Topic: MN motorcycle title--Model: "RS"--What the hell does that mean?

[mill1640]

So I didn't pay much attention to the title I received after recently purchasing my 1976 Honda CB550K.
Under "MODEL" on my Minnesota title, it is listed as "RS".
Any clue what that means?
Surprisingly difficult to find an answer on the interwebs.

Two explanations I've found:

1. It means "rebuilt/salvage", suggesting it's been totaled. That is a sickening thought right now.

or

2. It means "road/street".

or it means neither of those and you Honda experts have the real explanation.

Thanks.

Oh and here are some crappy picks of my 1976 Honda CB550 "RS".

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[dave500]

its rat #$%*,at least thats what rs means here in australia.

[Nic]

its rat #$%*,at least thats what rs means here in australia.

Are we not allowed to say #$%* around here? Oh for #$%*'s sake.

[Tews19]

Road street..... Don't worry about it...pics of the bike please!

[nIkbot]

its rat #$%*,at least thats what rs means here in australia.

Are we not allowed to say #$%* around here? Oh for #$%*'s sake.

You have to take off the mittens through your profile settings.

[Bankerdanny]

Why don't you call the state and ask?

Even if it indicates rebuilt I would be far more concerned on a complex modern car, where a poor rebuild can be easily hidden than on a simple old motorcycle where they cannot.

[madmtnmotors]

Maybe it was a "Rick Shaw" in a past life?     

[Powderman]

It is most likely Rebuilt Salvage. Some jurisdictions state that Salvage titled vehicles can not be rebuilt. Minnesota issues both R and S titles. Yours could have been written off by the insurance company from being in a flood but did not have any physical damage. Many vehicles that went through Hurricane Sandy in New England last year were totaled by the Insurance companies but sold at auction and retitled in states that could retitle them. Yours may no fit this scenario but you never know unless the PO is honest with you.

[Tews19]

It's not rebuilt. 


I found this..... plus I bought a near mint 550 from MN with RS on the title.....


I have three MN titles in front of me. The old titles used to say type: 2w MC which meant two wheeled motorcycle. Starting around 1991 (I think) they changed them to say type: RS which means Road/Street. The newer MN titles say Model/Body: RS. My WI titles say Body Style: Road/Street. So basically you have nothing to worry about. By the way, you can sometimes find good deals on Craigslist by searching for 'Honda RS' or 'Yamaha RS' because people don't know what they have and list whatever they see on the title.

[Powderman]

It doesn't need to have been rebuilt. Some are totaled by the insurance companies for being under water for a day. You hose it off and you may never know it was under water. The insurance doesn't want to deal with what ever water damage may occur up the road so they just write it off

[mill1640]

Why don't you call the state and ask?

Even if it indicates rebuilt I would be far more concerned on a complex modern car, where a poor rebuild can be easily hidden than on a simple old motorcycle where they cannot.

Because I work at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq.
Calling back home is a pain due to the time difference.

[Tews19]

MIl, you are good to go.. RS means road/street


All this salvage stuff is non sense.... I've dealt with a few MN purchases...

[Gman]

MIl, you are good to go.. RS means road/street

+1  My 550 is also RS on the title - it's the body style.  Nothing to do with salvage title or anything - don't worry about it any more!

Cheers,
G

[CapeCafe]

I don't see why anyone would care even care if an old 550 carried a salvage title.  If the frame is straight, front tubes aren't bent it's no less valuable than a clean title, or no title.  I've seen valuable Ducati's that have slid down a track but never reported as an insurance claim, then later sold as a "clean title" bike. It's always buyer beware.  Look for the obvious damage and make your buying decision on what you are willing to do to the bike to make it perform for your purposes.

I picked up my 76 550 with just a bill of sale and simply registered the bike in VT and then took my VT registration to the MA RMV and paid $25 for a plate and MA title.  The cost to register in VT was $86 total and I had a plate within 5 days.  Unless it's a special bike like the sand cast 750's I read about on this forum, I would never pay more for a SOHC titled bike than bill of sale bike, IMHO.

[Stev-o]

My K5 came with a MN title, has "2W" on it.