How many miles is a lot for a motorcycle?

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JMc · #1 Unread post by **JMc** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:46 am

I'm shopping for a used 1st motorcycle and I'm wondering how many miles is a lot of miles for a bike? I've seen a lot with only a few thousand miles (like 5k to 10k) which would be nothing on a car (but obviously we aren't talking about a car). I've seen some very reasonably priced bikes with closer to 15k or 20k miles on them but after seeing all of the ones with what I would think of as just a few I'm wondering at what point a lot is a lot when it comes to miles on a motorcycle. If I was car shopping I would probably look for something with 50k to 75k max (and plan to sell it after 30k to 40k) I would probably be more to be selling a car with 75k but for a bike I have no idea... Also, does brand have as much of an impact with motorcycles as it does with cars? 100k on a Honda car isn't bad but I probably wouldn't want a Fiat with 100k... There is an inexpensive 94 Honda I might go look at but I'm not sure how many miles it has yet and I'm guessing it has a few... Does it make much of a difference if it is a Suzuki or Honda or say a Ducati or Triumph (just random examples) as far as miles/reliability? I really appreciate any help!

Jerry

Sculelos · #2 Unread post by **Sculelos** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:12 am

I'm not sure how much is alot but my dads motorcycle has 37K on it and it still runs pretty good, and it's a harley, I think most motorcycles should last 30K or more if treated well.

dieziege · #3 Unread post by **dieziege** » Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:52 am

Depends on bike, depends on owner... also depends on age... a '00 with 40,000 miles is probably in better shape than an '80 with 2,000 miles.

Touring bikes routinely rack up hundreds of thousands of miles if they are used and maintained properly... typical "beginner" bikes may not make it to 20,000 without a major mechanical....

Personally, if a used bike doesn't have over 2,000 miles per year of life (e.g. 20,000 miles for a '96) I wonder why not.... then again I've had my new bike for 50 days and it has 3000 miles so far. I'm thinking it will have well over 20,000 miles by the end of the year....

RTR · #4 Unread post by **RTR** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:11 am

Just rolled over 80,000 km on my 2001 Goldwing. Absolutely no mechanical issues. Just the routine maintance.

Good luck.

Andrew · #5 Unread post by **Andrew** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 4:40 am

Not sure where the thread is, but last week Tech posted about a BMW that had over 600,000 miles. That's probably on the higher end though!

RTR · #6 Unread post by **RTR** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 6:59 am

Andrew78108 wrote:Not sure where the thread is, but last week Tech posted about a BMW that had over 600,000 miles. That's probably on the higher end though!

That's a weekend ride for a beamer, is it not???

Andrew · #7 Unread post by **Andrew** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 8:57 am

This coming from a GoldWing rider?!?!?

I won't ever reach that kind of mileage on my BMW...I'm too fond of new shiny things, so I might only make it to 300,000 before trading for a new one.

#8 Unread post by **zarakand** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 9:35 am

We should sticky this thread, or one similar to it. This question crops up every 2 weeks or so.

Sev · #9 Unread post by **Sev** » Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:12 am

zarakand wrote:We should sticky this thread, or one similar to it. This question crops up every 2 weeks or so.

That implies that people actually read the stickies.

BigChickenStrips · Wed Jun 21, 2006 10:46 am

what are these "stickys"? and where would they be located?

and side note- is a gixxer 600 a good first bike?