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Started by Anonymous at 07-24-2008 7:27 PM. Topic has 9 replies.

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   07-24-2008, 7:27 PM
Anonymous
Indifferent [:|] Signs of a lwered milage
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Howdy all
I am considering buying an old bike of someone who had it for only 1 year. The millage is not a lot (37000) which I find doubtful for a 1980 bike of this type (GL /CX bikes gets used a lot I guess).
Question is:
What are the signs of lowered milage?
Are there any ?
How can one figure out if the millage is real or not?
Cheers
    
   07-24-2008, 7:42 PM
Blindstitch2002 is not online. Last active: 9/4/2008 12:28:51 AM Blindstitch2002



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Joined on 05-16-2007
Greenfield Wisconsin
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Re: Signs of a lwered milage
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37,000 isn't really lower mileage. Yeah it is lower than 100,000 but it's more like middle mileage.
Low mileage would be under 14,000. If you do the math 37,000/ 28 years 1,321 miles per year. Yeah that seems like a small amount but if you are in a state where you can only use your bike 3 months a year it's easy to keep the miles lower. Lots of these bikes spend time not being used too. Mine wasn't used for 18 years. The previous owner put on around 10,000 miles a year for 4 to 5 years.  Bike still runs like a champ.

1979 Honda Cx500 Custom
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   07-24-2008, 7:47 PM
Blindstitch2002 is not online. Last active: 9/4/2008 12:28:51 AM Blindstitch2002



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Greenfield Wisconsin
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Re: Signs of a lwered milage
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Do a search on You tube for the sound of theses bikes with cam chains that need to be replace and valve tapping. The bike tends to make a little noise from the valves but if you hear the cam chain noise. It needs to be replaced.

1979 Honda Cx500 Custom
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   07-24-2008, 8:09 PM
Anonymous
??
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Is valve noise sign of high millage? How high? At what millage does it usually start?

Would looking ar other parts give a sign as to how used the bike really is?

    
   07-24-2008, 10:03 PM
Blindstitch2002 is not online. Last active: 9/4/2008 12:28:51 AM Blindstitch2002



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Greenfield Wisconsin
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Re: ??
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valve noise is pretty common and not really a sign of high mileage. You just need to know the differeance between what a good running bike sounds like and a horible running one.

I think the basic rule was that a cam chain should be replaced around 40,000 miles due to stretch.

1979 Honda Cx500 Custom
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   07-24-2008, 10:11 PM
Timothy_D is not online. Last active: 9/5/2008 6:01:21 PM Timothy_D



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Joined on 04-22-2006
Santa Rosa, CA
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Re: ??
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I think his question was more in tune with how would someone lowere the odometer mileage, and what are the signs that it might have happened.

First off, it's really simple to "lower apparent mileage."  Replace the speedometer with a lower mileage model, boom, instant reduction in mileage.

Finding signs of higher mileage. . . more difficult. 
My 23,000 mile engine looked just like my best friend's 70,000 mile engine due to overspray and rust.
Garaged bikes with 50,000 miles will often look better than their outdoor counterparts with 1/4 the mileage.

Best bet, listen to the engine.
If it has 80,000 miles and runs like a top, go for it. 
If it has 20,000 miles and sounds like there's a bowling ball crashing around inside of the engine,
run away.

The sound of these engines really tells their story.

Two '82 Turbos, GL650I, CX650C

Why do I own four bikes? Because I'm not married. DUH!
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   08-01-2008, 2:27 PM
gregoryjewell is not online. Last active: 9/3/2008 4:19:06 PM gregoryjewell



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joplin, mo
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Re: ??
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i doubt it has been messed with i just bought my 79 cx 500c a couple of months ago and it only has 14,000 miles on it and from other posts it doesnt seem unussual

79 cx500 custom (sonofabitch)
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   08-01-2008, 7:33 PM
makenzie71 is not online. Last active: 9/6/2008 1:16:58 PM makenzie71

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TX
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Re: ??
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don't base a purchase on mileage.  To buy, or not to buy, is determined by the quality of the bike, and the quality of the bike has nothing to do with mielage.  I've seen pristine-looking bikes with 1500 miles on them that were crap and garbage looking bikes with 100k on them that were gold.

Available from EssGlass ATV/Motorcycle Fabrication
~Preload adjusters (CX5/applicable): $55 + core caps
~310mm big brake kits (CX5/applicable): starting at $125
~Left exit divorced exhaust: $225

for info email me!
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   08-03-2008, 6:22 PM
AgWing is not online. Last active: 6/26/2008 8:12:49 AM AgWing

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Re: ??
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I bought my 81 Silver Wing with 5300 miles on it.  The darn thing is hardly broken in :-)  Just make sure it hasn't got low miles because it's been sitting for 20 years, that can cause more harm than if it was run (provided it is cared for).
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   08-03-2008, 7:39 PM
mcreviver is not online. Last active: 5/6/2007 10:37:16 AM mcreviver

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Williamsport, PA
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Re: ??
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One indication of mileage is the wear on the rubber footpegs.
Ron in PA
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