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Show Us Ya Big Miles
Of course we here at Bikes And Travels think motorcycling should be about enjoyment. Of course we here at Bikes And Travels think that you are all unique and should enjoy your motorcycling in your own unique way. Some of you love to polish, some of you prefer big fast bikes, some of you like shiny farkles, some of you are perfectly happy with occasional short rides on sunny warm days. That's fine, these are all different aspects of the wonderful world of motorcycling.
It's not a competition you know. Just because you've done 195 mph down the back straight at the Nurburgring doesn't make you a bigger man than Timmy 2-Stroke razzing his 50cc ped to work in the morning. Having the loudest Harley doesn't make you badass. Having ridden around the world 3 times on a GS1200 doesn't mean your tougher than old leather. We all ride different machines for different reasons in different ways.
Anyhow, enough of this politically correct pretentious nonsense! Of course there is only way to prove just how much of a REAL biker you are. There is only one thing that separates the truly hardcore from the everyday average. There is but one means of proving your true dedication in the face of adversity to powered two wheeled transport...
MILES!
Wait a minute...not overall mileage for the person. Any fool can rack up endless mileage over the years on countless machines. A million miles on 100 bikes is only 10,000 miles per bike doncha know, and any bike can do 10,000 miles. It takes a special kind of fool to rack up huge miles on one long suffering 'cycle. It takes dedication and stubbornness to keep on fixing the same blinkin problem time and time again on a machine that should have been scrapped aeons ago.
So come on and prove just how stupid you really are. There are points for doing ridiculous distances with small capacity engines. Points for ingenious bodges to keep you on the road on the cheap. Points for tales or pictures of your bike in obscure or outlandish places. I'm sure there'll be lots of kudos too for those funny stories.
Don't take this too seriously, just enjoy bragging a little and tell us the tale of your big miler.
40,000 miles? I bet you can beat that.
Reader's Comments
Ren - The Ed said :-
This page was inspired by a link that Peet sent to me which I'll put the link for below. This German guy has racked up well over 100,000 km on his step through scoot so there's absolutely no excuse.
What did perplex me is that the Speedfight has a 6 digit speedo. I wondered if it was merely 10,000 miles and the last digit was the 1/10ths of a mile. Nope, from what I can work out the Peugeot has a bona fide 6 digit clock. Peugeot obviously have more faith in their machines than the Japs, Americans or Brits.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6toyW7nFm4g...
08/01/2016 10:37:49 UTC
S Latchford said :-
Well Ren I can't lay any claim to doing a lot of miles on one bike myself, but having just read this in my monthly subscription I thought it was a worthy contender, this guy has owned his Honda NC 750 for only one year.
10/01/2016 15:39:42 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
75,000 miles in ONE YEAR! Hells teeth, that's like almost 1,500 per week every week. He's either a despatch rider or travelling a lot. Mind you at 1,500 miles per week he can't see much except tarmac.
Glad to see the NC is up to the task though. I'm rather fond of these.
10/01/2016 18:35:38 UTC
Peet said :-
Why does it seem like small bikes vanishes when they get to 100 000 miles? Could it be because they are mostly bought by people on a small budget to do a specific job like getting you to school or work or like in Assia to do the work and are seldom used for leisure or seeing the world in the way big bikes are used.
There are many tales about big bikes doing big miles, like this one in the link below. Not only did he do 1 million miles with his Harley but during the time he once did 31 000 miles in 30 days.
I reckon he used at least 30 000 gallons of fuel to cover 1 000 000 miles with his Harley and according to him he replaced the engine about 9 times, the front tires 65 times and the rears 105 times.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBxFXE-8Srk
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GBxFXE-8Srk...
14/01/2016 16:48:46 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Peet. 100,000 miles? was that a mis-type? Here in the UK at least most small capacity motorcycles rarely seem to get above 15,000 miles. I don't know about South Africa but in the UK 125cc machines are considered "learner" bikes. As such they tend to be bought, abused by novices and then sold after a couple of thousand miles to another learner who also abuses it. Finding a full licence holder on a 125 - like myself - is a rare thing.
Even larger bikes tend to rack up low miles. On the second hand market here a bike with over 10,000 miles is considered "worn out". Most folks will know they can typically rack up 50, 60 or even 100,000 miles but things are starting to wear out and in need of looking after. I can think of just a handful of bikes in my area with over 40,000 miles.
