Effective lifespan?

[Beaker99]

So I finally managed to get parts and repair my J300 (basically a Downtown) on which I had a minor collision with a car back in February. I've been back on it for the past few weeks and have just given it a full service, oil & filter, new drive belt etc and I have to say it's running as best as it's ever run. It's a pleasure to ride each morning on my way to work. It's got 30,000km on the clock and I'm looking forward to doing another 30,000 on top of that. But what is the effective lifespan of one of these scooters, assuming it's well maintained? At what point is it getting to the end of it's life 60k, 70k, 80k?

[CROSSBOLT]

Hondas from the 60's are still running so these are the same...

[Neil955i]

Well maintained I'd say 80K is easily do-able.  I've tended to drop my bikes at about 50K miles as I needed reliability above all else at that stage.  If you can put up with occasional strandings when a part gives way, no reason you couldn't get to the other side of 100K!  (Miles which = 160K kms!!)

[Iahawk]

It seems like more scoots are sidelined by an irritating non start problem than by any major engine or component failure.  I’d also guess that most tire of their bikes and are ready for a change long before they are fully worn out.

[Ruffus]

It seems like more scoots are sidelined by an irritating non start problem than by any major engine or component failure.  I’d also guess that most tire of their bikes and are ready for a change long before they are fully worn out.

See quite the same here in Italy. There are scoots with 90.000 km around. Most neclected ones have low kms on the clock. The ones with high milage are usually well mantained and I would not hesitate to buy such ride, because there the faults are eased out already.

[pa-outdoorsman]

I would agree with what most have said. The biggest problem with most scooters is neglect. A scooter that is run at least semi-regularly will likely last a very long time, as it seems many of the biggest problems arise when the machine just sits for too long.

Along those same lines, the manner of storage plays a big role. I would think a well-maintained scooter that is driven regularly and garage kept out of the elements, could easily run for a decade if not two with no more than regular maintenance and replacement of normal wear parts such as tires, brakes, filters, cables, grips, etc.

[Beaker99]

That's good to know. Thanks for the replies. It's not going to take me too long to get up there kilometer wise. I'm doing close to 20k a year. I do a 100km a day commuting to work and home. The scooter lives indoors and I get a lot of pleasure out of keeping it maintained, so fingers crossed I'll have mostly trouble free motoring for a few years yet. I suspect the only thing that will eventually get me is envy for newer machine, but I'm sure I can keep that at bay for at least a couple of years.

[CROSSBOLT]

That's good to know. Thanks for the replies. It's not going to take me too long to get up there kilometer wise. I'm doing close to 20k a year. I do a 100km a day commuting to work and homey. The scooter lives indoors and I get a lot of pleasure out of keeping it maintained, so fingers crossed I'll have mostly trouble free motoring for a few years yet. I suspect the only thing that will eventually get me is envy for newer machine, but I'm sure I can keep that at bay for at least a couple of years.

Your biggest, most repeated maintenance will be changing the rear tire. They only last 6000 miles (on mine). I got so tired of buying and changing SO now run a small car tire on the rear. Over 6000 miles now and no wear visible.

[Neil955i]

I got so tired of buying and changing SO now run a small car tire on the rear. Over 6000 miles now and no wear visible.

A practice known as "Dark Siding" 

[john grinsel]

I say 75-100,000 miles ridden daily and properly maintained, including adjusting valves/fresh oil.   I trade at 50,000 miles because I do not want to monkey with aging machine.

[mousejunks]

I say 75-100,000 miles ridden daily and properly maintained, including adjusting valves/fresh oil.   I trade at 50,000 miles because I do not want to monkey with aging machine.

50,000 miles sounds about right. My DT300i did 80,000 km but it was rear ended and cost for repairs/maintenance (e.g. electrical system and leaks) exceeded the value of the bike.