Why the dislike for Honda?

[Shagz]

I've never actually came across any empirical evidence as to why some people don't like Honda. Are there any good reasons for the boycott?

[canarlee]

I've never actually came across any empirical evidence as to why some people don't like Honda. Are there any good reasons for the boycott?

it is not a boycott!


it is because the avoiders choose to do so coz they are scared to admit the mistake they have been making for so long, that honda is the god of all things 2 wheeled.


*except them godawful road sofas!*

[Romeo]

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LET ME GUESS, it's because Honda riders think they're the best? That's why everyone hates them?
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-->Also count me as one of those sad few who doesn't quite understand the reason. Seems it goes pretty deep though, I've seen it get quite violent on occasion. My old man just thinks it's because Hondas are the best, but then again he rides one.

[scracha]

I think it's a bizarre kiwi thing. I'd never heard of it until I arrived here.... Mind you, this is also a nation that thinks Holdens, Falcons and Ute's are desirable.

[klyong82]

This is an interesting topic. I heard it after coming here too. Back where I come from Honda's are perceived to be the best. strange must be a heck of marketing influencing our minds.:yes:

[Boob Johnson]

I think it's a bizarre kiwi thing. I'd never heard of it until I arrived here.... Mind you, this is also a nation that thinks Holdens, Falcons and Ute's are desirable.lol yep, sad but true. Honda make some of THE best motors known to mankind. The bloke that started it all was actually a mechanic himself & his mission was to build the best motors & they sure as shit do! In cars not just bikes. Its prolly one of those tall poppy syndrome things, anyone doing well gets there legs cut off at the knees.


We only have to look at Ford/Holden car owners to see that :shutup:




ps: a few years ago I was living on the Gold Coast on Australia, went up to "Queensland Race Way" for the day to check it out. They had all sorts racing that day, Formula Fords, GT Cup & the Ozzie V8's (of course). What blew me away was here were some of the most exotic cars known to mankind racing around the track (Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Corvette, Viper's etc) and the crowd sat almost silent but the moment the backward (push rod V8) ozzie bangers came on the crowd stood to its feet going banana's.



wtf is all that about? :oi-grr:

[yod]

I think it's a bizarre kiwi thing. I'd never heard of it until I arrived here.... Mind you, this is also a nation that thinks Holdens, Falcons and Ute's are desirable.

im a kiwi

ive owned two hondas, they were both quality bikes

i cant stand holdens and falcons, (or beemers for that matter)

ute's...well, they can be useful...i dunno about desirable

[Sam I Am]

LOVE MY HONDA Holdens and Falcons can eat my Jap Dust.

[slowpoke]

I think it stems from the fact that Honda are the largest motorcycle manufacturer, and as such become a target for all those who support the underdog.

[Mekk]

I personally prefer something a little different, Hondas are very common. I've nothing against the bikes themselves.

Generally speaking it's also popular to rag on something that others do. Examples include bashing Helen, Bush, Bill Gates etc.

[Sanx]

Hondas are gay. Face it. If you ride a Honda, you're a homo.

[ZeroIndex]

Hondas are gay. Face it. If you ride a Honda, you're a homo.
very nice, especially coming from you :killingme

[jtzzr]

Hondas are gay. Face it. If you ride a Honda, you're a homo.

:girlfight::girlfight:

[Wingnut]

I've never actually came across any empirical evidence as to why some people don't like Honda. Are there any good reasons for the boycott?

Its crazy eh?

I believe they are of better quality than many other brands on the market.

Each to their own I guess.

Surely there is more to talk about than which bike is better than which!!:whocares:

[Deviant Esq]

I've seen it far more on KB than in person or while out riding. When I've been out on a ride with a group and there's been a couple of Hondas, noone's had anything bad to say about them, usually only comments about the condition of the bike or the paint etc. I have no idea why people in NZ rag on Hondas, the same people go on about their cars being gay too.

I was talking with a mechanic mate once who said he didn't get too many Hondas in... they were one of the few brands that you could thrash fairly regularly without worrying about the motor or gearbox breaking, as long as you changed the oil. He just didn't like the style of what they made, and the tendancy to build high revving, heady motors rather than a RWD turbo.

