Expected Life for a GS450

[sam000lee]

This is a somewhat hypothetical question, with the context being that I am thinking about buying another GS450 (upgrading from L's to a T) with 36,000 miles. Assuming that regular maintenance is done, what is a reasonable number of miles to get out of a 450cc motorcycle from the 80's? The one I am considering is owned by the original owner and seems to have been treated very well.

Again, this is more of a discussion point but since it's nice to have pictures, here is the bike in question:

 

[chuck hahn]

3 or 4 times longer than a Harley!!!!!

 

[Steve]

Oh, come on, Chuck, it's MUCH better than that.

Sam, if you get less than 100,000 miles out of it, something was done to kill it.

.

 

[eil]

Agree with Chuck and Steve. Any properly maintained GS will outlive all of us. Maybe rebuild the engine every 100,000 miles as a preventative measure, and that's pretty darn conservative. They really only die from abuse, neglect, and wrecks and can withstand an admirable amount of the first two.

 

[tkent02]

Considering any part that may eventually wear out can be replaced, If you are willing to keep doing the work there's no reason it can't last longer than you do.
It's the neglect that kills most of them.

 

[Guest]

I don't know the history of mine before I bought it, but when I tore it down to rebuild it, the motor had about 96,000km's on it and the insides were clean as... everything still in spec. A new set of rings, bearings/seals, and valve facing was all it got when I rebuilt it.

Since the rebuild I've done over 50,000km's and she's still going strong.

Like the other guys say though a lot of it has to do with how it's been treated.

Incidentally the reason I tore the engine down in the first place was that I thought it had a gearbox problem which it never did... it was the shift lever linkage all along