What is considered high mileage for a cruiser motorcycle

If you’re looking to buy a used motorcycle, it can be difficult to know if you’re getting a good deal. And when you’re looking at a used motorcycle, you may think its mileage is important. But how important are a used motorcycle’s miles? And how many miles are too many? Here’s what you should be looking for in your next used motorcycle.

Do miles on a used motorcycle really matter?

The short answer? No. Mileage isn’t always the most important thing to look for in a used motorcycle. While mileage may be used to understand a bike’s “value” when purchasing it, mileage doesn’t necessarily make or break a good used motorcycle.

According to RevZilla, while mileage does matter when factoring in the value on a late-model bike. Of course, the longevity and reliability of a used motorcycle are based on a number of factors.

While mileage is one of those factors, it probably isn’t the most important. Mileage, along with other factors, will help you determine the best motorcycle for yourself. Miles certainly aren’t everything but can provide you with a good indication of the age and health of the motorcycle.

What’s considered high mileage on a used motorcycle?

According to Best Beginner Motorcycles, a low-mileage bike may be more expensive than one with high miles, simply because of a “newer” motor. But low mileage doesn’t necessarily mean the motorcycle is in better condition.

This is why it is important to check not only the total mileage of the motorcycle but its service history in entirety. And if you can’t acquire a bike’s full history, it may not be worth the purchase.

Motorcycles with more than 40,000 miles are considered to be high-mileage bikes, but if it has been well maintained, the mileage could still make it a good purchase. Sports motorcycles are typically driven more aggressively and experience more engine wear.

Anything above 25,000 miles on a sports bike is considered high. But when compared to just a mileage number, other factors are more important in buying a used motorcycle.

Key things to look for when buying a used motorcycle

It’s not just miles that matter when you’re looking for a used motorcycle. According to Ride Apart, high miles may mean nothing when the bike has been taken care of perfectly. Conversely, low miles may mean nothing with an owner who hasn’t care for the bike properly. Other important factors to think about alongside the motorcycle’s mileage include the following:

Owner habits

Who owned the motorcycle before you? Motorcycles that have been owned by the same person tend to be treated differently than bikes that have been passed through many hands.

In addition, an older owner may be more likely to perform regular maintenance and take the bike on easier rides. Younger owners may be more likely to be aggressive riders, who may ignore maintenance.

Did the owner store it properly? Was it taken out every day, on the weekends, or simply rarely? Ownership is in fact, one of the most important factors in buying a used motorcycle, since how it was treated before you will matter once it’s yours.

Service records and history

You’ll want to know what exactly the used motorcycle was used for, as well as how often it was driven. You will also want to get a complete service record history for the motorcycle, to see where it’s gone in for scheduled maintenance or had problem areas in the past.

And if you’re unfamiliar with looking a motorcycle yourself, you’ll want to have an expert look at the motorcycle. They’ll be able to spot signs of abuse and neglect.

What was the motorcycle intended for?

Different types of motorcycles, used for different things, will produce differences in the quality of a used motorcycle. A bike’s make, model, and year will play a large part in its longevity, according to Bike Bandit.

Motorcycles designed for beginners may not be designed to last as long as bikes designed for the “seasoned rider.” Off-roaders may not last as long as weekend vacationers, for example. It is essential to know the type of motorcycle, what it was used for, and how long it was used for.

Mileage is one of the first things that need consideration when it is about a motorcycle purchase. So, did you ever wonder what the right mileage is for a bike? If yes, then what is considered high mileage for a motorcycle?

Basically, the high mileage range of a bike starts from 25,000 miles to 40,000 miles. But the number varies from model to model. For example, the mileage of touring bikes is between 40,000 to 50,000 miles. On the other hand, it’s different for off-road bikes. 

However, many other variables have an impact on mileage. So, to find out more about them, stay with this article. Let’s get started. 

What Does High Mileage Mean in A Motorcycle?

Bikes with more than 25,000 miles are known as high mileage for a motorcycle. However, you cannot say that only this much mileage is high cause it depends.

However, continue reading why mileage varies from different things and other interesting facts about it.

No wonder mileage is the most important thing on a motorcycle. So now, what is the mileage? Mileage is basically how many miles a motorbike can run or go.

But when it comes to buying a used motorcycle, the most asked question is what is considered high miles on a motorcycle? Usually, over 40k-mile motorcycles are considered high mileage bikes. However, you can use the bike more than expected if you maintain the bike regularly.

Besides, there are more things to consider regarding the mileage of motorbikes. Take a look here to find out.

• Think Beyond the Numbers

Most of the users limit high-mileage into a number. But the number doesn’t matter; it has more to consider.

For instance, if an automobile has been well-maintained, its mileage is merely a tiny portion of the tale. There are many variables for high-mileage motorcycles, such as what model you have and how well you take care of your bike, among others. 

