Most reliable manufacturer?

I had loads of problems with my Honda Hornet

A couple of Suzuki problems

Kawasaki wasnt bad at all especially as it was a 1991 400 so it was over 10 years old when I bought it

No problems at all with my Triumph

[Dave20046]

I'd be inclined to go Honda, suzuki should be up there though.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

For reliability I'd agree. For build quality, that's something different Honda and Yamaha are way ahead of Suzuki and Kawasaki there.

Yamaha build quality has always been shockingly bad, and I say that as an FJR1300 user and RD400 owner. The finish on my FJR is appalling for a bike of its price and status in their range. I'm only using it because it's the only bike I had in my used bike line up that had a valid tax disc.

Btw - when the tax and MOT run out I'm breaking it for spares, I don't want to be selling a bike that bad.

Originally Posted by Dave20046

I'd be inclined to go Honda, suzuki should be up there though.

Suzuki build quality is down there with Yamaha's. Poor paint finish, decals peeling off, cheesey fasteners and alloy that corrodes at the first drop of rain means they aren't very good at all.

Honda have the best build quality, but not by much.

As far as mechanical reliability goes, all four are about the same.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Yamaha build quality has always been shockingly bad

You just want something to argue about.

[littleoldman2]

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

You just want something to argue about.

Surely you mean debate and discuss

Honda.

Originally Posted by -Ralph-

You just want something to argue about.

Not really. I deal with all makes of motorbikes all day long, and I know that reliability wise all the Japs are as good as each other, but as far as build quality and finish are concerned Yamaha and Suzuki are bottom of the pile with Kawasaki second and Honda first by not a great deal. There's not really such a thing as a bad Japanese bike.

Triumph have good build quality except for soft paint, but their reliability sucks.

Harleys have great paint finish but their chrome sucks, the alloy they use is cheap, badly finished and corrodes and they fall apart.

Ducati finish isn't too bad, but again the reliability isn't very good for the miles they cover.

BMW suffer in both build quality and reliability - recently I've seen shocking corrosion on a year old GS (it had some brackets replaced because of corrosion at the first service) and know of three 1200 RTs that have spent more time in the dealers than they have on the road in the past 18 months with electrical and driveshaft problems. Also, there's also a customer of mine who's buying a ZX10R because he's kicking his S1000RR back at the dealer under the Sale of Goods Act 1988, because it's not fit for purpose - he's owned it 18 months, he's only been able to do 1800 miles on it in that time because it's had major problems the dealer can't cure so it has sat around for months at a time waiting for parts.

Originally Posted by Lozzo

Not really. I deal with all makes of motorbikes all day long, <big snip>

[Jayneflakes]

Originally Posted by Lozzo

There's not really such a thing as a bad Japanese bike.

The wife has been saying this for a while.

I am not very impressed with the finishing of the Honda CBF600 Hire Bike I am currently riding (Yes, Sylvie has been taken away again!), however a major service has sorted out the fueling issues and brakes, but still leaves the inability to fit my luggage easily. It seems just a little unfinished if you ask me. However, I am fully prepared to admit that I may just have a dodgy one. It is still less exciting than spending half a day with a load of Grans at a knitting contest!