*Shrug* each to their own. If we all supported the same brand it'd be a boring world. Personally I like Hondas. Had several Honda cars and they've always been great. Not had a Honda bike, yet, but I wouldn't mind an 07 CBR600... my birthday's coming up ;)

[Deano]

I think it stems from the fact that Honda are the largest motorcycle manufacturer, and as such become a target for all those who support the underdog.

Yep - tall poppy syndrome.


Hondas are very common.

Yeah ? I thought was 'Gixxer Country' personally.


Hondas are gay. Face it. If you ride a Honda, you're a homo.

Like you probably - I'm gay and I'm proud !!

[Clockwork]

I've heard it said that Hondas are so good they "lack character", they do seem to represent the "Good Boys" of Biking.

Then again, Harleys allegedly have lots of character but people rag on them too :confused:

[Swoop]

Have to laugh around here. All the "anti honda" brigade are not creative enough to utter anything apart from "Hondas are gay". They haven't evolved much from the primary school playground insult. Sad really.

[merv]

The Hondas I've had are by far the best bikes I've owned in terms of design quality - all the bits are where they should be and easy to service, the build quality is excellent, and they just fit like a glove and are so user friendly to ride and easy to live with. Case in point why else would I still have my VFR over 13 years after I bought it and given you might say its dated technology, it is still an easy bike to ride reasonably fast even for an old bugger like me.

The Suzukis we've had just have niggly design flaws and the paint is oh so thin (our recent one's are and were dirt bikes so not commenting on Gixxers here) so you have to keep the rust away from them. In NZ Suzuki have been the top sellers for years mainly because of price, but I do admire their wide range of models, if only Honda did the same - that is a flaw in their marketing I believe not getting enough people onto their bikes here. I've generally blamed Blue Wing Honda for having a narrow view on this, but they are restricted by the range.

For example where are the Honda equivalents of the SV650, Bandit 650 etc?

As for this character shit, give me a good bike any day over character, so that at the end of the day and a long ride I'm still smiling so I have the character not the bloody bike.

[RantyDave]

I've never actually came across any empirical evidence as to why some people don't like Honda.
They're perceived as boring, a claim that carries a little weight, but only a little. They also spoil all the fun by not breaking down. I'd buy a Honda.

Dave

[Blackbird]

It's because Suzuki riders have little willies. Ever notice that it's the GSX-R riders who make the biggest fuss?:innocent:

[forkoil]

Ok, apart from the "homo" one, heres the first anti Honda post. Been riding bikes since late 60's, owned heaps, and never liked Honda's. A few annecdotes. Saw the first CB900's at the Castrol 6 hour, that year I think there were three that blew apart down the front straight, all due to a false neutral / overreving, and how the crowd cheered. Hated the XR's, they were reliable, grunty, long lasting and BORING, give me a PE or KDX any day. The original CB's, once again reliable but how incredibly gutless and boring. Also they had those steel stamped out levers when other makes had gone alloy. Then there were the comstar wheels, feck, talk about ugly!! I think the tone was set by the original Honda step thru, while it was reliable in the extreme, it sort of sums up to me what Honda represent. I way prefer the edgy bikes, Suzy, Kwaka and Yammies (RD's etc).

Of course there have been some good Hondas, iconic bikes like the CB750 SOHC, the CBX etc, but these have been few and far between. Looking at the NZ racing scene, at least in the golden years of the Hiscocks, Cros etc, Hondas hardly ever featured. Has anyone got stats on the Castrol 6hr results by make, apart from the great duel between Dave H and Vince Sharpe (on a CBX) I can barely remember Hondas getting anywhere.....

Start the flames.....:yes:

[pritch]

I've never actually came across any empirical evidence as to why some people don't like Honda. Are there any good reasons for the boycott?

No good reasons, it's simply jealousy. Sad but true.

[ceebie13]

Isn't there a true bikers' saying that "it ain't what you ride, it's the fact that you do ride that counts"?

Who gives a toss about sweeping statements. We will all have had our experiences with certain "brands". If I am attracted to any particular machine for whatever reason, and I buy one, and I love it, then that's my choice regardless of the logo on the tank. The often misguided and biased views of other band wagon jumpers is of no consequence to me.

