What is considered high KMs for a bike?

[Blat450]

Just looking at getting a second hand bike to cruise about NZ on and seeing as its my first road bike (been off road riding for years) I'm not sure what is considered high km's for a road bike.

I have my aim at Yamaha Tenere's 660's, but would like to know where I should draw the line at km's wise. Is 60,000kms to much?

Any help appreciated

[GazzaH]

The kms are A factor, true, but others include:
- Style of bike - relaxed long-distance tourer or nuts-out screamer?
- Maintenance history - particularly engine oil and filter changes but there's much more e.g. bearings and seals
- Style of driving - "One lady owner" has a grain of truth to it, boy racers take the red line as a target, not a limit
- Places driven - beaches and rough roads are, well, rough
- Engineering and build quality - some bikes have been successful for many years, others essentially flop: why is that? Some manufacturers are renowned for quality and reliability, others bring up the rear
- The seller - any come-back if it falls apart on the first corner?
- The fair market price, relative to other similar bikes - as reliable a guide as kms I'd say
- Maintainability - is it going to cost a fortune to keep running, or is it relatively simple and easy work?

[T.W.R]

There's a shitload of bikes out there with that amount of Kms & heaps more, the important factor is maintenance & condition ie: have things been done at proper intervals & correctly, has it been ridden with some respect for what it is or just been hacked about & abused.
You could get something with less than 10k on the clock but it could have been neglected all that time & hammered every time it was ridden

[AllanB]

Bit of CRC and she will be right. Apparently it fixes stuck pistons and erectile dysfunction.

[JimO]

i know somebody who has done over 100000ks on a Bandit, still going strong

[Blat450]

Yeah I figured Km's were only part on the equation, brought a few dirt bikes over the years and that was more on maintenance history, overall condition, aftermarket parts, even how tidy their garages were.

I was just wondering if there was a point where KM's take over, and its a no go. Like cars, I wouldn't buy one with 250,000kms on it, more likely 80,000kms. But what is that in relation to bikes?

I understand looking at Dual purpose bikes its going to have seen a few gravel roads and beach's etc, but do people thrash these type of bikes? Or are they more laid back riding types? I know you will get the odd Paris to Dakar wannabe :D

[Honest Andy]

What he said.
And what the other bloke said.

Good maintenance will keep an engine running sweetly for way more than 60kk, so it can be a good deal, but with higher milages you've gotta start thinking about more than just 'normal' maintenance and understand that you may need to do some more serious stuff like, say, clutch, shock and forks, swingarm bearings etc

[Honest Andy]

Bit of CRC and she will be right. Apparently it fixes erectile dysfunction.

(use a joey over the can) :yes:

[Gremlin]

It does depend on the bike. I've got a Honda CB919, has 146k ish on the clock, a mate has one with 160k+ and another mate with just under 100k. They've got a reputation for crazy reliability. My BMW R1200GSA has 127k ish and that also keeps on going (although it certainly chews through parts faster than the Hornet). Others like the Bandits also do big km with little going wrong.

[Akzle]

I was just wondering if there was a point where KM's take over, and its a no go. Like cars, I wouldn't buy one with 250,000kms on it, more likely 80,000kms. But what is that in relation to bikes?

well if it hasn't already done 250, it's unlikely to be able to do another 250, innit? how do you know if it'll last??

100 thou km is at-least-half-done on any bike.
yes, they will go longer.

like my axe... it's as good as the day i bought it and i've only had to replace five handles and four heads.

[george formby]

Yeah I figured Km's were only part on the equation, brought a few dirt bikes over the years and that was more on maintenance history, overall condition, aftermarket parts, even how tidy their garages were.

I was just wondering if there was a point where KM's take over, and its a no go. Like cars, I wouldn't buy one with 250,000kms on it, more likely 80,000kms. But what is that in relation to bikes?

I understand looking at Dual purpose bikes its going to have seen a few gravel roads and beach's etc, but do people thrash these type of bikes? Or are they more laid back riding types? I know you will get the odd Paris to Dakar wannabe :D

As everyone has posted, it's the whole bike not the mileage. Check for wear, everywhere man.

