What is considered high mileage for a motorcycle? It needs to be considered when buying a used motorcycle. If you watch a lot of MCrider videos, you know that I recommend a used motorcycle for your first purchase. In fact, I recommend it for most motorcycle purchases. I have 4 bikes in the garage right now, the BMW GS will be up for sale soon, but all of them with the exception of the Honda Goldwing were purchased with miles on the odometer when I got them.
Riders who are new to riding may not be aware of some of the things to look for when purchasing a used motorcycle. So I thought we would spend a video on that topic this week.
I don’t claim to be a mechanic by any means but I have been around motorcycles long enough to know which have been taken care of and which have been abused. But, if you are new to motorcycling, finding a good used motorcycle might be a confusing endeavor. If that is you having a friend who is a motorcycle mechanic would be a great resource or you can always request to get the motorcycle inspected for a small fee at most shops.
So, what are some things that I look for when purchasing a used motorcycle?
How long do motorcycles last?
How many miles is a lot for a motorcycle? If you were shopping for a used car and it had 40,000 miles on it, is that a lot of miles? What if it is a motorcycle, is that a lot of miles?
My answer is…it depends.
Motorcycle mileage
40,000 miles on a Honda Goldwing is not a lot of miles. Many Goldwings last 200,000 miles and more. They are built for a longer engine life and to eat up road miles.
However, if you are buying a used sport bike and it has 40,000 miles…that is a lot more miles than the 40,000 on the Goldwing. Part of the difference is sportbikes are designed to get the most power from the engine that they can, they run at higher RPMs and they are often ridden harder than Goldwings or other touring motorcycles.
All of this puts stress on the engine, the frame, the suspension and all of the other parts on a sportbike. All of that horsepower and acceleration come at a price and part of that price is a shorter expected lifespan of the motorcycle.
So you will need to do some research for the type or model of motorcycle you are interested in and see how many miles can be expected from it. Go to enthusiast forums or Facebook groups for that particular model of motorcycle and ask the users there to get a general idea. I say general idea because many people answering questions in those groups don’t really know any more on the subject than the person asking the question. But if you ask enough questions and read enough posts you can start to get a pretty good idea on what to expect from any model of motorcycle you might purchase.
Another important point when it comes to mileage…a 10 year old motorcycle with 400 miles on it may not be a good deal either. That means it has spent most of its life sitting in the garage. Time causes fuel to go bad, oil to go bad, brake fluid to thicken, etc. These things can be an extra expense for the perspective owner. Sometimes the seller will negotiate money for all new fluids, tires and other items that might need to be replaced because the motorcycle has been sitting for so long, if not you need to account for that in the cost.
Inspection of the motorcycle
What should you look for when inspecting the motorcycle?
Want to see how NOT to do a motorcycle inspection?
Check out this April Fool's video I did with Ichiban Moto back in 2019.
Cleanliness and broken parts
A general walk around of a motorcycle might tell you a lot about it. Is the motorcycle clean? Are there any broken parts? Is the chain covered in grime and dirt? Are the tires inflated properly?
All of these are clues to pride in ownership. If there are things that need to be fixed it should be disclosed up front and the price adjusted accordingly.
Ask the owner if the motorcycle has ever been dropped. Then, check grip ends, the clutch and brake levers, the bottoms of the crash bars, the bottom of the exhaust and other areas that would make contact with the ground in a drop.
Keep in mind that a drop does not necessarily mean the motorcycle is a bad purchase but it might give you some clues about the person you are purchasing from.
Here is something I like to do if purchasing from an individual. Tell them before you arrive not to start the engine, you want to see the engine cold. During your walk around you can verify if the engine and or exhaust are warm and if it was started prior to you arriving.
You can tell a lot about a motorcycle by seeing a cold start. Does it sputter and have a hard time starting? Does it blow smoke from the exhaust until it is warmed up? Does it refuse to start at all.
If you enjoy wrenching on a motorcycle these may or may not be a concern because you can fix it yourself. But, if your goal is to buy a motorcycle you can ride and you have no desire to fix it or spend money to fix it, these things need to be considered.
Motorcycle Tires
Replacing tires on a motorcycle can be a significant cost. Look at the tread, check the tire pressure, look for the age of the tire. Check out my complete video on motorcycle tires.
Test Rides
If this is a motorcycle you are really interested in, I would say a test ride is not out of the question. Some owners are leary of allowing test rides but there is one work around. Put full cash in the hands of the owner with the agreement that you are purchasing the motorcycle if you drop it for any reason.
All they have to lose at that point is a sale…and if you are selling a motorcycle, I would say this is a good policy.
Used motorcycle inspection check list
The MSF has a great inspection checklist called T-CLOCS. This is a pre ride inspection list but can also serve as a great guide on things to look for on a prospective purchase. Take it with you and use it as a guide for things to check on the road worthiness of the motorcycle.
Again a reminder, if you are new to this and this purchase is a lot of money to you…it is never a bad idea to take someone knowledgeable with you or to arrange and pay for a mechanic to inspect the motorcycle for you.
I have purchased quite a few used motorcycles over the years and I would consider one of them to be a bad purchase…but it was not for me, it was an older KLR250 I was purchasing as a training bike so I was not as particular with that purchase.
Buying used I have saved thousands of dollars over the years. It is nice riding that new motorcycle off of the lot but it is also an expensive ride as depreciation will cost you at least 20 to 30% the first time you ride it off the lot. If you buy used and smart you can let the first owner take that loss and you can still have a great motorcycle to show off to your friends.
