High Mileage 4 Valvers

[monster_998]

The hunt for a replacement for Trish's ST4 has started.

There are a couple around at the moment but they appear to have higher than average mileages, one has 33,000 with partial history and warranty and the other 39,000 with FSH.

I'm a bit unsure about them but Trish is thinking if they've been properly looked after the mileage wouldn't be an issue.

What is a high mileage for a 4 valver - are these bikes worth considering?

 

[wulfie]

high mileage my 916 is a 50 k near enough and still running fine FSH though.

 

[Pict]

748 had 49,600 odd on when I sold it. No problems once the original reg/rec was replaced. Plenty oil changes 15W50 fully synthetic.

 

[thespionkop]

my 996 has nearly 26k on it and JHP gave her a clean bill of health at the 25k service, proves that if loved should be no drama

 

[Derek]

My ST4s has now done 38K. Apart from wear and tear items the only thing that has broken was the gear change return spring at about 27K. I read on US forums of 4V engines with well over twice these miles and no problems but there is the occasional one that runs the big ends or main bearings at considerably less.

 

[239desmo]

but there is the occasional one that runs the big ends or main bearings at considerably less.

Possibly lack of oil changes in it's life?

 

[Derek]

Possibly lack of oil changes in it's life?

The collective opinion would seem to indicate four possible causes other than neglect;

1) Bad batch of bearings, (failure at higher mileage)
2) Too much pre-load from factory, (failure at higher mileage)
3) Poor case hardening of the race, (low mileage failure)
4) Swarf in con rod galleries, (low mileage failure)