Updated at: 10-06-2022 - By: Lucas

You probably spent a lot of time and money getting your motorcycle. You might be wondering how long motorcycles last.

Every bike is different, and the answer depends on what brand it is and how well you take care of it.

But as a general rule, people think that a motorcycle with more than 40,000 miles is old.

You can do a lot to make sure your motorcycle lasts a long time, which is good news.

By the time we’re done with this article, you’ll know a lot about how long a motorcycle can last and how you can make it last longer.

How Many Miles Can a Motorcycle Last?

Normal motorcycles last for more than 50,000 miles, which is considered old at that point.

On the other hand, sports motorcycles are considered “old” after half that time because they are used a lot and go through harsh conditions.

50,000 miles is equivalent to 200,000 miles on a car. But like a car, a motorcycle’s health isn’t just based on how many miles it has.

The history of the motorcycle, including how often it was serviced and if it was used in rough conditions, as well as the weather, all affect how long it will last.

If you take good care of your motorcycle and buy a good brand, it might not need any major repairs until it has about 100,000 miles on it.

How Many Years Does a Motorcycle Last?

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Like a car, how long a motorcycle lasts depends on how well you take care of it and how good the parts are.

As a general rule, a bike can last until it’s in its low teens.

Most sports motorcycles don’t last as long as regular motorcycles, and most people who own sports motorcycles buy new ones before their old ones die.

Most Common Factors Impacting A Motorcycle’s Lifespan

There are three main things that make a motorcycle last less long.

Among them are:

Crashes: Everyone knows that riding a motorcycle is risky. A bumper-type accident that would only scratch a car can, sadly, wreck a bike.

You can’t make your motorcycle last longer if you don’t take care of it. To make sure your bike lasts a long time, you need to change the oil regularly, store it properly, and fix any strange noises it might make.

Abuse: Sure, riding your motorcycle fast is fun. But if you do this often, especially in a cold climate, it will shorten the life of your motorcycle. Driving roughly has a big effect on the engine and transmission.

The good news is that you can do something about two of these three things. And if you slow down on the road, you’ll make it less likely that you’ll crash.

How Weather Affects Longevity

When you think about how long a motorcycle will last, the weather might not be the first thing that comes to mind, but it has a big effect.

Here are some ways that different kinds of weather can hurt your precious bike.

Heat and sun break down plastic and leather and cause paint to fade and peel.

Cold makes bike parts break, and rust forms when snow and ice melt.

Wind blows dirt and other things into your motorcycle, which can affect how well the inside parts work, especially if you live in a sandy area.

External Factors that Impact a Motorcycle’s Longevity

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How long a motorcycle will last depends on a lot of different things. The longer your bike will last, the more of these things you take care of.

Some things that affect how long your bike lasts are:

how well you put it away.

What kind of ground you ride on

Service for the brakes and clutch

What speed you ride

What kind of weather you ride in

Whether you wax it or not,

How often you check the tyres, lights, fluid levels, and other parts.

Now, let’s look at some things you can do to help your bike last longer.

How to Make Your Motorcycle Last Longer

If you think that leaving your motorcycle in the garage for months on end will make it last longer, you’re wrong.

One of the most important things you can do to make your bike last longer is to keep it in good shape. This is true whether or not you use your bike often.

Here are some tips for keeping your motorcycle running longer.

Change the Oil

Motorcycles need oil changes every so often. How often you need to change your oil will depend on the type of oil you use.

Here is a general rule of thumb:

Oil made from minerals: Every 2,000 miles

Every 5,000 miles for semisynthetic oil

Every 7,000 miles for high-test synthetic oil

How often you should change your oil also depends on how fast you ride and where you live.

Always check your user manual for the most accurate information on how to change the oil in your bike.

Proper Storage

People don’t ride motorcycles when it’s cold out, and when they take them out of the garage or shed, they often find that they don’t work right.

Putting your motorcycle in a covered area is a good first step, but you also need to put a fuel stabiliser in the gas tank.

It’s also important to let your bike’s engine run for a few minutes every now and then.

So, you won’t have to worry about fuel that shouldn’t be there building up in your bike’s system.

Lastly, you might want to take the battery out of your motorcycle before putting it away.

Even when they aren’t being used, batteries lose power over time.

Replace the Breaks and Tires

Even though you take care of your bike, you might be surprised to learn that washing it too much can cause the brake parts to rust.

Riding your bike and leaving it out in the rain does the same thing. Corroded breaks cause your motorcycle to overheat, drag, and wear out faster than it needs to.

You should replace your brakes and tyres every so often to keep these problems from happening.

Take Care When Riding

You might like driving fast or on rough terrain, but your motorcycle definitely doesn’t.

If you often speed up and slow down quickly, drive at high speeds, or drive on anything other than smooth pavement, you will shorten the life of your motorcycle.

Of course, pushing your motorcycle once in a while isn’t likely to hurt it in the long run, but doing it often will definitely shorten its life.

Waxing

Waxing is an important part of bike care because it helps the paint last longer. It makes a protective film that keeps things from getting faded, discoloured, or oxidised.

How often you wax your bike will depend on how often you use it and what kind of weather you usually ride in.

Monitor Tire Pressure

No one wants a flat tyre, but motorcyclists want to avoid them the most because they can’t get out of the weather if it gets bad.

The Motorcycle Industry Council says that both tyres on a single motorcycle should have 36 PSI. If you have a bike for two people, the back tire’s PSI should be 40 and the front tire’s should be 36.

Still, you should check the owner’s manual for your bike to see what PSI they recommend.

How Long Do Motorcycles Last Before Needing Repairs?

With all the talk about maintenance, you’re probably thinking, “Okay, but my bike will need more major repairs at some point.”

That is exactly right. If you plan to keep your motorcycle running well by making major repairs, the engine will be the most common part that needs to be fixed.

Every engine has a different life span. The longer a motor lasts, the bigger it is.

In the same way, the longer a motor lasts, the newer it is.

Since engines are one of the most common major repairs that a bike needs, it’s hard to say how long it will be before your bike needs repairs.

Some people say that their bike can go up to 200,000 miles before the engine needs to be fixed.

Manufacturer Impacts

There are many things you can do to make sure your motorcycle lasts as long as possible, but there are also a few things that are up to the manufacturer.

For starters, there’s the year your motorcycle was made. Let’s be honest: a bike made in the 1990s is bound to last less than one made in the 2020s.

The brand of your bike can also affect how long it will last, since some brands are known for making better quality bikes than others.

Make sure to do your research, because sometimes it’s better to buy a better bike right away. You’ll save money in the long run if it gives you more years of use.

Last, the engine affects how long a motorcycle will last. The longer an engine will last, the bigger it is and the more new features it has.

Some motors can last up to 200,000 miles or more these days.

Wrap-Up

You can expect your motorcycle to last for a long time if you take care of it and do routine maintenance on it.

Even though the quality of the bike you buy matters, if you use the tips in this article, your bike has a good chance of lasting longer than the average motorcycle.