Drivetrain good for how many miles?

[eyeheartny]

I'm shopping for a Ninjette. I've seen some with pretty high miles, somewhere around 12,000+. How many miles is the Ninjette drivetrain good for before I'd start running into serious issues or rebuilds/maintenance situations? I'm going to be using whatever bike I get as a daily commuter and don't want to buy a ticking time bomb.

Thanks!

[fishdip]

Any bike u get is going to be a ticking time bomb. It's how many ticks are left

[Motofool]

It is all about proper riding and regular service.

I have seen engines destroyed after a few miles and I have seen engines working for over 100K miles keeping all its original parts.

The chain is the element working in the worst conditions, so it requires extra care or frequent replacements.

[eyeheartny]

Originally Posted by fishdip

Any bike u get is going to be a ticking time bomb. It's how many ticks are left

Okay-- I guess what I'm wondering is, presuming an unknown service history on a Craigslist purchase, how many miles would be a "no-go" just on principle?

[eyeheartny]

Originally Posted by Motofool

It is all about proper riding and regular service.

I have seen engines destroyed after a few miles and I have seen engines working for over 100K miles keeping all its original parts.

The chain is the element working in the worst conditions, so it requires extra care or frequent replacements.

Okay. So on a Craigslist purchase, what's the best way to tell if it has been cared for properly? Not just the obvious like checking for leaks, tire condition, brakes, etc, but the harder-to-see stuff about engine wear? I'm assuming that unless someone has records for a new chain I'll be replacing that, but otherwise...what cues are there other than mileage?

Same question from the original post stands: Would you automatically ignore a Ninjette with 12,000 miles?

[Alex]

There's a good sticky thread at the top of our motorcycle-related marketplace area that includes a great checklist for what to look for when viewing a used motorcycle.

A ninjette or any other motorcycle can be in tiptop condition at 12k miles, with zero reliability concerns due to that mileage. If there are receipts for the required services performed at the recommended mileages, I'd be more comfortable with the bike. If there are no receipts, and you have no way to verify if the person ever even had the oil changed once, I'd be more wary. You can get clues by talking to the seller, and looking at the overall condition of the bike to make some assumptions about how careful they were with caring for the bike, but there are no guarantees. It's part of the risk of buying a used vehicle.

[Lychee]

You can always ask the seller to bring the bike to a mechanic for a look over.

Riding/owning a motorcycle is all about reducing risk. The risk cannot be eliminated, only mitigated. Same goes for everything really.

[alex.s]

reliability ranges from 500 to 500,000 miles, depending on care.

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by eyeheartny

Okay. So on a Craigslist purchase, what's the best way to tell ..........about engine wear? I'm assuming that unless someone has records for a new chain I'll be replacing that, but otherwise...what cues are there other than mileage?

Same question from the original post stands: Would you automatically ignore a Ninjette with 12,000 miles?

Any good mechanic should be able to test key things like compression, frame and steering, rust in tank, chain, clutch and transmission.
For that, you will need the approval of the seller (a yes is a good sign) and to pay a couple of hours of mechanic inspection.

For DIY:

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/moto...uyingused.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Things-To-...cle&id=4566513

No, mileage means little.
Highway miles are much better than city miles.

My 2007 has 23367 miles up today and I would buy it in a heartbeat.

[menikmati]

Originally Posted by Motofool

Any good mechanic should be able to test key things like compression, frame and steering, rust in tank, chain, clutch and transmission.
For that, you will need the approval of the seller (a yes is a good sign) and to pay a couple of hours of mechanic inspection.

For DIY:

http://www.motorcycleanchor.com/moto...uyingused.html

http://ezinearticles.com/?Things-To-...cle&id=4566513

No, mileage means little.
Highway miles are much better than city miles.

My 2007 has 23367 miles up today and I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Great post, Hernan.

I bought my 250R with 13k miles on it and it still runs like a dream at 24k. I also got my ZX6R with 18k miles with no problems.

[fishdip]

Originally Posted by eyeheartny

Okay. So on a Craigslist purchase, what's the best way to tell if it has been cared for properly? Not just the obvious like checking for leaks, tire condition, brakes, etc, but the harder-to-see stuff about engine wear? I'm assuming that unless someone has records for a new chain I'll be replacing that, but otherwise...what cues are there other than mileage?

Same question from the original post stands: Would you automatically ignore a Ninjette with 12,000 miles?

The last ninja I got started with 18,000 miles it now has 29,000 miles other then normal work valves oil air filter spark plugs it runs like a champ

[crazymadbastard]

In my area ther are a ton of bikes for sale so its really a buyer's market. I would def pay more for a bike with less miles vs more miles.

[lgk]

Originally Posted by crazymadbastard

In my area ther are a ton of bikes for sale so its really a buyer's market. I would def pay more for a bike with less miles vs more miles.

depends on how old it is too.
a bike stored for a long time,
could have special issues, not found on a newer higher mileage bike.

[verboten1]

I have an '82 with 16,000 miles, a '00 with 2500 miles and a '00 with 31,000 miles.

Guess which one is in the best shape mechanically.



My KLR with 31,000 miles, the '82 follows closely behind it, and the ninja with 2500 miles is a distant third


The '82 is second because I have had it for 7 years and my dad for a few years before that.


The point being that my klr that had 11,000 miles on it when I purchased it wasin better shape than the low mile bikes that never got used

[tubarney]

Originally Posted by eyeheartny

Okay. So on a Craigslist purchase, what's the best way to tell if it has been cared for properly? Not just the obvious like checking for leaks, tire condition, brakes, etc, but the harder-to-see stuff about engine wear? I'm assuming that unless someone has records for a new chain I'll be replacing that, but otherwise...what cues are there other than mileage?

Same question from the original post stands: Would you automatically ignore a Ninjette with 12,000 miles?

If it has 1000 miles or more without a service it is probably already destroyed on the inside.

Ask me how I know.

[eyeheartny]

Originally Posted by tubarney

If it has 1000 miles or more without a service it is probably already destroyed on the inside.

Ask me how I know.

1,000 miles on break-in, you mean?