build poll

[ruck bodgers2]

just a quik poll .

to see what the general Consensus is with the main brands
build quality

i know a lot of people look at hondas for reliability .

i dont like honda myself .

i think there general quality has taken a nose dive .

and theres to many design factors in there bikes i disagree with .
its almost as if a decent bloke holds the project from the ground up then gives it to dell boy to finish when its 60% done .

if its due to the recession hitting the manufacturers i dont know

and now hondas on about the rcv for the road .

im more looking forward to yamahas proposed P3

this poll is about design past and present . not so much innovations or new tech . but how they put it together
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throw it up the wall

[Pol Anorl]

Honda all the way, ive been through loads of motorcycle manafacturers now and the easiest one i ever had was honda, issues are few and far between and when there is an issue its easily fixed, plus a main dealer is around a mile from my house
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GOOD GAME BODYGUARD: https://i.imgur.com/8WePGgf.jpg
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Jewlio Iglesias: You live in Liverpool - Chances are, the front door has already been kicked off the hinges

[Nick 50]

Aprilia
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Current Bikes: ZX7r 97 (Black Beauty), VFR400 NC24 (The banana)
Previous Bikes: Aprilia Tuono 03 (The Beast), CBR600f (97)
First bike: A GZ125 Lemon.......

[Triumph1300]

BMW
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BWJ
Back on a BMW R80RT
Punctuation - the difference between knowing your shit, and knowing you're shit

[grant965]

Lexmoto !!! Lol jokes...
Not really had many bikes for long enough to get a good idea.
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Ex bikes: 05 Suzuki En 125, '98 Yamaha Thundercat, '08 Honda cbr125, '05 Kawasaki z750, '03 Triumph Daytona 600, '91 Kawasaki ex250, '03 Hyosung Comet 125
Current Bike: '02 Suzuki TL1000R

[covent.gardens]

I still just about believe in the reliability of Honda, but my CB500 is on its last warning now, it's needed lots of things doing lately and cost me a few bob.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Depends what you mean by build quality. Something that doesn't corrode, something that is easy to fix, something that is tough enough to be easily repaired from damage, something with thick paint that buffs up well, etc.

Also tends to vary greatly with different models from the same maker. Suzuki quality used to be very good with the late oil cooled GSXRs, and their old early 4 strokes had VERY tough engines (shame about the electrics). Build quality on an early CBR600 always seemed pretty shoddy to me. Bimota component quality is great with lovely machining, decent paint, etc, but certainly doesn't come down to being easily repaired.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Slacker24seve...]

When looking at new bikes earlier in the year it was quite distinct in the sportsbikes I was looking at:

1. Honda
2. Yamaha
3. Triumph and Kawasaki
4. Suzuki, by a long way
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Triumph Daytona 675 track bike + girlfriend's Honda Hornet 600
Selling a hack/winter bike for less than a grand? PM me.
Banger rallies are ace

[gixerstu]

I have had 14 bikes in the last 13 year's, I would put them in order on build quality only as.
1 Honda (just)
2 Suzuki
3 Kawasaki
4 Yamaha
5 Triumph
6 Aprilia
7 Cagiva

I have had only 1 Yamaha and it wasnt very well looked after by the previous owners thats why I havent put them higher.
I have owned 3 Honda's and 3 Suzuki's and honda only just gets it over suzuki because the new ones arent as well made as the old one's.
Still think the japs are better than the brit's and Italians.

[mentalboy]

Having had a Honda 125 from new for a year I wouldn't touch the newer stuff with a barge pole. Despite being garaged and her indoors not generally using it in the wet by the time we sold it there was more rust on it than the scabby GPZ305 which was over 10 years old and had spent some of it's life parked outside.

Buying new nowadays I'd not like to say who's better than who - they've all taken a major nosedive in quality in the last 10 years.

So for machines over 10 years old, my experience has been:
1st every time it's got to be Kawasaki
Honda for reliabilty
Suzuki's never seem to start
Yamahas not owned since '90's but they always seemed to be easy to fix when they stopped (which was quite often).


Ducati's never appealed because of the noisy clutches
Triumphs still not sure of
Under all circumstances avoid Chinese - unless you want new, cheap and only want to use it ocassionally for a year and don't mind selling for peanuts.

EDIT - Dewalt have not been the same since being taken over by Black and Decker - Gotta be Hitachi or Makita
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Make mine a Corona.

[Polarbear]

When I had Goldwings the quality was superb. I never thought Yamahas or Kawasakis were as good finish wise.

My busa was good, but Japanese built suzukis do seem to be up to scratch.

My Triumphs have been pretty good but they are new, longevity will tell over time.
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Triumph Trophy Launch Edition

[barrkel]

I think a lot of this comes down to market segmentation. Certain bikes are poorly put together owing to being built to a price, while other bikes from the same manufacturer may have higher specs.

Things like aluminium vs steel frames, and their shape, can leave pockets for water to pool and rust to come through, or not, as the case may be.

Electrics can be disappointingly dodgy. My GF's ER6 once failed to start after having been in the rain all night parked up at a hotel, only 3 years old. When that happens, it kills your confidence in the bike. But the engine on the ER6 has been strong and reliable. My header pipes rotted while touring, leaving a big gap at the exhaust, and the only noticeable difference was the sound - no loss of power.

My old SH300 (since given to my GF, actually only 6 months at the time of the problem) would have difficulty starting in very specific circumstances: if it was started from cold, the throttle blipped to move it somewhere else, then turned off again and let cool. Took a good 2 minutes cranking the engine to start after that if left to stand for a week. But if you didn't do this exact thing, rock solid. Same with PS 125.

Had a YBR, terribly abused, left outside in all weathers uncovered. Sounded fairly wheezy, but never failed to work.

Had 4 Yamaha Vitys over the years, London roads are not good to them. They fall apart from potholes.

I think reliability and standing up to abuse (especially weather) are the most important factors for build quality, for me personally. On this front, Honda has been best for me. But others may measure different things, like how well panelling comes together, or ease of access for servicing.
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Bikes: S1000R, SH350; Exes: Vity 125, PS125, YBR125, ER6f, VFR800, Brutale 920, CB600F, SH300x4
Best road ever ridden: www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MhNxUEYtQ

[Matt-]

Honda FTW

[sidewinder]

I'm saying yamaha but the divvy is the only bike iv'e owned.Saying that it's 15 yrs old ridden through most winters and still looks pretty good considering
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