I do wonder if the UK weather makes life hard for bikes here. This winter has been particularly wet. I am struggling with chains wearing out, bearings giving up, electrical issues and of course rust. That video of a rider covering mad miles on his "Hog" just seems impossible here. He'd spend more time in workshops having the bike rebuilt rather than riding. Most Harleys here in the UK will be lucky to see 3,000 miles a year let alone 100,000.
I feel another blog post coming on...
14/01/2016 18:02:48 UTC
Peet said :-
Same here, the only one I could find so far with a 100 000 miles on was that Peugeot. Sometimes I see some in Japan, I think, that seem to also go maybe towards 60 000 miles but because of their language it is difficult to search for a documented high mileage small engined bike.
I think the reason why high mileage on a small engined bike fasinates me is because of its economy. The world over the selling point on cars is now a days economy but where is the economy in paying 12 000 pounds to get 55 miles to the gallon where as big bikes these days cost the same and gives the same economy but cost even more to look after properly than a car of the same price. So in my country before I buy a big bike I would rather buy a car and enjoy its comforts, but at the moment that luxury of buying a new car or a big bike escapes me or if I enslave myself with a monthly payment on something new I would be left with nothing to take it out and see the country side. People enjoy their vehicles in diffirent ways for me it is the drive, to see "how far" I can go with "how little".
14/01/2016 20:01:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Cheers Pete. For me the economy is a BIG aspect of my choice. My 250 returns an average of 80mpg. There's little doubt that it is more thrilling to ride in some aspects but correspondingly there's less off a challenge.
At 130 - 140 mpg on the 125 I can travel at least 50% further for the same cost in fuel compared to the 250, and well over double the distance compared to a car or a big bike. I am often criticised for being tight and a scrooge and putting savings before fun. I don't see it like that. I see it as I have the resources to either go a long way on a 125 or a short distance on a big bike. I'd prefer to go a long way.
There's also the challenge. I meet many many people all the time who have been to far flung places on their 1000s, 1200s and even 1400s. It is rare to meet those who've been far on a 125 though.
Another thing I recall, somewhere else on this website, is the idea that world becomes a smaller place on a big bike (or a car). I don't want the world to be small, I want my world to be big and filled with wonder.
15/01/2016 18:19:36 UTC
Trazymach84 said :-
55000 miles on a CBF 125 and still going strong. No problems with the engine. Link: https://cbf125life.wordpress.com.
cbf125life.wordpress.com/...
29/01/2016 17:29:24 UTC
Trazymach84 said :-
There are also many YBR 125 with 60 000 miles and no problems with engines. A couple of guys have gone on a trip around the world on YBR 125s and were succesfull. http://www.re-moto.com/the_motorcycles.php?lang=eng
www.re-moto.com/the_motorcycles.php?lang=eng...
29/01/2016 17:32:25 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Trazymach84 - Thats a fabulous resource regarding the CBF 125 - fantastic! You've covered a lot of details and been through many issues, some the same as myself. I haven't had time to read through the whole lot but I'll be coming back for future reference.
I'm liking the kit and stuff on the re-moto page too. Some good ideas there.
Cheers :)
31/01/2016 14:42:06 UTC
Mark-Cornwall said :-
Me And The Other Half Took Our 49cc Bikes Last Summer Around The Whole South Cornish Coast In One Day And Racked Up 180 Miles Each.
The Bikes Performed Well And Gave Over 120Mpg Each So A Gallon And A Half Roughly For 180 Miles Not Bad At All.
We Have 600s At Home But Fancied A Challenge - Small Engined Bikes Can Be Fun As Well.
12/02/2016 23:12:04 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Mark-Cornwall that's fantastic!! I've been joking with a mate of mine about riding a couple of cheap Chinese mopeds up to Stornoway for a while now. It'd be mad silly fun.
Can't think of a better way of seeing the Cornish coastline than a 50. Yeah you don't need big cubes for big laughs. Thanks for sharing that.
13/02/2016 00:51:55 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
The long suffering CBF 125 now has 50,000 miles on the clock!
29/02/2016 15:01:58 UTC
Trazymach84 said :-
Nice! No problems with the engine? What is yout oil change interval?
