Mileage Question?
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 2
From: Dirty City
When it comes to car 12k a year is pretty average and to be expected and most people have an general idea home many miles certain cars types will go. Im new to motorcycle and was wondering when it comes to HDs whats normal yearly use? What type of mileage can you expect? Im looking at used bikes and trying to get a feel for the mileage when it comes to bikes. Any general rules of thumb? Thank you.
Of course, then there are guys like me who put 16,000 miles on it in a year.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh
Between the two (and I usually have two), say 8-10k a year. The Sportie catches the hard miles - traffic, winter, rain and 10-40 mile trips. The FL (currently a Road King) when it leaves the garage is usually gone over 200 miles and a 400-500 mile loop in a day isn't odd. I ride with quite a few folks doing 20-30k a year, year after year, so that isn't too odd.
My 1966 was my steady ride from 1972-80 and a fun-times ride from that to 94. It has like 236k and change.
My 1966 was my steady ride from 1972-80 and a fun-times ride from that to 94. It has like 236k and change.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 2
From: Dirty City
I think he's asking about average yearly miles put on a motorcycle? It really depends on location. Some areas of the country are more conducive to year round riding or have a longer riding season. Average mileage per year? Maybe 8,000.
Since you're in San Diego, that figure might be a little higher.
Since you're in San Diego, that figure might be a little higher.
Using cycletrader I searched for used H-Ds within 10 miles of Miami from model years 1990 to 2009. It returned 8 results which actually list mileage. Those 8 motorcycles have a combined 68,003 miles between them, so that's 8500.375 miles each, on average. They also have been around for a combined 59 years, or 7.375 years per bike on average. 8,500.375/7.375 gives us 1,152.59 miles ridden per year on average. In South Florida.
Now, granted, this isn't a large sample size. When I performed a similar analysis on D.C.-area Harleys, I had a much larger sample and found an average of 2,200 miles ridden per year per motorcycle.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 964
Likes: 9
From: Acme Pa.
Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 624
Likes: 1
From: South of the tunnel Lancaster Co. PA.
I'd say the average is around 3000-5000 per year, and that would be for someone who uses it for daily commutes. I've got over 10000 so far this year and still riding, but i ride every day unless its raining when I'm ready to leave the house or I need to take the truck to pick up something that won't fit in the bags.
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