High milers

[Whysub]

I wrote off my 1985 GSX-R 750G in 2003 when it had just over 180,000 miles on it. I bought it in 1995 with 20,000 on the clock. 160,000 in 8 years commuting-very rarely used it for leisure riding. Not sure how much longer it would have lasted as the electrical connectors were rotting, and wheel bearings were grumbling within a couple of months of being replaced.

I also had a Fireblade RR-S that had done well in excess of the 85,000 miles on the clock (speedo didn't work 60% of the time). Sold it (as it needed some repairs) to Screwdriver and he restored it, which was later featured in Bike magazine, and looked new. Great job Screwed.

High mileage to me means frequent use. So many bikes for sale here in Spain are high mileage, but when the weather allows you to ride near on everyday, its no wonder.

[demographic]

Wasn't there someone on TRC (or maybe VD) who did a huge amount of miles on a Pan Euro?
Can't remember who now.

[Druid]

My (Druid's) VFR had 75k on it when I sold it and it was still going strong. The only MOT issue it had in the years I owned it was a deteriorated number plate. Started on the button every time.

That VFR had 53k on it when I bought it. It had 56500 miles on it when I sold it, so Mad Ax and you were responsible for 20k.

A few years ago I had a jellymould CBR600 with 67k. I was the second owner, when I bought it I was handed a folder with paperwork detailing every penny that had been spent on it, including notebooks with details of every fuel fill up over 48k!

[v8-powered]

NTV650 - 134000
Divvy 900 - 83000
VFR800 VTEC - 84000
Deauville 700 - 55000

Just need a bit of TLC and anything can take the miles.
Friend of mine who raced endurance with HMRC on his GSX-R750, that had well over 100k on the clock and still got him podiums.

[KungFooBob]

Friend of mine who raced endurance with HMRC

LOLZ!

[v8-powered]

Friend of mine who raced endurance with HMRC

LOLZ!

LOLZ as in HMRC? As Hottrax used to be known...

[KungFooBob]

Really, I assumed you just had tax on the mind?

[v8-powered]

Really, I assumed you just had tax on the mind?

Tax? No need to swear, I'm under IR35 now

[Rockburner]

Wasn't there someone on TRC (or maybe VD) who did a huge amount of miles on a Pan Euro?
Can't remember who now.

Jack did a lot of miles.

[Dickyboy]

I've always found that bikes tend to run better if they're used more often (with maintenance), the longer they're sitting idle the more things start to go wrong with them.

Definitely agree on that, friend commutes in a lotus elise (or used to pre covid) and garage says its much better off for it than most of the rarely used one they service.

[The Spin Doctor]

As a courier and instructor, I put some pretty high mileages on a number of bikes...

GS500E - best one hit 138,000 miles before it dropped a valve. Two others got wrong side of 90k.
CB600 Hornet - 88k and counting.
XBR500 - 87,000, dropped a valve and fubarred electrics.
CB250RSA - one topped 90k, several others wore the top end out between 60 and 70k.
FZ750 - 72,000 (after an engine rebuild for a collapsed gearbox output shaft bearing, the recon'd crank went after another 20k which was a bit of a disappointment)
NX650 Dominator - 70k (electrical gremlins, never got it restarted)
XJ6 Diversion - 66k and counting.
Jawa 350 - approx 60k - speedo never worked reliably, just bodged it for the MOT.

[Le_Fromage_Grande]

FZ750 - 72,000 (after an engine rebuild for a collapsed gearbox output shaft bearing, the recon'd crank went after another 20k which was a bit of a disappointment)

Gearbox bearing is usually caused by over tightening the chain, but it is an utter arse to get it adjusted right, it looks loose with the bike on the stand but tightens up when you sit on the bike. Surprised the crank went, it's usually the starter clutch going that makes them not worth repairing, or the rods going out in a blaze of glory.

[The Spin Doctor]

Gearbox bearing is usually caused by over tightening the chain, but it is an utter arse to get it adjusted right, it looks loose with the bike on the stand but tightens up when you sit on the bike. Surprised the crank went, it's usually the starter clutch going that makes them not worth repairing, or the rods going out in a blaze of glory.

