High mile motorcycles

pdrrock · 05-05-2013, 03:32 PM

For years I have tried to keep my motorcycle purchases with under 10,000 miles. However it seems I am finding alot of good deals lately with older bikes that have 40 to 50k. In particular I am interested in a 1999 voyager with 41k on it and a 1997 Valkyrie with 50k. I would like to know your opinions on these high mile gems.

**manban9888** · 05-05-2013, 04:06 PM

It really depends on how well they were cared for and how much work you are able to do. If you're handy w a wrench and they were maintained well then you should have plenty of miles left w each. Inspect them thoroughly 1st and if all seems well bring one home.

**ringadingh** · 05-05-2013, 04:15 PM

Certain bikes have very few problems with high mileage, I had 90k on my Nomad.
GoldWings are good for tons of miles as well.

**Jared** · 05-05-2013, 06:48 PM

I've seen motorcycles die at 20K miles and others die at 200K miles. It all depends on the owner.

**schoeney** · 05-05-2013, 06:58 PM

Well if we think about it, some of these bikes have more powerful engines than some cars. With lighter weight and very light duty we should expect them to last a long time if maintained properly. It is not like too many people are going to take a Nomad, Voyager, Gold Wing, etc and ride motocross with them.

Sometimes low mileage is worse than high mileage. You don't want a bike just sitting. Fluids settle/breakdown, moisture builds, rubber cracks, etc. I would rather have a 2003 GW that had 50,000 miles that got ridden consistently than one that had 10,000 and sat.

We know the Nomad can go 250,000+ and I have seen Gold Wings + ST1300's w/300,000+ and I know of some guys buying these bikes w/150,000+ miles and riding them another 100,000. So no 50,000 miles is not even broken in if the previous owners maintained them well.

**Kawhead** · 05-05-2013, 08:40 PM

It's up to you, but I would,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,NOT git thissun!

**ringadingh** · 05-05-2013, 08:45 PM

Me either!

haygrrr · 05-05-2013, 09:15 PM

I was more nervous buying a brand new 6 yr old Yamaha leftover than any used bike I've purchased.
One of my first cars was mustang that older woman was averaging less than 3k miles per year. Blew motor second day after I exceeded 55 mph.
Hesitate on low mileage vehicles ever since...

**schoeney** · 05-05-2013, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kawhead

It's up to you, but I would,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,NOT git thissun!

Wasn't that a former member? the one that got booted off the site?

**Top Cat** · 05-05-2013, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schoeney

Wasn't that a former member? the one that got booted off the site?

Yup, that was Dan.
He didn't have to get booted, he refused to apologize because he didn't think he was in the wrong.
Personally I couldn't see where he did what he was accused of either.

cactusjack · 05-05-2013, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Top Cat

Yup, that was Dan.
He didn't have to get booted, he refused to apologize because he didn't think he was in the wrong.
Personally I couldn't see where he did what he was accused of either.

I don't even remember the details. He was an odd duck, but one hell of a rider.

**Kawhead** · 05-06-2013, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schoeney

Wasn't that a former member? the one that got booted off the site?

I wouldn't say booted exactly either. But geezz, that was one strange bird, and I'm related to a lot of 'em. He had like daggers and electricity coming out of his eyes with a calm yes I have"Chained Up Screaming Missing Persons In My Basement' look about him.

He looked like a mortician, and was an apparent high strung individual in the psychiatrist field.

I've a feeling that one day they'll be finding body parts of missing runaways in his freezer and buried in his current and former back yards.

**billmac** · 05-06-2013, 12:26 AM

My thought is on high mileage bikes is, I don't want one. There are plenty of low or reasonable mileage bikes around so that we don't have to settle for one that may or may not have been taken care of.

My experience has been that many high mileage bikes have worn parts. Warn swing arms and shocks come to mind. I don't particularly care to pay to repair for miles someone else put on the bike. I bought a 2006 Nomad in 2010 with 2,000 miles on it for $6k. It has been a great bike and has 16k miles now.

**Kawhead** · 05-06-2013, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cactusjack

I don't even remember the details. He was an odd duck, but one hell of a rider.

You just insulted all the odd ducks. They got feelings too.

**MAS Tequila** · 05-06-2013, 06:55 AM

I bought my 03 with 9000 miles on it.

