Motorcycle mileage is a tricky subject. Unlike cars, where anything past 200,000 kilometers is usually considered a lot, cruisers are built to handle very different kinds of wear. Touring machines like the Honda Goldwing or Harley Davidson Road Glide rack up highway miles with ease, while smaller city cruisers may show fatigue much earlier. The engines, the way they’re ridden, and the level of care all change what “high mileage” means. Add in the European contenders like BMW’s R18 and Moto Guzzi’s Audace, and the picture becomes even more fascinating. Here’s a deeper look across 12 sections into how high mileage is judged in the cruiser world.
Why Mileage Matters Differently for Cruisers
Cruisers aren’t like sport bikes. Sport machines are often revved hard, tracked, and treated as adrenaline machines, which shortens their lifespan. Cruisers, by contrast, are designed for long, steady journeys at lower revs. They experience less mechanical stress per kilometer, meaning 80,000 kilometers on a cruiser can feel like half that on a sport bike. Big V twins, boxer engines, and flat sixes are engineered to lope along for decades if given basic care.
Honda Goldwing: The Marathon Machine
The Honda Goldwing has become the undisputed king of long distance reliability. It isn’t uncommon to hear of Goldwings clocking 300,000 kilometers without needing an engine rebuild, and some legendary examples have even topped 500,000. For this bike, “high mileage” does not really begin until after 150,000 kilometers, and even then it is often just getting warmed up. Honda’s meticulous engineering of the flat six engine and shaft drive make it more durable than most cars.
Harley Davidson Road Glide: American Highway Icon
Harley’s Road Glide is a touring staple, loved for its comfort and highway manners. With its big Milwaukee Eight engine and hefty build, it is designed to munch miles all day long. Many riders put 120,000 to 150,000 kilometers on their Road Glides with little more than routine servicing. While some Harley skeptics still claim the bikes don’t last as long as Japanese rivals, the reality is that modern Harleys are perfectly capable of high mileage lives when maintained correctly. For resale purposes, buyers start calling them “high mileage” once they cross six figures, but in practice these bikes have much more life to give.
The Role of Maintenance
A cruiser’s odometer number matters less than its service history. Oil changes, valve adjustments, belt or chain replacements, and fluid flushes all dictate longevity. A Goldwing that has been pampered with 180,000 kilometers is a safer bet than a neglected Road Glide with 60,000. Riders who log long tours often take better care of their machines, which explains why many high mileage cruisers are still in excellent health.
Touring Bikes vs. City Cruisers
Where and how the bike is used changes everything. Touring machines like the Goldwing, Road Glide, or BMW R18 spend most of their time on the open road at steady speeds. That kind of life puts less stress on engines and transmissions. Smaller cruisers used for short commutes, stop start traffic, or city riding rack up wear more quickly. A mid sized commuter cruiser may feel tired at 80,000 kilometers, while a big tourer may still be stretching its legs.
Japanese Cruisers: Reliability Kings
Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki earned their reputations for durability in part through their cruiser lines. Bikes like the Kawasaki Vulcan, Yamaha V Star, and Suzuki Boulevard routinely hit 100,000 kilometers with minimal drama. For most Japanese cruisers, “high mileage” isn’t really a concern until around 100,000, and even then, regular servicing keeps them healthy for much longer. Buyers who want worry free ownership often gravitate to these brands because of their engineering consistency.
Harley Davidson and Longevity Myths
Older Harleys once had a reputation for leaks, rattles, and premature wear, but that myth is less true today. Modern Harley engines like the Milwaukee Eight are built with tighter tolerances and stronger materials. Many Harleys easily outlast their reputations, running 150,000 kilometers or more. What often drives the “high mileage” label is resale perception—buyers are wary of big numbers on the odometer, even when the bikes are still mechanically strong.
BMW R18: The German Contender
BMW’s R18 cruiser brought Bavarian engineering to the heavyweight cruiser scene with its massive 1,802 cc boxer twin. Known for building bulletproof touring machines like the R1250GS, BMW engineered the R18 to be just as durable. Its air and oil cooled boxer engine is overbuilt, with huge torque and low stress operation. With proper care, the R18 should be good for well over 150,000 kilometers, making it competitive with both Goldwings and Road Glides. High mileage for an R18 will likely start being considered at around 120,000, but the bike’s design suggests it can keep going long after that.
Moto Guzzi Audace: Italian Style, Italian Stamina
Moto Guzzi’s Audace is a more niche cruiser but one that carries serious heritage. Its 1,380 cc transverse V twin is both distinctive and durable, a design that Guzzi has refined for decades. While not as common in Canada as Honda or Harley, owners regularly report 100,000 to 150,000 kilometers without major issues. Like the BMW R18, the Audace benefits from a shaft drive, which reduces maintenance compared to chain driven cruisers. For Guzzi fans, high mileage is only a concern after crossing 100,000, and even then the bikes are known for soldiering on.
The Resale Factor
Motorcycle buyers tend to be overly cautious about odometer readings. Anything above 100,000 kilometers on a cruiser tends to scare off casual buyers, even though the machines are capable of much more. This means high mileage bikes often represent great deals for savvy enthusiasts who know what to look for. A well kept Road Glide with 120,000 can be a bargain compared to a poorly maintained one with 50,000. For Goldwings and BMW R18s, higher mileage is less of a stigma since those communities expect longevity.
Real World Mileage Legends
Examples abound of cruisers defying expectations. Goldwings topping 400,000 kilometers, Harleys running 200,000 on their original engines, and Moto Guzzis with six figure odometers are all out there. Even smaller Japanese cruisers like the Kawasaki Vulcan have been documented cruising past 150,000. These real world stories prove that “high mileage” is more of a mindset than a hard number.
Cruiser Longevity
So what is high mileage for a cruiser? The answer depends on the bike. For a Goldwing, not until 200,000 kilometers. For a Road Glide, maybe 120,000 to 150,000. For Japanese midsize cruisers, closer to 100,000. For European contenders like the BMW R18 and Moto Guzzi Audace, anything north of 120,000 starts to count as high, but both are engineered to go far beyond. Ultimately, it comes down to maintenance and care. A cruiser that has been loved will last far longer than its odometer suggests, turning the notion of “high mileage” into little more than a number.
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