When does high mileage become high mileage?

[Mattastic]

I'm pretty new to bikes, not having a licence and all, and I need some advice on spotting a dud.

What is counted as high mileage on a bike? I know there are many factors in this like regular service, engine size etc.

I've seen a CB500 with full Honda service history, 12 months tax and test but has 38k on the clock. Would this be excessive? I'd only be keeping it for a year, till I had a years NCB and in that time I'd expect to add a further 10-16k on it depending on weather and my new job.
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Too skint to buy a bike

[Robby]

Thats not high mileage on that bike. Well, its high in people perceptions, but it should be 100,000 mile engine with no big problems.

Generally high mileage on bikes is seen as around 30k on fairly modern 4 strokes. At this age the engine should have 40-70k left in it, but the shocks are normally pretty tired by 30k, Assorted bearings will be needing replacement soon, and corrosion is normally fairly well set in in some places.

[Laura]

My bike has 48, 000 miles on it.
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Good girls ride motorcycles bad girls thrash them.

[kev]

I had a blade with 40k on the clock and it was still as good as new.

Some bikes like nsr`s can be a problem at high mileage due the it being a 2 stroke but something like a cb is made to keep on going for ever.

[Ste]

As you said yourself Mattastic, it does really depend on how it has been serviced. If you don't get servicing done it might die at about 23,400 ( ), but if you get it done all at the right intervals and y a good dealer or yourself if you have the knowledge it will go on for ages and ages.