Some of us don't need or want the latest, fastest, different, sharpest handling, edgiest, sexiest, most powerful machine in the world. Your bike is what you make it. You love it (or hate it) for what it means to you, no one else. What's boringingly and functionally reliable to some may be
the height of adrenalin rush to others. I'm sure all bike manufacturers have had their "lemons" and I doubt anyone could justify why one manufacturer is better than any other.

I ride a Honda (shock horror!) CB1300.(oh how boring!). It's a heavy(tut tut!) naked retro (oh no, not another die hard!). It's not the best selling musclebike in the world (not suprised, mate), in fact Motomart admit to not being able to give them away (I rest my case).
But do you know what? (what?). I've started to trick it up a bit (good idea, it needs it!) and I am proud to ride it and show it off (pftt!) and I have more respect for bikers who show an interest in it and remark on it than those who immediately shun it because it has a Honda logo on the tank.

[Pwalo]

I ride a Suzuki but have owned several Hondas. I think in the past Honda have enjoyed better build quality (ok don't mention the 80s, camchain, VFs, CBX 550s), but at present all the Japanese bikes are pretty good.

Perhaps Honda owners are just paranoid?

[mdooher]

Don't know what it’s like now but a few years ago if you tried to by a new one you might need to wait months... something about the dealers just couldn't get the bikes etc. Perhaps their frustration spread...

I learnt to ride on a CB350 before moving to a CS80 scooter. :scooter:I thought the Honda went a lot faster.:innocent:

[86GSXR]

If I remember correctly Honda's marketing slogan used to be "Number 1 under the sun". Not sure if they still use that, but it was catchy. I loved my 79 XL 250.

[Colapop]

Bike brands? I don't care either way. My understanding (purely anecdotal) is that Honda make very good bikes (and cars) new. Thier vehicles are designed to be purchased new and then passed on, the owner/s then purchasing another new Honda. Mr Honda went through a patch (no supporting evidence) through the mid 80's early 90's where he made some supposedly very ordinary bikes. I suppose it's because they are difficult to work on. The bits that need to be fixed are usually in sealed boxes or hard to get at. I think that's what people mean when they talk about Honda's being 'bad'.

Personally, I'd rather ride a Honda than nothing at all. My first bike was a Honda 90 step through.
The decision for my current bike came down to a VFR or RF. I consider both to be top notch bikes. The V4 is still very tempting...

[merv]

Looking at the NZ racing scene, at least in the golden years of the Hiscocks, Cros etc, Hondas hardly ever featured. Has anyone got stats on the Castrol 6hr results by make, apart from the great duel between Dave H and Vince Sharpe (on a CBX) I can barely remember Hondas getting anywhere.....
:yes:

Bill Biber and Phil Payne won on the VF750 and Alan Delatour and Dave Martin won on the VF1000 around 83 and 84 but yes alas, Honda's wins were relatively few and the likes of Wellington Motorcycles saw to that by having very strong teams and yes fast bikes.

This is partly back to my earlier comment of range - Honda in NZ don't sell a wide enough range and they at times were trying to race the wrong bikes in my view. I don't remember CB900s being raced at our 6 hour but was there when the CBX1000 was and saw Mike Gane's lunch itself over the back of the circuit. However I also saw Croz's Z1R expire in a cloud of smoke and likewise Glen William's GPZ900 another year. Failures were not restricted to one brand. The winners were well prepped crews with fast riders and that was something WMCC was good at and they helped themselves by having a few bikes entered so if one failed there were still others going e.g Hiscock brothers on different bikes and Bob Toomey, Robert Holden on others.

[merv]

You're a big fellah Col I reckon you would have found the VFR too cramped for you coz I'm a small fellah and it fits me nicely - the RF is probably a better size for you.

[Albino]

There was a time when Honda ruled the roost amongst the japanese manufacturers. The Fireblade was the schizzle, and the CBR600 was the biggest selling and most user friendly of the 600’s. Aaron slight was consistently 2nd behind a ducati with an unfair advantage (engine size and rider). Rossi won a champioship on a honda 500 for a few years. Let's not forget the likes of Doohan earlier in the 90's. And build quality was (and still is) generally very good. The anti-Honda comments imho were borne from our tall-poppy syndrome. You only bought a honda because everyone else is, aren’t you good enough to extract the performance out of a lesser bike etc.

