General Topics/Tech Tips Discussion on break in periods, rider comfort, seats and pad suggestions. Tech tips as they become available will be posted here.

How many miles is too much for a touring bike.

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 22, 2017 | 09:17 AM
  #1  
Ddieselsmoke's Avatar
Ddieselsmoke
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Photoriffic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 443
Likes: 75
From: Xenia OH
Default How many miles is too much for a touring bike.

I'm shopping for another bike, a touring frame, with a 103, (can't afford a 107). Does a bike with 30k miles ir more sound like too many? Are there any big maintenance services needed around that mileage that needs done?
 
Reply
Old May 22, 2017 | 10:42 AM
  #2  
BrandonSmith's Avatar
BrandonSmith
HDF Community Team
5 Year Member
Active Streak: 30 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 7,825
Likes: 4,383
From: Texas
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by Ddieselsmoke
I'm shopping for another bike, a touring frame, with a 103, (can't afford a 107). Does a bike with 30k miles ir more sound like too many? Are there any big maintenance services needed around that mileage that needs done?
HAHA! Is this sarcasm? 30k is barely broken in! Steering head bearings at 25k (check/lubrciate), nothing major.
 
Reply
Old May 22, 2017 | 12:09 PM
  #3  
son of the hounds's Avatar
son of the hounds
Seasoned HDF Member
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Top Answer: 3
Top Answer: 5
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,280
Likes: 3,411
From: Idaho Panhandle
Default

7500 miles a year is a low mileage, sunny weather rider. Therefore an 11 with 45,000 is a fair deal. We get spoiled because there are many bikes that only see 2500 or less miles per year. Some are bar hoppers, ridden 10 miles to the water hole and home. Some are too much bike to handle so they only get used under perfect conditions. Some are working stiffs, who ride when they can but still don't get over 5000 a year. Then between the high mileage riders, there are riders like myself, 12-17,000 miles a year. Therefore, a great '12 bike might have 75,000.
Myself, I listen to the engine, do the fluid check, test ride and the CSI high powered LED flashlight inspection. Anything near 40,000 would not worry me. But we are spoiled as there are so many non-ridden bikes 4-6 year old bikes, with under 10,000 miles them. Sometimes, sitting on cement for years on end is harder on a bike than riding it.
 
Reply
Old May 22, 2017 | 02:37 PM
  #4  
SPRINGER's Avatar
SPRINGER
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
Default

Originally Posted by Ddieselsmoke
I'm shopping for another bike, a touring frame, with a 103, (can't afford a 107). Does a bike with 30k miles ir more sound like too many? Are there any big maintenance services needed around that mileage that needs done?
I'll also agree that 30k on a bike is nothing. To me, it's more about how the bike was taken care od and maintained than how many miles is on it.
 
Reply
Old May 22, 2017 | 07:08 PM
  #5  
Ddieselsmoke's Avatar
Ddieselsmoke
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Photoriffic
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 443
Likes: 75
From: Xenia OH
Default

Ok thanks, really I wasn't being sarcastic I'm new to HD's and I didn't want to go out and get something one foot in the grave. I realize that could still happen with a lo e mileage bike , depending how it was treated.
 
Reply
Old May 22, 2017 | 09:49 PM
  #6  
SPRINGER's Avatar
SPRINGER
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 68,021
Likes: 3,276
From:
Default

Originally Posted by Ddieselsmoke
Ok thanks, really I wasn't being sarcastic I'm new to HD's and I didn't want to go out and get something one foot in the grave. I realize that could still happen with a lo e mileage bike , depending how it was treated.
Not a problem, asking questions is how you learn. Everybody was new at one time or another, so join the crowd.
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 08:36 AM
  #7  
TXWarthog's Avatar
TXWarthog
Advanced
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 96
Likes: 8
From: Houston, TX
Default

I had a motorcycle maintenance shop instructor who once told our class that there is no reason for a bike to exceed 100,000 miles (when it is properly maintained or repaired). Even more so with touring bikes.
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 11:29 AM
  #8  
jeffro09's Avatar
jeffro09
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,907
Likes: 3,511
From: At home.
Default

I put on 20,000+ miles a year, I've done 8600 on my new 16 Limited since February, so I sure hope 30,000 miles isn't the end of things. Regular maintenance is the key.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 23, 2017 | 11:40 AM
  #9  
Back-n-Black's Avatar
Back-n-Black
Club Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 1,531
Likes: 439
From: Texas
Riders Club Member
Default

Originally Posted by Ddieselsmoke
I'm shopping for another bike, a touring frame, with a 103, (can't afford a 107). Does a bike with 30k miles ir more sound like too many? Are there any big maintenance services needed around that mileage that needs done?
LOL...I'll have 30k on my 16 by fall this year....
 
Reply
Old May 23, 2017 | 01:50 PM
  #10  
TXWarthog's Avatar
TXWarthog
Advanced
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 96
Likes: 8
From: Houston, TX
Default

I put 15,000 miles a year on my 2006 FXLDI. Sold it in '09 within hours of posting it at blue book value.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:55 PM.

story-0
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-1
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-3
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-4
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-5
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-6
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-7
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE
story-9
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE