As a general rule about 30k. When I bought my '77, it had 11k original miles on it. I had an intake leak and burned a hole in a piston 123 miles later. I had a top end job done. My indy buddy told me that it was good for 30k or so. I changed the oil every 1500 miles due to the poor filter system the bike uses. I put 34k miles on it and then burned a hole in another piston due to an intake leak. That time, we tore it down and found the bore still in tolerance. It was in great shape. We just honed it and put back int the same size pistons. I rode it another 10k before a wrist pin clip came out and ruined a cylinder wall. We measured the good cylinder. It was still within spec........So that was 44k that I got on that particular bore size....I'd guess if you did the **** oil changes like I did, you might get as much as 50k on a top end of an Ironhead.

 

Thats why I said "Why would I want to spend 2-3x more money", I do not ride 2 up and I tour on the Sporty. Just pop on the Windshield,sissy bar and t-bag and off I go. Plus I can't really tell alot of difference in my 05 and my sons 02, and watch a "Big Twin" at idle, it vibrates a hellofa lot more than my Scoot.

 

That's alot like asking how many miles you expect to get out of your car engine. The most important factor is the individual owner and the frequency of maintenance being performed. Keep fresh, clean oil in it and don't abuse it and you would expect the same results you would get taking care of a car engine that way.

 

Qutoing xxxflrhci.. If you service it like you should, you should easily get 100k out of the top end before it needs refreshing. The bottom end should last way past 100k. In all honestly, very few people ever put 100k miles on a Sportster before they move on to something else. Somebody should do a thread/poll comparing mileage and year model of the Big Twin riderscomparedto Sporty riders. I'm certain that you will see the average annual mileage of the Big Twin riders to be higher than the Sporty riders. Sure, I know there will be some Sporty guys with some high mileage, especially after the first year of ownership, but very few continue to rack up high miles on a Sporty year after year.........Before some Sporty ownergets their panties in a wad......Read my sig...I own both a Big Twin and a Sportster.
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I think people on this forum ride their sporties as much as people riding BT's.

Let's get a poll going ... and see.

Maybe those who buy a sportster to have a HARLEY leave it parked but their are rich BT owners that do the same... They just have one for show.

I ride about 20,000kms per year on my sportster.. 120km per day roundtrip to work between mid-april to mid-november in ontario, canada which accounts for ~16,000kms.
Plus my weekend trips 2-up with the wife another 4-5,000kms.

I ride a sporty by choice, love IT.

 

I have 44,000 on my 2005, 1200 Sporty...I've kept up with all the services. NEVER had a problem.

 

Lots and lots.....

 

It may or may not depend on weather you burp your bike's oil tube after every oil change.
Cross - thread points please.

 

Keep the oil fresh it will last 100,000 easily

 

whoa ... I wondered where this was going for a moment . Thanks for saving me the bother . 😂👍

 

7000 miles last summer and I'm determined to do more this year. I'm not trading up or down to any fatter Harleys anytime soon so I'm looking forward to many tens of thousands of miles with my Sportster .