25 Years 650,000 Miles

[the Ferret]

Started street riding in 1965. Have owned 35 motorcycles (not all new). Worked in the motorcycle industry for 17 years. I didn't start keeping track of mileage until 2008. Since then I've ridden 273,102 miles as of today. Estimating the mileage for the 42 years I didn't keep mileage at a conservative 12,000 miles a year adds another 504,000 for 777,102 miles.

Since I retired 10 years ago, I have averaged 302 days of riding and 22,552 miles a year,

HARLEYS: 65 M50, 59 XLCH, 49 56 & 57 Pans, 94 XLCH

HONDAS: 66 CB160, 67 CL77, 69 CB350, 73 CB350F, 67 CB450, 76 CB750, 85 VF1100S, 00 CB750, 06 ST1300, 13 CB1100, 14 CB1100 DLX, 14 NC 500X, 21 NC750X DCT

SUZUKI: 74 GT750, 76 GT 750, 81 GS850G, 83 GS1100E

KAWASAKI: 77 KZ1000

YAMAHA: 73 RD350, 73 TX650, 79 XS650, 81 XS650, 04 FZ1, 01 FZ1, 06 Majesty 400, 08 Majesty 400, 2018 FJR 1300

TRIUMPH: 03 T100

BSA: 69 750 Rocket 3

The love of riding has never dimmed. Love it as much today as I did on May 18,1965 when I started.

 

[W0QNX]

The love of riding has never dimmed. Love it as much today as I did on May 18,1965 when I started.

I kind of still like to ride too. I guess it was around 67 when I started bumming rides on the neighbors Honda 50.

 

[Mophead]

• 2000 K1200LT ............104,000

How many rear drives did it take to get that mileage on the K1200 Light Truck?

 

[TPadden]

• 2000 K1200LT ............104,000

How many rear drives did it take to get that mileage on the K1200 Light Truck?

The one it came with. At 106,000 miles I changed the rear bearing, l sold it around 2008 with 108K and last I heard the new owner put about another 20K trouble free - and to be more correct it was Light Tank.

Tom

 

[TPadden]

In 2008 when I sold the LT I bought another favorite, a ST ...

Tom

 

[W0QNX]

You people quit posting here. Tom will never run out of pictures of all his old bikes parked casually in Alaska.

I only have the one bike with my AK pictures.

 

[the Ferret]

While I have admittedly ridden a lot of miles, covered all of the lower 48, 2 provinces of Canada and 5 countries in Europe, I still find myself jealous and in awe of guys that REALLY ride A WHOLE LOT of miles. Like the guys that lead the Mileage Tracker every year. Impressive to say the least.

 

[W0QNX]

How about one of my old bikes at the tallest tree in New Mexico?

 

[Uncle Phil]

The one it came with. At 106,000 miles I changed the rear bearing, l sold it around 2008 with 108K and last I heard the new owner put about another 20K trouble free - and to be more correct it was Light Tank.

Tom

And it happens to use the exact same rear tire as the Honda ST1100s ....

 

[TPadden]

And it happens to use the exact same rear tire as the Honda ST1100s ....

Metzeler ME880 160/70/17 was my choice. For tire nuts who won't mix front and rear, the Official BMW recommended tires were Radial front and Bias Ply rear.

Came from the factory with "mismatched" Bridgestones but I think the ME880 rears I later used were Radial but don't really remember.

Tom

 

[Uncle Phil]

Metzeler ME880 160/70/17 was my choice. For tire nuts who won't mix front and rear, the Official BMW recommended tires were Radial front and Bias Ply rear.

Came from the factory with "mismatched" Bridgestones but I think the ME880 rears I later used were Radial but don't really remember.

Tom

The BT020 Bias that is speced for that bike is the one I use with a BT radial on the front - I guess I'm just following BMW's recommendations then ...

 

[okckeith]

Quite a milestone Tom and several others of you guys! Glad I got to share a few of those miles with some of you. Hopefully there will be more.

 

[Andrew Shadow]

Do you have any data on what your average motorcycle mileage per year is, and how much it costs per year to achieve those miles?
Excluding the cost of purchasing the motorcycle.

Asking purely out of idle curiosity.

 

[W0QNX]

Do you have any data on what your average motorcycle mileage per year is, and how much it costs per year to achieve those miles?
Excluding the cost of purchasing the motorcycle.

Asking purely out of idle curiosity.

Per the first post in the thread:

"A certain Black Pearl pilot has asked me on several occasions to add up my annual mileage and I've not done it."

 

[TPadden]

Do you have any data on what your average motorcycle mileage per year is, and how much it costs per year to achieve those miles?
Excluding the cost of purchasing the motorcycle.

Asking purely out of idle curiosity.

What Raymond said, guessing about 30,000 miles a year average. Tires, oil, gas expenses, not one major repair (or minor for that matter) that I remember. The Multistrada valve guides and gas tank were warranty replacements. The Triumph Bonne was a crash total (with less than $4000 repair estimate).

Tom

 

[dbst1300]

25 years and 650,000 miles is a lot of miles. I retired in 2005 and my goal was to ride more than 20,000 miles for 20 years starlight. i have completed 17 straight years, am riding my 18th year on track, and hope to complete 20 straight 20,000 miles + years.

I have been riding almost 52 years and while working rode 8000-12000 miles a year. I had the good fortune to work at a Honda dealer 1974-1977 while in school plus have owned 90 motorcycle in that time…..just bought a used 2021 Kawasaki KLX300 last weekend.

I told my wife of almost 38 years when we met…..I’m riding until I can’t. It’s what I like to do.

 

[Pop-Pop]

And all those miles didn't make u any handsomer! Many congrats!

 

[TPadden]

And all those miles didn't make u any handsomer! Many congrats!

Being well traveled did not make me refined either.

Tom

 

[Uncle Phil]

Being well traveled did not make me us refined either.

Tom

Or any of the other Toms either .... so I fixed it for you!