Mileage when you sell and buy new

[canuguzzi]

This is geared more to the frequent buyers (every few years or less) than the buy and hold. You might even have a favorite that doesn't get riffed while the others tend to come and go.

About how long and how many miles do you ride them before getting something new?

Mine go to about 10K and a year and sometimes I get the same model just new.

[Huzo]

Isn't a bit like a relationship? When you have to do what's needed to maintain it, for an indeterminate amount of time you don't even notice the effort it took to do the task, in fact it doesn't even seem like a task at the time, but for me, when you begin to resent the time you invest, then the prospect of a replacement begins to loom large. Now I'm as guilty as the next bloke, I've had 30 road registered bikes since I got my licence but I sometimes think I changed them because the stripes were in the wrong place or the colour wasn't right any more, and that happened after 8,000km on some occasions. Personally if you take out a couple of extreme examples, a range of 20,000 - 70,000 seems to apply to me. My Norge has 92,000 now and I think up close it looks like 20,000, they really seem to age well and I'm not sure why, but for sure the bike will never be for sale because it's perceived value to me far outstrips it's book value, and anyway as Rick Springfield said " the point is probably moot", 'cos I'm pretty sure I'll die before it does, (if some people have their way !).

[Cool Runnings]

Last bike was just short of 50k (miles). Just got sick of riding a cruiser (kind of boring). 

Think the FJR was a little under 30k (miles). I missed that bike.

So now it's a new Norge. Got the comfort dialed in (maybe NP bar risers next). Riding the Norge makes me feel young again! 

[calfruit]

I ride them until they begin to make me nervous. 1991 BMW K100LT, 140,000 miles. 1997 Honda ST 1100, 165,000 miles. Currently, 2012 Norge, no idea how many miles. Time will tell

[canuguzzi]

I ride them until they begin to make me nervous. 1991 BMW K100LT, 140,000 miles. 1997 Honda ST 1100, 165,000 miles. Currently, 2012 Norge, no idea how many miles. Time will tell

Curious, is the nervous part the result of  failures and not wanting another or just not wanting to experience the first one? The ST Hondas do seem to rack up lots of miles.

[K250]

In the past, I put about 40,000 on them before having enough cash plus value of used bike to buy something nicer.   

Am done with that now though.  The ones I have now, plan on having for a long long time.  Maybe the duration.  Might add another but don't plan on selling any.   There might be something that would make me sell one but pretty unlikely at this point.

[calfruit]

Good question
I picked up the BMW at the factory under the then, European delivery program. Spent a month riding there and them it was shipped home.  At 50m the cams were replaced. At 75m the driveshaft. At 100 m the final drive. Maybe should have gotten nervous already. At 140m the water/oil pump assembly went and the bike went to the junkyard.

The Honda ran perfectly for the entire time I own it. I became nervous at being thousands of mile away from home, 65 years old and enough money I the bank to buy new.

The Norge is a joy, a few more problems then I would like, but not unknown for the brand.  I see the Norge this way.  She is like a hot,sexy,beautiful Italian women . Loves for you to look and lust after her, but can become a little bitchy when you ask for a ride.

I am in the autumn of my moto riding career. We shall see if she makes it to winter.

[calfruit]

Maybe should not have had the second scotch . Very poor grammar

[Cool Runnings]

Maybe should not have had the second scotch . Very poor grammar

Very pour grammar 

[calfruit]

Another good point. So I poored another

[charlie b]

I've only bought one new bike.  The others were used.  The new bike I sold before it had 30k miles.  The used ones I have kept past 50k miles.

[vstevens]

Only bought new twice.  My first vehicle was a brand new Suzuki GS 550.  I was in the navy so could only ride while in port.  Rode maybe 10000+ miles over a couple years when a navy buddy wanted it badly.  He got the Suzy and I bought a used 1973 Harley sportster.  What a mistake that was.  Spent more time fixing and diddling around with lifters than riding.  It spent the next several years parked until I nearly gave it away.  Several bikes after that but either I tired of them or family life wouldn't allow for it.  Perhaps the V7 will  be around a while...

[rocker59]

I bought a used 1973 Harley sportster.  What a mistake that was.  Spent more time fixing and diddling around with lifters than riding.  It spent the next several years parked until I nearly gave it away.   

My 1974 XLCH was similar.

Maintenance schedule about like a helicopter !!!

[oldbike54]

My 1974 XLCH was similar.

Maintenance schedule about like a helicopter !!!

 Yes , and both require the same amount of colorful language 

 Dusty

[esmurrell]

I don't keep my bikes too long.  Whenever something comes out that I believe I want, I will sell something and buy new.  It costs me a bunch of money but I'm searching for the holy grail, a bike I truly love.  While I like my Norge a bunch, it has no gadgets and being a gadget guy, this bugs me.  If they just added the gadgets to make it competitive with Sport-Touring segment, I would be happy to keep it longer (cruise control, elec. suspension, etc.).  As it is, I can sell it at any moment although I'm not actively looking to do so.

[bigbikerrick]

Good job, Dusty! I like how you stay right on top of" stuff" You know what I mean...... Thank you for the job you do.
Rick.

[oldbike54]

Good job, Dusty! I like how you stay right on top of" stuff" You know what I mean...... Thank you for the job you do.
Rick.

 It might have been Rocker or Luap ...

 Dusty

[blackbuell]

For many years I followed a basic pattern of buying a new bike about every three years and 25-30,000 miles; would generally have two newish bikes in the garage at the same time. With the exception of a few Buells, these were always Japanese bikes, all four major brands. In no case did I sell or trade-in a bike because it was starting to fall apart or didn't perform as it did when new; I just wanted to try something different (was "tired" of the bike), or, in recent years, I needed to buy something that was more comfortable for an aging body.

There has been one exception: my '09 Norge. I have owned this since new, going on six years, and have put 49,500 miles on it. Compared to the Asian bikes that I have owned, it has been a bit troublesome; have had some costly repairs, but it has never left me stranded. I have no plan of ever selling it, and, despite its issues, it has become my favorite bike of all time. I have never before put more than 35,000 miles on a bike, but will very soon reach 50K with the "fridge"; would like to reach 100K with it before I stop riding altogether.

Currently, my other newish bike is a BMW F800GT; it is a fine light-weight sport-tourer, but after two years of ownership, I have not developed any emotional attachment to it; will likely trade it in on something new in another year of two.

The Norge stays.

Jon

[rocker59]

My barber buys a new Ultra Classic Electra Glide every two  years.  Trades his old one.

He doesn't really feel an attachment to the bikes.  They're just tools or lifestyle accessories, or something.

He doesn't want to touch a wrench, and doesn't like to take a bike in for service.

So basically, when it's due for tires, he trades it in for a new one.

I don't really get that, but it works for him.

[canuguzzi]

Only thing that matters.