Only 1500 miles in ten years...
Only 1500 miles in ten years...
Author
Discussion

Berty3000

Original Poster:

212 posts

109 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
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Hi all,

I'm finally going to buy a new bike following an unfortunate collision with a deer in the spring. Just at the end of the longest and best summer of all time, but better late than never! A long train journey and then ride back beckon this Friday.

One thing - the bike is a 2004 Honda cbf600. Very tidy. Been kept in a garage. Just under 7000 miles on the clock. I'm not sure if this is a stupid question, but could it be a problem that only 1500 miles have been added over the last decade? The owner has mot'd it every year, but several of those years it only did 2 or 3 miles between a test, presumably to the mechanic who tested it. Around 70 in the past year. It has donee hardly any in the past 8 years.

Can this be a problem, like with things going sticky and seizing up? She says the petrol is always run through. I'll be sure to give the tank a good sniff to check for a rancid smell, and also remove the oil cap to check for excessive emulsion (I imagine some will be inevitable if moisture hasn't been properly blasted out of the system on a good long ride.) Apart from those things and the usual checks and a test ride, is there anything you'd be looking at in particular here?

Many thanks
Berty

underwhelmist

2,052 posts

165 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
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Tyres might be past their best by now, and I’d be looking to service it (oil, filters, brake and clutch fluid). Check brake, clutch and coolant hoses for signs of perishing.

Apart from that, ride and enjoy it, I reckon regular use will do it good, or at least make any other problems apparent.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

Edited by underwhelmist on Wednesday 5th September 20:45

SAS Tom

3,755 posts

205 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
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My GSXR did 126 miles in the last 12 years if not even more. A new set of tyres and it’s been fine.

Berty3000

Original Poster:

212 posts

109 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
quotequote all
Thanks chaps!

The tyres are described as being in good nick and look fine on the pics. Would you just change them regardless given the lack of use, or leave them if grip is good and there are no bulges, etc?

SAS Tom

3,755 posts

205 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
quotequote all
The tyres on my bike looked fine. They felt awful, tramlined all over the place and didn’t have much grip, changing them transformed the bike.

Berty3000

Original Poster:

212 posts

109 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
quotequote all
SAS Tom said:
The tyres on my bike looked fine. They felt awful, tramlined all over the place and didn’t have much grip, changing them transformed the bike.
OK, I'll get a quote. Thanks mate.

LFB531

1,276 posts

189 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
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My GPZ 500 dating from '96 has only done 3000 miles and plenty of those in the last 18 months!

Like the one you've spotted, it lived most of its life indoors from new. A good service, battery and some new tyres was all it needed. I have since discovered rust in the tank but that's inevitable I guess and not hard to sort.

Good luck!