What to look for

[sheetwright]

Looking at a 2003 rx1 sled for a spare ride for buddies ,etc. what should I look for besides normal track, and suspension issues? Has a little over 4000 miles on it.

 

[thobkirk]

Check the exhaust donuts by plugging the tailpipes with damp rags. The sled should stall or almost stall. Front a arm bushings. As always, the carbs should be cleaned. Wouldn't hurt to repack the driveshaft and jackshaft bearings. Ask the owner if it used much oil. The 03's and 04's were known to use oil.

 

[sheetwright]

Cool thanks

 

[blkhwkbob]

The oil burning problem alone is enough to scare me away from a 2003 RX-1. Half the point of going 4-stroke is getting away from buying oil and a bad RX-1 will make it seem like you are riding a 2-stroke. I wouldn't expect the owner to be honest about oil consumption. My sled doesn't use much oil but my friend's sled uses a ton and it's a pain in the butt. Take a good look at the back of the sled where the exhaust comes out. If the silver trim rings are overly blackened I'd be concerned.

 

[Bigfish]

I've found that the 03-04 oil issue has more to do with sticking rings rather than burning oil.
Yamaha sells a product I believe is called ring-free (I will check when I'm in the shop) which almost totally cures this problem.

 

[YammyRX1]

I have an oil burner (about 1 litre every two or three tanks of fuel) and I'm going to try the Ring Free stuff this year. Check the rear suspension for cracks, see if you can tell what kind of slider wear he is getting (new ones might suggest he is hiding uneven wear).