It now has over 100,000 mile on it.

Mechanically it's in better shape than most with 20000 on them.

Then again, it has been completely apart for maintenance more than once.

MT

Quote:

Originally Posted by billmac

My thought is on high mileage bikes is, I don't want one. There are plenty of low or reasonable mileage bikes around so that we don't have to settle for one that may or may not have been taken care of.

My experience has been that many high mileage bikes have worn parts. Warn swing arms and shocks come to mind. I don't particularly care to pay to repair for miles someone else put on the bike. I bought a 2006 Nomad in 2010 with 2,000 miles on it for $6k. It has been a great bike and has 16k miles now.

05-05-2013, 03:32 PM	#1
pdrrock Jr. Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: rhode island Posts: 6	High mile motorcycles For years I have tried to keep my motorcycle purchases with under 10,000 miles. However it seems I am finding alot of good deals lately with older bikes that have 40 to 50k. In particular I am interested in a 1999 voyager with 41k on it and a 1997 Valkyrie with 50k. I would like to know your opinions on these high mile gems. Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-05-2013, 04:06 PM	#2
manban9888 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sebastian, Florida Posts: 1,016	It really depends on how well they were cared for and how much work you are able to do. If you're handy w a wrench and they were maintained well then you should have plenty of miles left w each. Inspect them thoroughly 1st and if all seems well bring one home. __________________ 2008 Nomad Red/Black 1998 1500a VBA #02113 Antlers, Oklahoma '12 Blairsville, Georgia '13 Antlers, Oklahoma '13 Eureka Springs, Arkansas '15
	0

05-05-2013, 04:15 PM	#3
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Certain bikes have very few problems with high mileage, I had 90k on my Nomad. GoldWings are good for tons of miles as well. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-05-2013, 06:48 PM	#4
Jared Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Greeley, Colorado Posts: 6,772	I've seen motorcycles die at 20K miles and others die at 200K miles. It all depends on the owner. __________________ Jared VBA #1051 (Former President)
	0

05-05-2013, 06:58 PM	#5
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	Well if we think about it, some of these bikes have more powerful engines than some cars. With lighter weight and very light duty we should expect them to last a long time if maintained properly. It is not like too many people are going to take a Nomad, Voyager, Gold Wing, etc and ride motocross with them. Sometimes low mileage is worse than high mileage. You don't want a bike just sitting. Fluids settle/breakdown, moisture builds, rubber cracks, etc. I would rather have a 2003 GW that had 50,000 miles that got ridden consistently than one that had 10,000 and sat. We know the Nomad can go 250,000+ and I have seen Gold Wings + ST1300's w/300,000+ and I know of some guys buying these bikes w/150,000+ miles and riding them another 100,000. So no 50,000 miles is not even broken in if the previous owners maintained them well. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

05-05-2013, 08:40 PM	#6
Kawhead Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: 6th Floor up at the The Nervous Hospital up in East Central State, NC Posts: 7,454	It's up to you, but I would,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,NOT git thissun! __________________ ??-Mar.2,2012 "Rocky" My Beloved Dog RIP Mike Tripp VBA#767 '96 800 Vulcan Classic 06 1600 Nomad 07 1600 Nomad "The shoes you buy at the Salvation Army is already been broke in"- Aunt Kawhead
	0

05-05-2013, 08:45 PM	#7
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Me either! __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
	0

05-05-2013, 09:15 PM	#8
haygrrr Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 378	I was more nervous buying a brand new 6 yr old Yamaha leftover than any used bike I've purchased. One of my first cars was mustang that older woman was averaging less than 3k miles per year. Blew motor second day after I exceeded 55 mph. Hesitate on low mileage vehicles ever since... __________________ VBA #2354
	0

05-06-2013, 12:26 AM	#13
billmac Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1,472	My thought is on high mileage bikes is, I don't want one. There are plenty of low or reasonable mileage bikes around so that we don't have to settle for one that may or may not have been taken care of. My experience has been that many high mileage bikes have worn parts. Warn swing arms and shocks come to mind. I don't particularly care to pay to repair for miles someone else put on the bike. I bought a 2006 Nomad in 2010 with 2,000 miles on it for $6k. It has been a great bike and has 16k miles now.
	0