Bonneville America Forums Forums Off Topic Discussion Forums Lounge America/Speedmaster Durability?

I see a new America in the not too distant future Was wondering how many miles I could expect without an engine/trans rebuild? (thought I read somewhere americas/speedys going strong w/over 100k miles?) thanks in advance!

I've been on this board since 2005 and don't recall ever seeing a topic on rebuilding, unless of course the owner was doing a 902 big bore mod. Anyone else?
Regular oil changes, valve shim adjustments, and ride!

You just don't hear of major engine re-builds unless they're associated with a big bore. I'm waiting until my engine gets tired before I do a big bore. I think it will be years before it's needed because I only avg about 5K per year. Some folks on this board have over 50K on their engines and still going strong. It will probably take a few more years before we start hearing of rebuilds on a regular basis.

Jim, there's people on the board here that have in excess of 70k miles and are still running strong.

and it amazes me, who would have ever thought that kind of mileage out of an air cooled vertical twin! I have heard of a few guys over 100,000 and still going strong. I don't know these people personally so it is hear say but I have no reason to doubt it from what I have seen so far. I have personally seen bikes over 50,000 miles running like they were new or better.

I am planning on 100K Miles (should see the youngest through college).

By then, maybe the mythical new Triumph 1500 cruiser will be a reality and I can get one of those.

i have 21,000 very hard miles and not one hiccup

Frank

hey Dog, i have 11200mi on a 72 without a rebuild. everything from the heads down, is stock!!! trans, clutchs carbs, heads,all been worked on at one time or another, but she still has original pistons, rods, rings, bearings and such, and runs pretty darn strong still. so now you can say you know a guy...cuz now you know a guy hahahahahaha

do you mean 112,000 miles? If thats what you mean I find that very hard to believe since it has been my experience the old bikes needed top end around 35,000 to 40,000 miles,not blown up or anything and still run but smoking and low on compression. If you meant 112,000 I wanna know the secret! Amazing.I have some with over 100,000 on the bottom end but no top ends that high a mileage.

i've got around 88,000 on my speedmaster. would be a lot more if i hadn't bought that sprint back in the spring. ****** I put 20,000 on the sprint. i want to hook them together, maybe make a side car out of the speedmaster so i can take them both when i hit the road.

If your local dealer has a service manual you can look at, you will find it very enlightening. The Triumph twins are extremely well engineered. If someone were to claim 130,000 miles before going into the topend, I wouldn't question them. I used to get 90 - 110 Kmiles between topend work on my older V twins, and they weren't as well designed.

I regularly get about 30 thousand miles+ on my old trumpets before a rebuild, but then I mostly ride like an old woman. (with the occasional let-er-rip for fun thrown in for fun)