What Is Considered High Mileage for a Sports Motorcycle?

If you are looking for a used motorcycle, what are the things on your checklist that you inquire about or inspect in a motorcycle? There are many things to look for in a used motorcycle, including the make, model, model year, maintenance history, displacement size, motorcycle type, and much more.

However, one thing is of immense importance that most riders overlook when they are on a hunt to buy a used motorcycle. That one thing is the “Mileage” of a motorcycle; by ‘mileage,’ we don’t mean fuel mileage. It is the total number of miles a motorcycle can stay functional in its lifetime. It can also be defined as the expected remaining life of a motorcycle.

Knowing a motorcycle's high mileage can help you decide which motorcycle to buy. It is an important factor and useful information. The older a motorcycle is, the closer it reaches its mileage.

Not every motorcycle has the same mileage. Different motorcycle types, including cruisers, touring bikes, naked bikes, roadsters, and sports bikes, have different mileage or average life expectancy. Among all motorcycle types, sports bikes have the least high mileage, considering the same riding and upkeep conditions. Continue reading this article to know what is considered high mileage for a sports motorcycle.

Unlike cars that can easily ensure a high mileage in six figures, motorcycles don’t last that long. Particularly for a sports motorcycle, you must not expect a high mileage of more than 20,000 to 30,000 miles. After that usage, a sports motorcycle is in its golden period. But why is this? Why do sports motorcycles give up so soon? There are a few reasons why 20,000 to 30,000 miles are considered high for sports motorcycles.

Sports motorcycles are fitted with small-stroke engines. These engines are engineered to produce exceptional horsepower rather than torque figures, which is why their engines can rev extremely high.

Sports motorcycle engines are made to rev higher for a reason. You don’t expect a sports motorcycle to maneuver on unpaved terrain or climb hills. They are purposely built for paved, smooth tracks and empty roads where you can open the full throttle and enjoy the adrenaline rush.

As these motorcycles are used to their limits, they are prone to wear and tear. The engine components are subjected to higher stress, which is why sports motorcycles tend to last shorter than other motorcycle types.

To understand the point better, consider an example from our daily lives. If you can walk 2 hours a day before you get tired, you will be breathless after jogging for a maximum of 15 minutes or maybe sooner. This is because you are putting more stress on your body and muscles.

Racking miles on a sports motorcycle doesn’t feel as good as on a cruiser or a touring bike. Cruisers and touring bikes are made to ride longer distances, which is why they last longer.

Another important reason sports motorcycles reach their high mileage sooner is their aggressive and harsh riding style.

Meanwhile, sports motorcycles are not designed for continuous or longer rides. They are built to run at high speeds. Sports bikes are made for tracks and for riding aggressively. They are not all about riding at high speeds; sports motorcycles are meant for quick acceleration, turning sharp corners, and aggressive braking.

Such an aggressive riding style puts pressure on different components of sports motorcycles, resulting in early wear and tear. The other parts that face the most strain include sports motorcycles’ engines, brakes, transmissions, suspensions, tires, and chassis.

These are the main reasons sports motorcycles reach their high mileage sooner than any other motorcycle type. A large number on the odometer of a sports motorcycle isn’t a good thing, especially if you are looking for a used sports motorcycle.

A huge number on a sports motorcycle’s odometer doesn’t tell everything about the motorbike. Even an old sports motorcycle with high mileage can still be used for many more miles and years without an issue. Here's why you shouldn't just focus on the mileage:

Motorcycles are similar as your body requires some form of examination from time to time to be healthy. If a sports bike has many miles on its odometer, it can still be a great option if properly cared for.

Ideally, it is advised to look for a motorcycle with a clean service or maintenance history. Before making the purchase, you have to make sure that the bike is well-maintained by the previous owner. You can ensure that the bike receives regular oil changes, valve adjustments, and any other services recommended by the manufacturer.

Here is your chance to become a detective. Look at the motorcycle in detail. Search for any signs of excessive wear and tear, dents, scratches, and cracks on every part of the motorcycle. Check if the engine is starting and running normally and smoothly. Is there any sound that is unusual in any way?

Tires, brakes, and chain conditions should be carefully examined. If everything seems okay, there is a better chance that this motorbike will last longer. This is why maintaining a motorcycle regularly after intervals is a great idea to make it last longer. If the above factors are favorable, you may have found a gem.

Who owns the motorcycle tells a lot about how it is kept. Make sure to ask questions of the owner to get to know his/her knowledge about motorcycles. Make sure to check his confidence when he replies to your questions. If he is a regular motorcyclist, a passionate rider; he must have taken good care of his motorcycle.

However, don’t solely rely on his words. Check the motorcycle in detail as well. Don’t buy everything that he says. Check the evidence and decide based on the motorcycle’s history and records.

This time, it is not about the number of miles the motorcycle has covered. It is about whether the bike has been used regularly or not. Suppose you bought a motorcycle long ago, but the number of miles on it says that you haven’t used it much. There could be various reasons why you haven’t used your motorcycle regularly. It could be because you also own other motorcycles that you love to ride. Or it could be because you are a car guy.

Nevertheless, a bike not regularly used and stored for most of its lifetime is expected to show problems. They are more likely to wear and tear early. 

Another very important information regarding used motorcycles is where they are stored. You must inquire about this from the owner or ask him this question. It can tell a lot about a used motorcycle.

If a motorcycle is not stored in good condition, it doesn’t matter how well it has been maintained or used; it is more likely to undergo wear and tear. A motorcycle must be stored in a warm and dry place, particularly in a garage. If you don’t have a garage, there are other good ways to protect the bike from dust, water, and other external elements. A motorcycle must not be exposed to rain, snow, and wind as it will not only result in early wear and tear of important parts but also cause rusting of metal parts.

Consider what you intend to use the motorcycle for. What is your preferred riding style? If you do relaxed weekend cruising on excellent, twisty roads, a higher mileage bike with a good service record may be perfect for you, which is not a sports bike. You should go for a cruiser.

However, if you are passionate about sports motorcycles and love a sports bike's performance, feel, and aesthetics, then go for a sports bike.

Also, if you are new to motorcycling and looking to start your riding journey on a motorcycle that is less likely to break down, show any issues, and accompany you on your riding journeys, look for a motorcycle with a few miles on the odometer.

You can find a great deal by paying good attention to detail and not just focusing on the number of miles.

For a cruiser, a high mileage is usually around and above 40,000 miles. However, the mileage of a cruiser can vary depending on the size of the bike and the engine. For example, a small cruiser with a low-powered engine usually reaches high mileage when ridden around 25,000 to 30,000 miles. Similarly, a mid-sized cruiser usually reaches high mileage when ridden around 30,000-35,000 miles. It also depends on how the cruiser has been used. Either the cruiser is used only for city riding, highway riding, or touring.

An adventure touring motorcycle is usually geared more towards on-road long-distance touring. However, it can also assist you in overcoming off-road challenges while riding on dirt. A high mileage on an adventure touring motorcycle can highly vary depending on the use of these bikes. If you take these bikes more frequently for off-roading, you may end up reaching their high mileage sooner than expected.

On average, if you use and maintain adventure touring motorcycles properly, you can reach a high mileage of around 50,000 miles.

Those who love to own and ride sports motorcycles prioritize high-speed performance and agility. They know what sports motorcycles are capable of. The purpose of sports motorcycles is not to ensure better fuel economy. Considering their design, robust engines, high-speed performance, sharp maneuverability, and aggressive riding style, they tend to reach their ‘high mileage’ sooner.

As we have discussed, a sports bike is said to reach its high mileage as it reaches 20,000-30,000 miles on the odometer. This is the average life expectancy of a sports motorcycle. However, it is a relatively easy and fast rule that a sports motorcycle will continue working after reaching this mark. It also depends on several factors mentioned in this article, which can considerably increase the life or mileage of a sports motorcycle.

Next time you are in the market to buy a used motorcycle, follow the instructions in this article to find a perfect match.