TeeCat
One-Mik Wonder
Hello, friends...
I was thinking last evening, as I put my TX away after a little local run of just under an hour, that when I got her, she had just a touch over 18,000 miles on what is almost certainly the original instrument (as is the tach). That was in August '07 when I got her as a basically intact non-runner that I thought would be a good platform for the quite clean mild cafe-roadster that she has become since. But in the time I have had her, the miles I have ridden have been almost exclusively "diagnostic" in nature, and it's only recently that I have begun to be consistently and predictably pleased with the way she's running. I'm still under 19,000 miles... I'd have to look to be sure how much.
One thing that I'm going to be keeping an eye (ear) on is the occasionally discussed "Pete Jackson gear drive" sound that I seem to have. It's not obtrusive at this point, but it's there. I'm going to re-check my cam chain tensioner setting hot, but this got me to wondering:
- What constitutes low, mid, and/or high mileage for a 70's era motorcycle?
- At what sort of mileage range does one start getting realistically concerned about the health of "consumable" parts like bearings and cam chain guides?
- Among you who have had issues with bearing and/or chain guide longevity, what sort of mileage had your bike seen at that time?
I'm just trying to sort a reasonable correlation between consumable parts wear and mileage, while being mindful that "results may vary" because conditions and riders do. I have been running a new side strainer (I have a billet enclosure) and sump strainer since last year, incidentally. When I installed the new sump strainer, I didn't notice any obvious plastic or metal, and this past Saturday's oil change (I change the oil VERY frequently!) saw no apparent sludge or metal on the drain plugs/magnets. My plan now is to try to get some fun miles on the bike and watch her.
Cheers all!
TC
I was thinking last evening, as I put my TX away after a little local run of just under an hour, that when I got her, she had just a touch over 18,000 miles on what is almost certainly the original instrument (as is the tach). That was in August '07 when I got her as a basically intact non-runner that I thought would be a good platform for the quite clean mild cafe-roadster that she has become since. But in the time I have had her, the miles I have ridden have been almost exclusively "diagnostic" in nature, and it's only recently that I have begun to be consistently and predictably pleased with the way she's running. I'm still under 19,000 miles... I'd have to look to be sure how much.
One thing that I'm going to be keeping an eye (ear) on is the occasionally discussed "Pete Jackson gear drive" sound that I seem to have. It's not obtrusive at this point, but it's there. I'm going to re-check my cam chain tensioner setting hot, but this got me to wondering:
- What constitutes low, mid, and/or high mileage for a 70's era motorcycle?
- At what sort of mileage range does one start getting realistically concerned about the health of "consumable" parts like bearings and cam chain guides?
- Among you who have had issues with bearing and/or chain guide longevity, what sort of mileage had your bike seen at that time?
I'm just trying to sort a reasonable correlation between consumable parts wear and mileage, while being mindful that "results may vary" because conditions and riders do. I have been running a new side strainer (I have a billet enclosure) and sump strainer since last year, incidentally. When I installed the new sump strainer, I didn't notice any obvious plastic or metal, and this past Saturday's oil change (I change the oil VERY frequently!) saw no apparent sludge or metal on the drain plugs/magnets. My plan now is to try to get some fun miles on the bike and watch her.
Cheers all!
TC