How high is too high km?

[Maverick]

Hey there,
Im looking to buy my first second hand bike, (last one was a new fxr several years ago) and I am looking at several 250's. How high'er kms should I look at before I should start worrying about impending mechanical problems? 30,000km? 50,000km? 70,000km? I am generally looking at Suzuki Bandit 250's, does anyone have particular expertise with them and the general wear of them?

Cheers

Mav

[kickingzebra]

If you had an FXR a few years ago, surely you can progress a license stage?

If you can then a 400 will possibly be had for cheaper than a 250

I bought a zzr with 70,000 on the clock, and it still runs sweet, aside from burning a little oil. Multis wear out faster than singles or twins

(gross generalisation, and anyone who has ever owned a ducati will disagree!!)

But in the small bikes, they have all been thrashed to within an inch of their life, their whole lives. Have heard of quite a few gsxr250s at over 100000 kms on original engine (same motor as the bandit), and even heard of a ZXR 250 that had been around the clock twice! (owned by someone on here I think)

If it is cheap, and starts fine from cold, and doesn't burn oil, then go for gold, In my (humbleish) opinion.

[Maverick]

Hey Thanks for the reply, Unfortunatly I was too lazy assed to get my restricted while I was riding my fxr, and then it was stolen so havnt had a bike to do the test on, and never bothered to borrow one just for the test, so now im kinda regretting it, ah well, anyone got any other tips?

[Wasp]

I bought my bandit with 27k kms on it, ive heard of people buying them with 50+k kms, personally I never would have gone over 50k kms

Couple of tips picked up from a few problems with my Bandit; check how well it runs at idle, rev it a tad and drop - does it stutter?

Check the forks are in reasnoble condition - im currenty having a problem with my left fork seal.....

Also what model of Bandit are you getting? there is actually now known manual :o for them. however, ive come across translations: which wont link so heres the original (click to go back to the main menu and translate that http://www1.synapse.ne.jp/s-hara/bandit/ban-sdatae.html

Also a great forum ive found is here: http://banditalley.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/viewforum.php?f=19 it outline a few problems people have had. NOTE: most gsf400 parts are the same as the gsf250 ones.

mines the GJ74A - 45hp 1990 model and I love it to bits, it handles great and is perfect for me. (its also got a cycleworks exhaust, decent tyres, been jetted and has a custom yellow tank!)

[texmo]

Get a honda bro, even a cbr250 can do well over 100,000kms and still be sweet as. Its not the kms you wanna worry about but how well it was looked after when it clocked up these km's.

[ManDownUnder]

Depends on the bike, but for a 250 I'd be wanting something with less than 25,000 kms on it, and in good nick (i.e. compression etc checks out)

[McJim]

Get a honda bro, even a cbr250 can do well over 100,000kms and still be sweet as. Its not the kms you wanna worry about but how well it was looked after when it clocked up these km's.
I agree with Texmo - the Spada is a great bike and being a 90 degree V-Twin should tolerate a greater total mileage than a 4 cyl. I wish I'd bought a Spada - I would have paid it off by now....sigh. I had no real clue about mileage so I bought a 2003 VTR 250 with only 3,600kms on the clock - If I'd known they're good for 100,000km with care I'd have got the Spada.

[paturoa]

....How high'er kms should I look at before I should start worrying about impending mechanical problems?

rekon there is a fair bit of luck involved

that said, a good looking over for lack of bins, good compression test, documented service history or reciepts, and single owner are positive clues only.

[2QK2C]

My CBR 600 has 31500 miles on the clock, doesn't smoke at all and runs mint!