My bike hit 68,000 miles yesterday.
Occasionally I'll have a friend or someone check out my bike and be shocked how many miles it has on it. Their attitude is like, "It's a miracle!" or "It's got to be so worn out!" or "Is this the second motor?"
Being new to motorcycles, I really didn't know much about the longevity of them. I figured it's not like a car, but come on, 68,000? That doesn't sound like that much.
The thing starts and runs great, (thanks to you all) it doesn't smoke or burn or leak oil, has all kinds of power, gets decent MPG's.
Is this unusual for a motorcycle to have that many miles on it and still run like new?
A number of people are members of the 100,000+, 150,000+, 200,000+ miles club on their original, untouched engines.
Change the oil, keep the valves adjusted.. you'll be fine.. If you're concerned do a compression check. My FJ has over 50k on it and is totally fine..
In human terms, assuming a well maintained bike, your 68k mile FJ is in it's mid twenty's....the best mileage is in front of you.
Of course, same a humans, it depends on how well she has been taken care of....
I know some humans (as do you) that are absolutely trashed in their mid twenty's.
We have a old timer in Denver, CO. by the name of Lee, and he has over 300k on his '84 and has never opened the engine. He has been very particular on his maintance. He logs everything.
I do wish Lee (if you don't limp, you ain't shit) would pop in here and say hello...
Quote from: Pat Conlon on June 17, 2014, 11:54:50 AM
I do wish Lee (if you don't limp, you ain't shit) would pop in here and say hello...
Ah, there he is... :good:
(http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/rktmanfj/FJ/LeeC.jpg)
Quote from: not a lib on June 17, 2014, 02:08:21 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on June 17, 2014, 11:54:50 AM
I do wish Lee (if you don't limp, you ain't shit) would pop in here and say hello...
Ah, there he is... :good:
(http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/uu159/rktmanfj/FJ/LeeC.jpg)
I've said it before and I'll say it again...
I wanna be Lee when I grow up.
rossi
Lee is just down the road from me if he's in Denver. I should roll down and see him.
I have 85000 mile on my 88 and the valve cover has not been off for 65k Runs great.
Cheers
My free 93 FJ has over 180K.
Sure doesn't show it.
Ride on and enjoy!
Leon
There was some swedish guy on you tube (its come done recently)that has rode the world on his fj that 500k miles on his fj
My 88's first motor went to 200ks before the clutch died and lost comp in no3. A broke uni student at the time I transplanted a motor with 120k on the dial into it and ran that one up to 200k before I sold it.
Tough bikes, but then I think people stress too much about miles on modern bike engines. My 955 Tiger has 150k up and my Blackbird 110, apart from a little oil use in the Tiger both run perfectly.
Quote from: Bminder on June 17, 2014, 05:30:35 PM
Lee is just down the road from me if he's in Denver. I should roll down and see him.
I met Lee in Gunnison '05. What a guy - lots of knowledge in that head. He told me about the nifty place under the carbs to heat a can of food or whatever.
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb37/campsimonette/Duluth_09/100_8940.jpg) (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/campsimonette/media/Duluth_09/100_8940.jpg.html)
Haha and no drain on alternator either!
I'm thinkin' I could cook up a batch of pinto beans for dinner that-a-way!
Gonna study on it some.
Quote from: Burns on June 23, 2014, 01:09:36 PM
I'm thinkin' I could cook up a batch of pinto beans for dinner that-a-way!
Gonna study on it some.
If there in a can don't wait to long they will explode and that dried crap is hard to clean off.. Don't ask... :lol:
George
Just a bit of Americana trivia.. In the early days of auto travel, a lot of the tourists heading down the east coast to Florida had a metal roaster attached to their exhaust pipe. They would prepare the roaster with the meat and potatoes before the drive and have it ready by dinnertime..
Quote from: novaraptor on June 23, 2014, 05:34:18 PM
Just a bit of Americana trivia.. In the early days of auto travel, a lot of the tourists heading down the east coast to Florida had a metal roaster attached to their exhaust pipe. They would prepare the roaster with the meat and potatoes before the drive and have it ready by dinnertime..
Way I heard it, the "oven" was on the manifold - I think some folks are still cookin' that-a-way.
I'm thinkin' the FJ exhaust may not be a suitable spot though since it would most likely block the cooling air flow to the fins. Maybe a can of beefstew in the Winter ?
Quote from: Burns on June 24, 2014, 01:52:52 PM
Quote from: novaraptor on June 23, 2014, 05:34:18 PM
Just a bit of Americana trivia.. In the early days of auto travel, a lot of the tourists heading down the east coast to Florida had a metal roaster attached to their exhaust pipe. They would prepare the roaster with the meat and potatoes before the drive and have it ready by dinnertime..
Way I heard it, the "oven" was on the manifold - I think some folks are still cookin' that-a-way.
I'm thinkin' the FJ exhaust may not be a suitable spot though since it would most likely block the cooling air flow to the fins. Maybe a can of beefstew in the Winter ?
I'd say not suitable because it could blow it's load all over the front wheel. I didn't realize how dangerous it could be until viewing this picture. All was well but I won't do this again.
(http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb37/campsimonette/heater_zps3b0a53be.jpg) (http://s208.photobucket.com/user/campsimonette/media/heater_zps3b0a53be.jpg.html)
Looks like ya got it aimed right at the rotor!
Quote from: Bminder on June 17, 2014, 10:46:15 AM
Is this unusual for a motorcycle to have that many miles on it and still run like new?
It is typically unusual for "A" motorcycle to run well with that many miles on it. It is not unusual for "this" motorcycle to run well for ....... forever apparently.
Back in the day many motorcycles would have been through a couple sets of pistons with that number on the clock (Ironhead Sportster? fa-gid-aboud-it)
But with reasonable care, that's just getting broke in for quite a few now.
There's PC800's on the road with 300K on the clock.
But - buyer beware- some owners can convert an anvil into scrap metal in no time - so "reasonable care" is the key variable.
Quote from: Burns on June 24, 2014, 01:52:52 PM
Quote from: novaraptor on June 23, 2014, 05:34:18 PM
Just a bit of Americana trivia.. In the early days of auto travel, a lot of the tourists heading down the east coast to Florida had a metal roaster attached to their exhaust pipe. They would prepare the roaster with the meat and potatoes before the drive and have it ready by dinnertime..
Way I heard it, the "oven" was on the manifold - I think some folks are still cookin' that-a-way.
I'm thinkin' the FJ exhaust may not be a suitable spot though since it would most likely block the cooling air flow to the fins. Maybe a can of beefstew in the Winter ?
Actually, there was a pressure cooker setup that attached to the rear bumper, and used heat from the tailpipe to cook with, but the one I was thinking of bolted onto an extension of the tailpipe. And manifold cooking is done alot, mostly by field troops or others who frequently work in remote areas. I never recommend placing a sealed can anywhere to heat it. I've seen what happens in the engine compartment when a can of chili opens itself.. I'm not above aluminium foil to reheat a steak, myself.. Hmm, I wonder if there's enough space where the airbox used to be for a sandwich warmer?
. I never recommend placing a sealed can anywhere to heat it. I've seen what happens in the engine compartment when a can of chili opens itself..
I can smell that Wolf Brand a sizzlin'!