How long do you keep your bikes ?

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weeksy
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How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by weeksy »

Just curious here really.

As you'll have gathered i swap a fair bit, sometimes 3-4 times a year even. i think the record between mine and the wife is 11 in a given year.

The ZX6R though was bought on the 12th Feb 2018, so coming up to 3 years pretty soon

I do generally get itchy feet over each winter and rarely start the new biking season with the same bike i ended it with
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Rockburner »

As long as possible.

Ducati TL600 I sold because I couldn't get the thing running right (to a 'friend' who fixed it from his own stock of bits and then sold it on for good grands profit :( ).

ZXR400 I had for about 12 years until I had replaced it with the Rockster and simply wasn't using it, (and couldn't scrunch myself up enough to ride it). Similarly the MirthCycle simply wasn't being used so I sold it a mate of maccecht's.

All my Rocksters I've kept until they died (2 write offs and a blown up engine)

The K12 I simply didn't like enough to keep, I think that's the only bike I've sold before it's time really.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Le_Fromage_Grande »

Until I get bored of them, longest I owned a bike was 9 years for a DRZ400, and I probably shouldn't have sold that because it was a really good bike, I needed the room rather than the money. Shortest I've owned a bike is half a day, an RD400 that I really didn't get on with.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Horse »

The first few, not long. 1976-78, 78-79, 79-80, 80-81 - but I had a long commute.

Later bikes I kept longer. 81-88, 88-92?, 92-blurry, -01 (written off), then three more.

But I appreciate that my 'not long' is a tad different to your definition :)

FWIW, two cars did 66k and 110k miles before being replaced.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by cheb »

Years rather than months. The only one I've sold in a relatively short time was the Guzzi, it was just too uncomfortable.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Yorick »

All 6 of my GSXRs were bought new. As soon as 2 years old, they got flogged and another new one bought for the warranty. My bikes did more track miles than most race bikes, so warranty was essential.

This one is nearly 2 years old, but will keep it. Might add to the collection.

The Beta 300cc was bought new, and keeping it for pals to ride.

The Husky is nearly 2 and might get a new one.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Whysub »

When I was commuting 20,000 miles a year, it was as soon as tyres or chain/sprockets needed replacing, so two or three times a year.

Of course that was when you could buy a decentish bike with MOT for under £500, and I could sell what I had for £350 or more.

Only sold my last lot of bikes simply because I was moving, but can't force myself to sell my Guzzi. My brother is looking after that for when I can return to the UK. Has that 10 years now, the longest I've owned a bike in 45 years.

Cant see me parting with the Enfield Himalayan for some years, as its brilliant on the roads here. The Street Triple will be sold next year, as need something I can tour across Europe a few times a year (faster than I can on the Enfield).
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by GuzziPaul »

The current lot, a long time. The DT175MX I must have had for about 28 years and won't be selling it as it was my best mates who was killed. My Tuono I have from new in 2004 and is fast enough for me and there is nothing I fancy more apart from possibly a V4. I'll possibly only get rid of it when I can't get my leg over it. The Le Mans I've had for about 4 years and will be kept after the Tuono. The last bike I sold was my RD250lC 3 years ago and I'd had that for about 25 years.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Skub »

I'm a long termer.

ZX10R I had for 14 years.

Around 10 years is an average with me.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Trinity765 »

Around 3/4 years. The last few bikes that I have had I have bought new and as I do av. 15,000 (pleasure) miles a year by then they need something major done. I have often thought that I will keep them but never have as I like new, shiny things :D
Last edited by Trinity765 on Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Bigyin »

Used to be 3-4 years as i would buy at about 2-3 years old and 6000 miles on the clock then punt on 3-4 years later when they had about 50000 miles on them which is a fair bit for sports bikes. The GS was the same mileage and the first Multistrada was on target for the same sort of miles till it was written off. My commuting mileage has now gone down since i retired from the full time job and already had the second Multi just over 2 years and no plans to change it anytime soon.

The work bike now takes the bulk of my mileage but even that is less than when i was commuting daily
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by derek badger »

Rockburner wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 3:10 pm As long as possible.

Ducati TL600 I sold because I couldn't get the thing running right (to a 'friend' who fixed it from his own stock of bits and then sold it on for good grands profit :( ).

ZXR400 I had for about 12 years until I had replaced it with the Rockster and simply wasn't using it, (and couldn't scrunch myself up enough to ride it). Similarly the MirthCycle simply wasn't being used so I sold it a mate of maccecht's.

All my Rocksters I've kept until they died (2 write offs and a blown up engine)

The K12 I simply didn't like enough to keep, I think that's the only bike I've sold before it's time really.
What's the current steed fella?
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by demographic »

You mean you can sell bikes? Wassatallabout then?
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Bigjawa »

GSXRs One in bits I bought in 2001, the other one I bought in 2004, The Bandit came along in 2005, the K12, ST and 125 last year and I inherited my lads blown up GPz550 this year.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Beancounter »

derek badger wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 5:04 pm
Rockburner wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 3:10 pm As long as possible.

Ducati TL600 I sold because I couldn't get the thing running right (to a 'friend' who fixed it from his own stock of bits and then sold it on for good grands profit :( ).

ZXR400 I had for about 12 years until I had replaced it with the Rockster and simply wasn't using it, (and couldn't scrunch myself up enough to ride it). Similarly the MirthCycle simply wasn't being used so I sold it a mate of maccecht's.

All my Rocksters I've kept until they died (2 write offs and a blown up engine)

The K12 I simply didn't like enough to keep, I think that's the only bike I've sold before it's time really.
What's the current steed fella?
Another Rockster.

For me? Years. I've only sold one bike in over 20 years and that was more a chance offer from a friend of Maceccht's wanting my duff TDM850. Another bike was traded in for my GS.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Druid »

I used to keep my bikes for longer, 4 or 5 years at least. I've had 5 bikes in the last 5 years though, and none of them has quite hit the spot so I change it and hope the next one's a keeper...
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Scuffmark »

Average I'd says is 2 years.
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Couchy »

Hours, sometimes days 🤪
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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by Taff »

7 and a little bit years so far, so I think that there's another 5 or 6 until it dies completely but next year I'm likely to get into a summer bike & winter bike scenario :thumbup:

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Re: How long do you keep your bikes ?

Post by JackyJoll »

Me and me brother bought the frame and wheels in 1979.