I can attest to that. My RS has logged over 20k and has leaked not a drop, has only required oil changes and a few chain adjustments. The chain stopped needing adjustments after the first 6k as well. The ONLY repair part I have needed was to replace the clutch cable a couple of months ago. That is the ONLY repair it has ever needed other than the normal maintenance and a couple sets of tires and brake pads! These bikes are dam near bullet proof. When I did my 12k service ALL the valves were within specification.
I got lucky when I bought mine as I had NEVER heard of an RS, but have salivated over the Daytona since the T595 Strontium Yellow ones back in 1998! The $3000.00 rebate on the '02 Daytona's got me 'Window Shopping' yet again but the dealer had sold out of the Daytonas. Go figure? To be honest I was a bit intimidated by the 147HP anyway as my last ride was a Honda CB900F that 'Might' have produced 90HP and I had been off that for almost 5 years. The salesman showed me the RS with 'ONLY' 120HP and it was a very comfortable fit as soon as I sat on it. I did get a choice of colors though; They come in Black and Yellow and I'm sold out of the Black!
Left a deposit,(just to get out of there!) and went to the Net for a bit of homework. Like I said I never knew there was an RS before this. I read any article or review, or road test I could find on them. What I found was that 'Without exception' every tester could not find fault with this bike! They did everything well, and were solid as a rock! Of course the mainstream mags found niggles, needed the wizziest forks or shocks, was a tad heavy compared to the track stuff offered for sale from the big three etc. All ***** as we know. What they did love was what got me interested in the Daytona's when I first found them, Solid motors, with Power and TORQUE! They don't need to be cutting edge on the track as I doubt I have the 'stones' to use it anyway! :-D
It has been and continues to be the BEST bike I have ever owned and give more pleasure while riding because of the wonderful usable power band. Doesn't hurt that it is solid as a rock too.
