High kilometer bikes, what can go wrong (safety wise)?

ItIsWhatItIs

ItIsWhatItIs

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I don't know about anyone else but as the k's build I have to wonder what could come loose that would be catastrophic. From pics of bike frames they appear to be a welded unit from the front tire to the rear tire. If your wheels are properly torqued what else is there?
 
What are we considering high milage? in Canada it seems like most bikes that have 20k usually get deemed highmilage.....you go to europe ......say italy, ive seen bikes that are 3 years old with more the 70k-80k. If you do the maintenence on the bike at the proper schedule, you will usually notice things wearing or foul before ending up with a catastrophic problem.
 
My bike blew a bearing at 120,000 km. It was 100% my fault though; I didn't monitor my oil level close enough. I put in a new to me engine and all is well now
 
catastrophic is your bike falling apart. This is more of a bike construction question. If your wheels are torqued on what else is there that would make your bike come apart. As I said, it looks like the frame is one welded piece from front to rear. There is the steering head and the swingarm.
 
It's rare for anything to simply fall off a motorcycle. Anything that may fall of is likely due to improper maintenance, ie bolts not properly torqued down during maintenance work or no loctite used.

There are parts that wear out. Wheel bearings, steering stem bearings, suspension bushings and seals, but these are all regular maintenance parts and should be checked every so often. None of those parts being worn out will lead to anything falling off the bike.
 
ItIsWhatItIs said:
I don't know about anyone else but as the k's build I have to wonder what could come loose that would be catastrophic. From pics of bike frames they appear to be a welded unit from the front tire to the rear tire. If your wheels are properly torqued what else is there?
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I ride old high-mileage bikes! Love 'em.
No computers, no black boxes...
You need fresh tires (always) and intimate knowledge of the machine, ie. all fasteners etc. are fastened.
Steering head and swingarm are potential worn-out (or half) areas.
Actually other than that it's a high-mileage motor that defines a high-mileage bike.
Typically, bikes go off the factory maintenance scheldule once they accumulate 40-50,000 km +
Thusly abandoned, their valves will tighten up.
By 80,000 km + they will all be burned and motor half toasted...
But because nobody hears loose valves rattling/clicking, they are assumed to be okay.
Remember:
Valves are like clutches - the free play disappears with usage!
You must constantly add free play back into your clutch cable, right?
It's the same with valves.
They don't get loose, they get tight (and you won't hear a thing).
Until they no longer fully close, at which time thing begin to sound unpleasant...
Anyway, if ancient bikes are in ship-shape condition and wearing good rubber, you just have to maintain the motor like any other bike.
And continue to have your valves inspected - don't rely on your hearing.
L8R
 
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Today, I removed my fairings and then the clutch cover to clean the oil screen. The Road in front of my work is under construction so my bike got really muddy. With the fairings off I wanted to wash away the mud before removing the clutch cover. I am bad, I don't wash my bike really. If I did I would have seen the bolts holding the frame together that should be periodically checked. I know with cars if ball joints are not inspected and replaced your wheel will buckle. That could be catastrophic. These bolts are now on my radar to check. This thread is about safety.

I want to be safe and I also want my motor to last. The last time I checked my valves they were in fact tight. I adjusted them. My feeler guage opens up like a swiss army knife. Because of this I adjusted one valve, tightened it, and moved onto to the next valve. This time I am going to break apart my feeler guage and adjust both valves at the same time.
 
murf said:
Except 80% of riders don't know what head bearings are, much less check them I find.
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It gets worse than that. Of the three bikes I've purchased, the average tire air pressure was about 15 psi.
 
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My experince with high mileage bikes, right now I have am 2003 Yamaha FJR1300, just turned 170,000 kms today, owned it since it had 5,000 kms on it, changed the engine oil every 5,000 k's, shaft oil every 10,000 k's, except for the ignition switch, one battery, nothing else was done to it. my other bike "high mileage bike" was a 1986 Yamaha FJ1200 with 320,000 kms on it, rebuilt the engine on it at 195,000 kms, on both bikes, nothing ever fell off, or failures. Also, gad a 1974 Yamaha RD350, had 50,000 miles ( about 80,000 kms) on it with no problems except keeping it on two wheels, glad stunting was not a charge back then...
 
caboose483 said:
It's rare for anything to simply fall off a motorcycle. Anything that may fall of is likely due to improper maintenance, ie bolts not properly torqued down during maintenance work or no loctite used.

There are parts that wear out. Wheel bearings, steering stem bearings, suspension bushings and seals, but these are all regular maintenance parts and should be checked every so often. None of those parts being worn out will lead to anything falling off the bike.
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bbroken_suzuki_gsxr_1000_frame.jpg
images
 
Many moons ago, I bought a used Honda CB350 from a dealership (should be safe right?).

Well, the engine locked up on me on the highway, she ate her timing chain. Scariest damn experience I ever had. Thankfully no damage to me other than scaring a few years off my life, some minor road rash, rined work clothes and the loss of a job (didn't make it to work, boss didn't buy my excuse even though I offered for him to come by sand see what was left of my bike.

Real fun pushing that bike home, something like 5 miles, no one stopped to offer help (no cell phones in those days either). The late call-in to work probably sunk that deal. :(

My point? Don't assume the previous owner had a clue or gave a rats azz, even if they were a 'certified service centre'....
 
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