What Typically Ends The Life On Modern-ish Bikes ?

[KTMsm]

On bikes made in the last 20 years what tends to kill them off ?

Is there a big export market for older / cheaper bikes ?

Or does it tend to be cosmetic damage meaning they get broken for parts ?

[jjones]

Get SORNED and not MOT'd then end up unloved in garages, rotting slowly away.

[Dog Star]

Getting stolen, I suspect, is up there.

[black-k1]

I'd suggest there are a number of different things, and differences according to type of bike.

Insurance write off due to crashing, stolen etc. is likely to be up there. Likewise, breaking for spares either specifically, or as a result of a failure that is uneconomical to fix.

For sports bikes, being used as a track bike will, I'm sure, cover a number of older models.

While not the case at the moment, I'm also aware that within the last 10 to 15 years there has been a substantial market in second hand bikes getting exported to Eastern European countries.

[MrGman]

Lack of regular maintenance to the point of it being uneconomical to repair.

[TimmyMallett]

Me owning it.

[Drezza]

They tend to get multiple owners who like to add their own "touches" which invariably ends in them becoming a bodged mess.

[croyde]

Crashes.

[Kawasicki]

I reckon there are gazillions of bikes sitting SORNed in sheds, with varnish in the carbs, rusting fuel tanks, etc. People don't want to sell them, because they are worth almost nothing, as there is no demand.

[TimmyMallett]

croyde said:

Crashes.

TimmyMallett said:

Me owning it.

My reply was implied

[Stuart Fordyce]

black-k1 said:

I'd suggest there are a number of different things, and differences according to type of bike.

Insurance write off due to crashing, stolen etc. is likely to be up there. Likewise, breaking for spares either specifically, or as a result of a failure that is uneconomical to fix.

For sports bikes, being used as a track bike will, I'm sure, cover a number of older models.

While not the case at the moment, I'm also aware that within the last 10 to 15 years there has been a substantial market in second hand bikes getting
exported to Eastern European countries.

I sold a BMW F650GS on eBay. Lithuanian guy bought it, transferred the cash, and had a courier come to collect it. The courier's translator said it was half the price here.

Cost of repairs is the other. Last year I had to get a new exhaust system for my Fazer for the MoT. The labour on what became a long job was a significant proportion of the bike's value. If it happens in future I'll be selling it to a breaker...

[KTMsm]

Kawasicki said:

I reckon there are gazillions of bikes sitting SORNed in sheds, with varnish in the carbs, rusting fuel tanks, etc. People don't want to sell them, because they are worth almost nothing, as there is no demand.

There seems to be demand for anything since covid the price of project bikes on ebay is only a few hundred less than for an MOT'd example

Which is why I sold my two projects last year

[Kawasicki]

KTMsm said:

Kawasicki said:

I reckon there are gazillions of bikes sitting SORNed in sheds, with varnish in the carbs, rusting fuel tanks, etc. People don't want to sell them, because they are worth almost nothing, as there is no demand.

There seems to be demand for anything since covid the price of project bikes on ebay is only a few hundred less than for an MOT'd example

Which is why I sold my two projects last year

I must admit that I´m not really up to date with whats happening in the UK these days. I´m living in Germany. I visit a few mates houses, they have a fair few bikes, most with lowish mileage and in great nick, they don`t ride them much, if at all. I read last month that the average age of a motorcyclist in Germany is now mid 50`s! That´s the bloody average!

[mikey_b]

I think the other replies have nailed it. If it isn’t crashed or stolen, they get parked up when life gets in the way - kids come along, new job is more demanding, DIY needed every weekend for months so you have no time to ride. Then they deteriorate just a little so they can’t be used immediately (seized calipers, dead battery), and before you know it, it’s not moved for several years and needs a full (and expensive) refresh project to get back in the road.

[srob]

Kawasicki said:

KTMsm said:

Kawasicki said:

I reckon there are gazillions of bikes sitting SORNed in sheds, with varnish in the carbs, rusting fuel tanks, etc. People don't want to sell them, because they are worth almost nothing, as there is no demand.

There seems to be demand for anything since covid the price of project bikes on ebay is only a few hundred less than for an MOT'd example

Which is why I sold my two projects last year

I must admit that I´m not really up to date with whats happening in the UK these days. I´m living in Germany. I visit a few mates houses, they have a fair few bikes, most with lowish mileage and in great nick, they don`t ride them much, if at all. I read last month that the average age of a motorcyclist in Germany is now mid 50`s! That´s the bloody average!

When I sold the Bimota the fella that bought it who runs a bike shop said he literally can't get enough stock to keep up with demand for second hand bikes.

He did also say he's now buying back some of the bikes people bought in lockdown part 1 with their self employed loans

[Rubin215]

Lack of use and a failed mot outweighed by ridiculous labour costs from dealers.

Bike has sat for a few years so they owner drags it out into daylight, puts some air in the tyres and jump starts it from the family car.
It runs like st because it hasn't moved for so long, it's a bd to push because the brakes are binding and the chain has a couple of tight links.

He somehow gets it to the dealers for an mot 'just to see what it needs.'

The dealer sees a middle aged bloke with a once loved bike and the pound signs just roll round in his eyes thinking of how much he's going to skin him for.

"Well sir, it needs a full service, the carbs need stripped and cleaned, new tyres, a new chain and sprockets, the brakes need rebuilt with new seals and pads, those fork seals look a bit iffy, the rear suspension linkage needs new bearings, the battery is dead etc etc etc..."

Next thing you know, the guy is looking at an estimate between £1200-1500 on a bike that's worth £1000.

If we're lucky, the guy won't mind getting some dirt under his fingernails and do the work himself, but 9 times out of 10 these days he will either drag it back into the shed thinking he will get round to it when he gets the time or just stick it on gumtree.

The dealer doesn't want it because it would never make him any money, maybe one of the spanner monkeys in the workshop might off the guy £100 to take it off his hands but ultimately, unless it's something a little bit special, it's just another scabby UJM that no one wants.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Dealers labour rates really are enormous, I honestly can't see how they justify £50 an hour or more,

[KTMsm]

Stuart Fordyce said:

Dealers labour rates really are enormous, I honestly can't see how they justify £50 an hour or more,

Once you cost in premises, business rates, labour rates, pension, receptionist etc it soon adds up, what happened to all the back street mechanics ?

[Stuart Fordyce]

srob said:

When I sold the Bimota the fella that bought it who runs a bike shop said he literally can't get enough stock to keep up with demand for second hand bikes.

He did also say he's now buying back some of the bikes people bought in lockdown part 1 with their self employed loans

Can I have this guy's number please? Literally not ridden my Fazer for a year due to the arrival of my daughter and WFH. It'll need a few bits of work for me to get it back on the road mind you...

[Birky_41]

I think as already said a mixture of wear and tear partly from high mileage, servicing costs and owners down the line skipping areas

Crashing them also

You see a small amount left that tend to reside in garages as memories or similar