Mileage Question?
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 333
Likes: 3
From: Wuppertal, Germany
region not withstanding, if i only rode 1,200 miles or so a year, i would not own a harley. ill ride that in a month, let alone a season. i love to ride but the expense isnt worth it to me if i am only riding that few miles. sorry if i offend anyone, just voicing my opinion. to each their own and i respect that.
To the OP most important thing to look at is how the bike was taken care of.
To the OP most important thing to look at is how the bike was taken care of.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I bought my 2011 Road King on 8/23/11. I have slowed down quite a bit since Mid-November because of the cold weather, but still have 5,500 miles on it. I have a feeling by the time it's a year old, I'll have well over 15,000 miles on it.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 12,653
Likes: 18
From: Broken Arrow, Oklahoma
I think the last I read somewhere the average motorcycle in the U.S. is ridden less than 5000 miles per year. I know guys that ride only a couple thousand each year. I average between 12,000 and 15,000 so there's huge swings between individual bikers. I will say as far as trade in values are concerned I traded in a 2011 Ultra Limited in June that I put 10,000 miles on over a 9 month period. The dealer went right to his NADA book for trade in and that's what he gave me. I guess 10,000 a year is below the threshold for excess mileage.
I'd like to see that survey. I'll bet it includes all those yuppies riding around on scooters just to save money in the summer. No way you're gonna see those making road trips to the Ozarks or anything. I did 5k in 3 months and the furthest I've traveled from home, so far, is 508 miles one way.
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Joined: Mar 2008
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From: Ocala, FL
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 406
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From: Pittsburgh
We have got to get together and do a HDForums night at Wexford Starlight this summer. You make like #6 I've seen Pgh or near.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: The Burgh
Yeah, let's meet with the Burgh contingent next year. Would love you meet youins in person.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 85
From: Florida
region not withstanding, if i only rode 1,200 miles or so a year, i would not own a harley. ill ride that in a month, let alone a season. i love to ride but the expense isnt worth it to me if i am only riding that few miles. sorry if i offend anyone, just voicing my opinion. to each their own and i respect that.
To the OP most important thing to look at is how the bike was taken care of.
To the OP most important thing to look at is how the bike was taken care of.
OP, Take a quick look at cycletrader.com in your area. You can see pretty easily what the average mileage of similar vintage bikes are there. You can also get to average price etc. That will provide much more accurate data than posts you may get from the net.
Good luck in your search.
Last edited by Jonesee; Dec 8, 2011 at 01:17 PM.
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: San Diego
While the length of the riding season does matter, the average is nowhere near that. Not even in Florida or southern California.
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.
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.
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.
If it isn't my bike and my money, I don't have an opinion. It is none of my business what others do with theirs.
OP, Take a quick look at cycletrader.com in your area. You can see pretty easily what the average mileage of similar vintage bikes are there. You can also get to average price etc. That will provide much more accurate data than posts you may get from the net.
Good luck in your search.
OP, Take a quick look at cycletrader.com in your area. You can see pretty easily what the average mileage of similar vintage bikes are there. You can also get to average price etc. That will provide much more accurate data than posts you may get from the net.
Good luck in your search.
Thanks everyone.
Last edited by Dyna White 02; Dec 8, 2011 at 05:24 PM.