How long should you keep a bike?

5/8/2021 5:57am Edited Date/Time 6/6/2022 2:08pm
I currently have a 2019 Ktm 350 sxf. I like to sell a bike a before it loses too much value and get a new one. However I have 65 hours currently on my bike and thinking about getting suspension done. If I did that I’d keep the bike for the years to come, doing the occasional rebuild on the motor, and other major maintenance intervals that come with owning a higher hour bike. I’ve never owned a bike past 70 hours so just getting everyone’s opinion on the matter.
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5/8/2021 6:02am Edited Date/Time 5/8/2021 6:03am
I’ve seen KTM’s with the right maintenance go to 200. I don’t know I usually always sell mine between 20 and 40 I just don’t ride as much anymore. If I was racing I’d probably push it out all the way to 100 120.
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yak651
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5/8/2021 6:42am
I sell mine around 40 hours. They still have value and I haven’t had to stick much into them at that point. Figure for the money I would invest in it at 40 hours I can use that to upgrade.
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stone881
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5/8/2021 6:44am
When I used to race and there were deals to roll over financing I would trade them about every 6 months. I ride them longer now, but try not to go much past 100 hours. If it were me, I wouldn't want to ride a bike without rebuiling the whole thing past that, they just don't feel tight any more.

I say, sell it and get some new iron.
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The Shop

Richy
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5/8/2021 6:49am
There's a few guys on here who've worked it out on a yearly basis, pretty decent info iirc, should show up in search.

Two stroke wise any current generation YZ or '17 onward SX/TC/etc could legitimately be a keeper without any worries of it getting outdated.

For me I'm just gonna keep my TC 250 for years and give it more goodies as I go with no concern over new models, but if I had the dollar and inclination I'd get a 250f/350f alongside it and that I'd probably trade in / update every couple years.
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huutnanny
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5/8/2021 7:06am
I think these motors last longer than people give them credit for. There’s stories of pros doing a whole summer’s of outdoor nationals on one motor.

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Spudnut
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5/8/2021 7:16am
Sell it while the market is high and enjoy your new steed
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Rickyisms
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5/8/2021 7:50am Edited Date/Time 5/25/2022 3:00pm
My KTM 125 and 150 both have roughly 220-240 hrs on the frame, they've had a few engine rebuilds, suspension services, and other things that come along with having a higher hour bike. I was thinking about selling both for a brand new bike, but they both already do everything I need them to and give me a smile every time I ride them. I'd say if you're happy with the bike do what you want to it and keep it until it becomes more of a headache than a good machine.
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Kenny Lingus
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5/8/2021 7:51am
Personally, I wished I had never sold any to get a new bike. If you have room, save them. I never thought my CR250'S would've gone up so much in value. Been nice to have them now 🤑.
Joker
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5/8/2021 8:12am
I would buy a new one, yours is 3 years old. Nothing like a fresh bike. You should get good money for your 2019 also.
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toomanykaws
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5/8/2021 8:41am
I sold off a bunch of my older bikes. Was getting difficult to find new OEM parts when needed. It’s nice having any the newer bikes and can order anything. See many guys only keep a bike 1-2 years. Can’t blame them don’t really need to do any major maintenance.
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B Lenny
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5/8/2021 8:42am
If a CR500 - forever. Otherwise until you feel it’s costing too much to run or just doesn’t spark you anymore.
Yep...Wink


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5/8/2021 8:53am
Personally, I wished I had never sold any to get a new bike. If you have room, save them. I never thought my CR250'S would've gone...
Personally, I wished I had never sold any to get a new bike. If you have room, save them. I never thought my CR250'S would've gone up so much in value. Been nice to have them now 🤑.
Yeah there is 3 bikes I wish I never sold, 87 cr125, 95 NCY yz125 Pedro,s bike, and Jeff Wilohs 97 Noleen 125. But I say keep the bike until, the frame is done.
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5/8/2021 8:57am Edited Date/Time 5/8/2021 9:01am
I hate selling. Still have my 96cr 125, 01kx 250, 71 rickman 250, 04 wideglide, 2010 roadking. Only bike I may sell is the wideglide but it was my brothers bike and I bought it when he was hard for money. So it holds some sentimental value to me. Seems like everyone of em I end up finding a reason to keep. Haha. I did trade my 03 banshee for a 05 trx450 and it was a good trade at the time but now looking back I wish I still had the banshee.
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toomanykaws
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5/8/2021 9:51am
I was one who never sold bikes. But after doing so and seeing how happy many of the buyers are. That was a huge plus. Getting more people on bikes.
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Titan1
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5/8/2021 10:00am
No more than 75-100 hours on 4 strokes...after that the rebuild costs are to much assumed cost (you could sell it at 75 hours, and for what you’d spend on a rebuild have a new bike...unless you can do your own motor work)....I’d rather have a new bike, than rebuild an old one. But that’s just me....
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Timo
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5/8/2021 10:09am
My 04 kx250 for 5 years, 250 hours. My 07 WR250F had the stock head and bottom end, 11 years and 350+ hours, it went through 4 hour meters so not sure on the exact amount. My 19 450FX will be in my stable for at least another 5 years, I don't change pistons until 100+ hours, can't imagine selling a bike with less than that on it.
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bigk218
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5/8/2021 10:24am
By bike do we mean bike or “bike”.
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8500rpm
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5/8/2021 10:43am
Titan1 wrote:
No more than 75-100 hours on 4 strokes...after that the rebuild costs are to much assumed cost (you could sell it at 75 hours, and for...
No more than 75-100 hours on 4 strokes...after that the rebuild costs are to much assumed cost (you could sell it at 75 hours, and for what you’d spend on a rebuild have a new bike...unless you can do your own motor work)....I’d rather have a new bike, than rebuild an old one. But that’s just me....
What do you mean by 'after that rebuild costs are too much' ? Is that new piston, valves, clutch? ...i.e normal service you 'should' do every 50h anyway, or do you mean ride for 75-100h without chaning piston, valves, clutch and then sell?