However, if you want to consider numbers, then A motorcycle’s high mileage ranges from 20,000 to 50,000 miles. Compared to that sport motorcycles high mileage range is generally 25,000 miles. Whereas for cruiser and touring motorcycles, high mileage is 40,000 to 50,000-mile range.

• Types of Motorcycles

The type of motorcycle is one of the critical considerations when it comes to high mileage. Cause there are specific types of bikes that can last for a long period or go for long miles without any maintenance.

For example, It isn’t uncommon for touring bike owners to do more than 10,000 miles each year. So for them, it won’t create any issues unless the owner maintains it properly. 

On the contrary sports, the bike has a very different mileage profile. Many of them have higher speeds than most cruisers and touring motorcycles, which means they accelerate and brake more quickly than most of their rivals.

Besides, a well-maintained sport bike will perform better than other motorcycles that are never maintained properly. That’s why other motorcycles have more challenging times acquiring ‘high mileage’ labels.

• Maintaining and Storing the Vehicle

Though annual mileage varies on so many things, maintenance and storage can be that one thing that increases your vehicle’s mileage. Having said that, research shows that a well-maintained motorbike can reach 100,000 miles or more.

After maintenance, the next thing you should consider is how the owner stores bikes. Cause proper storage has a significant impact on motorcycle mileage.

If the bike was in storage for a long time, then the bike will face many issues, including sealing and gasket degradation, corrosion from moisture accumulation.

That’s why, if you’re purchasing a second-hand bike from someone, you should look at the following facts:

• Firstly, check if the bike had regular oil changes, washing, and air filter replacements.
• Make sure where the previous owner stores the bike outside or in the basement.
• After that, ensure whether the bike drove regularly or not.
• Check all the service records.

However, if the bike had multiple owners, then finding out this information will be difficult.

• Knowing the Previous Owner

Here comes the next consideration if your bike is second-hand. When analyzing a second-hand motorbike, a lesser number of owners is typically a positive indicator. 

An unreported collision postponed maintenance, or other unwelcome occurrences are more likely to occur the more times a motorbike has been transferred through hands. 

Though acquiring information from single-owner bikes is easy, here’re some things you should take care of, like Approximately how many miles has its owner driven the motorbike? Or the bike is aggressive on the road or not, and lastly, riding style of the previous owner.

How Many Miles Is a Lot for a Motorcycle?

Well, there’s no specific number that can be defined as a lot of mileage for a motorcycle. However, this will vary on the condition of your bike. In certain quarters, 40,000 mileage is a lot for a bike engine, whereas you can raise the mileage by regular services.

Yet, a bike is regarded as the right option if it is free of physical damage, doesn’t have any engine leaks, and has a complete set of service documents. Besides, you can achieve more mileage by taking good care of it. 

Being said that, if you change oil and service the bike after every 3,000 miles, you’ll achieve more mileage for sure. 

On the contrary, for a sports bike, 25,000 miles will be considered as high mileage. It is because of aggressive riding. And also, it has an engine with high rpm, which adds to its high mileage. That’s why sports bikes have shorter life compared to other bikes.

Other things impact mileage like air-cooled engines, water-cooled engines. They add to longevity because compared to air-cooled engines, water-cooled engines have a longer lifespan.

How Many Miles Do Motorcycles Last?

The longevity of the bike will depend on how well do you maintain it. For example, if a 15-year-old bike with more than 20,000 miles has regular service will still running smoothly. 

While buying a motorbike, most people are curious about the bike’s lifespan, which depends on some variables. And mileage is one of them; however, other variables are:

• Model
• Make
• Year

These three variables have even more importance than mileage. Now you may wonder how they are more critical and impact the lifespan of the bike.

For example, a cheaper bike or learning bike with cheap material will not last long. In contrast, bikes for experienced riders will have durable materials that obviously will have more life expectancy.

That being said, a touring bike has more lifespan than an off-road bike. Due to a combination of quality and durability, manufacturers build touring bikes with a higher price point in mind.

Nevertheless, the manufacturer of dirt bikes expects its customers to smash and dump their motorcycles regularly, wear out their engines, and demand new components – or bikes – on an ongoing basis.

Engineers designed a touring bike as a low-mileage bike that provides enough power via vertical displacement alone. In other words, the engine isn’t working very hard.

As a result of having to work hard in short bursts, dirt motorcycles have tiny displacements and engines that must exert maximum power in a short amount of time.  

In this topic, the last thing to consider is how a specific bike model will be used on a particular surface. In most cases, you can ride a touring bike only on smooth pavement. On the contrary, riders can use dirt motorcycles in various settings, including water, sand, dust, and rock.

How Does a Motorcycle’s History mean More Than Its Miles?

