Mega Miles Yamaha XT660x
 

Hi, I have a 2009 Yamaha XT660x ( the supermotard model) which I have recently retired from use as my motorcycle courier work bike. I've had it since 2014, when it had 7000 miles on the clock. It has now done 139,000 miles. Yes, 139,000.....
Engine is untouched, not rebuilt, other than a new set of clutch plates in 2020 at 125,000 miles. Serviced by myself, just oil and filters, plugs etc. It runs really sweet, doesn't even burn oil.
I was wondering if anyone out there can beat that milage on a single cylinder motorcycle..

guess there must be some others here more distinguished than me who might say their word..

p.s. nice bike by the way, friend owns one (just different color), so used to enjoy that mood.

p.p.s.
happy upcoming miles ( :

I know Pavlin has simiar milage on his Tenere:

I've just got rid of my KLR 650 with 285,000 km (about 180,000 miles) on it - ok with some work on it along the way but the bottom end was basically original. I know of several KLRs with significantly higher mileages so I think your bike counts as a youngster and I'm sure has lots more miles left in it.

As an aside it amazes me how low many people's expectations are for a bikes longevity. If the oil is changed regularly, a bit of general maintenance done and it is ridden reasonably most bikes of any reputable make will last far longer than people expect. It is only our consumer economy / constant update mentality (plus the 10 year window on parts availability) that causes most bikes to be scrapped.



Sent from my moto g(8) plus using Tapatalk

Hi Martin, 180,000 miles is very good.
I agree with what you say about expectations. Many motorcycles are leisure vehicles, used on sunny days, so only do a few thousand miles a year. So after a few years with 10 or 20 thousand miles on the clock they are traded in for the latest model. Cars are expected to do 100,000 to 200,000 miles, so why not motorcycles.
Oil changes, filters, occasional fixes. I also think the way you ride a motorcycle. I have seen and heard a few similar bikes to mine, with far lower milage, but they sounded so rough, rattling, worn out. Seems their mates often had sports bikes, so were thrashed to keep up with the faster sports bikes. Single cylinder bikes don't like to be thrashed, don't like silly high speed.
I have a few single cylinder motorcycles (1976 Yamaha TT500, 1988 XT600 Tenere) and have owned many in the past, XR350, DR350, KLR 600 and 650. So I know their limitations, keep the speed down, don't thrash them or the engine.

Nice one.
I didn’t realise there was a market for motorcycle couriers these days with all the different types of digital communication.

I’m not a mechanic but my theory for bike longevity is to use it on a regular basis. My wife and I are all year round riders, with one car between us. I average around 12K and she 6K miles on our bikes. My last bike did 180K and my current one’s got 60K on the clock and just about run in I recon - definitely riding better than ever.
My wife sold her last bike with 50K on the clock and now has 40K on this one.
We don’t fettle with them or even wash them that much just service them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and ride them, they don’t sit in the garage for more than a week - I realise this is not possible in all parts of the world.

They are twins, however, so congratulations on reaching those figures on a single.
:clap:

I know someone with well over 200k miles on a single - an MZ 250 ! Even his spare one is pushing 100k (and both are probably well over that by now as I haven’t seen him for a few years). No magic to it, just regular use and a willingness to stick with the same bike.

I remember seeing a high milage MZ250 ( a blue one with top box) at the Popham bike show/ jumble a few years ago. It looked well used, a bit scruffy, but in a good way. I looked like it was a touring bike. I can't remember what the milage is, but it was high, perhaps the odometer had clicked back to 0 once it has reached 99,999 miles.
So yeah, even a humble MZ can do the miles.

As to motorcycle courier work. I packed that in in October last year. The fun had gone, the money was dreadful.
The XT660x is now retired. I've put it under cover in my garage. Not too sure what to do with it, I do have a few other motorcycles.
A trader offered me £500 for it, high mileage does reduce the value. But to me it is worth more than that.
I'll keep it for now. Keep the battery charged ( it is still the original battery) and start it up every now and then.

I have an old Land Rover like that - well over 200k miles but runs well and is reliable. We buy any Car offered £750 by email, which will become £250 when you bring it along (‘it’s the condition mate, we didn’t know it was this bad’ and all the rest of the sales spiel). So we’re keeping it for the time being. In fact we’re away for a few days in it at the moment as we could chuck a couple of muddy bikes in the back and not worry. If it fails the MOT in Nov (which it won’t) we’ll have got our 250 quid’s worth in the meantime.

Hi, even a failed MOT Land Rover will be worth far more than £250-£750, even as parts. So yes hang onto it.
200,000 miles is nothing for a Landy, a few dents and scuffs (and mud) is what they do best.

Over 400000 miles (625000 kms)
 

I have put well over 400000 miles on my 1993 BMW R100GS PD. Still on the original bottom end. I bought it with 14500 miles on it back in 1995. But it doesn’t qualify I guess since it is not a single