I purchased a 2017 RGU last September. I have 20k trouble free miles. Great bike.

This is the first time I've logged this many miles in 1 year. I plan to keep it up.

For you high-mirage riders, how long do you typically keep a bike? My understanding is that the 40k mark is significant because the MC can still warranty the bike below this mileage.

So, trade before 40K, ride it until there is a big problem, or ride until the wheels fall off?

As with most things, there is no perfect answer. Just looking for some wisdom that came with your experiences.

Thanks
Emil

 

Contentment with what you have plays an important role for me. I bought a new Triumph Daytona 900 in 1995 as my only motorcycle and sold that in 2015. Then bought a 2016 Harley-Davidson 48 and thought 'I had arrived' and that it was a 'keeper!' Necessities changed and 12 months later chopped in the 48 and went for the CVO Breakout. I now think that this is a keeper. Who really knows? I now have a yearning to add a stablemate to the CVO and am considering a Norton 961, this will be the first time in 40 years of motorcycling that I will own two motorcycles at the same time! I cannot envisage selling the CVO any time soon as in my eye there is absolutely nothing worth considering to relinquish ownership of it.

 

Keep up with your maintenance.

If something is wrong, you will hear it and feel it, possibly smell it. Fix it and use the opportunity to upgrade something while it is apart.

If the wheels fall off, put them back on and keep riding.

 

I don't ride 20K miles a year, maybe 8-10, have been riding Harley's since 1975 and I'm riding my 4th one.
My first one a 1948 Panhead I had for twenty years, then a Evo Heritage, then a TC88 Roadking, now a 2010 103 Electra Glide Limited. I change the engine and primary oils every 3000 miles and the tranny gear oil about every 10k miles. To keep cost down I do about 95% of the maintenance myself. They'll last forever if you stay on top of the maintenance.

 

I ran into this fellow a couple of years ago at Laconia HD. Some there were saying he had 300,000 miles on this bike!:

 

This is what I usually do with cars. Maintain them well and keep them for a long time.

 

An addition to my last post I choose wisely too. For me irrespective of what bike it would be it would have to be American or British. Both are warts 'n' all bikes but with a huge heritage, following and sense of belonging.

I can put up with the inherent quirks and shortcomings of the marques as you are more than compensated for the three characteristics mentioned above. As a result I am locked into a choice of three types. I have owned and ridden a mere four bikes since 1991. All also seem to hold their values quite well too considering. Nevertheless having bought a CVO I have discovered that this prevents your wallet from haemorrhaging so much cash on the latest 'must have' accessory that you don't really need. The aftermarket availability of extras with H-D are phenomenal and often a very attractive option!

 

Each of my last 6 or 7 new Motorcycle purchases have been my "Last New Bike"......

 

3 years since I ride 32,000 miles a year for the past 11 years.

This year, I am not taking long rides anymore so likely 4 or 5 yrs b4 I trade it in.

BuzzCap7

 

I can't remember the exact number but I thought the limit was around 75K miles for adding an ESP. I forget.