Highest mileage

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Discussion

PolarExpress

Original Poster:

6,778 posts

229 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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What's the highest mileage, and on what bike are people running here?

So many bikes are traded out barely after they are run in < 10-20k miles. Surely there's lots of life left in higher milers (>30-40k) ?

Rach*

8,824 posts

218 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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When I bought mine he had changed the speedo so not entirely sure, think he's about 33,000 miles, CBR 600F, has slight issues but considering the age and probable abuse he's ok smile

Hooli

32,278 posts

202 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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part ex'd my old RF at 40k, about the only bit still working right was the engine/gearbox. currently at nearly 24k on the 14 & no sign of hassles. im thinking it might touch 100k in my hands as ive no intentions of changing.

RizzoTheRat

25,333 posts

194 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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My TDM's on 60k, though I did have to fit new piston rings at about 50k due to letting it get a fraction too low on oil. There's a guy in New Zealand with one on 150k (after having ridden it there from the UK) so theres plenty of life in it yet.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Tuesday 2nd September 18:29

dibblecorse

6,901 posts

194 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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my 996 is at about 43k smile

locomotivefan1

46 posts

211 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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I am winning at the moment. Mines done 75k. smile

It is a CB500 though. paperbag

996 sps

6,165 posts

218 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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dibblecorse said:
my 996 is at about 43k smile
Any probs over those miles?

m3psm

988 posts

223 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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When I was couriering I put just over 103k miles on my GSX550ES smile

It got through 3 regulator/rectifiers and 2 sets of stators and I lost third gear, but it refused die, even after being thrown down the road on a regular basis.

I know the next 2 owners and they put at least another 10k on it over the following 2 years, bringing it over 108k. That was still on the original rings.

Can't fault Suzuki engines. Their electrics were junk though.

dibblecorse

6,901 posts

194 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
quotequote all
996 sps said:
dibblecorse said:
my 996 is at about 43k smile
Any probs over those miles?
Define a problem ??

1 x Clutch Slave Cylinder failure.
Couple of batteries.
Some rockers.
Flywheel issue due to inept servicing.

Other than that, no, its been used for everything including 15 - 16 trackdays a year, 3000 + miles forays into France and Spain and has never ever left me in need of a recovery truck smile

I'll never sell it, its so much more than it was when I bought it, its evolved and I can't think of anything to replace it with ... smile

RemaL

24,980 posts

236 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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Bought my Triple in March now done 2100miles. don't think I'll win this

Dudd

963 posts

194 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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my heap XJ600 is on 53k. needs a lot of love

xspencex

1,534 posts

238 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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F800 only starting to feel run in at 11,500 miles.... about to go to zero when I get a new engine in a few weeks

TvrJohn

1,058 posts

257 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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70000 on my VFR750, Honda reliability

RemaL

24,980 posts

236 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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just talked to a freind, she's got a BMW R100RS registered november 1980 with only 126k

I know and still going

cyberface

12,214 posts

259 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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Went past 60,000 on Saturday on my CBR600F (not all from me!!!! Only just returned to bikes and it had 59,500 or so on it when I bought it).

Front brakes could do with renewal (new MOT has advisory on front brakes) as the discs are worn, there's some meat left in the pads but I'll probably do both at the same time (pads and discs) - no messing about with bike brakes and tyres IMO.

The previous owner did most of the miles (50k worth) and the service history is complete and shows a couple of sprocket replacements and a few electrical bits and bobs, no major work.

Engine feels smooth as silk, well run in... pulls cleanly from 1500 rpm all the way to 13k in all gears (well haven't tried 13k rpm in 5th or 6th, occifer). No smoke or any adverse behaviour, no holes in the torque curve, it's pretty linear with a noticeable but not irritating on-cam ramp in the power delivery above 8k rpm.

The bike has a Scottoiler and the chain looks fine and clean to my non-expert eye. I initially thought the chain was a bit slack and there was some driveline shunt, but that was my ineptness with the clutch and throttle... it's very smooth now I'm a bit more used to the bike.

If there is anything (other than the front discs) that I can sense, the gearbox is a bit whiny in first gear, and rattly in neutral. If it was a car I'd say the clutch release bearing was a bit worn - but bike 'boxes work differently don't they? The clutch is reasonably heavy - my left forearm aches after about 2 hours of mixed riding, but I'm no Schwartzenegger hehe

That's the reason I wanted a Honda as my first proper sports bike smile My first 'proper' bike was a brand new Monster 600 and that felt like it was going to break down more than the CBR... gearbox popping out of gear, all sorts of weirdness. The CBR was cheap (due to the mileage) but is very clean and the full service history shows how these engines can last if treated well. Honestly, I've had some highly strung car engines in my time, but this Honda 600 just 'feels' fit as a butcher's dog - yet it's 'ultra high mileage' for a 'sports' bike...

