How long does a bike last?
This question was inspired by someone elses question in the XT section. I ride a 1997 Honda Transalp XL600V. It currently has around 30000 miles on the clock. I am planning my 'big trip' for August next year by which time I expect it will have at least 40000 miles on the clock. I am a bit concerned that I am starting out on a trip on a reasonably high mileage bike and could therefore have some problems with it at some stage so I would like to know how long these bikes keep going for (how long is a piece of string you ask), but I'm particularly interested in the engine and anything that is NOT normal wear and tear e.g. tyres and brakes. What are your experiences with Honda's in terms of which parts go first and when. Tips on how to extend her life would be welcome too. At what stage do you say, 'ok, before this big trip I am going to strip this engine down and do a complete rebuild'?
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