04/03/2016 18:52:04 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Trazymach84. I've had to change the clutch basket at 20,000 miles but other than that no real work. I change the oil every 2,000 miles religiously.
04/03/2016 19:51:45 UTC
Trazymach84 said :-
What engine oil do you use and recommend for CBF 125?
05/03/2016 23:15:29 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Trazymach84. I fear I may be criticised but...mostly Halford's semi synthetic 10w 40 engine oil, green tub about £19 for 5 litres usually. It is a billy bog standard car oil.
If I'm passing a local motor factors I'll buy something similar, any 10w 40 semi synthetic.
I know all the reasons for using high quality fully synthetic motorcycle specific oils. Some are valid and some in my opinion are false. I can only go off my own experience and I don't seem to suffer oil related issues.
06/03/2016 00:04:26 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
I think the only thing you need to be concerned about is that some car oils have what is known as friction modifiers - these can (allegedly) cause the clutch to slip.
I'm not sure how you can definitely tell but I understand that if the words "ENERGY CONSERVING" are in a circle on the label then it has the friction modifiers.
06/03/2016 10:39:05 UTC
Sharon said :-
I guess each bike is different. My Keeway RKS 125cc could not abide car motor oil. After I gave it a oil change using car oil I could hardly get it onto gear. The problem with the gears continued until I drained the car oil and replaced it with motorcycle specific oil. Problem with the gears instantly cured. So for me personally and my Keeway I now only use motorcycle oil. I have used both Halfords own brand and Motul 5000 4T both 10w/40 part synthetic. They both worked just fine for my bike
06/03/2016 20:23:21 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Hi Ian. I am often told that car oils have super slippery additives such as teflon that ensure car engines run ever more efficiently. Of course cars tend to have dry clutches which means the slippery stuff doesn't come into contact with the clutch. Most modern motorcycles however share their oil between the engine, gearbox and the clutch.
Logic dictates that super slippery stuff on clutches will cause super slippery clutches!
I have not found this to be a problem on my bikes. Arguably the 125 and 250 don't create enough torque to pull the skin off a rice pudding or indeed to cause a clutch to slip. That said my SLR 650, Fazer 600 and NTV 600 didn't suffer either.
I suspect that big butch manly bikes like Bandit 1200s and Fireblades might suffer, but never having been man enough to own one I cannot comment.
As for your bike Sharon... I cannot logically think of a reason why it disagrees with car oil...perhaps like its owner it just has expensive tastes. Ner!
06/03/2016 21:50:24 UTC
Ian Soady said :-
AIUI you need to avoid oil which has this symbol with Energy Conserving in the bottom of the "doughnut" (number 3).
07/03/2016 16:19:32 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I'm not seeing a logo like this on any of my containers Ian. I guess I must be using REALLY cheap oil. I'll have a look on the Halford's website to see if there's any more details.
08/03/2016 15:59:07 UTC
Trazymach84 said :-
You might find this interesting. There are people in Brasil with 120 000 miles (200000 km) put on Yamaha YBR 125 without any engine problems. The key is changing the oil often, every 600-1500 miles. Yamaha YBR 125 has incredibly bullet proof engine. Look at the comments here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEujjXLL0a0 and here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vesdAjobV4
09/03/2016 01:00:48 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
I'll have to crank up the Google Translate Trazymach84. I'll have a proper look when I get the time. 120,000 miles on a 125...now that is mental! I feel like my bike is just run in.
09/03/2016 17:46:06 UTC
Tony said :-
Hi Ren,
I don't know if you follow the link from Trazymach84 regarding CBF125 Life. Well that's the fella's 125 passed on. 60,901 miles and probably easily fixed but has decided otherwise. Sad day. No pressure Ren. 60,901. What's your current mileage? Enjoy your hols and ride safe.
26/06/2016 20:13:11 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
OH NO! I don't follow his blog regularly but I have dropped in from time to time. Oh golly, what's he doing to do now, rename his website "CBR300 Life"? It's been a cracking site and most informative.
My bike is currently at 54,500 so there's a ways to go yet. However on my return home from The Netherlands trip it definitely is just that little more rattly and loose than it was before. I suspect that will be the 125's last trip to foreign shores but I shall continue to use it for domestic duties and UK tours.
Hope you're well Tony.
26/06/2016 22:10:24 UTC
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