I had an XT 350 which had been hammered for almost 70'000 miles. Basically maintained, oil, filters, cables, bearings etc. It never missed a beat. I checked the valve clearance somewhere about 65'000 mls, they were fine, cam lobes were beautiful. I was the 3rd owner so no doubt they had been checked before. Carb rubber hardened up, split, just a hint. Worse problem I ever had with that bike.

In the shed at the mo is a 98 Yamaha TDM 850, 68'000 kms. It rides lots of gravel and lots of twisties, it never misses a beat. Basic maintenace.

Alongside is a 96 Yamaha DT 230 Lanza 2t, low kms, 30'000ish. Thrashed, tweeked, basic maintenance, see above.

You can definitely get a good bike at those k's, just check the whole bike. Bearings, seals, bushes etc. All the rattly and leaky bits bite you in the ass.

I only posted because these bikes are kinda from the same Clan. Not great knowledge or experience on my part. I'm a Yamaha fan, though.

[Blat450]

Thanks for all the reply's, I see its not so much the KM's to worry about, its more looking at the whole picture.
You guys have been a great help, Thanks.

[Honest Andy]

No worries, you're very welcome. Just make sure you come back and tell us what you bought so we can tell you that you've made a huge mistake and "who the hell gave you that advice?!?")

[nzspokes]

My old bandit 1200 had 120,000ks on it when sold. Compression test showed it was well within spec.

[swbarnett]

My Katana has over 210,000km on it and still going strong.

[Runty]

One of my first courier bikes in London the famous (infamous?) CX500 had alnost 200000 miles when I bought it - had 320000 miles on it - about 530000km when I got rid of it - New oil filter every 5000m and i replaced the cam chain and clutch plates once each (knew most of its history and had previously had camchain every 60000ish m and regular servicing) Splines on drive shaft went one day and I flicked it to the towie who picked me up for 35 quid - bought a "low milage" - 120000m CX later for £250 - crappy handling maggots but real workhorses

Sent from my D6503 using Tapatalk

[pritch]

No worries, you're very welcome. Just make sure you come back and tell us what you bought so we can tell you that you've made a huge mistake and "who the hell gave you that advice?!?")

Aaaah gotta share the love.

[Honest Andy]

Aaaah gotta share the love.

:hug::drinknsin

;)

[Maha]

I always thought that 12-14000 kms was a bit much and time to get a new one :confused:

[oldiebutagoody]

like my axe... it's as good as the day i bought it and i've only had to replace five handles and four heads.

Never a truer word spoken.

Many many higher mileage bikes bought over the years, and by the time they were passed on, not one engine had ever failed me. The quality and frequency of routine maintenance is the key.

Though a couple of clutches, sprocket/chain replacements, straight handlebars, almost always new wheel/sprocket carrier/steering head bearings, seats recovered, levers, electrical faults chased down, .......list goes on and on. The rolling frame and the abuse it has suffered through previous owners is always the cause of problems, or at least that has been my experience.

Current bikes are on approx 143000km for the 600 teapot, and 81000km for the Bandit, both under-stressed detuned motors. Still way more power than handling currently. I would tour either of them around either island with full confidence.

I once fixed up a GS550E which had 80/80/90/90 compression. It was supposed to be minimum 110psi across all four. I rode that for a few years and it never failed to start, even touring around the North Island on long runs ......bearings/brakes/paint/seat/tyres a different matter though.

[Oakie]

I'm having that conversation with myself but at the other end of the ownership continuum. The GSR600 is a goodun (again, under-stressed and de-tuned). Bought at 16000kms and now has 42000 at about 7500km per year. It could be my last bike as it would only have about 120,000kms on it when I retire and I could just run it into the ground. Not sure though. Keep this one right through or replace in another 2 or 3 years? Hmmm.

[EJK]

I'm having that conversation with myself but at the other end of the ownership continuum. The GSR600 is a goodun (again, under-stressed and de-tuned). Bought at 16000kms and now has 42000 at about 7500km per year. It could be my last bike as it would only have about 120,000kms on it when I retire and I could just run it into the ground. Not sure though. Keep this one right through or replace in another 2 or 3 years? Hmmm.

You only live once.

