Accpetable max mileage amount for a used bike

[markk21]

What would be the max annual mileage you would say is an acceptable amount when buying a bike. For example if you want a 5 year old bike what would be the limit where anything above that you would steer clear of?

[Pete.]

Depends on the bike. Some can clear 100k with ease, others are clapped out by 30k.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[markk21]

[Rogerborg]

Is that like the Ninja 250R?

You can only buy the ones that are available, and eBay has nothing above 23,000 miles. It's traditionally been a stepping-stone bike rather than a hack, and there are plenty of low-dry-miles examples.

I'd go by condition. Bearings, shocks, brakes, tyres, sprocket and chain.

They're quite fun bikes, light and revvy, should be more interesting than a CB/YBR/Inazuma 250 for commuting.
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Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[markk21]

[Rogerborg]

I don't think you'll find a Ninja 250 that's done a lot of miles, even in the bowels of Gumtree. High mileage bikes tend to be the exception, not the rule.

For re-assurance, my GPz305 had done something like 28,000 miles when I sold it, and it was mechanically fine. Given that it's notorious as one of the worst bikes that Kawasaki ever made, and might be viewed as a sort of hideous deformed idiot uncle to the Ninja, I wouldn't be fussed about the mileage on any of the eBay bikes.

Just factor in the costs of replacing any renewable parts, as that can ramp up sharply.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[markk21]

Just looking at about ten 2008-10 bikes they are about 12,000 miles which is good I guess? They're about £2,000-£2,250

[-Matt-]

Depends a lot - plenty of bikes can do silly miles if they're maintained well. Thats the problem though - you may also find low mileage bikes that you would expect to be 'great condition' but have been neglected to hell and poorly maintained and end up worse off thsn bikes with an extra 30k on the clock.

Good service history is a bonus, but not the only thing to consider as plenty of people self maintain their bikes better than garage servicing and may not have stamps to back it up.

Just have to gauge it best you can bike by bike.

[markk21]

[Rogerborg]

12,000 is fine. But, horsepower before cart, license first, then you'll be in a far better position to know if you can stomach changing down from a 500+ bike to a 250.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike