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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Used Bike: Is there such a thing as too FEW miles?
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Message started by deejaysham on 08/13/13 at 20:51:23

Title: Used Bike: Is there such a thing as too FEW miles?
Post by deejaysham on 08/13/13 at 20:51:23

When shopping for a used bike, obviously too many miles on it can worry you with the potential for problems down the road. We all look for bikes with low miles but is there such a thing as too FEW miles?

I know it sounds weird but is there ever a situation where a bike from 4 or 5 years ago only has a few hundred miles on it and I should be considering that a red flag? Maybe it never ran great and sat idle, for example. Just wondering if you'd ever shy away from a seemingly great low mileage bike for being too low mileage.

Title: Re: Used Bike: Is there such a thing as too FEW mi
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/13/13 at 20:57:46

At some point the age/mileage numbers turn from low miles to documented neglect. Properly done, a bike can be resurrected from neglect. How/where its been stored matter. In a garage in Death Valley? Well,, the seat may be ready to split,, but the engine is fine, mite wanna be ready to go thru the carb, but anything thats been sitting for very long is gonna likely need that, replace hoses, swap the petcock, put new tires on ,, remember the time & $$$ to bring it up to spec when buying that Low Miles bike..

Title: Re: Used Bike: Is there such a thing as too FEW mi
Post by Face on 08/13/13 at 21:07:17

Ditto what JOG said.

Drain, flush, and refill with fresh, all the fluids. Inspect brake lines, lube cable housings, CHECK TIRES for sun rot, check belt for cracks (assuming it has a belt), start it up and see how (or if) it runs before you buy it. Anything you find in need of attention or repair, make sure is something you can handle yourself or are willing to pay to have fixed.

Mileage is really a better indication of drivetrain wear. Most everything else just breaks down with time.

Title: Re: Used Bike: Is there such a thing as too FEW mi
Post by Todd James on 08/14/13 at 00:25:21

I bought my '07 with 60 miles on it for $2000 last year. The seller
bought it new for his wife to learn on, but she quickly lost interest.
He kept the bike in hopes that she would try again, but he gave up
after 5 years and posted it on Craig's list. I was the first one there
with cash in hand.
I had concerns: Was his story legit ? Was the mileage accurate ?
Had it been properly stored ? Had it been ridden (exercised)
occasionally ? So I asked the seller a lot of questions to satisfy me
that he was on the up and up and being honest about it.
It helped my confidence that he was a police officer and that his wife
was there to confirm the story. The bike itself looked brand new and
stock right down to the original IRC tires, warning sticker still on the
tank, brass plug in the carb, etc. After inspecting the bike very, very
closely, I bought it knowing that there could be internal deterioration
from storage, but the price was too good to pass up for what was
essentially a brand new bike. I trailed it home and changed the oil and
filter, replaced the brake fluid, checked all the nuts, bolts, adjustments,
and widgets.
I've ridden and maintained it according to the factory break-in
procedures and after a thousand miles I'm convinced that was (is) a
new bike. In my case I placed a lot of stock in my perception of the
honesty and integrity of the seller who was also the first owner.
But I could also have been burned by hidden damage from the long
term storage. Hopefully I'm past the point in mileage and use where
any such issues would have shown up by now.