Found an NC30 on Gumtree that's coming up on 100k kilometres.
If I get my hands on one, it'll have a full engine rebuild so with this in mind, is the high mileage a huge problem?

I'd obviously prefer one with lower mileage but this one is priced fairly well.

NC30s are known for reliability BUT with regular servicing,

I know a member that has exceeded 100k and the bike runs very well,

Engine overhaul out of the question as its a very expensive job, youd be better off with a lower mileage motor, head gaskets cost £60 a head that's without the other seals and gaskrts to factor in.

I wouldnt worry about the mileage too much if its been looked after it should be fine, mines got at least 67k on the clock and has no service history, ive since stripped the heads and it was alot better than i thought it would be inside.

Check to see if its burning any oil, starts easily, doesnt jump out of gear(especially 2nd and 3rd), have a look at the oil on the dipstick for a metallic colouring to it, check for any oil leaks around the front sprocket.

You could probably get away with just giving the heads a refresh if there are no niggles with the gearbox or nackered output shaft seal, but bear in mind that valve steam seals are about £6 pound each from david silvers or CMSNL and even more from a honda dealership! Plus 60 quid for head gaskets, alot of hours removing the valves and lapping them in.

Check the engine mounting points for cracks or signs of damage, check the bottom of the frame where the chain passes over for any damage caused by it rubbing there. Suspension is probably going to be really shagged too after all those miles.

I cant think of much else to be honest but im sure somebody else will, but if the bikes been cared for then the mileage shouldnt be a problem.

A whisker under 120k on my NC35. It doesn't use oil, doesn't make any unusually loud noises when hot or cold over and above the usual ones you get from the top end of these things, and everything else plays ball too. The rear shock is original, and therefore ever so slightly overdue replacing, and it's always had a slightly snatchy gearbox, but there's nothing untoward going on anywhere as best I can tell. When I eventually get the 'new' carbs on, it should be right as rain. It's a few months overdue an oil change on time (absolutely nowhere near on distance), however it gets decent stuff and a new filter every time. All servicing done at worst by the time/distance recommended by Honda, and usually more frequently. In the almost 80k I've put on it, the only bits other than normal consumables I've had to have work done on were a bit of welding where the front downpipes meet the collector, the clutch had been rebuilt with new plates, springs and some other innards (probably due to several very high rpm launches at Shakespeare Raceway) and the water pump seal went about 18 months ago after I flushed the rads.

Cosmetically, it's junk, but then I did hit a deer... lol

Hit a deer? I'm surprised your not cosmetically junk. Those things do more than break bikes

I guess that depends on how early you spot them! :-) I wasn't exceeding the speed limit at the time (no, seriously, I wasn't, stuck behind a car.. lol), however as I pulled out to overtake the car, a couple of deer ran out into the road infront of us and while I had time to hit the anchors, it wasn't enough to come to a stop. I reckon the impact was about 15-20mph. Luckily for the car driver (a white FIAT Uno if I recall correctly) they were on my side when she got there. She said she didn't spot them until after she went past me and was initially wondering why I suddenly effectively went backwards past her! Top fairing split between the headlights, right middle panel was confetti, deer hair all over the side of the tail, and the mudguard was broken. Needless to say I wasn't very happy, but I was thankful I didn't get knocked off.

Wow you were lucky. I missed one by a foot and it really was unavoidable.
Hit a Canada goose later but that's a different story!

IIRC did about 170,000kms on mine (just regular servicing and oil changes every 4000miles) - never got rebuilt and was still running sweet when it got turned into a track/race bike...

i'd go condition rather than mileage on these lovely old bikes

dgunthor wrote:IIRC did about 170,000kms on mine (just regular servicing and oil changes every 4000miles) - never got rebuilt and was still running sweet when it got turned into a track/race bike...

i'd go condition rather than mileage on these lovely old bikes

There's a lot of truth in that last statement.
As with any bike, the older it is, the more relevant. Buy with your eyes & ears.

Pip

Given that idea, must bike must be a disaster...lol Mechanically sound, cosmetic write-off and the wiring isn't exactly a shining example either. It's still happy, most of the time.