Checking a motorcycle history has a direct impact on how it’s going to last long when you use it. Moreover, when you want to buy a bike, you’ll never purchase one with fewer miles and damage instead of one with high mileage and no defect.

That’s why the motorcycle’s history means a lot. That being said, a bike with one owner and regular maintenance will serve you more, no wonder. A diligent rider who avoids falls and drops recommends a higher-quality bike over a bike with low mileage that has taken a beating.

As you can not always ask the previous owner directly about the bike, checking history will make your job a lot easier in that case. Besides, an unpolluted bike might easily reach thousands of miles or more.

How Can I Tell if a High-Mileage Motorcycle Is in Good Condition?

For seasonal riders, it’s difficult to know if the bike is in bad or good condition. However, some factors can help you to see the bike’s condition. So, to be more ensure you can check the following things:

• Check the complete maintenance records
• Getting the motorcycle service history 
• For further check, give it a test ride
• Check if it has any physical damage, corrosion, or mechanical issues
• Inspect the bike properly

How Do I Keep a High-Mileage Motorcycle in Good Condition?

To keep your high-mileage motorcycle run like a new you can follow the following tips:

• Break It Down like Experts

To keep a high-mileage bike operating smoothly, you must properly break in its engine. Even though the engine of the second-hand motorbike has been rebuilt, you should still break in the machine as if it were brand new. It’s important to remember that the break-in phase typically lasts between 500 and 1,000 miles.

• Follow the Instruction of  Service Manual

Regular service can change bikes’ performance drastically. That’s why follow manufacturer maintenance recommendations sincerely. Check and replace the primary chains, maintain the brakes, and tune the valves. Also, change the oil regularly.

• Look for Clogged Air Filters

Checking the air filteris a necessary maintenance task every bike owner should know. Missing, broken, clogged, and dirt-filled air filters allow debris and grime to enter your engine. An engine with a clogged air filter is not going to run well. So check the filters and wash them regularly.

• Using a Coolant

A coolant can improve your bike’s performance. Using a water coolant will prevent rusting inside the tubes. But replace coolant after every two years to avoid overheating.

• Check If the Bike’s Ridden Regularly.

Verify the rear-drive housing, sprocket wear, and motor chain of your bike frequently. It’s essential to keep the chain thoroughly greased and tuned. In this way, you can keep your high-mileage cycle operating like new for a very long time.

How Many Miles can you Get Out of a Motorcycle?

Bikes are designed to have a longer engine life and gobble up road miles. Besides, you can get 10,000 miles to 40,000 miles depending on different values.

However, it’ll depend on how you maintain your bike or do you service it correctly or not. With proper maintaining, you can get more annual mileage than expected. 

How Important are Service Records?

While buying a used motorcycle, don’t be ignorant about the service records. Cause service records tell a lot about the bike you’re going to purchase.

Checking at the records, you’ll get to know whether the owner takes the bike for regular maintenance or not. 

Also, you’ll know if the bike had been in any accidents or not and the information about bikes maintenance. It should also include information about the motorcycle’s intended use.

How many miles are motorcycles good for?

Twenty-five thousand to thirty thousand miles is a lot for a little sports bike. In the case of more extensive motorcycles, 50,000 miles or more is considered excessive mileage. Be aware, though, that a well-maintained bike may survive long beyond 100,000 miles.

Is 25000 miles on a motorcycle a lot?

The high mileage range starts from 25000 miles to 40000 miles generally. However, it can increase if you take care of it often. You can even speed up the engine by using gear.

What is the most reliable motorcycle?

There are so many options available for reliable bikes. However, according to the customer, Yamaha ranks first in the list of reliable motorbikes.

What is the lifespan of a bike?

There’s no exact answer to this question. Proper maintenance can enhance the engine life. 

How long does the Kawasaki motorcycle engine last?

A properly maintained Kawasaki motorbike may operate smoothly well beyond 100,000 miles, depending on the model. Accordingly, Kawasaki motorcycles are projected to endure for more than 30 years on the road with proper and regular maintenance and careful riding practices.

What is high mileage for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle?

There’s no limit of mileage for Harley-Davidson bikes, to be honest. But generally, it lasts for 150,000 miles. It can go for a long time without any damage or oil leaks for a long time.

What is the average life of a motorcycle?

If a motorbike hasn’t been in any accidents or had any significant breakdowns, it may survive anywhere from 12 to 15 years on average. However, for a high-end bike that has been meticulously maintained, it can eventually extend the life expectancy.

Conclusion

If you’ve made it this far, I hope you already know what is considered high mileage for a motorcycle. There’s no limit to mileage cause you can extend the lifespan by proper maintaining.

So for better performance, give your bike scheduled maintenance and check the gas tank. In that way, you can extend the mileage for a motorcycle.