I was a bit surprised myself, because over-tightening the chain is something I avoid like the plague - I usually run them a bit slack. That's a habit I got into on the old 250RS Hondas. They used to knock the chains to bits (no cush drive to speak of) and if you weren't careful they snapped! I had one go accelerating away from lights on the N Circ. I was lucky, it wrapped itself round the rear wheel and locked it up, rather than round the front sprocket and taking the crankcase out.

Since then I've heard of FZs not making it past 20k before the bearing went!

I still miss that bike.

[Bigyin]

Wasn't there someone on TRC (or maybe VD) who did a huge amount of miles on a Pan Euro?
Can't remember who now.

Probably Jack ....... he did mega miles on his Pan. Used to turn up for tours years apart on the same bike and was always tail end charlie by his own choice

[Bigyin]

I wouldn't worry in the slightest about the ADV of any generation, from the 990, 1050, 1090, 1190 or 1290, they run forever if looked after.

35,000 is a massive figure lol.... i can't compute spending that much time in/on a vehicle.

My first Multistrada got written off with about 40,000 miles on it in 3 years, previous GS1150 had 55000 which is mild for them , ZX636 had 38000 on it in 3 years and previous ZX6 had 58000 in 3 years. Not massive miles but higher than most sports bikes

I did try and add up my mileage since i started riding and i reckon i got to the moon and back easily and possibly a good part of the 2nd trip

[Bigjawa]

My Bandit has 128k on it, ex courier bike that I only ever used Duckhams car oil in. Engine wise it got a clutch at about 70k, which was 15 or so years ago. Put a 1200 front end into it as it was free and refurbed the shock linkage and gave it a Hagon. The thing refuses to die. Pan has 94k on it, first one had 110k on it. My old courier GPZ5 is still about with 115k on it albeit it's in a state.

Had a few bikes over 70k, old CBR1000F had that on it when I sold it 13 years ago, I saw it today funny enough.

Old, relatively understressed bikes should last forever if you look after them.

[harum-scarum]

I took a pair of Kawasaki GT550s to 70K and 80K in the late 80s/early 90s, a Triumph Tiger (883) to 75K in the noughties and a Fazer thou to 65K. None of them failed me mechanically, I just crashed them
Now that I've stopped commuting my mileage has dropped dramatically so I'll never reach those heights again.

[Jody]

I think Weekly had a Super Duke at one point with moon and back miles on it.

He did, I sold it to him !

[Supermofo]

Went to the Mrs mate's for BBQ on Sunday. Her husband got back into biking after 20 years due to needing to commute into London a year or 2 back. He was keen to show me his bike, a 1290 Super Adventure. Very nice it was too, looked good and packed full of tech Inc front/rear heated seats, heated grips, leccy suspension, modes, cruise control, cornering lights etc.

He then turned on the ignition to show me the dash, which was when I saw the 85k miles Got to say it definitely wore its miles well and he'd had no issues. Turns out he bought it with 50k on and has done 35k in just over a year. Not that unusual I know but fairly unusual with most of us. And a different KTM story for a change, must say I've read of a few high mile KTM Adv

Matey popped over Sat for a family visit and his Super Adventure now has 101k miles on it! He stuck a photo up on his facebook group when it hit 100k and he got a message back from an Italian with 300k KM on his

[Skub]

Went to the Mrs mate's for BBQ on Sunday. Her husband got back into biking after 20 years due to needing to commute into London a year or 2 back. He was keen to show me his bike, a 1290 Super Adventure. Very nice it was too, looked good and packed full of tech Inc front/rear heated seats, heated grips, leccy suspension, modes, cruise control, cornering lights etc.

He then turned on the ignition to show me the dash, which was when I saw the 85k miles Got to say it definitely wore its miles well and he'd had no issues. Turns out he bought it with 50k on and has done 35k in just over a year. Not that unusual I know but fairly unusual with most of us. And a different KTM story for a change, must say I've read of a few high mile KTM Adv

Matey popped over Sat for a family visit and his Super Adventure now has 101k miles on it! He stuck a photo up on his facebook group when it hit 100k and he got a message back from an Italian with 300k KM on his

I'm amazed. My impression of KTM is sometimes they make it out of warranty before it all goes wrong,but not always.