Do Motorcycles Need A Lot Of Maintenance?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Regardless of which bike you go with,

motorcycles can cost more to maintain than cars since they require service and maintenance more frequently

. Of course, how often you’re going to need maintenance depends on the type of bike you are looking at.

What kind of maintenance do motorcycles need?

  • Change The Oil. To keep your engine running properly, you’ll need to change the oil after several thousand miles—check the owner’s manual to find out how often. …
  • Replace The Air Filter. …
  • Maintain Tire Pressure And Tread. …
  • Change The Coolant. …
  • Keep A Clean Chain.

Do motorcycles cost a lot to maintain?

A good rule is to expect to pay around

$800 to $1,500 a year

to maintain your ride, depending on the driving you do, the motorcycle you own, the environment you keep it in, and so on. You can see with the cost of servicing your motorcycle, that treating it well will save you money in the long run.

Do motorcycles last longer than cars?


Motorcycles Can Last as Long as Cars

The recipe to longevity for motorcycles is the same as it is for any piece of machinery: care, maintenance and timely repairs.

Is 30000 miles high for a motorcycle?


For smaller sports bikes, a mileage above 20,000 to 30,000 is on the high side

, while larger motorcycles are considered high-mileage after the 50,000-mile point.

What is the lifespan of a helmet?

Yes, your helmet does have a lifespan, and a fairly short one at that. The industry standard states that the lifespan of a motorcycle helmet is

five years

. That is as long as you have not cut its life short by an accident or impact to it. If that happens you should definitely not use it, time to trash it!

Are motorcycles expensive to repair?

Overall Cost of Repairs


On average, the cost comes out to around $1,000 a year

, but this figure varies widely across the industry. Premium motorcycles with aftermarket parts tend to be more expensive to repair than cheaper bikes. The more you ride your bike, the more expensive the repairs will be.

What is the most unreliable motorcycle?

  • Yamaha/Star (11% failed)
  • Suzuki (12% failed)
  • Honda (12% failed)
  • Kawasaki (15% failed)
  • Victory (17% failed)

Is riding a motorcycle expensive?

In general,

motorcycles are cheaper and more cost efficient compared to owning a car

with a few exceptions. When recognizing a motorcycle to be “cheaper”, the cost to maintain, repair, and insure a motorcycle is considered since it’s usually less than a car.

How many miles will a motorcycle engine last?

Typically, a motorcycle engine should last somewhere between

50,000 miles to 250,000 miles

depending on the make and type of the engine, and the maintenance and usage by the rider.

How do you look good on a motorcycle?

  1. 1- Wear a classy helmet.
  2. 2- Wear layers to look cool in every situation.
  3. 3- Motorcycle Boots are important too.
  4. 4- Add a pair of motorcycle gloves.
  5. 5- Don’t forget your sunglasses.
  6. Conclusion.

How often should I change my motorcycle oil?

  1. Mineral oil should be replaced every 2,000 to 3,000 miles, or at least once a year. …
  2. Synthetic oil should be replaced every 7,000 to 10,000 miles, or at least once a year.
  3. Semi-synthetic oil should be replaced every 5,000 to 6,000 miles, or at least once a year.

What is the most reliable motorcycle brand?

The most reliable motorcycle brands — the results

In a nutshell,

Honda and Yamaha

were the most-named most-reliable motorcycle brands. “Any Japanese” motorcycle was mentioned after that. That would include Honda and Yamaha, but also includes Suzuki and Kawasaki.

Is 10k miles alot for a motorcycle?

Generally,

high mileage on a motorcycle is anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 miles

. For sport bikes, the high mileage number will be on the low end (usually around 25,000), while cruisers and touring bikes typically become high mileage in the 40,000- to the 50,000-mile range.

Is 40000 miles a lot for a motorcycle?


Motorcycles with more than 40,000 miles are considered to be high-mileage bikes

, but if it has been well maintained, the mileage could still make it a good purchase. Sports motorcycles are typically driven more aggressively and experience more engine wear.

