How Long Should My Motorcycle Last?
For many riders, biking is a lifelong passion once you’ve found the perfect motorcycle. As a motorcycle owner or prospective buyer shopping on the market, you want a bike that’s designed for speed, power, cornering, and longevity, so you’re riding for years to come. Previously we’ve given answers for how many miles is a lot for a motorcycle, which can affect how long your bike will run over time. Now, Cycle Trader is answering the question bikers often ask, ‘how long should my motorcycle last?’ as well as providing tips to help your bike last longer.
Factors that Affect How Long Your Motorcycle Will Last
When it comes to your bike’s life expectancy, keep in mind that every motorcycle model is different. Factors like bike type, maintenance and care, how you ride, and riding conditions all play into the equation of how long your motorcycle will last. On average, new motorcycles that are used regularly—whether that’s every day or multiple times a week—can last 10–15 years. With the right care, some bikes will keep going well after 20 years. You’ll notice your motorcycle will start having more problems with performance and parts breaking with higher mileage, typically after 50,000 miles of riding. And ideally, you want your bike to keep moving after 100,000 miles.
If you’re shopping for a motorcycle that you’d like to own for 10 or more years, consider the bike type when researching your options. For instance, touring bikes are designed for longevity, and are built with quality parts that can handle tough riding conditions over time. Many Honda motorcycles, for example, that fall under this category have a reputation for lasting longer and are sought after by shoppers for this reason. In contrast, many sport bikes are designed to be lightweight for speed and performance, therefore parts might break and need replacements sooner.
3 Ways to Make Your Motorcycle Last Longer
Whether you’ve purchased a new or used bike, no matter the make or model, there are a number of proactive steps you can take to ensure your bike lasts longer. Here’s a breakdown of three ways to make your motorcycle last longer.
1. Keep Up with Routine Motorcycle Maintenance
Know the basics of routine motorcycle maintenance to prevent any problems when you’re out on the road, and to keep your bike in its best condition for the long run:
- Perform regular oil changes every 2,000 miles for mineral-based motor oil, every 5,000 miles for semi-synthetic, and every 7,000–10,000 for fully-synthetic oil
- Change the bike’s brake fluid, coolant, transmission fluid, clutch fluid, and fork oil
- Check your battery for low acid level, make a replacement, and properly store the battery when the bike isn’t in use for long periods of time
- Replace motorcycle brakes
- Replace motorcycle tires, ensure you ride with the correct tire pressure, and inspect the tread
- Replace the bike’s corroded or rusted chain
- Wash and wax your motorcycle
- Grease and lubricate parts to prevent rust and corrosion, including caliper pins and piston bodies
- Polish motorcycle exhaust headers
- Go with quality replacement parts
- Seek an expert or professional mechanic for regular maintenance
2. Know How to Ride
How you ride your motorcycle will actually affect its longevity. Going heavy on the throttle along with excessive/hard braking will cause damage to your bike’s components over time, including your engine and transmission. Riding on rugged terrain, such as unpaved roads, is detrimental to your bike’s suspension. Frequent riding in cold or rainy weather can cause rust and corrosion to bike parts. And of course, you always should drive defensively to avoid collisions and damaging your motorcycle. Go with these motorcycle trailers to safely transport your bike if you’re unsure of the road conditions on long journeys, or if there’s inclement weather that’s dangerous for riding and can cause damage to your motorcycle.
3. Protect Your Bike with Storage
Another simple way to protect your bike and increase its life is by keeping it in storage, such as a garage, away from outside elements. Excessive sunlight and heat can ruin your motorcycle’s paint, leather, and plastic. Cold and wet conditions can cause rust, cracks, and corrosion, and wind can blow unwanted debris between bike parts. Don’t leave your motorcycle in storage for too long, otherwise parts will start having problems, like shrinking and cracking of seals and gaskets, the tires will brittle, the battery will drain, fuel can gel or crystalize, condensation might develop in the engine and carburetors, and the chain can stiffen. Run your bike every once in a while for a quick session to prevent these problems from occurring. If you don’t have access to a climate-control storage or garage, consider waterproof and durable motorcycle covers.
Your motorcycle should give you power, speed, and long-term reliability as you put more miles on it. Follow these tips to extend the life of your bike so you can keep riding. If you’re looking for your next new or used motorcycle, be sure to see all the listings on the nation’s leading marketplace at CycleTrader.com.
Ryan Miller
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