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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: Paul49]
#138318
09/08/17 07:39 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,072
Az4x4
Platinum Member
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Platinum Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,072 |
..I reckon Reggie gets those huge mileages 'cos his bikes get used daily, they've always got oil at the top ends. Some of us, including me, might only get the XT out a dozen times a year. Top ends dry, all the oil has drained down.
I say this 'cos on my road bikes, which get similar treatment, might sit for weeks over the winter, my valve shims always need changing out at service time, while my chums who commute daily on theirs, don't.
Makes sense to me, use them daily & they'll do big mileage.
My little Serow (XT225) has now got approx 25,000 kilometres on the clock. It does use a bit of oil even tho' I change oil & filter every 600 - 800 miles. Likely down to PO doing 900 miles in 3 years of ownership. They don't take kindly to neglect.. #1! ..Right on! Use 'em or lose 'em..
..I'd rather have questions I can't answer, than answers I can't question.. Dr. Phil
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: bryanswens]
#138320
09/08/17 08:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 584
patuca
Bronze Member
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Bronze Member
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 584 |
Yes, I agree with the "use 'em or lose 'em" scenario. The typical killer of any vehicle is occasional use or long term storage. Every change of temperature condenses moisture on metal objects that are slow to follow the warming and cooling of surrounding air, and that happens inside the engine too.
Short trips and occasional use mean that with every start ounces of water are generated that remain in the engine until it finally gets hot enough for long enough to completely boil it off and most of us (like me) just ride now and then for a few hours...not enough to do the job.
patuca
Last edited by patuca; 09/08/17 10:21 PM.
"this will only take a second..."
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: patuca]
#138324
09/08/17 11:37 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,072
Az4x4
Platinum Member
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Platinum Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,072 |
..Yes, I agree with the "use 'em or lose 'em" scenario. The typical killer of any vehicle is occasional use or long term storage. ....most of us (like me) just ride now and then for a few hours...not enough.. Unlike Reggie, who rides his bikes daily for considerable distances and reaps the benefits of doing so, "most of us" ride too few miles too few days of the year to do the same.
..I'd rather have questions I can't answer, than answers I can't question.. Dr. Phil
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: bryanswens]
#138328
09/09/17 01:01 AM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 672
#brer15
Silver Member
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Silver Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 672 |
OK guys, its all good. But I would like to just state for the record, that I in no way, shape, or form, stated, implied, inferred, or said in any way, that I thought those mileages were suspect. If I would have found them suspect, then I never would have had an interest to ask about them any way. The defense rest .
2004 XT225 purchased new in October 2004 0 miles. Current miles over 27,000.
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: #brer15]
#138329
09/09/17 01:18 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,072
Az4x4
Platinum Member
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Platinum Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 5,072 |
Good enough. Appears we're on the same page now, and that's what counts..
..I'd rather have questions I can't answer, than answers I can't question.. Dr. Phil
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: bryanswens]
#138330
09/09/17 07:41 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,113
Paul49
Platinum Member
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Platinum Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,113 |
Sympathetic use is the key to longevity imo. I cruise the Serow at 80kph (50mph), 2 thirds of its max is fair to any engine I rec'n.
Although my Serow only comes out maybe a dozen times a year, mostly in the winter months, it averages 100 miles per get it out. So thoroughly warmed up & all the nasty stuff burnt off before hibernating 'til next time. Not worth getting clobbered up for less than a day out eh.
My road bikes might get out a tad more often but bigger miles when they do. I average 10 -11k miles per year, 7.5k bike & 3.5k car. The car miles include taking the missus to Italy for a hol so apart from that, it don't go out much. Handy for days of heavy rain, snow & ice.
Current: 1958 Ariel 650 FH, 2014 Tiger Sport1050, 1995 XT225 Serow, 2016 Tiger 800 XRx.
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: bryanswens]
#138344
09/09/17 10:53 PM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,160
peejman
Platinum Member
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Platinum Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,160 |
Sympathetic use. Yep. Don't beat on it and it'll last a long time.
This shall pass, be still and know. 2006 XT225, UNI filter, ProTaper bars, MSR handguards, SS front brake line, Shinko 241's.
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: peejman]
#138358
09/11/17 08:18 AM
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,645
Reggie
MR SEROW!
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MR SEROW!
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,645 |
Morning Guys n Gals,
first of all massive thanks for all the kind words. Love you guys.
Secondly, I ride a bike every single day but, as my commute is now much reduced, then my monthly mileage has also come down! My daily ride is now only 50 miles but more than that on days off!
The use of my bikes is also much more gentle than many of our more off road users, like our Scott etc.
In answer to the questions concerning engine swaps/major repairs etc, well the only XT225/XT250 engines I've had to remove have been for friends. My own bikes have never had their engines removed. Nor have I ever needed to remove the heads, or even replace a clutch on any of 'em! And that's because I bought the clutch wrench years ago, just in case, and it's just sat in my tool chest ever since!
