Mileage

I may go down the used route for my first bike, being new to the biking world I have no knowledge of what bike mileage looks like.

I know cars, where 12000 miles per year is kinda average, a four year old secondhand car with 90000 miles is high. How does this translate to Bonnevilles and Street Twins, I know it depends how the bike is used commuting, just weekends etc but whats an average; 4000 a year, more, less? When does a secondhand bikes mileage start to look high 30000/40000 ??

Thanks

 

Agree with DD - MCN are running a "Ride 5000 miles in a year" promotion to try and get bikers to do at least that.
Some do much more but a mate of mine only managed 400 miles last year. (mind you he has a Harley and he is a tw*t!)

 

Thanks folks

 

Dealers little black books calculate that average miles per year is 4K, anything more than that is considered high mileage

 

Pick me, pick me!

 

My 2013 Triumph (Tiger) had 3k mls on it when l bought it last April, so the previous owner did about 750mls a year, it now has 18k on the clock so l'm averaging 18k a year (taking into consideration it's still 3 months till April)

 

Wow, I take it you use it for more than just leisure or do you not have a car?

 

I live in the USA Ken, & after you get used to doing more miles to get from A to B, & the fact that the country is around 3500mls each way, it's easy to travel a distance from Penzance to Penrith in a day, & our roads are WAY better & far less congested than in the UK.
Also, the fact that I bought the Tiger 800 last April has made me want to go out more often & crunch some miles.
I did a 6 day trip from Missouri to Colorado & back across the Rockies that was 2650mls in June, & another 7 day trip to The Great Lakes/Canada/Niagara Falls in September that was 2850mls.The weather also plays a big part in it as well as being retired, so 2k mls a month is quite normal for me now.
PS, yes, I have a truck, & a van & her Prius as alternative transport.

 

You lucky man, it might be worth me emigrating! Weather only really gives me an 8 month riding window. Plus the roads here are so busy, sometimes it's just too much effort, until you throw a leg over, then you ask, why the hell did I not go out yesterday? Oh I know because it was wet & bloo** freezing. Enjoy your ride. Not sure about the Prius though ​

 

LOL, l did say the Prius was "alternative" transport!!!!

Can l suggest you ride over to Wales when the weather picks up & spend a long weekend there, (midweek if you can) because even though the roads & scenery here are great, l'll never forget riding through mid-Wales & over the Brecon Beacons to the south coast & staying the night in Tenby, then back up the coastal road back to North Wales then cutting across to Betws y Coed (I did used to live in Chester)

 

Back in the early 80s, I was at uni in London training to be a physical education teacher. Spent a week in Betws y Coed at an outdoor pursuits centre. Climbed. Snowdon, rock climbing, canoeing, potholing, orienteering & all that. Very scenic. Would love to take the bike. Unfortunately unable to attend our GMU this year in Wales due to being in Canada / Alaska for a month (vacation)

 

I wouldn't worry toooo much about mileage on a modern bike. It's more about condition and how it's been looked after. Does it have a full and complete service history, (and some folks do an oil change in between services)? What is the state of consumables (tyres, chain, sprockets, brakes, etc)? Does it look like a bike that's been kept clean and rust-free.

But to add an answer to your question:

When I was working, I seemed to hit 3,500 miles per year on my one bike. I retired and bought a second bike (2-year old Tiger 800 with 315 miles on the clock - seriously!). I now clock up between 5k and 7k per year, mostly on the Tiger.

The other bike is a BMW R1200S that now has nearly 40k miles on the clock, and I'm not going to tell you it's running sweet as a nut, because that would be tempting fate.

 

'When it comes to business. I'm a fool to myself. '

 

Will you be biking, on your hols then Ken?

 

Tiny milage on an old bike can also bring problems.

 

I'm just south of Brecon Beacons' addictive roads. Even considering our mainly indifferent climate here, I managed 12,000 (s)miles last year on the Bonnie. Plus it was off the road for three weeks, and I do not commute.
Bike was seven years old when I bought it with less than 10,000 on the clock!

 

1,500 to 2000 miles a year! What’s the point of owning it, I can do more than that in a month and yes it is a Bonneville

 

I have my Speed triple R and run 15,000 miles a year (commuting 300 miles a week), I certainly don't see the point of having a nice bike and only doing minimal mileage a year. I want to experience it and enjoy it.

 

You wont sell it anyway, role on 200,000

 

If your'e doing big miles the best thing would be to buy a bike with high miles already on it,keep it for a few years then sell it,you shouldn't lose much