A new piston, valves, clutch kit doesn't cost more than what, $600-700? (a llot of money, but a lot less than a new bike).

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Rickyisms
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5/8/2021 11:32am
Paging Monk to drop his KTM 350 long term review in
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sandman768
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5/8/2021 11:51am
Get the new bike before you sell the old one....just in case you run into problems getting a new bike right now. All my 450”s easily go 100 hrs before a top end with proper maintenance. I usually think about selling around 100-120hrs, so I don’t have to get into transmission”s & bottom end replacements. I have owned several KTM models, 2 & 4 strokes, I am very impressed with the quality of these bikes, if you maintain the bikes properly, 100hrs is no big deal.
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Razor85
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5/8/2021 12:42pm
Interesting topic. Does anyone know how long manufactures are required to offer spare parts for a particular model year?
Talisker
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5/8/2021 12:51pm Edited Date/Time 5/8/2021 12:52pm
Razor85 wrote:
Interesting topic. Does anyone know how long manufactures are required to offer spare parts for a particular model year?
I think they are required to have parts for 10 years after that model expires.
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5/8/2021 1:06pm
If selling at 50 or 60 hours that would be a new bike for me in less then a year. All my yamahas have gone 200 hours with out the valves moving. Piston rings and cam chains every 50 hours. Usually I sell the bike at 200 hour but with current bike prices I’m having racetech replace my valves. 4 years in and this motor work is less then the cost of 1 suspension revalve.
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Titan1
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5/8/2021 1:20pm Edited Date/Time 5/8/2021 1:21pm
Titan1 wrote:
No more than 75-100 hours on 4 strokes...after that the rebuild costs are to much assumed cost (you could sell it at 75 hours, and for...
No more than 75-100 hours on 4 strokes...after that the rebuild costs are to much assumed cost (you could sell it at 75 hours, and for what you’d spend on a rebuild have a new bike...unless you can do your own motor work)....I’d rather have a new bike, than rebuild an old one. But that’s just me....
8500rpm wrote:
What do you mean by 'after that rebuild costs are too much' ? Is that new piston, valves, clutch? ...i.e normal service you 'should' do every...
What do you mean by 'after that rebuild costs are too much' ? Is that new piston, valves, clutch? ...i.e normal service you 'should' do every 50h anyway, or do you mean ride for 75-100h without chaning piston, valves, clutch and then sell?

A new piston, valves, clutch kit doesn't cost more than what, $600-700? (a llot of money, but a lot less than a new bike).

To pay a shop to do top end, valves, clutch etc etc. on a 450 is a couple grand...

I rode my 19 YZ450FX for about 70 hours (spending money on nothing but oil changes, air filters, and tires)...traded it in on a 2021 YZ450FX, and was out of pocket $2600.

So I could have kept the bike, and dropped $2k on a new top end, valves, and a clutch and been on a two year old bike with 70 hours on it...or been out of pocket $2600 and on a brand new bike...

The new bike is a no brainer...

(If I choose to do the labor myself...and could get parts for $700-$800, then it would change the economics of my decision...but since I’m paying for labor...I’d rather have a new bike).
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murph783
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5/8/2021 1:51pm
100 hours or whenever it needs a crank, whichever comes first. I don’t like splitting cases anymore lol
419250f
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5/8/2021 3:05pm
If you gel with the bike keep it. I was so much my faster on my 09 YZ250F than my 17'. Just sold it cause I figured it was time and newer was better.
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JM485
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5/8/2021 5:28pm

5/8/2021 6:29pm Edited Date/Time 5/8/2021 6:34pm
I kept my 06 yz125 and yz250 for 15 years. They both had 300+ hours only had to rebuild them top to bottom engine wise once. And when I sold them they were still going strong.
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rohleder644
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5/8/2021 6:34pm
JM485 wrote:
[img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2021/05/08/491868/s1200_0AD93A31_C399_498D_AE98_DA3D146DA36E.jpg[/img]

No shit........I ride off road, so maybe I’m just putting way higher hours on them than you moto guys. But, damn! 40 to 50 hours and I’m barely getting a feel for a freshie

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