How Many Miles Can a Motorcycle Last?

Whenever someone goes out to buy a car or a motorcycle, they always ask the age-old question — how many miles does it have? The answer is different for almost every vehicle, but this is especially the case with bikes. That is why we’ll be looking at how many miles a motorcycle can last.

There are many aspects that you need to keep in mind when answering this question. If you are thinking of purchasing a bike with a lot of miles on it, be aware that you might be hit with tons of repair costs. The number of miles on a bike is one of the most important things to take into account when making your purchase. With that said, let’s dive right in and take a look at how many miles can a motorcycle last.

Motorcycle Mileage Is Different From Car Mileage

If you are not knowledgeable about bikes, then you’ll be surprised to know that the average mileage is pretty low compared to cars. As a general rule of thumb, people often say that you should multiply the bike’s mileage by at least 4 to understand it in car terms.

However, the same rule still applies. If a bike has a lot of mileage, it will havemore wear and tear and will also be difficult to sell at a good price. An average biker will get about 3,000 annual miles on their motorcycle. Keep this in mind, because 30,000 miles in a bike’s terms means that it has been driven for about 10 years or so.

Also, it is important to note that this is for average bikes. If you are going for some larger bikes like the Harley Davidson, the terms of mileage will be different. In general, the Harley Davidson is considered a high-mileage motorcycle.

Factors Affecting Mileage

There are tons of factors that you need to keep in mind concerning the mileage of a bike. Regular maintenance has a huge impact on determining the lifespan of a bike and how many miles it’ll run for. It depends on the type of motorcycle, but usually, proper maintenance can do wonders.

Apart from this, extreme weather conditions and road conditions can also dictate how many miles a bike will last. Getting stuck in traffic on a hot day will result in a shorter lifespan of your engine, and in turn, less annual mileage. This does plenty of wear on the bike without you realizing it.

Some modern motorcycles and ones from premium brands like Harley-Davidson have measures to prevent this, but it can still be damaging to your bike to travel in extreme conditions. On top of that, the type of oil you put in your bike also plays a major part in the total mileage.

When you are looking for a new motorcycle — whether it is a Harley Davidson, sports motorcycle, or any average motorcycle — make sure that you check the service record. This will allow you to see how often the bike is maintained. Keep in mind that sports bikes usually have low mileage.

Keeping Your Bike in Pristine Condition

Now that we’ve discussed the major factors affecting mileage, let’s look at how you can keep your bike in good condition. First and foremost, you should check your bike’s air filter. It collects debris, so regularly cleaning it and checking it is a must.

HOW MANY MILES CAN A MOTORCYCLE LAST

Secondly, make sure that you do oil changes every thousand or so miles to keep the engine in pristine condition. This will give your engine a longer lifespan and a beautiful sound as well. Adding coolants to your engine will also help out a lot. In short, routine service maintenance is a must for any bike owner.

Some heavier bikes and dirt bikes will require additional service frequency, especially in corrosive weather conditions. Once you have made sure that everything is in order, going for a test drive is a good idea.

Motorcycles Can Last as Long as There Are Parts

As long as the parts of your bike are good, your motorcycle will be sticking around for a long time. If you have an old model that you’ve come to love, the good news is that you can technically keep it forever. However, eventually, the repair and maintenance costs will catch up. Plus, the parts might not be available depending on how old your bike is.

Usually, manufacturers tend to support the motorcycle for about 10 years, which is about 30,000 miles. After that, it might be extremely difficult to find parts for it and keep it in good condition.

However, the good thing is that modern bikes can last longer. Now, having a lot of miles on your bike isn’t considered a bad thing. This is due to various technological advancements that have allowed the lifespan of motorcycles to increase significantly without a lot of wear and tear.

However, you still have to do regular service and maintenance of your vehicle to keep it in shape. Nowadays, if a bike has a high mileage, you should look for its history and how much the owner has cared for it. That has more value than the number of miles.

Bottom Line

Hopefully, this article has answered your burning question about how many miles a motorcycle can last. As mentioned in the article, there are tons of factors that affect this, but you should look to replace your bike after about 30,000 miles. However, a bike can last a long time depending on the parts.

When it comes to bikes, a high mileage motorcycle isn’t a deal-breaker. There are tons of reliable bikes, such as the Harley Davidson, that perform excellently after thousands of miles. However, in general, a motorcycle with a lot of miles will usually surprise you with tons of repair costs.

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