Going the distance

Even as a high mileage commuter on old but well maintained bikes I still do the odd search along the lines of ‘highest recorded miles for a ZX-6R’, or ‘how long will a DRZ last?’. Truth is unless you are on a PCP bike and want to swap it when the term ends or just want to keep residual value in your current bike – don’t worry. Get attached. I enjoy my bikes and I also think that if I get new metal, what’s the point

as I will only start lumping miles onto that too. It’s true what the general consensus tells us, keep changing the oil and filter (every two months for me). Still commute with it, still tour, still do the odd track day, keep it clean all year and just check things a bit more regularly... your bike will last. Current bike – ZX-6R J1 bought three years ago with 9000 miles on. Now 63,000: no oil loss, still clean, still taut and still fast. DRZ400S bought last year, mint 52 plate, 7000 miles. Now 19,000. Just done FMF can, dyno and 3x3 airbox mod and rejet. Point is, still worth the work and the money that’s spent on it. Before that FZS1000, 75,000 miles, no oil loss on 03 plate and got £1500 p/x on that against a Transalp 700 that I put 45,000 miles on in two years (pesky sender unit attached to fuel pump went at 3000 miles – £700! Separate it out Honda!) Just ride all year (if that’s your thing) and don’t worry – your bike will last. Mark Crawford, email

Love high-milers here at The Bike. Send us your beenround-the-clock-twice tales please – MG