How long do motorcycle tires last?

Motorcycle tire life beyond five years

Even if your motorcycle tires look good to you after five years from the date they were manufactured, have them inspected each year by a tire professional. Motorcycle tires

never last longer than 10 years

. If your bike’s tires are older than this, you need to replace them.

How many miles is too many for a used motorcycle?

For small sports bikes, 20,000 to 30,000 is on the high side. For larger bikes,

50,000 miles and up

is considered high motorcycle mileage. But before you write off any models, consider that a properly maintained bike can last well past 100,000 miles!

How far can a motorcycle go on a tank of gas?

How far can a motorcycle travel on a tank of gas? Typically, the average motorcycle will get anywhere between

120 to 200 miles

on a tank of gas depending on tank size, engine size, and riding conditions.

Should I replace my bike helmet after a crash?

Did you crash in it? For starters, most people are aware that

you must replace a helmet after any crash where your head hit

. The foam part of a helmet is made for one-time use, and after crushing once it is no longer as protective as it was, even if it still looks intact.

Which motorcycle helmet is safest?

  • Shoei X-Fourteen. Safety Standard: (SHARP 5/5, DOT, SNELL, ECE) …
  • Arai Signet-X. Safety: 5/5 (SHARP 5/5, DOT, SNELL, ECE) …
  • AGV Pista GP-R. Safety: 5/5 (SHARP 5/5, SNELL, DOT, ECE) …
  • Shoei RF-SR. Safety: 5/5 (SHARP 5/5, SNELL) …
  • Shark Evo-One 2. …
  • HJC C70. …
  • Scorpion EXO-R420. …
  • Shark Skwal 2.

What do you do with old bike helmets?

Most local recycling programs don’t want mixed materials. So your best solution may be to take the helmet apart, put the plastic shell in your plastic recycling, break up the EPS foam for use as packing material or a soil amendment, and pitch the strap and buckle in the trash.

Is a motorcycle cheaper to maintain than a car?

For the most part,

motorcycle maintenance is cheaper than car maintenance

. However, you’ll likely need to service your motorcycle more often than you would a car, so are you willing to invest that time? You might plan on spending a few hundred dollars a year on general motorcycle maintenance.

What is the average maintenance cost for a motorcycle?

Regular maintenance (oil changes, chain maintenance etc.) should be done every 5,000 to 20,000 miles depending on the motorcycle, and typically costs

at least $1,000 a year

. If there’s a valve adjustment, you can expect to pay anywhere between $800 and $1,500.

Are Harleys expensive to maintain?

Harley-Davidson recommends periodic servicing every 5,000 miles, meaning you’ll have four scheduled servicing appointments.

If the average 5,000-mile service for a Harley motorcycle costs $400 on average, your annual maintenance costs will be $1600

.

Are motorcycles easy to work on?


Motorcycles are easier to maintain than cars no matter the amount of mechanical experience

. Motorcycles are much smaller and require less maintenance, have less parts to care for, have easier accessibility, and are much easier to do DIY projects on compared to cars.

What motorcycle holds its value best?

Bikes made by

Harley-Davidson

, BMW, and Ducati, in fact, seem to hold their MSRP value better than any others. By brand, according to data compiled by the Kelley Blue Book Official Motorcycle Guide, Harley-Davidson motorcycles retained an average of 84% of their value over a five-year period.

Which motorcycle lasts the longest?

  • 8 Indian Scout (2015+) …
  • 7 Yamaha VMAX (2009+) …
  • 6 Triumph Tiger 955i (2001-2005) …
  • 5 Honda RVT1000R (2000-2006) …
  • 4 Kawasaki ZX-6R (1995-2004) …
  • 3 Suzuki SV650 (1999-2012) …
  • 2 Harley-Davidson Sportster 883 (All) …
  • 1 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500FI Classic (2000-2007) via AutoTrader.
David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.