What is considered high mileage for a Motorcycle? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Menoman · 03-23-2005, 01:47 AM

I'm looking to buy a used motorcycle, I'm seeing alot of 13k miles bikes, most all of them look in perfect condition. But the prices of them is drastically lower than a 4-5k mileage bike.

Is this because that is "high mileage" for a motorcycle or is it merely because worth depreciates so much on them?

bodypainter · 03-23-2005, 02:32 AM

I don't think 13K miles is high mileage so much as 4K miles is definitely low mileage (and therefore commands a premium). It's really rare to see a bike with 100K miles but there's no reason a modern motorcycle engine couldn't go that far and more. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to save a few bucks and get the bike with 14K miles, all other things being equal.

RaDiAn · 03-23-2005, 10:03 AM

I would judge it on how is it cooled... example Air/Oil or Water Cooled. I believe Air/Oil would fail first. Now many other varibles come into play too, just one more thing to consider.

wisj2 · 03-23-2005, 11:12 AM

I have a 20 year old Honda Goldwing with over 277,000 miles on it and it still runs strong, uses no oil, etc. I put about 6,500 miles on it in February visiting 6 Southeastern States to escape some of the Oklahoma winter.

As has been mentioned, water cooled engines tend to last longer than air cooled ones as they run cooler.

I know a man in Canada who is the original owner of a 1976 Goldwing that has over 586,000 miles on it.

The key to longevity is like any other machine - maintenence. Oil change every 3,000 miles and regular service will keep them going a long time.

neddy65 · 03-31-2005, 06:02 AM

the mileage should not be your main concern in my opinion, but how the bike was used and maintained should be. A bike may look good and have low mileage but if it was used hard( as a lot seem to be these days ) then it is not going to be a good experience. 4k is hardly broken in and if the bike was riden hard and put away wet then you can expect lots of woes down the road. If you can find a bike with reasonable mileage and a documented history of maitainence then Bob's yer uncle!

Ilow · 03-31-2005, 02:04 PM

A lot of the BMW K bikes are notable for easily getting over the 100,000 mile range. I know a lot of V-twin owners who have bikes like George Washington's axe (it's had three new heads and five handles, but it's still GW's axe!) that is they have rebuilt motors changed forks etc. so the registration may be the same, but it's not the exact bike.

Cycler · 03-31-2005, 08:19 PM

Look for one with a documented maintneance history. My first bike I bought from family second one a bought new but knowing the histary and how a machine has been cared for can save you alot of headaches down the road.

wisj2 · 03-31-2005, 08:40 PM

I got my somewhat high mileage bike from the original owner, It had 249K when I got it, I've boosted it up to 277K

One thing I got that is priceless is complete notes about bike maintenence.

Other thing I got from him was a shop manual with personal notations about parts repelaced, complete with part numbers.

I had a house fire back in December, lost most every thing I owned, but somehow the manual and the notebook with the history of my bike survived.

I think I was blessed in a couple of ways.

I was blessed that I was not killed in the fire, and I was blessed that my bike records were not destroyed.

Truth be known, I was 30 seconds from a body bag in the house fire.

dbh · 04-01-2005, 05:14 AM

Depends on the bike. I've got a 500cc air cooled Suzuki twin that I've beat the crap out of for 30K miles and it still runs strong. In fact, I just put it on a dyno and it put the same power to the wheel it did 10 years ago. As mentioned, maintenance is key. Just about any later model bike - particularly Japanese made bikes, will go 40K - 50K or more with normal maintenance like oil changes and valve adjustments - and far beyond if you keep an eye on cam chains, etc. in higher mileage motors.

PayUp · 04-03-2005, 03:59 PM

I just happened to look up some info the other day....

try here....

http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/ke.kb.s...;&&85&zmcmiles

GetRdone · 04-03-2005, 04:04 PM

ive got 4 bikes, 1 harley and 3 older hondas...one has unknown mileage and still runs good, the other has like 40k on it and still runs nice (no 2nd gear tho), and my '74 honda has 15k and still runs realy nice. Bikes can run forever if treated well.

jvwgtr · 04-04-2005, 12:16 PM

I remember registering my motorcycle in Washington state after I moved there many years ago. The clerk gasped when I told her I had 11k miles on it.
"Wow, that's pretty high for a motorcycle!"

Crazy. But like everybody said, if you take care of it, it will last.

