How long does a bike last?

Message

Thu Feb 02, 2006 7:59 pm

My friend's Virago has over 100,000km.

Venarius · #12 Unread post by **Venarius** » Fri Feb 03, 2006 4:43 am

I would reason that lower revving engines last longer than higher revving engines.

It makes sense that a cruiser that spends much of its life under 3k rpm would outlast a track bike that spends much of its time above 10k rpm. More rpm would lead to more wear and tear over time....

I have no data, just my "reasoning" If anyone has any data opposite, please chime in

#13 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 6:14 am

blues2cruise wrote:My friend's Virago has over 100,000km.

Actually, it's inching it's way up to 130,000k, or 80,000+ miles. Last time into the dealer, the shop foreman said it was just about broken in...

BRUMBEAR · Sat Feb 04, 2006 11:39 am

I have had a Harley servi car in my family since 1951 I am the third owner I tell you take care of em rebuild all you need to if you love the machine it will love ya back

Wizzard · #15 Unread post by **Wizzard** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 3:00 pm

BRUMBEAR wrote:I tell you take care of em rebuild all you need to if you love the machine it will love ya back

Amen brother !
Regards, Wizzard

ejshotgun · Tue Feb 07, 2006 5:20 am

There is no limit on the length of time you can keep a bike.
It's all relative.
If you love that machine then you will go too any lengths to keep it up and going.

jmillheiser · Sun Feb 19, 2006 1:21 pm

The bike I own is well known for lasting over 100k miles.

drevil · #18 Unread post by **drevil** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 3:02 pm

Longer than most marriages. So now we all know which is the better investment...

aflundi · #19 Unread post by **aflundi** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 3:57 am

I've got this idea that the engine lasts a number of miles roughly proportional to the engine size. Of course it depends on how the engine is maintained and ridden, but assuming all other things equal,
a 500cc engine seems to last about twice as long as a 250cc engine.

Assuming the bike is reasonably well maintained and not ridden too harshly, I usually see numbers in the 100 to 200 miles/cc range before a bike needs major repair.

Any comments?

Randy · #20 Unread post by **Randy** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 7:27 pm

I was talking to the manager of the mechanics in the shop I work at. His name is Bernard, and he has been working on bikes as a mechanic since 1962 (yep he is old, but very cool).

He said that for newer model bikes, it works like this.

40-60 thousand miles for a sportbike (well maintained)
60-100 thousand miles for cruisers (well maintained)
200+ thousand miles for Goldwings (he didn't even say well maintained)

He stated that these were generalizations and that properly maintained meant different things to different people. He also stated that there were exceptions to pretty much everything.