On my first 250 (God I loved that bike), I had to remove the RHS engine cover after a well meaning friend was trying to help do an oil change (so he could learn to do his own) and he over-tightened one of my oil filter retaining bolts! Bugger, so I had to take off the engine cover, so I could Heli-coil it.
The engines, transmissions, have all been stunning.
Suspension wise, my own bikes have never even needed a fork seal but I've had to replace the rear suspension unit once, when it simply wore out! I found on the 250's (with them not having lubrication nipples in place) that it was good practise to strip the linkages, remove the swinging arm and clean,lube and re-assemble every 25,000 miles. Even then I've not needed to replace any parts of the pivots etc!
I did have some electrical gremlins on one of my 225's, which after much head scratching, I found was caused by a bit of wear to a pair of wires in the main harness!
Wheel wise, I've gone through loads of brake discs, and pads, and can almost strip, and rebuild brake calipers, with my eyes closed! Generally the disc brakes have been trouble free but a good tip is to be very careful with the disc retaining bolts and replace them if there's any sign of movement from the heads on removal, as once they start to wear, they soon loose wrench grip and are a pain to then remove!
Brake shoes, well I did have the lining come apart on my Brazilian 225 , which totally jammed the rear wheel at the roadside and I can't tell you jus a right royal pain in the arse it was to get the wheel off! In the end, I managed to crack part of the edge of the assembly off (about a couple of inches long and a 1/4 of an inch deep) but it hasn't affected the braking performance). Last night when riding home from work, I could feel a slight dragging on the rear drum, so I'll have a look later, if the rain decides to relent!
Batteries seem to last me about three years, I never recharge them and don't use an Optimate type unit, as they get regular rides, so any sign of poor cranking speeds, I just replace the battery.
Chains and sprockets last for up to 50,000, just using WD-40 to clean and lube, none of that sticky lube crap.
Chassis wise, I've not even needed to replace any headstock bearings, not even any wheels bearings on my own bike, but have done so for mates.
Oil wise, I use basic Halfords dinosaur oil (buy it when it's on offer for 5litre cans at less than £10) and just change it every 3,000 miles now and use Yamaha's own filters.
Exhausts, now I've given up on using OEM, as it costs a fortune to import them from Japan or the US of A to the UK (as the 225's and 250's were never brought into the UK as official bikes) but there's some great after-market options in stainless steel. OK they're much louder than the OEM kit but weigh a fraction of the eight and look great!
Use, well my bikes have a far more gentle like than some of your machines but I don't think twice if I want to ride to London (200 miles on our Motorways each way) and back. I just cruise along at at abut 56 to 60mph and they'll do that all day. If you go much quicker, the effect on the fuel economy, and oil consumption is very pronounced!
My bikes are kept in a garage at home and a hangar at work, so are protected from the elements and with the amount of rain we have, that can only be a good thing! I'm in Lancashire, which for our US cousins has the climate of Seattle but with much better beer but for worse coffee!
Tyre wise I only use Trail Wings. OK I know some folks don't like 'em, but they're great for regular road use, and an occasional fire trail that my bikes get.
My bikes have done international travel and my long term dream was to fly to Japan, to buy a new 250 from the factory and to ride it back to the UK but now that it looks like the production's coming to it's end then, if they don't make a genuine replacement, then it won't be happening!
To me the Serow is like a DC3, in that the only thing that can replace one, is another one. They're not fast, they're not flash but they're a bit like me -simple but honest!
Regards
Reggie
Team Cabra, Brazilian XT225, Team Ukulele, Japan import XT225, a 250 to be named and loads of 2 stroke Kawasaki AR's!
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: bryanswens]
#138359
09/11/17 10:11 AM
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,113
Paul49
Platinum Member
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Platinum Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 2,113 |
Ayup Reggie, good to see ya back, all 'puter probs sorted now m8?
Did ya ever cut open an old exhaust to check what was in it? If there be nae wadding I'm gonna fill mine with old engine oil for longevity.
Current: 1958 Ariel 650 FH, 2014 Tiger Sport1050, 1995 XT225 Serow, 2016 Tiger 800 XRx.
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Re: How many miles are on your XT ???
[Re: Reggie]
#138362
09/11/17 11:43 AM
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,160
peejman
Platinum Member
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Platinum Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 4,160 |
To me the Serow is like a DC3, in that the only thing that can replace one, is another one. They're not fast, they're not flash but they're a bit like me -simple but honest!
Regards The DC-3 of motorcycles. Indeed.
This shall pass, be still and know. 2006 XT225, UNI filter, ProTaper bars, MSR handguards, SS front brake line, Shinko 241's.
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Board Upgrade:
Board upgrade to V7.7.3 has been completed on Monday Feb 3rd 2020. Ride safely.
Enjoy the new software!
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