How many miles do sports bikes run

[Greenman]

Before they need an overhaul? I've been told as little as 20k, which I have a lot of trouble believing. My only knowledge is with V-Rods, I know of several that are well past 100k, and a couple dozen that are up in the 70k range.

 

[superccs]

Um 4cyl sport bikes run at like 3-5x the rpm as old iron blocks. Which is something to think about. My CBR600F4 had 44K miles when I sold it last year, but it was still running smoothly. My 2007 R6 has 16K miles on it but things are swell with that bike too. I changed the plugs and adjusted the valves recently but that cost was minimal $600. A high miles bike should require some suspension rebuilding or maintenance to keep things smooth.

My buddy has a Honda 929RR that had 60k miles on it before it got wrecked. It needed a timing chain pretty much, but luckily a bicyclist crashed in to it before that got dealt with.

 

[Greenman]

Um 4cyl sport bikes run at like 3-5x the rpm as old iron blocks. Which is something to think about. My CBR600F4 had 44K miles when I sold it last year, but it was still running smoothly. My 2007 R6 has 16K miles on it but things are swell with that bike too. I changed the plugs and adjusted the valves recently but that cost was minimal $600. A high miles bike should require some suspension rebuilding or maintenance to keep things smooth.

My buddy has a Honda 929RR that had 60k miles on it before it got wrecked. It needed a timing chain pretty much, but luckily a bicyclist crashed in to it before that got dealt with.

$600 for plugs and a valve adjustment! Did you have to send the bike to Japan or what?

 

[WackyDan]

There are bikes out there with well north of 30k miles that have had only the regular maintenance done on them.

My buddy has close to 100,000 miles on his Can Am Spyder - It has a Rotax 990 in it. ( I have one too ).... He has only had to replace an output shaft and sprocket, and some exhaust gaskets in that time... other than items you would expect like tires and brakes.

I have 8200 miles on mine. Had an oil sensor and O2 sensor go bad....other than that, no other issues.

 

[StageLeft]

Remember you're not likely to be putting many miles on these anyway so even if they require regular maint. based on miles it's still not actually going to be that often.

 

[theApp]

You'll see people get 100k from BMWs, and I believe some dude even got that from his CBR600 F4i. Usually it's not the engine that kills a sportbike though, it's the rider crashing it, heh.

 

[jaha2000]

$600 for plugs and a valve adjustment! Did you have to send the bike to Japan or what?

The valve adjustments on a modern sport bike are a PITA.
Keep in mind all the plastic has to come off the be able to get to it. And if changes need to be made you have to buy shim kits to do it, they are small and like to fall down in the valves if you are not steady.

 

[JulesMaximus]

As with any vehicle it largely depends on whether or not you maintain it according to the manufacturer's recommendations and how you ride it. If you're racing the bike every weekend at the track I'd expect it to need much more frequent maintenance and overhauls.

I know of guys with 100k miles on their SV's. I have 12,000 on my SV and it is coming up on the first valve check at 14k. No reason this bike shouldn't last for many many more years and tens of thousands of miles.

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Ask this guy -

R1 Round the world
^ RHCP song used on video contains NSFW lyrics. You have been warned.

 

[Greenman]

So it's safe to say the average rider could drive one for 50 to 70k without it throwing a rod, would that be fair?

 

[JulesMaximus]

So it's safe to say the average rider could drive one for 50 to 70k without it throwing a rod, would that be fair?

I don't see why not.