I typically keep mine for a long time once I find the one that I like. I still have my GT mtb from 1994. In 2015 I finally broke down and bought a new 29er. I still have the old mtb but I have converted it to a rigid hybrid as I still love it. I rode my first road bike for 2 years and got a new one because I figured out what I really wanted. I do not see getting another one anytime in the next 5 years or more. I am seriously brand loyal once I get attached and like to stick with it for a long time. I would have stayed with GT even for the road if it was the same company but it is clearly not. I went to Felt and ultimately Colnago, where I think I will stay.
Do others stay brand loyal and keep their bikes for a long time as well? (I also get attached to my cars and drive them until they become unreliable. I can't say the same for my wife though.)

I buy a new bike every three or four years. I keep the old one as backup and then get rid of another.

Cars are a different story. Friends ask if I ever had an oil change?

Until I get run over.

Practically forever. Last year I tore one of mine down to build up a new frame for my new daughter-in-law and now the old frame is hanging in the garage.

If I could stop breaking frames I'd keep one bike, and only one bike forever.

Yeah, real funny. It's a rationalization game, of course-I could sell the Roubaix for $800? or whatever and put that towards a newer better nicer greater one. But then...I wouldn't have that bike anymore and that would be too much to bear. So I'll keep it and wait til I can just get a new one. I bought my Rockhopper new in '86, still have it. Had a Surly LHT for a year and I did decide to sell that-too much exercise. But generally I like to just collect them, and keep them.

Almost forever. I had my last bike about five years, until a car came out of nowhere and sent me to the ER. Don't trust a carbon frame after going through that, so it had to be replaced.

Until I break them.

Until a new shiny one comes out.

oh...about 6 months. I have problems. But I do everything on budget and buy stuff cheap or used and sometimes buy new frame and swap components. What can I say? I haven't found the perfect bike yet

I still have my first bike, a Continental, which turns 40 next month. Nostalgia . . . I rode a ton of miles on that beast.

+1 really my "bike" is whatever manifests from my parts and frames stock as a useable item at the time, and it shifts to something else soon enough.

For as long as they last.

Oh,
You mean people actually sell or otherwise get rid of bikes?

I'm still riding the bike I got in High School over 30 years ago.

If the bike does its job well, I ride it into the ground. Not so good? It gets ridden until a better bike (or more usually, frame) comes along. In my run of fix gear city/rain/winter bikes, I have piled on 22,000 miles on the first; died when it was doored, then stolen, then the fork broke, then ridden 27,000 miles and died in a crash. Current fix gear is at 17,000 and going strong (and well worth the frame repair and repaint).

My last two customs were to replace the much cheaper bikes that inspired them. The originals showed me what I wanted, the replacements do it far better. My first custom gets little use as I now have bikes for specific types of riding that do those rides better than the Mooney which is a true all-arounder, but the Mooney has earned its place.

Ben

Yeah. Parts migrate. I had a complete Red group on my Bianchi (two bikes ago), which migrated to my Cervelo (one bike ago), which migrated to my Ridley (current bike). Although now that I think about it, the only thing that remains of that original Red group is the levers.

Sort of like my grandfather's axe.

I don't keep any one 'bike' for any length of time... all the parts that make up my fleet will inevitably be re-purposed into some other configuration when the need arises. The longest serving parts I have are a set of Shimano 105 hubs from 1992. The longest serving frame I have was made in 2001. I have several other frames and incomplete bikes that may or may not be built into full bikes over the next couple months.

Still have the Bike Frame I Built in 1976. though the components and way I've Used It has changed with Time.

Commuting and light touring , Its Not a road racing bike.

Forever. I bought my Bottecchia new in 1989--still ride it. I plan on keeping all my bikes until I go to that big Velodrome in the sky.

Depends on the bike. I had my first road bike for a year and a half, sold it and got what I would consider to be an expensive bike. At the time, I worked p/t at my LBS and got it for 5% over cost. I'll keep it for quite awhile. I was getting frustrated with it, but had the shop change my bottom bracket bearings and 95% of the noise is now gone. Still think the handlebars are too damn wide, but I'm waiting until my bar tape becomes junky to switch em out.

Though next time I will have a threaded bottom bracket and a standard sized seat post.


Of my 14 bikes, only two were bought new. The others I like until I don't, then I sell them for more than I paid for (most of the time).

About 2,000 miles or so

Either you are not married or your wife punishes you with new shoes every week.

I keep the crabon ones until they assplode...

Like others above, I tend to have a stock of parts and frames and build different bikes with them - but some configurations last for years. Ocasionally I add some frame/parts, but rarely I get rid of anything unless broken, and I've never sold a complete bike in 50 years.

I sell them when it's time to recharge the di2 battery or whenever the bar tape shows wear