I reckon the gearbox will go first (especially with beginner me abusing it), assuming I don't bin it. I initially thought I'd be buying into a load of expensive trouble with such a high mileage bike, but the other CBR600 in the shop that was the same age, less than 20k miles, and £200 more, looked such a dog that I felt the leggy one was the one to have. The other bike looked like it'd been someone's track sl@g at some point, and had loads of replacement bits on it - mine is all original including the exhaust, and has a full service history which the other didn't.

This is probably tempting fate of course, but I'm hugely impressed with it. I don't have the encyclopaedic experience of Beemer-5 though wink so I don't have much to compare it to... but I'm not screaming out for more 'character' - the engine makes a nice wail as you pass 8k rpm and it 'feels' just right to me - comfortable riding position for relaxed riding, yet I can curl up behind the fairing and avoid all the wind blast at silly speed if I feel like it.

I guess because I'm relentlessly average in height (5'11") and 'athletically slim' (11 stone, no fat but not a hell of a lot of muscle either wink ) that I'd 'fit' most 600s, but the Monster was a pain on the wrists after 10 miles, whereas the CBR isn't. The left bar buzzes at certain revs, which gives a numb-tingle after an hour or so... but it's missing the bar-end weight on the throttle bar - I presume this is the cause (can anyone advise what the best course of action is - get a standard Honda one or replace both with heavier aftermarket items? The buzzing is the only uncomfortable bit of the bike).

So, just got back from a fun 40 mile ride (starting to get more confident now and a LOT smoother, fk me it's fast if you keep it on the boil!!!) and approaching 60,100 miles. I *love* my bike!!!! smile
cloud9

dern

14,055 posts

281 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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37500 on my blade from new in 2001. Not good reliability this year - lots of stupid little things and most of them have left me stranded or without a bike which are always the most annoying.

Beemer-5

7,897 posts

216 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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My long suffering 1984 Honda VT500 did 52,000 London area despatch riding miles with me and then died with someone else at around 110,000 miles.
Other than a cooling system fault, it was brilliant all the time i had it.

Hooli

32,278 posts

202 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
quotequote all
cyberface said:
If there is anything (other than the front discs) that I can sense, the gearbox is a bit whiny in first gear, and rattly in neutral. If it was a car I'd say the clutch release bearing was a bit worn - but bike 'boxes work differently don't they? The clutch is reasonably heavy - my left forearm aches after about 2 hours of mixed riding, but I'm no Schwartzenegger hehe
1st gear is often straight cut on bikes as that makes the teeth stronger. if no other gears whine & it selects ok i'd ignore as just part of the bike.

as for the rattle, any idea when the carbs were last balanced? a rattley clutch is often a sign they need doing. its not that difficult to do yourself if your ok with tools, but you'll need to buy the vacuum gauge thingy for the job.

oh, just remembered. your comment on thinking the chain is worn, best way to check is try & pull it off the back of the rear sprocket at about 3 o'clock, if it lifts more than a few mm its worn.

cyberface

12,214 posts

259 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
quotequote all
Ta Hooli - I'll try the chain next time I'm out on the bike (it's parked up a fair distance from the house and I've not got a garage).

As to the carbs - the rattle is only in neutral with the clutch out. If I pull the clutch in, or select first, the rattle goes away. Just like a worn release bearing on a car 'box. Would this really be due to carbs? The engine pulls so smoothly from very low revs all the way - it's a peach of an engine, if the carbs were out of balance surely I'd feel it in the power delivery? I'm rather sensitive to odd 'feel' from an engine after owning Lotuses and TVRs hehe

Twit

2,908 posts

266 months

Tuesday 2nd September 2008
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My 100GS has been round the clock and some, reckon it has probably done about 140K in total but not on the same engine. Still does everything fine. My 1200RT has done just shy of 22K in 10 months and I intend to keep that for the duration so that will do over 100K within the next 3 years. Again no issues with that in the miles I have done.

I dont get why people continually trade bikes with no mileages in for new ones! Its mad... I've gone the other way today and just bought a 56 AJS, that has gone round the clock at least once and probably more! I think bikes look so much better with a bit of wear on them!!