Considering a 2003 RX1 - what to look out for?

[DigitalFusion]

Im sorry if this gets posted frequently, but I searched and only came up with a few threads. I am looking to maybe get myself into a RX-1, and was wondering what to look out for? What are some common failure points on these machines, and particular failure points the 03's?

I found an 03 with 4K miles, M10, heavier sway bar, 04 shocks with the straight rate springs, and flexi skis for 3800. Seem like a decent deal?

Would it be safe to assume this person was an aggressive rider, having done the front end mods to keep the skis down in high speed turns, and the M10 rear? If so, what should I look out for?

 

[Raypex]

RX-1

Digitalfusion,
The most important thing to look at is maintenance history,
The engine is pretty bulletproof as we all know. so if oil changed, no worries.
Look at front end bushings. play in suspension and steering is not unusual but if the seller has neglected stuff too long, there could be damage to bulkhead and other unseen probs. Look at play in bearings! Grab the secondary and lift up and down. (in and out play is normal) it should not move. Jack 'er up and look at drive axle. see if it has play (not so easy but try). Look at chain lube, a little dirty and silver is not uncommon but heavy shavings is obviously bad!
Mostly, talk to the seller. Is he knowledgeable? Did he do his own maintenance? what was his routine? Any receipts?
I also know someone selling a warrior. Good Luck! and don't let urgency make your decision!

 

[DigitalFusion]

thanks for those tips. I thought i read in my searching last night that they had a tendancy to crack somewhere, and the rivits to pull loose somewhere else if abused. I cant find that post again for the life of me tho!

 

[Raypex]

Get as much info from seller as possible! then thoroughly inspect the machine. If it appears clean and un-abused it probably is. If you look at my machine, for example, you can see it's been ridden hard and I wouldn't (couldn't) deny it! If it looks abused and neglected it probably is! look past the armor-all and "for sale" cleaning job. Dig deep, it's not a small investment and the season is too short to buy a "problem child". You'd hate to go on a trip and be forced to get a rental for hundreds of dollars!

 

[DigitalFusion]

im starting to wonder if the rx-1 is really the sled for me? We ride trails mostly, with some ditch banging. The trails around our area are usually pretty rough, tight, and twisty (until you hit a lake).

Having said that, perhaps I should be looking for something else, or would the modifications made to this particular sled cancel out the 'this is a groomed trail sled' issue with these rx1s?

 

[Raypex]

I have limited exposure to these sleds. Ive ridden them, but not extensively. IMO they are hard to manuver in any technical riding scenario and with the lower seating and bars are not easy to stand on in the bumps. The saving grace could be the longer track (i think its a longer track, right?). smaller bumps could be a non issue, but a handle bar riser may be in order for the bigger bumps.

 

[Evil Santa]

I've got an 03 with Almost the same Mods as yours. M10, Fox float shocks, Apex seat, Longer links etc. Stock Motor and Clutching, 12000 mi. plus on it Only thing was a Starter last year. Other than that it has been Bullet Proof. Still running the Original Battery.. I'm still riding it and haven't bought a new one cause it still keeps up with the Big Boys.
I ride the Minn North Shore, Finland, Isabella areas Mostly. I ride very hard and the Trails get Pounded so don't worry about the Suspension. I'm 58 and I can walk fine the next day after a HARD ride HA..
The Skid was the biggest weak point the M10 takes care of that. The one weak point is it doesn't allow you to Transfer a lot of weight off the Front so it may seem heavy steering on the Hard Pack The Ski's were also weak very Darty I had C&A's Hard to steer but gave more Floatation but went back to Stock with Woody's Slim Jim Doubles seem to work well on the trail for my style of riding. Didn't want to spend $$ on new Ski's.
This is NOT a Ditch Banger or a Powder Sled. It will put up with some of both but it will not keep up with the Ditch Pickles.. It will suprise you what it will do the more you ride it. On the Trail it will keep up with most everything. Once you learn to Play the Engine Braking cornering is FUN.
That sounds like a very good deal. 4000 mi is nothing on these and most of the weaknesses have been addressed with the Mods. A very nice Sled for under $4000 Sounds like lots of FUN to me.

 

[DigitalFusion]

im so torn now!

The trails are really tight and snaky around here, and we tend to ride our sleds like we ride our MX bikes. I am only 5'8" and 150lbs soaking wet, so I am worried about being able to man handle the thing around during that style of riding. Its nice to hear from someone like jimsvtr.

Anyone else have any feedback? Are there any of you out there that ride like we do on the RX1?

 

[Evil Santa]

You gotta ride it to see. I'm 5'7" and slightly out of shape 175#. If they're set up Proper not bad at all. Totally different if you were talking Stock Skid. I'm a sit down rider just where I feel comfortable.
Where do you Live? I see Sledneck has an 06 Apex in Wi. for $4250 Very Good deal I would say.. Worth checking out if your close.. The way I feel you can't go wrong with a Yamaha 4 stroke. And buying used usually means the mods that they need are usually done.
Good Luck

 

[Indy]

I've done almost every mod including 136 m10. I have no problem with the twisties, matter of fact they are my favorite and I am waiting @ the stop signs for my buddies. I'll sell mine for 3800 and its has more mods!

