high mileage VTR1000s

[suburban guerrlla]

i am new to the road aspect of VTRs. i am told they really are robust - the 35000+ mile one i have used on the track was indestructible. i crashed it a bit and put some of it's paint on a ducati, challenging for a corner. the engine seemed to use no oil. i had to change one shim when i got it.
the gearbox was very sweet for such an old bike.
i know it's a bit of a difficult one to answer but with reasonable maintenance (i've done the stopper mod) what sort of figure before the engine's absolutley gone? i have heard 60000 miles is nothing special on a VTR. anyway engines aren't exactly expensive for them.

[VTRDark]

It's like anything you treat them right and they will last. If you abuse them, then they wont last. Try running one with no oil in it. If an engine is starting to smoke now well by the time it reaches 60,000 it will most likely have cancer. But the transplant waiting list is not very long. If treated right then they have been known to go on for 100,000 without a major engine overhaul. IMO The beauty of these bikes is their mechanical simplicity and lack of electrics controlling this that and the other. Less to go wrong.

(:-})

[AMCQ46]

if its using no oil its fine for many more miles. there are a few users on here and in USA that are beyond 100,000 miles

[suburban guerrlla]

that's good to hear. i guess the number of them still about is testimony to their toughness. although i must say i got a bit concerned about the little chain (cannot remember whether i drove the oil or water pump) in the bottom of the engine when i took the clutch cover off, but according to this site they are pretty slack anyway.

[AMCQ46]

yes the oil pump chain is slack from new, but never heard any problems from them even in old age

[lloydie]

Mine is at 75000 miles it had had a very hard life especially the lady 15k that I have done :-)
And is burning oil still runs strong tho
It was burning oil when I got it tho not as bad as it is now

[8541Hawk]

Just checked my ODO to get the mileage and I'm at 95,148 miles.

When I got the bike she had 1.7 miles and I am not shy about spinning the engine up to the higher part of the rev range.....

Just standard maintenance, even still have the stock clutch (though I have replaced the springs) and she still runs strong.
No oil burning, though like all big twins she does blow a bit of oil from time to time from the valve covers.

So yes they can go for a long time before you have any issues with them.

[mik_str]

Mine has over 125,000 miles on her so far. I had it rebuilt at 100K, not because it needed it (ran like a top) but because I had scored a bunch of nice parts (JE pistons, Carillo conrods,....)..... Address the potential problem areas (CCTs, R/R), change the oil regularly and let it warm up properly and you should be good for a long, long time......