03-31-2005, 06:02 AM	#5 (permalink)
neddy65 Loves green eggs and ham Location: I'm just sittin' here watching the world go round and round	the mileage should not be your main concern in my opinion, but how the bike was used and maintained should be. A bike may look good and have low mileage but if it was used hard( as a lot seem to be these days ) then it is not going to be a good experience. 4k is hardly broken in and if the bike was riden hard and put away wet then you can expect lots of woes down the road. If you can find a bike with reasonable mileage and a documented history of maitainence then Bob's yer uncle! __________________ If you're travelling at the speed of light, and you turn the headlights on, do they do anything? My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father, prepare to die! Drink Dickens' Hard Cider because nothing makes a girl smile like a Hard DIckens' Cider!

03-31-2005, 02:04 PM	#6 (permalink)
Ilow Junkie Location: Pats country	A lot of the BMW K bikes are notable for easily getting over the 100,000 mile range. I know a lot of V-twin owners who have bikes like George Washington's axe (it's had three new heads and five handles, but it's still GW's axe!) that is they have rebuilt motors changed forks etc. so the registration may be the same, but it's not the exact bike. __________________ "Religion is the one area of our discourse in which it is considered noble to pretend to be certain about things no human being could possibly be certain about" --Sam Harris

03-31-2005, 08:19 PM	#7 (permalink)
Cycler Float on.... Alright Location: Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains, i.e. Oklahoma	Look for one with a documented maintneance history. My first bike I bought from family second one a bought new but knowing the histary and how a machine has been cared for can save you alot of headaches down the road. __________________ "I'm not even supposed to be here today." "I assure you we're open."

04-03-2005, 03:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
PayUp DILLIGAF Location: AZ	I just happened to look up some info the other day.... try here.... http://www.kbb.com/kb/ki.dll/ke.kb.s...;&&85&zmcmiles __________________ Born to Lose.

04-03-2005, 04:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
GetRdone Psycho	ive got 4 bikes, 1 harley and 3 older hondas...one has unknown mileage and still runs good, the other has like 40k on it and still runs nice (no 2nd gear tho), and my '74 honda has 15k and still runs realy nice. Bikes can run forever if treated well. __________________ Revere Jena Malone.......this is not a suggestion.

03-23-2005, 02:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
bodypainter Psycho Location: Sarasota	I don't think 13K miles is high mileage so much as 4K miles is definitely low mileage (and therefore commands a premium). It's really rare to see a bike with 100K miles but there's no reason a modern motorcycle engine couldn't go that far and more. I certainly wouldn't hesitate to save a few bucks and get the bike with 14K miles, all other things being equal.

03-23-2005, 10:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
RaDiAn Addict	I would judge it on how is it cooled... example Air/Oil or Water Cooled. I believe Air/Oil would fail first. Now many other varibles come into play too, just one more thing to consider.

03-23-2005, 11:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
wisj2 Tilted Location: Oklahoma	I have a 20 year old Honda Goldwing with over 277,000 miles on it and it still runs strong, uses no oil, etc. I put about 6,500 miles on it in February visiting 6 Southeastern States to escape some of the Oklahoma winter. As has been mentioned, water cooled engines tend to last longer than air cooled ones as they run cooler. I know a man in Canada who is the original owner of a 1976 Goldwing that has over 586,000 miles on it. The key to longevity is like any other machine - maintenence. Oil change every 3,000 miles and regular service will keep them going a long time.

03-31-2005, 08:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
wisj2 Tilted Location: Oklahoma	I got my somewhat high mileage bike from the original owner, It had 249K when I got it, I've boosted it up to 277K One thing I got that is priceless is complete notes about bike maintenence. Other thing I got from him was a shop manual with personal notations about parts repelaced, complete with part numbers. I had a house fire back in December, lost most every thing I owned, but somehow the manual and the notebook with the history of my bike survived. I think I was blessed in a couple of ways. I was blessed that I was not killed in the fire, and I was blessed that my bike records were not destroyed. Truth be known, I was 30 seconds from a body bag in the house fire.

04-01-2005, 05:14 AM	#9 (permalink)
dbh Upright	Depends on the bike. I've got a 500cc air cooled Suzuki twin that I've beat the crap out of for 30K miles and it still runs strong. In fact, I just put it on a dyno and it put the same power to the wheel it did 10 years ago. As mentioned, maintenance is key. Just about any later model bike - particularly Japanese made bikes, will go 40K - 50K or more with normal maintenance like oil changes and valve adjustments - and far beyond if you keep an eye on cam chains, etc. in higher mileage motors.

04-04-2005, 12:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
jvwgtr Completely bananas Location: Florida	I remember registering my motorcycle in Washington state after I moved there many years ago. The clerk gasped when I told her I had 11k miles on it. "Wow, that's pretty high for a motorcycle!" Crazy. But like everybody said, if you take care of it, it will last.