Get a busa.

[bogan]

80kkms is about what I'd consider high for a bike, and 200kkms for a car. Which is not to say either couldn't go double or triple if it had been looked after, but you'd want to look pretty closer at those ks.


You only live once.

Get a busa.

They say growing up is optional, with a busa growing old is as well...

[Oakie]

You only live once. Get a busa.

Me on a 'busa ... yep, living only once for sure but plant my wrinkly old arse on that and that one life probably wouldn't last for much longer!

[Akzle]

Me on a 'busa ... yep, living only once for sure but plant my wrinkly old arse on that and that one life probably wouldn't last for much longer!

if you believe you only live once... you also only get to die once

[Laava]

80kkms is about what I'd consider high for a bike, and 200kkms for a car. Which is not to say either couldn't go double or triple if it had been looked after, but you'd want to look pretty closer at those ks...

Yep, that's a good rule of thumb I reckon as well. Late model vehicles with high mileage are likely to have been looked after well and aren't suffering from age related problems like perishing rubber and rust etc. Likewise a 20 yr old vehicle that has only done 5000kms may need a load of things like seals and bearings done, due dilligence required I guess...

[Oakie]

if you believe you only live once... you also only get to die once

I want to die when I'm 86 ... shot by a woman's jealous husband.

[oldiebutagoody]

It is said that you die twice.

the first time is when you physically die,

the second time is when people stop talking about you, forget about you and that you ever even existed.

so the trick is when you do die, go out in a blaze of glory.

[Akzle]

I want to die when I'm 86 ... shot by a woman's jealous husband.

:scratch:


suicide?

[caspernz]

Me on a 'busa ... yep, living only once for sure but plant my wrinkly old arse on that and that one life probably wouldn't last for much longer!

Haha, yes a 'Busa can be a handful, but in all honesty it's a very chilled out bike if you're somewhat disciplined.

Personally I've never been too worried about actual mileage on a bike, it's mostly about maintenance really. Not like you're gonna find too many GSX-R1000's that have 100k plus on the odo, but there'll be plenty of sport tourers that have double that in their lifetime. The hard part buying secondhand is getting a true handle on maintenance thru its life. Maybe that's why I prefer my bikes new or near new...

Cars are a different game to me. Purely for transportation, so yeah I've had ex-rentals when I've been between company cars. One Nissan Bluebird got close to 400k when I sold it, still going fine too. Routine maintenance works wonders :woohoo:

[nzspokes]

Not like you're gonna find too many GSX-R1000's that have 100k plus on the odo,

I think Onearmbandit has 2 over 100ks.

[caspernz]

I think Onearmbandit has 2 over 100ks.

It's a percentage game though, for I'd venture there's more sport tourers with serious clicks than litre sporty's.

I always find it funny looking at Tardme ad and seeing a sporty that's covered barely 2 thousand clicks per year yet has been farkled up to the nines...but only worn out one set of tyres :innocent:

[haydes55]

Check out the Ks on some utes. Blokes loooove saying "Me ol' Hilux will go forever! Barely run in, only 400,000km". Read further down the ad... "has just had new injectors and a new head 200,000km ago. Bottom end was rebuilt 100,000km ago and the ecu is off a later model Hilux"... so it's not really reliable and you've spent thousands rebuilding and replacing the running gear?

With utes 400,000km isn't rare, because people still shell out stupid money for them. With motorbikes, the only reason you wouldn't do the same is it's just cheaper to buy a new (second hand) bike with lower ks, than to repair and replace major conponents

[Black Knight]

I often take into consideration how long the seller has owned the bike-if for several years,you could almost guarantee that servicing has been done correctly.I have a mate in Oz that bought a CX500 new way back when and has serviced it himself (easy on a CX),he has put one set of rings in it,usual valve stuff and 4 camchains-the bike runs like a Swiss watch-his current mileage is 292,000Kms
The joys of owning a bullet proof and easily maintained bike.

[Laava]

Met a guy today on a Blackbird 1100xx who has done more than 300,000km from new and the only thing done has been the radiator. The motor has not been opened he said. Pretty good! I took a photo with my cell phone but don't know how to upload it to here so, meh...