How many kms is too many for a bike?

[OzJavelin]

How many km is becoming excessive for a 4-stroke 250cc bike prior to major repairs/rebuild? I'm looking at getting a license (L's) and buying a secondhand one, but most of the stuff I'm looking at has around 40,000km on the odo. Is this the equivalent of 100,000km (i.e. just out of factory warranty) for a car where stuff starts breaking etc? I realise that this usually comes down how the owner treats the bike, but I'm just looking for ballpark guidance?

[Avalanche]

If its a 4 cyl it should be fine it it has been looked after.

[OzJavelin]

If its a 4 cyl it should be fine it it has been looked after.

.. and V-twins? :)

[Avalanche]

I dont know , my bro who is the motorcycle mech was standing next to me when i opened the thread & now he has gone back to queanbeyan. But basically he said most of those bikes ( hiroshima screamers) he calls them, are fine provided they have been serviced properly & the filters have been maintained.

[OPPYLOCK]

Just like cars the general condition of the bike tells as much of the story than the total km's. Look for regular servicing and a bike that obviously been looked after and even with 40K on the clock you should get a couple of years trouble free riding if its just going to be a weekend toy or commuter.
Also check out the operation of the gearbox as that can get $$$$.

[Road Warrior]

It also depends on how the bike has been used. A commuter bike with 40,000klm on it will have a lot mor elife left in it than a weekend thrasher with the same mileage.

[SLugg]

I dont know , my bro who is the motorcycle mech was standing next to me when i opened the thread & now he has gone back to queanbeyan. But basically he said most of those bikes ( hiroshima screamers) he calls them, are fine provided they have been serviced properly & the filters have been maintained.

sounds like a hardley Dangerous rider is he uses that terminology
but as some have said service and riding style are key , buying from the second hand market (not dealers) is cheaper and the money you save can be used to do a service etc. A good check for condition is to do a compression test and if its in tolerance for the model then go for a test ride make sure gears are all smooth and brakes feel ok and it corners ok.
Get a friend who is more experienced to ride it for you.

[Trek52]

I know of a vtr250 that has done inexcess of 100,000km and still sounds like new. My Mrs has a CBR250R 88 model that has done god knows how many ks and it has never had a problem.

The guys are right if the bike is well looked after it will be fine...

[markzzz]

As has been mentioned the KM's of any bike before it should be rebuilt is very varied depending on the capacity, the riding style of the owner, maintenance routine etc..
I would suggest that if the bike were a VT 250 which rev very high you would expect to rebuild them at 50 to 60 000 KM.
Some of the slower reving 250's (which don't perform as well) will likely last an additional 20k before needing a rebuild.
It's all guess work and so very dependant on the bike and rider

[19OTU]

70,000kms too many!!!!!

[misslegzeleven]

If it's a cbr250 (either r or rr), try to remember that they built the last ones in '96, and the last aussie imports (MPE on the VIN number) were brought into australia in 99. So if a cbr250 has ridiculously low kms on it, beware that it may have ticked over, or might have a new odometer on it.

These bikes are practically indestructible, so you should be fine with a bike at 40 000kms!