Question(1) HOW MANY MILES IS THE AVERAGE MOTOCYCLE SUPPOST TO LAST IF PROPERLY MAINTAINED?
(2) I AM LOOKING TO PURCHASE A USED BIKE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HOW MANY MILES ARE TO MANY AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAJOR AREAS TO LOOK AT.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
AnswerRon,
Thanks for the questions.
How long a bike lasts depends on several factors: how it's used, who made it, how it's been cared for and what size it is.
Obviously, bikes that are abused don't last long. But for the most part (and this is very generalized), most motorcycles engines will run for 50,000 miles before major service (such as a rebuild) is neccesary. A good measurement of this marker is the fact that most Police bikes (be they Kawasakis or Harleys) are retired at about 50,000 miles.
If an owner is VERY meticulous about tuneups, non-abusive riding, oil and filter changes and takes great care of their bike, 100,000 miles is not out of the question, and I've seen many touring bikes (mostly all over 1000cc) over this number. BMW owners take great pride in the high mileage of their bikes, so I've seen some BMW's over 200,000 miles, but this is rare. Again, care is key to longevity.
On any bike, no matter what brand it is, there are some things that will need attention as the miles pile up: fork seals, swingarm bearings, brake pads and brake fluid lines, engine gaskets and other engine parts will need replacement or repair. That's just the way it is. See if the owner of any used bike you are interested in has service records. If not, be wary.
If you are looking at Japanese bikes, I'd say most any bike 500cc or larger with 25,000 miles or less is probably a good bet. For Harleys, since they are not so high-revving, I'd say 35,000 miles is acceptable if the owner has taken good care of it. For Italian bikes (Ducati, Aprilia, etc), perhaps under 20,000 miles since they tend to be a bit more high-strung and require a bit more care. For BMW's, it all depends on what bike it is and how it was taken care of (you'll have to do some reserach). But I'd say most BMW's with 35,000 miles or less are probably very reliable.
For any used bike, you want to know how it was used (long distance riding or sportriding, or?), how it was taken care of (does the previous owner have maintenance records?) and how it runs (have a mechanic check it out before buying it).
If it has low enough miles, past service records and a mechanic says it's OK, then you are probably buying a reliable bike.
Best of luck,
Bill Roberson
