NEED HELP

[EDBANGER]

Im going to look at an RS for a mate tonight as "the man with experience". I know the basics of what to look for but is then anything specific to the RS I should be looking for?
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[instigator]

Triumph sprint rs?

Aprilia rs50?

125?

[EDBANGER]

RS 125 APRILLA
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If you can't spot the sucker in your first half hour at the table, you are the sucker.

[Jack_Cheese]

piston changed every 10-15,000 miles, with new rings. The headlights are shite, so don't think the battery is dead if they seem poo. The sidestand has been known to be a bit iffy on the old pre '98 extrema models. Make sure it has plenty service history, and recipts for everything...

Jack
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www.bikepics.com/members/jackcheese <--- NOW FOR SALE! 51 Plate Cagiva Planet 125
Quacker_boy: "Jack, you really are a dick!"

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends whose manual you read but they say check the rings from 6000km upwards (think newer manuals specify 8000km, which is 5000 miles). To check the rings properly means a top end strip so you may as well replace them. I am inclined to replace the piston as well with every other set of rings.

Finish is generally not bad.

The side stand works very well but there have been some that have broken ( including breaking the frame where it mounts). I suspect that this is from people who sit on the bike with the stand down (just like sitting on a bike on the centre stand tends to wreck them).

Electrics seem basically sound. Be more worried about owner bodges and aftermarket alarms here.

Brakes can be very very good but the standard pads result in a fair amount of lever pressure being required (possibly deliberate choice for a bike aimed at the inexperienced). EBC HH pads work very well but make the brakes very sharp.

Speedo drives seem to fail alarmingly often on newer bikes.

Check the forks for signs of corrosion. Check the rear shock has not peed out all its oil (they are a pathetic attempt at a shock absorber).

Check it the power valve is fitted and if it works. They are often seized in place if left restricted or run around town a lot.

Clutch cables are a total pain to replace. Check for any fraying near the lever and use it as a bargaining point.

The metal bracket that the back of the tank pivots on can break off. No idea why.

Biggest problem will be owner abuse. Check for accident damage, rubbish modifications, screwey jetting, dodgy aftermarket exhausts that rot away in front of your eyes, power valve put in upside down, claims of a racing plug adding 200hp, bald tyres, worn brake pads (they eat pads anyway, my third front set are almost worn out in 18000km total), knackered steering head bearings, seized rear suspension linkages, blown fork seals, etc.

All the best

Keith
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[colin1]

Check for clutch slip by riding it into the powerband. If at 8k or higher, the revs go higher and without accelerating the bike much, and then drop and then do the same again, the clutch needs replacing.

If it struggles to pull away, the power valve may be stuck open. If there isnt a surge of power at 8k revs+ then the power valve may be stuck closed.

Take out spark plug and see if it is black. If it is black it isnt running quite right (too rich with petrol or too much oil ) and it may be a pain to get it right or you may just accept its not running right. If the lug is a nice brown colour, thats great. White its too lean

You can talk him down with it tho.

Talk as if you know how much it wd cost to get such and such fixed, and knock it off his price.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Mongrel]

Going off on a slight tangent.....how much of the above applies to the 'prilia RS 50 and is there anything specific on the 50 'cos I'm looking at one on Sunday.

[Kickstart]

Hi

The 50 is quite different (and the headlight is really useless). Same applies about checking what the previous owner has wrecked though.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing