High milage advice

[SERVDAVE]

Just after a few tips to keep my bike looking good. Was working out how long I want to keep hold of the bike and worked out that there be 150k on her by the time I want to keep her (10 years)

Any great tips to keeping a bike going for that amount of miles?

Cheers

 

[Steptoe]

If possible only do long rides.
Keep the engine running all day, no short ( less than 25 mile rides), turning the engine off letting it get cold and then another 25 miles.

And don't wash it and then put it in the garage (recipe for brake caliper problems). Wash it before you ride it.

 

[argee]

....Bubble wrap.......?

 

[Dave Ett]

Keep it serviced with good quality components and lubricants. I have a 1985 FJ1100 with 100,000 miles on it, and I've done all my own servicing for most of those miles. Sure it's basic but was also built in the eighties when quality control wasn't even invented!

My BMW car has 220,000 miles on it too and still fires every time. No reason your bike won't last as long if looked after.

 

[Stormforce8]

My 2002 1150GS is nearing 240,000 miles, and runs perfectly.

It has been used daily since it was ridden out of the showroom, serviced and oiled to the recommended schedule, anything needing replacement was done when required. Basically, keep it maintained but USE IT - Maverick is currently commuting into London each day on it just to keep the mileage going up ...........I reckon if it stops being ridden it'll keel over and die from shock

 

[mechcanico lee]

I have a brush at work for doing the floor its 15 years old now, its still as good as new .......

its had 4 new heads and 3 shafts and it still works like the day i got it, maintanance is the key

 

[v8legend]

I have a brush at work for doing the floor its 15 years old now, its still as good as new .......

its had 4 new heads and 3 shafts and it still works like the day i got it, maintanance is the key

Is it on the original clamp then?

 

[Micky]

Much of the above

As soon as you can take off/out every nut or bolt that you can get a spanner on and copperslip up.

Every electrical socket/connection you can see take apart and use electrical grease on the connections before you put back together.

Take off the sumpguard and with the engine clean and dry spray the front and underneath and every where else that you're not going to be able to clean easily, with AC50 or Scott Oils's FS365.

With a brush stipple the FS365 round where the spokes enter the front hub. You will get spider webs of corrosion under the paint if you don't. I did, it was replaced under warranty and now of no further issue.

Everytime you wash it, dry thoroughly and spray the front of the engine with Putoline 1001 maintenance spray, round the oil filter and heat exchanger, up under the starter motor, round the back of the engine and on top of the gearbox behind the cylinders, but you'll have to dry out the pools of water that get held in there.

Soft cloth with Putoline 1001 (WD40 or Similar) wipe round the rims and the spokes'n nipples.

Auto Glym resin polish on the paintwork and their Vynil Care on the black plastic stuff.

If I can't afford the time to give the bike a proper wash'n polish then I don't bother

That's about it.... and don't forget to talk to her now and again and thank her for looking after you

43,500 miles in two and a half years, used through two winters, off road, overland to Morocco and Iran and Pakistan ... and still looks like new

 

[Packer]

My 2002 1150GS is nearing 240,000 miles, and runs perfectly.

It has been used daily since it was ridden out of the showroom, serviced and oiled to the recommended schedule, anything needing replacement was done when required. Basically, keep it maintained but USE IT - Maverick is currently commuting into London each day on it just to keep the mileage going up ...........I reckon if it stops being ridden it'll keel over and die from shock

Do you have a thread anywhere listing whats failed and at what mileage?

 

[GS TRV]

My 2002 1150GS is nearing 240,000 miles, and runs perfectly.

any chance of posting a foto up? I'd love to see it. Mine is barely run in then!

 

[SERVDAVE]

I have a brush at work for doing the floor its 15 years old now, its still as good as new .......

its had 4 new heads and 3 shafts and it still works like the day i got it, maintanance is the key

Thats funny!

Cheers guys, some great tips in there. Glad to hear that it's not impossible!

I already talk to the bike, I thought everyone did!

 

[Stormforce8]

Do you have a thread anywhere listing whats failed and at what mileage?

Sorry, no thread on this - I bought the bike at 223000 miles in March this year. It had been owned by IAM instructor at a riding school and used from day one as his work bike. He was pretty detailed in his record keeping - this is what came in the documents folder - along with 4 fully stamped service books.........

any chance of posting a foto up? I'd love to see it. Mine is barely run in then!

Here it is back in March when I collected it - completely standard and farkle free, apart from the Ohlins shocker

 

[ogri-nic]

A friends Yam XJ900 is on 340k miles.... he reckons the secret was never to let the oil go cold..... he was a dispatch rider when he was using this bike..... long days, short breaks and it now rests in his garage, not used but he cant get rid