Looking to buy an Rx1, what should I look out for?

[NorthernMainer]

Hello all! I will soon be a Yamaha rider. I am looking to get an earlier model Rx1, I am tired of skidoo, and having to rebuild a 2 stroke every year (basically). What specifically should I check for when I am going to look at one? Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[BigDogrx1]

If your a trail rider you'll like it.
Look for one that's had about 4 main improvements.
1. Seat $200.
2. 2" pivot risor. $80.
3. 13mm sway bar. $100.
4. Better skid (mono) $350-400

Check for donuts gone, replace with copper.
Just plug both tail pipes, should stall quick.
$60.

Frt bushings (wear item)
You can find some nice ones on this site that have the upgrades and they are great pull like a train.

 

[NorthernMainer]

If your a trail rider you'll like it.
Look for one that's had about 4 main improvements.
1. Seat $200.
2. 2" pivot risor. $80.
3. 13mm sway bar. $100.
4. Better skid (mono) $350-400

Check for donuts gone, replace with copper.
Just plug both tail pipes, should stall quick.
$60.

Frt bushings (wear item)
You can find some nice ones on this site that have the upgrades and they are great pull like a train.View attachment 113266 View attachment 113267

Yours looks awesome! and cool what seat would you recommend? I was also thinking of tossing a long track on, try and get a skid that has the tip up rails.

 

[BigDogrx1]

There is a guy here on TY with a nice one everything is done, long track good guy in NY FOR $3200.
MY SEAT is a WRP MTN seat.
Pull up RX1 FOR SALE he's got good description with pics. I have his number.

 

[BigDogrx1]

Go to classified Yamaha units.
05 (snowarrior) is seller
This has it all and ready to go.

 

[blkhwkbob]

Read up about them burning oil before you purchase.

 

[BigDogrx1]

Read up about them burning oil before you purchase.

Only some did 03-04, 05 didn't.
My 03 doesn't even if they burn a $5. At of oil in 300-400 miles who cares. They still run perfect.
Most 03-04 it's not a issue.
Like everything else guys dwell on a negative that will never put ya down.
Or ya could by a $17,000. Viper and have a rod bend (wow) now that's a problem.
There are thousands of 03-04 sleds out there BONE stock with 10-20K on them that are still great sleds.
Bottom line is it's a BIG BANG for your BUCK

 

[blkhwkbob]

As I've stated before, I basically maintain two 2003 RX-1's. One is mine and one my friends. Mine burns very little oil, and his burns a lot. I just keep an eye on my level, but he almost has to check his like it is a two-stroke. It's a pain in the butt. We've tried the quick fixes and they don't work. Oil additives help some, but you need to be careful that you don't start using more of that than actual oil.

What is REALLY embarrassing is when he forgets to watch where he parks, and somebody parks behind him and gets their $10k snowmobile covered in the oil that sprays out his blackened exhaust tips when he starts his sled. It is a big enough problem that people should be informed. It is a joke that Yamaha never acknowledged the problem and did a recall.

 

[NorthernMainer]

Well if I buy one that burns oil, I will just pull the motor and rebuild it. I know its a big job to get the engine out of an rx1 but I'm not too worried about it.

 

[Yamadog]

Just look for an 05 they have the mono shock rear end, better rings and the only mods you would need to think about is putting an apex seat on it, A bit taller riser, a 13 mm sway bar and maybe skis I ran ohlin shocks and simmons skis on all of mine.

I have had 2- 03's and 3 05's and $ for $ they were some of the fastest out of the box sleds I ever rode. I just got tire of the carb cleaning and cracked rails from riding them so hard.

 

[NorthernMainer]

Just look for an 05 they have the mono shock rear end, better rings and the only mods you would need to think about is putting an apex seat on it, A bit taller riser, a 13 mm sway bar and maybe skis I ran ohlin shocks and simmons skis on all of mine.

I have had 2- 03's and 3 05's and $ for $ they were some of the fastest out of the box sleds I ever rode. I just got tire of the carb cleaning and cracked rails from riding them so hard.

View attachment 113435

View attachment 113434

View attachment 113438

Do the newer ones have a better carb setup? I'd just get an apex, but I'm looking to spend $3500 or less. I've actually been reading up on swapping the earlier rx1's to fuel injection. Doesn't seem too bad to do.

 

[BigDogrx1]

Here we go on carb cleaning again.
IF YOU PUT FUEL TREATMENT IN TANK AND START IT ONCE A MONTH YOU WON'T HAVE CARBS NEEDING CLEANED.
Carbs just sitting with old fuel in them for 9 months and you get to clean them.

 

[NorthernMainer]

Here we go on carb cleaning again.
IF YOU PUT FUEL TREATMENT IN TANK AND START IT ONCE A MONTH YOU WON'T HAVE CARBS NEEDING CLEANED.
Carbs just sitting with old fuel in them for 9 months and you get to clean them.

I prefer fuel injection, I strongly dislike carbs but I will deal with them if it means getting on a 4 stroke sled finally.

 

[Yamadog]

Do the newer ones have a better carb setup? I'd just get an apex, but I'm looking to spend $3500 or less. I've actually been reading up on swapping the earlier rx1's to fuel injection. Doesn't seem too bad to do.

No the carbs are all the same and putting fuel injection on one is not an option that I know of. The apex injection will not work the heads are different. I did put an apex motor in the 1st 03 I woned but that is not as easy as you would believe. all the electronics and handle bars need to be changed over and the fuel pump is a bitch to mount into the rx tank and get it to seal.