fork preload star adjusters.
EXTRAS THAT WILL ALSO COME WITH THE BIKE
Not pictured, but the bike does come
with the original OEM passenger seat and the factory rubber seal for that seat.
You just replace the pictured smooth cowl with the seat. Also comes with the
OEM complete tool kit, and original owners manual. I am also including a copy of the factory service
manual because I will not need this once the bike is sold.
BIDDING/SHIPPING AND PAYMENT
Ok, now you know everything I know
about the bike. There is nothing more I can really add but I will answer any of
your questions via e-mail. You can see that I took care of it, and put very few
miles during my almost 9 years of ownership. I am pricing the starting bid accordingly. Please, please, DO
NOT waste my time or yours with low ball offers, or ask me to trade something.
I don't want your snowblower or 86 Ford Bronco. I will listen to reasonable
offers, but I would just as soon keep the bike than give it away. Also don't
ask questions unless you are serious about bidding/buying. I get too many
e-mails from window shoppers and it takes a lot of time to fully answer
everyone's e-mail questions.
I am selling this bike for cash
only. I will accept certified or wired funds, but they must clear and make it
into my bank account before I release the bike. Too many scammers out there and
I need to protect myself as you can appreciate. I will work with you on
shipping by making myself available for pick up etc.
I am not going to discriminate against bidders who just joined Ebay and/or have
no bidding history. HOWEVER, I would of course be much more comfortable doing a
transaction with a well established Ebayer with a solid history. If you have no
history, I will be wary but fair. Long-time bidders will get the respect they
earned.
OTHER DISCLAIMERS/PEOPLE WHO SHOULD NOT BID
If you read this far, you are
interested in an RC51 and already know they are very special motorcycles with a
cult following--and with good reason. As a long-time rider (over 20 years),
some things I just can't abide by, so I am providing a list of squidly behavior
and other things that disqualify you from ever buying this motorcycle from me.
I don't care how much you offer. I won't sell it to you--ever--for any reason--if
you fit any of these categories, so just don't bid:
1. You
intend to re-paint this bike some stupid color other than factory correct.
(Please don't do this to an RC51. If you don't like the factory red and
silver, buy the 2005/2006 which are black and gray, or go get a CBR or maybe some type of Suzuki).
2. You
think that colored led lights inside the bike look cool. They don't.
3. You
intend to part this bike out (please never do this)
4. You
like to do wheelies, stoppies, or other nonsense. I won't have my RC laying in a highway ditch while you are medi-vacced to the ER.
5. You
don't know about or appreciate the RC51, and/or think it is just some kind of
CBR, AND/OR don't know or care this is
a v-twin, and just think "it might be cooler than my GSXR."
6. You
don't think it is wrong to wear your shorts and sandals or
"flip-flops" while riding AND/OR your helmet has a "mohawk"
glued to the top.
7.
Finally, you intend to chrome plate the frame and put an "extended swingarm" on this bike. God
no. There is a special place in hell for these people.
THANKS FOR VIEWING AND GOOD LUCK!
QUESTION AND ANSWER FORUM:
Just remember like mom always used to say, there are no stupid questions.
Well actually there are, but I will try to just post the ones that are not.
Q: Is there the original
vin number plate on the frame? if not do you know why?
A: Honda did not put a VIN
“plate” on the frame. It is just a sticker/decal that looks like a VIN plate,
and is unnecessary legally or otherwise. I removed it for four reasons: (1) it
is a hideous eyesore that looks out of place on the matte black frame; (2) unnecessary
since VIN number is stamped into the headcasting (3) it neither adds nor
decreases value of the bike; and finally (4) see number 1. All jokes aside,
there is nothing nefarious in my taking it off the frame. Some people take
these stickers off, some leave them on for reasons of their own. Rest assured, the VIN and
title are clear on the bike.