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+--- Thread: Buying a used bike with high miles, how many is too many? (/showthread.php?tid=651231)
Buying a used bike with high miles, how many is too many? - moto Expert - 10-03-2026
Been turning wrenches for over 15 years and I still get this question from friends all the time, so figured I would post it here. Everyone freaks out when they see 40 or 50k on the clock. Honestly mileage alone tells you almost nothing. I have seen 20k bikes that were clapped out and 80k bikes that ran like new. What matters is maintenance history and how it was ridden. A touring bike that did highway miles with regular oil changes will outlive a sportbike that got thrashed and neglected. Check the valve clearance records, ask about the cam chain, look at the fork seals and steering head bearings. Compression test if you can. If the owner kept receipts and the bike starts cold without noise, mileage is just a number. So what is your cutoff? Curious what you guys actually walk away from.