Is the RevZilla RPM Membership Worth It? Here’s My Honest Take

I almost didn’t make it to Reading Coffee Company in time today, but I got there right under the wire and grabbed some beans before they closed at 4. Of course I managed to walk out of the house without my phone, so no pictures of the haul this time, but that is a story for another day. What I actually want to talk about is something that happened before I even left the garage, because I ended up signing up for a RevZilla RPM membership and I am still working out if it was a smart move or not.

It is hot out today, 85 degrees, though nothing like yesterday’s 96 in the garage while I was working on the 76 CB750F. This Icon Contra 2 jacketOpens in a new tab. is ventilated and it actually makes a real difference once you get moving. But back to the RPM thing, because that is what is on my mind today.

I needed a spring compressor for the rear shocks on the CB750F, and that is what kicked off this whole RevZilla rabbit hole.

Why I Needed a Shock Compressor

My shop manual for the 750F lists a specific tool for compressing those rear shocks, but I could not track one down. I did find a tool on eBay that is compatible with the late 70s and early 80s Honda CB750F, 900F, and 1100F, but the only one listed was running around 112 dollars, and that was assuming it was even still available.

Rather than chase down some old archaic tool, I decided to go a more modern and cheaper route. RevZilla had a universal motorcycle and ATV shock compressor for 28 bucksOpens in a new tab..

1976 Honda CB750F Rear Shocks

How I Ended Up With an RPM Membership

Here is where it gets interesting. When you check out at RevZilla, they always hit you with the offer to upgrade to an RPM membership. A year of RPM runs about 39.95Opens in a new tab., call it 40 bucks. When you sign up, you get 15 dollars in RevZilla cash to use on a future purchase, plus I got a couple bucks back in RPM cash on the shock compressor itself, plus free shipping on that order.

So let’s actually add that up. Fifteen in RevZilla cash, two bucks in cashback, eight bucks I saved on shipping. That is 25 dollars in value right there. I know that sounds a little like girl math, justifying a purchase by stacking up savings that only exist if I spend more money, but here is the thing. I am in the middle of a restoration project. I am going to need other parts and accessories before this is over, so the math actually works out in my favor if I keep ordering from them.

Just for fun, I plugged my 76 CB750F Super Sport into the garage feature on RevZilla to see what exact fit parts they carry for it. There are not a ton of options, but there is some. They have the battery I am going to need, chain, brake pads, oil filters, that kind of thing. I am not saying RevZilla is going to be my cheapest option for every part. It might end up being cheaper on Amazon or somewhere else depending on the item. But given that I am likely going to be ordering more from them this year than I have in the past, the membership felt like a reasonable bet.

End result, my 27 dollar purchase turned into a 70 dollar purchase once I added the membership. But I am banking on saving that back over the course of the restoration.

RevZilla RPM Membership

Is It Worth It For You

That really depends on how much you actually buy from RevZilla in a given year. If you are already a regular customer there, the math is pretty straightforward. If you only order from them once in a blue moon, paying 40 bucks upfront for a membership might not make sense, and I get that completely.

I am curious where you land on this. Do you already have a RevZilla RPM membership, and if so, has it paid off for you? If you do not have one, is it something you would consider, or do you just skip annual membership perks like this on principle? Drop your thoughts in the comments, I would genuinely like to know how other riders feel about it.


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If you want more of this, subscribe to the WaltInPA YouTube channelOpens in a new tab. for more riding content. If you know someone who would get a kick out of this one, share this post with a friend who rides. And if you want to talk gear, tools, or anything else with people who actually ride, come hang out in the WaltInPA DiscordOpens in a new tab. where good people talk about riding.

Walt

My name is Walt White and I've been riding motorcycles on and off since my early twenties. After more than a decade away from the sport, I came back - and I've been making up for lost time ever since. Based in Southeast Pennsylvania, I write and create videos about real motorcycle ownership: the bikes I ride, the gear I test, the roads I explore, and the community I've found along the way. I ride a 2022 Yamaha MT-09 SP and a 2023 Kawasaki Ninja 400, and I try to give you the honest take you'd get from a friend rather than a press release. I'm also a husband, dad to three girls, and a pitbull owner - which keeps life interesting off the bike too.

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