High mileage isn’t the only important thing to look for in a motorcycle, but knowing mileage can give you a great idea of how old the bike is. Mileage is something that a motorcycle buyer will typically consider before buying any vehicle. Motorcycle mileage is mainly the distance traveled by motorcycle. However, it plays an important role in the overall appearance and motorcycle price.
If you are looking for a used bike but wondering about the range or mileage, we are here to sort that out for you. With the help of expert reviews, we have discussed some of the important factors that will help you understand the concept of mileage and how it helps you while running a motorcycle on the road. So let`s get started right away.
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What is considered a high mileage?
A motorcycle engine with approximately 40,000 miles is considered to be a high-mileage motorcycle in a few circles. However, if that motorcycle has no bodily damage, no engine leaks, and has entire renovation records, it’s far taken into consideration a high-quality purchase.
Maintenance is the key to motorcycle durability. Regular maintenance and oil changes every 3k miles will help you keep your motorcycle running for a long time.
For example, a 25,000-mile sports bike is usually considered a high mileage bike, and that’s because it runs powerful and has a high revving engine.
What is the average annual bike mileage?
In general, motorcycles travel fewer miles annually than cars. A car can travel about 15,000 miles a year, and a motorcycle travels less than 5k miles a year. The average mileage of a motorcycle annually is around 3k miles. Some of the motorcycles travel even less than 2k miles a year.
Therefore, it is mainly about how the driver uses the motorcycle and much less about the motorcycle. This is undoubtedly the principal reason why sports bikes have shorter lifestyles expectancy than all of the different motorcycles.
So don’t be amazed in case you buy a used sports bike and find out that it needs an engine rebuild after reaching 25k miles.
How long does a high-mileage motorcycle last?
The life of high mileage motorcycles usually varies from model to model. You can have a 20-year-old Golden Wing that has traveled over 280,000 miles in perfect working order, and the owner of that bike still devotes over 6,000 miles a year to it.
So a bike in good condition can serve you for a long time and several years without mechanical damage. A significant percentage of those who ask about a motorcycle’s mileage is mainly concerned about the toughness rather than the book value.
The toughness of a motorcycle is determined using several factors, and mileage is considered one among them. These factors determine how long a motorcycle with high mileage can last.
We have some tips that will help your bike with high mileage to run like a new Motorcycle:
Break it in
If you have bought a motorcycle with very high mileage on it and want to ride it like it is new, you must break your motorcycle’s engine correctly. The best period for the motorcycle to have a break-in is between 500 to 1000 miles.
If a high mileage motorcycle has a complete rebuild of its entire engine, then it is a good time to break in the engine of that motorcycle. However, there are some factors that you should keep in mind when you want to break in the engine of a high-mileage motorcycle.
- Avoid start-ups, accelerations, and sudden stops.
- Avoid accelerating the engine while using any equipment.
- Do not use more than 75% gasoline in the first 500-1000 miles.
- Try to use the high gear as much as possible
- Try downshifting before starting the engine
- Avoid stressing the bike engine
Consider the proprietor
A very less number of owners are normally an amazing signal, especially when checking a used motorcycle. However, the extra hands a motorcycle has gone through, the higher the chances of an unexpected crash, deferred renovation, or different unwanted events.
Nevertheless, consider these questions as what type of miles did the owner place on the motorcycle? Are they a competitive rider who has driven the motorcycle to its restrict on the right track day, or is he more of a comfortable weekend rider? The wide variety of owners and their desired driving fashion are simply greater factors to take under your consideration.
Follow the Manual’s Recommendations
It mainly doesn’t matter if the motorcycle has 50k miles or 2k miles; ensure that you continually comply with the manual’s recommendations.
The manual recommendation consists of more than an ordinary oil change. You have to additionally look at and change the chains from time to time, service your motorcycle’s brakes, and test the valve accustoming.
Make sure to check your bike regularly.
Be sure to regularly check the bike’s rear-drive housing and the engine chain daily. Also, make sure the chain of your motorcycle is lubricated and tensioned. With the tips above, your high-mileage bike will stay like new for a long time.
In most cases, how the previous owner treated his bike determines how long that bike can hold up. If a motorcycle has been well treated, it can make up to 100,000 miles or even more.
Final Thoughts
To sum up, mileage is the key point to remember while buying a used motorcycle. However, it isn’t the only thing that can determine the age of a bike or how long it can keep running. You can get a high-mileage motorcycle in excellent form and work flawlessly than a low-mileage choice.
A well-serviced motorcycle with high mileage can run for a very long time with very few mechanical failures. Also, remember that the version of a motorcycle also performs a key role in its high mileage use and longevity.
Hopefully, the key points we mentioned above helped you understand what a high-mileage motorcycle is. With this knowledge, you can get an amazing deal whenever you purchase a used bike.
