Power deteriorate - how to avoid (Newbie)

Hi,

Is it true that the more your ride your bike, the more power of the bike
will deteriorate ?

Is there a way to avoid this ?

Brand of the bike: Suzuki
Model: GZ125


YC

 

Engine output will rise when the engine is run in from new. It will then
level out until engine wear becomes a factor and will then start to drop.

If the bike is used with reasonable care and serviced dilligently to the
manufacturers schedule (or even more often), using good quality oils of the
recommended grades then your engine will have about as good a life as it can
get, although I have no idea what a 'good life' is for the GZ125

Steve H

 

What bike is that manual for? Was it a US market bike or an import?
I've never seen anything like that so explicitly spelled out in any of
my owner's manuals.

Statistically speaking, 20k miles in one year (IIRC the SV comes with a
one year warranty in the US, at least mine did) is a lot of miles, since
few owners put that much on a bike in three years, let alone one year.
Mine has 22k miles on it in three riding seasons and apart from the normal
wear and tear on the bodywork, and some chain wear, it is still like new.
I fully expect it to go 100k miles without an engine overhaul.

Even small bore bikes can rack up *very* respectable mileage if they
are well maintained. Most bikes don't get much, if any, maintenance.
I suspect that bigger engined bikes tolerate this lack of maintenance
a little better because they aren't as highly stressed.

 

I had a Honda CB125 single with 55,000 miles up.

If they're cared for, Jap bikes last and last. Trouble is, as you say,
they get neglected. Treated like a wristwatch.

 

Nicely expressed.
Gotta agree. We've owned a number of bikes, none newer than 18 years old,
and in all cases, they ran well beyond the distances from Kaybearjr's GSXR
chart, but we specifically sought out well-cared for bikes. (In fact, to the
best of my knowledge, those we sold are STILL running for their new owners)
.. During our ongoing search for old gems, we've seen some amazing trash,
very consistent with Kaybearjr's chart. Not sure about the engines, but
there was a lot of non-engine stuff that had deteriorated: rusted frames and
tanks, frozen chains, seized brakes, buggered cables, torn seats, busted
signals/mirrors/levers, etc. Here in the great white north, the common
denominator for well preserved bikes seems to be winter (and summer) storage
indoors.

Here's a directory of CX500s that provides an alternate perspective: the top
14 listings all have over 100,000 miles on them. The top listing has over
1,144,000 km on it. We have one, (yep, you're right, its fugly) and I
wonder if it simply has an over-designed engine (especially when compared to
the VT500 engine that seems to have replaced it). But it addresses that
question of what is better, pushrods or camchains, by using both.

brent

 

Sorry, here's the webpage directory for CX500s
http://www.micapeak.com/reg/view/CX500

 

You had a water buffalo? lucky guy!
There's a guy here who rides his to work most days. He carries a rag which
he ties around the exhaust manifold when he parks. I'm guessing you know
the reason!!. Anyway, what a great, old bike (in an eye-of-the-beholder
sort of way)

I'm sure you remember the old Yamaha 100 twin jets. (late 60s) Don't recall
ever seeing one of those with more than 4000 miles on it. You?

Brent

 

If this is how Suzuki estimate the quality of their own bikes, I'll keep
looking in other directions when it's time to get a new one.

Scary !

 

Agreed! My '00 SV650 has (as of tonight riding home from work), 18,182
miles on it. Scratches-head-and-tries-to-think: I guess this is my
almost-3rd year of riding *this* bike as much as possible, since when I
got it the '01s were out, but I couldn't find one close (within 250
miles). So, I took delivery of a '00 late in the season. And YES, we
have "seasons", i.e. winter. I can usually "reliably ride" from mid-May
to late-October. Otherwise it snows! Early spring and late fall
require layers....

Anyway! Still runs like a "Swiss watch". ;-) Maybe a "Rolex"...
Anyway, other than one chain, 3 rear tires (one due to a flat, but it
was getting thin on the tread anyway...), and it's on its 2nd front
tire.....NO WORRIES. Maintenance has been the "regular sort", including
valves for its first time (they were still in spec., but are now set up
on the loose-side of spec.). Ride it to work, ride it on Sunday rides,
charity rides, grocery runs (tho' not many groceries...), AND take trips
of over 1,600 miles on it every year (thank heavens for gel seats).
Unfortunately, making-a-living cuts into my riding time, some years
worse than others (like this year)!

My experience with my Kawy 550 (small bore, right?) has been similar.
Stove-bolt reliable. Do I ride 'em hard? Sometimes. Maintenance is
the key!

 

I don't really think there is anything wrong with the bikes, I just found it
funny
that a company would put such a perfect shot in their own foot.

 

Reverse psychology, innit? They claim such a ridiculously low expected
life for their bikes that nearly 100% will exceed it, thus convincing
the gullible that their quality is very high...

That said, I am very happy with the quality of my SV650S. I think it
is an extremely good design, and a very well made bike.

 

You mean like their "Pointless Electronic Ignition"?