2000 Honda RC51 RVT1000R SP1

2000 Honda RC51

Price: US $4,750.00
Item location: Greenville, North Carolina, United States
Make: Honda
Model: RC51
SubModel: RVT1000R
Type: Sport Bike
Year: 2000
Mileage: 10,114
VIN: XXXXXXXXXX000194
Color: Red
Engine size: 998
Vehicle Title: Clear
Contact seller: Contact form
Description

Up for auction is my 2000 Honda RC51 (RVT100R / SP1). Per the VIN#, his RC51 is just the 194th one to roll out of the factory early in the first production year. There were rumors, nsubstantiated, hat 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, ut this is certainly one of the first batches to be produced.
So why am I selling? I am only reluctantly selling some of my motorcycles, his one included, ue to a career change and move planned in 2016. I do not want to store the bike in a 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. If I end up keeping this baby forever, 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 exhaust note as I decelerated into a turn, uickly came back and paid the man what he wanted before he came to his senses and changed his mind. Now it has 10,114 miles but I still ride it so this may increase slightly. Clear North Carolina title. No liens, o title issues. I have babied this bike and made some great improvements cosmetically, nd 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.
PAINT/COSMETICS
Never been down or dropped. No rash. Paint is glossy and most people cannot believe this is a 2000. As pictured, ou will see on the left top side of the cowl, touched up area from a hairline crack that developed over time, not from an impact but just a stress crack. The hairline crack is on the tops and slightly on the side. I reinforced the crack with a proper abs epoxy from underneath the cowl to stop any further spread and that has held fast for several years without issue. I did try to touch up the area but did only a so-so job since I am not much of a touch up artist. Someone with better skills could make it disappear.
On the right top side upper cowl you will see a couple touch up spots from where my throttle cables touched the cowl while doing maintenance. Just small paint chips. No cracks or other damage. I touched up the area but likewise somebody with better skills could do a great job making it disappear. No cracks in the fairings other than one small hairline crack in the upper cowl as pictured. I repaired this stress crack from the rear of the fairing with an epoxy several years ago and it has held fast with no issues.
The rest of the paint is in fantastic condition, lossy as you would expect. No major chips, tc other than typical nicks on the front leading edges of the fairing (from small road stones, tc). and small scratches consistent with road use.
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, nd starts and runs flawlessly. I have never had any issues with the engine performance or reliability. Does not burn oil, leak, r smoke, tc. 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.
It has the 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, ut makes a beautiful tone, ike an offshore power boat in my opinion. Do that high speed pass through the school zone or residential neighborhood and setting car alarms off as you thunder by, ou will scare small children and make women crave your company.
No clutch, rake or other issues at all. I have replaced the front and rear brake 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, n addition to any other items listed above, 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 10W-40. I last did this in March 2015 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, lectrics, tc. I replaced the battery about 2-3 years ago and it has no issues holding a charge and starting, tc. 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, nd 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, 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 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, ut 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, nd original owners manual.
I am also including a Lockhart Philips rear swingarm stand, battery tender junior, nd a copy of the factory service manual because I will not these 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, nd put very few miles during my almost 9 years of ownership. I am pricing it accordingly, ut very fairly. I am listing it as a fixed price or best offer. Please, lease, DO NOT waste my time or yours with low ball offers, r ask me to trade something. I don't want your snowblower or 86 Ford Bronco. I will listen to reasonable offers, ut 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, ut 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, would of course be much more comfortable doing a transaction with a well established Ebayer with a solid history. If you have no history, 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, ou 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), ome things I just can't abide by, o 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, ver for any reason if you fit any of these categories, o 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, uy the 2005/2006 which are black and gray, r go get a CBR).
2. You think that colored led lights inside the bike look cool.
3. You intend to part this bike out (please never do this)
4. You like to do wheelies, topies, r other nonsense.
5. You don't know about or appreciate the RC51, nd/or think it is just some kind of CBR, ND/OR don't know or care this is
a v-twin, nd 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, ou intend to put an "extended swingarm" on this bike. God no.
THANKS FOR VIEWING AND GOOD LUCK!
Additions as of 12/23/15
QUESTION AND ANSWER FORUM:
Just remember like mom always used to say, here are no stupid questions. Well actually there are, ut 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, nd 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; VIN number is stamped into the headcasting (3) neither adds nor decreases value of the bike; and finally (4) see number 1. All jokes aside, here is nothing nefarious in my taking it off the frame. Some people take these stickers off, ome leave them on for reasons of their own. The VIN and title are clear on the bike.

Also published at eBay.com