 

[DigitalFusion]

I could go and test ride the sled in question. But thats the problem with buying used... its not like you get to take it out for a day and really get a feel for it. You get a relatively short test ride to make up your mind. If there are no trails close, then all you get is to see how it works in the conditions presented, which could be anywhere from a nearby field, around the block, or just across the sellers yard. I feel like the more time I spend researching, the more I feel confused and less confident!

Part of me thinks that a Phazer would be a heck of a a lot of fun, but worries about the lack of power and how cold it would be to ride (reinforced by the 20 below air temps we are going to have tonight). Another part of me says to just go for the Rx1 and deal with any potential inability to slam it thru the whoops and ditches or carve it up thru the twisties, there is another part of me that says just pick up some $2500 sled and make due, and a smaller more fiscally responsible part of me just says to keep the danged ZR440 I have now and live with it!

I always swore I would not buy another toy that wasnt FI, because I am so damned tired of cleaning and tuning carbs, which makes slednecks apex very appealing! However, I am having a hard enough time justifying 3500ish on something, kicking it up another 700-800 bucks makes the pill tougher to swallow. I kinda wish I woulda titled this thread differently... something like 'how do you like your rex for aggressive riding' or 'help me pick the best sleds to go test out'

It doesnt help, and it prolly subconsciously effecting my inability to decide, that I have a couple friends who think the Rx1 is the heaviest lumbering machine to hit the ground since the sherman tank and that the only thing is good for is grampas tour of nice groomed trails. However, these are the same friends that think my decision to buy a YZ250F was horrible because 4 stroke dirt bikes are heavy tanks that could never keep up with 2 smokes and cost millions of dollars to rebuild!

I have wanted a rx1 since I first saw one on the trails in 04. Coming from a street bike background, I heard the exhaust before I saw the machine and was instantly taken aback before it even came into sight. I was never in a position to own one, and now that I am, I am concerened that infatuation has taken over, and my desire to own one is clouding my judgement.

I suppose the only logical next step is to get out and ride one or two, and go from there. I guess I was just desperately hoping that someone would chime in and tell me that they can rock the rex thru all the same conditions as a Rev and feel good at the end of the day. Jims comments helped, but I cant help but hang on the capitalized 'this is not a ditch banger' part of it, which I have read many times. I dont pride myself on ditch banging, but most of the trails out here are litterally thru the ditches and rough as all sin. Plus the way we ride I would be nervous about plunking down the dough only to find out after a couple weeks of riding that the machine wont do what I had hoped after all!

See! Listen to me! I am so damned indecisive!

 

[wreckdiver]

Here in WNY, we have alot of tight. twisty trails. MY RX-1 handles them fine, has no trouble keeping up. Another good thing is that it shines on the lake too. Ditch banging not impossible, but it is not a good sled for it.

 

[Evil Santa]

I'm not trying to talk you Into or out of anything. When I think of Ditch Banging I think of Big Air off every Driveway etc. If that's what your looking for you won't be Happy in my opinion. And no matter what you ride things will Break if you Jump all the time. If your Talking rough tight trail with the M10 you could be very happy with the Ton. If you've ever ridden the North Shore State trail It's Very Twisty and gets pounded. The guys I ride with are all on the Latest and Greatest some former Racers and I'm right there with them. We NEVER get passed on the Trails..

If I was Selling mine I would be happy to let a person get a good feel for it. Just like riding with folks we switch off all the time to get a feel for what everybody else is riding. It doesn't take me very long to tell if I would want to ride whatever sled. Every time I get back on the Ton it feels like Home to me. I would love to have an Apex but I just can't justify the $$ when the Ton still does the job for Me. If your looking for a FI then look at an Apex. If you want a ditch Banging Yammi A Phazer is fun in the Twities and Jumping but just Wheezes out top end. Nytro expect to Pay more than $4000 for a well set up one. Myself I still just Love the sound and performance of the 4 Cyl.

Where you at in Minn? C'mon over bring your sled and I'll let you try mine out for a good ride. I'm 20 miles due North of Two Harbors right off the Yukon Trail. I Ride right from home..

 

[Raypex]

DF,
grab your ears until your head stops spinnin'
You're facing the same thing we all do. My best advice is this, Buy the best sled you can afford(realistically)
Ride it until you find out whether or not it's right for you.
If you like, keep
no like, sell
If you did not overpay during the buying process and did not trash during the riding process, you can resell.

Believe me here. Last year I spent the whole summer going through the same ordeal to buy a used boat! In the end, Advice from a marina was exactly what i'm sharing with you. I wound up only getting it wet three times!(the boat)
Good luck!

 

[factorystock70]

The Rx1's handle amazingly well. Once you ride it and get a rush from the INSTANT power, you'll be hooked. When I jump off mine and let my bro ride it I take over his Formula 3 600cc Ski-doo. I punch it and it feels like Im riding a lawn mower plus I wreak of smoke. Ya cant go wrong with an Rx1.