Should 1999 and 70,000km mean stay away?

[The End]

I am looking at a 1999 SV650 with just over 70,000kms on the clock, and as this will (hopefully) be the first bike I've bought second hand, am a little wary of buying such an old bike with (debatable) high KMs.

The dealer says the bike is in good nic, passed the inspections fine, and people constantly talk about SVs reliability.

What say you more wise riders out there? Is purchasing a 15 year old bike with 70,000 on the clock a bad idea? Am I going to be in for many nights in the shed getting her working, or is the reliability of SVs good enough that I won't need to worry?

[Gremlin]

2005 CB900: 123k
2010 1200GSA: 93k

More important is how it's been looked after, service history. Plenty of hot km are better than less cold km for the engine.

[The End]

2005 CB900: 123k
2010 1200GSA: 93k

More important is how it's been looked after, service history. Plenty of hot km are better than less cold km for the engine.

As much as I'd love to say I trust a motorcycle dealer saying the bike runs great, the fact that it has had 70,000kms is what is making me think twice - I am not sure if it has a full service record or not. Have just seen another bike advertised with 85,000kms on the clock, ex-rental bike and although it has more KMs it has a full service record.

That said, what can a full service record truly prove? Apart from a regular oil & filter change it can't speak for how many times the bike has been redlined/thrashed?

[Gremlin]

Look, there's nothing to say that something significant won't crap out at some point, despite a full service record. It's the odds of buying higher mileage, or older bikes. However, simply ruling out a bike because of mileage is also silly.

Service records can also be lost. I know I've traded previous bikes with full records, some records get passed through owners with the bike, some don't.

Generally, rental bikes are over-serviced, as it costs the company much more if it fails during rental. That said, rental bikes can have short lives and the people riding them might not care as much as an owner.

Also, look at the style of bike. Sportsbikes, higher chance of being thrashed, tourers, highly unlikely, and so forth.

[Laava]

I think you have talked yourself into buying a bike with less k's.
The SV is a great bike and cheap too.
Spring some more coin.
http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/moto...-761215705.htm

[FJRider]

An average of 6600 km's per year might indicate a relatively light usage per year. 70,000 km's for a 650 isn't that harsh.

[slofox]

My GSX-R600 is approaching the 70,000km mark. Apart from a failed cam follower (at 40,000ish km) it has had no problems and continues to perform up to expectations.

The distance travelled is not that significant. Think less of what the bike has done and more of what it can still do.

[BuzzardNZ]

Personally, I'd stay well away from anything with that kind of mileage on it.

[Mike.Gayner]

The K's should be reflected in the price, and if so I wouldn't worry about it. My dad just bought a 1997 BMW with similar mileage and it's a fantastic bike. There's no way of saying nothing major will fail, but that's true of any bike at any age.

[R650R]

My GSXR has done about 105,000km. Was a daily rider no car when first bought, prob did 20-25k a year first couple years then in storage while overseas.
Then into long hours job and not much time to ride, kms per year varied greatly.
Still on ORIGINAL clutch, pistons, rings etc, shims been checked three times but never needed touching. Replaced front and rear wheel bearings at 74000 km but bugger all cost, main swing arm bearing at 54000 but prob from over zealous washing with high pressure water....
Anyway bike is still like new apart from a leaky valve oil seal on #1 cylinder which means it smokes a tad upon startup if not used for few weeks.

100,000km is the new 40,000km bikers used to disconnect speedos all the time but not so common now limits are so strictly enforced and with the electronics it requires bit more effort.

[Banditbandit]

My 1250 Bandit has just clicked passed 60,000ks .... and I bought it new in 2009 .. it's 10 years younger and nearly as many ks

That SV does not have high ks for its age ...

Buying second hand is always a bit of a risk .. less risk from many dealers than from tardeme (but there are some not good dealers out here ..)

How much are they asking for the bike?

[caspernz]

If the price reflects the age and mileage, I'd say go for it.

Look at it this way, if the bike was dodgy (or known to be dodgy) in terms of mechanicals, then odds on it wouldn't be on a dealers' floor.

No doubt I'll now get flamed for showing any kind of trust in dealers?

[The Pastor]

suspension gets flogged after 10k, still 100% rideable at 100k but it wont be as good as it could be.

Brake system may or may not need an overhaul if never done before.

plastics may start to be going brittle at 15yrs.

Valve clearances, piston rings, wheel and steering head bearings - all these things (plus many more) will be worn.


my bikes done 120km, but it sure feels like it, one blown fork seal, smokes like a prostitute, plastics all broken, paints faded, indicator dont work, gear indicator doesn't work, bike has a miss every now and then, and just this morning the abs light came on.......

[Erelyes]

If it's from a dealer, I would be happy with a bike with 70 thou on the clock - if, of course, the price is right (or if you particularly love that bike for some reason).

Just make sure it has a warranty for a period (say, 3 month / 5,000km) so that if any issues come to light that the previous owner has hidden, the dealer ends up wearing it, not you.

Other than that, I imagine you'll face negligibly more issues with your bike, than you would with a low km bike anyway.

One thing I would agree with above, on a '99 the plastics will be getting brittle - high kms or no. Is it a naked or a faired model?

Suspension may be tired, but people commonly upgrade the SV stuff anyway, so if you plan hard riding that's money you would have spent anyway.

I just bought a K7 SV650S (black frame) with 20 thou on the clock from a dealer for 6 grand. Not sure how that frames your bike's cost.

[BlackSheepLogic]

Plenty of hot km are better than less cold km for the engine.

+1

I would rather have a bike well ridden than one that's been sitting in some garage. It's lots of short trips where the bike's being ridden cold that's hard on the engine.