I recently bought privately a 6000mile R7 with a main dealer service record. I gave it to an independant workshop to go through from front to back. They said it's a lightly used, bone dry, barely serviced bike, that's been washed to death. Everything needed lubricating. In my opinion mileage is just a record of how many times the wheels have gone round. Mileage is not a good indicator of condition and remaining useful life. As for the trade, mileage is an easy reference to confuse the punter and make close examination seem unnecessary.
Exactly that. Every low mileage bike I have bought has been circa 4-6 years old has needed a full fluid change and all linkages, etc. stripping down and greasing ...
As others have said, high mileage is only one indication of the bike's usage/condition. I bought my 08 with 21k on the clock back in 2014 which was a little high going by the market at the time. I paid about right for it at 5k but the mileage made no difference to my decision. The owner was a family friend who was a competent spanner monkey and worked in engineering. He serviced the bike multiple times a year (at the indicated intervals and oil/filter changes more frequently) and had the local Honda dealer stamp the book (he was good friends with the workshop guys over at Lloyds Carlisle). I've only put 3k on the clock since I've had it but it's been serviced twice. The bike is mechanically and aesthetically sound (aside from a few stone chips as you'd expect). I also expect to keep the bike permanently so mileage doesn't affect the resale value of the bike (its had well over 4k spent on it in goodies etc). Wouldn't have too much of a hang up over buying a high (within reason) mileage bike if there is a solid service history to show for it and the bike is obviously well looked after They are there for riding after all, especially if she's going to be a long term purchase
Work mate, 6 days a week on the road, always until the last year crunched big miles on bikes, so as above servicing to a fixed schedule is OK, but when you are piling miles on, you constantly maintain, the only real schedule I have worked to is religious oil and filter changes at 4k. Its a different thing when you are using it as a tool, you don't bling it with aftermarket, you just run it and maintain it and occasionally wash it. After those miles it owes me nothing, so anything you get is a bonus. Now I have entered the realms of the low mileage biker, I might end up pussying them like the majority on here
That is really impressive. Did you find the bike comfortable, as in your body adjusted and got used to the sports riding position, no aches and pains?
Comfort on a bike is a subjective issue I guess, and it will be affected by so many factors, so one persons comfort level will be another's pain level, but in my case I only get weary on those long trip days once you go past several hundred miles, but even that is determined by the type of riding, weather etc etc, so no straight answer to that question IMO, other than Blades have a pretty relaxed riding position so I do not see them as that extreme.
I don't commute nowadays quite as much as KentBlade (Or as much as he did )... But I think the most I ever got in terms of pain on my 'blade is a very warm right foot in the summer... Quite why people think that sports bikes are uncomfortable I have no idea... H
33000 mls now currently on my 2012 blade. Runs like a swiss watch, burns no oil and gets an oil change every 4000 miles
When riding down to squires milk bar from Glasgow my arse got a bit numb after a couple of hours and when your in town my wrists can get sore sometimes but apart from that I find blades very comfortable.
Decided against the 25k miles bike and went for a 2015 ABS version (64 plate) with 3k miles on it. And a good deal Pics to follow - HRC colours
I've had mine since 4,800 miles and it's now at 28k As long as it's well serviced then there's nowt to worry about. If it's ridden all year, then ACF50 or WD40 is its friend. New spark plugs and valve clearance checks every 16k. ... that's about it really Only things I HAD to do was fit a manual APE cam chain tensioner when the hydraulic one started rattling at about 16k and ... um .... I changed the chain and sprockets when I spotted some rust on the chain last year. Oh, and the front wheel bearings needed changed. After 24k the stock ones were done. Cost £11 for new ones (AllBalls). They're pretty low maintenance Still makes all the right noises and smiles
Are there any expensive service intervals for the Blade ? With my old VFR I remember there was a 16,000 mile service that needed the top of the engine off to check valve clearances (I think). Anyway it was going to be a bit expensive. Just wondering if there is anything expensive that needs doing to the Blade, at any particular point in its mileage. Just to be sure not to buy one only to find that in 20 miles time you have to...... !!
The valve service is the expensive one, but only because it takes time. When mine was done they were spot on and needed no adjustment. Felt like a waste of money, but I guess they had to be checked. Like any vehicle though, labour costs are the wallet killer. I had quotes from a couple of bike places for front calliper cleaning ... crazy money for something that was so straightforward and easy to do myself.