Perhaps we’ll see the same thing starting to happen with GSXr’s? There's already been a number of sheep jokes :lol:

[merv]

The first CBR600 in the hands of Dave Martin (RIP) did very well racing here - nothing was as quick.

What has happened since? Are the Hondas just not as track focussed? Doesn't worry me I'm no racer.

[Headbanger]

Out in the real world I can't say I have ever come across anything anti-Honda, There is always someone who doesn't like something but nothing I would call widespread against one manufacturer.

Had 4 Honda's, Enjoyed them all.

And the Fireblade I was lookin at the other day was pure porn.

[pritch]

I can only comment on why I like Honda.

"Character" is something to be wary of from my point of view. Character has you standing staring at your Ducati in the rain half way down the motorway wondering why it suddenly stopped. Character has you standing by your Harley miles from home in the middle of the night. Thank you, but no thank you. So I will (hopefully) gladly sacrifice character for reliability.

The following are some recent examples of things that impressed me about Honda. Two of the three are from the opposition.

The recent Superbikes race where Toseland crashed. As he re-started the camera focused on the water pouring from a torn radiator hose the commentator remarked that would be the end of Toseland's race. The Honda kept running for the whole race and Toseland finished eighth I think. As the commentator said, a wonderful advertisement for Honda reliability .

In a recent BIKE magazine a Ducati design engineer was quoted as saying Ducati can't compete with the Japanese for power and it can't compete with some of them for quality.

In another issue of the same mag in an interview an Aprilia engineer stated that they test their engines to the equivalent of 50,000K. They don't extend testing further than that because most bikes don't do that many ks. They were interested to see how an opposition engine would compare so they hooked up a CBR1000RR engine to their test bed. He said the Honda engine just would not die.

Honda still have the reputation for superior build quality and for the most reliable bikes. That's what want in a bike, I don't want to be standing by the road somewhere between here and Christchurch either today or tomorrow. I understand that other people buy other bikes for other reasons and that fine.

Whatever turns your crank.

[Coldrider]

I think it's a bizarre kiwi thing. I'd never heard of it until I arrived here.... Mind you, this is also a nation that thinks Holdens, Falcons and Ute's are desirable.

Help, I'm gunna need councelling, I drive a Holden, and I actually like it.
I have owned mostly Honda Motorcycles, the Kwacka i purchased because i could not get a blade in time. I will be going back to Honda very soon, only as the Kwacka is getting on in age. The ZX9 actually has really good build quality, it surprised me.:love:

Honda do not import the cut price motorcycle models to keep the resale and quality up (perceived or not).

SANX, if Honda owners are Homo, looking at your rides posted, are you coming out of the closet?
If one rides multiple brands, are they BI, or sloven.:laugh:

[Laava]

It's because Suzuki riders have little willies. Ever notice that it's the GSX-R riders who make the biggest fuss?:innocent:

Now this is interesting! So, if I were to swap over to the "hung" models, what sort of "increase" could I expect? Would it be instantaneous or appear on a mileage based scale? Would it be proportionate to the size of the bike ridden? :shit:What could I expect from just a quick test ride? Eagerly waiting your advice!:woohoo::laugh:

[Deano]

I've heard it said that Hondas are so good they "lack character", they do seem to represent the "Good Boys" of Biking.


Bwahahaha - yep, I'm a real good boy.......:innocent:

[Blackbird]

Now this is interesting! So, if I were to swap over to the "hung" models, what sort of "increase" could I expect? Would it be instantaneous or appear on a mileage based scale? Would it be proportionate to the size of the bike ridden? :shit:What could I expect from just a quick test ride? Eagerly waiting your advice!:woohoo::laugh:

You have a VStrom so you clearly don't suffer from any inadequacy. Therefore, you probably have to beat women off with a stick right now so I wouldn't get too "hung" up about it. I know women say size doesn't matter but they're just being uncharacteristicly kind and sniggering behind their hands:innocent:. One less worry if you ride a Honda (or a VStrom)

[avgas]

There are 2 people in this world, honda riders - the rest of us.
I used to own a few honda's and i will own more in future i imagine. But i will never be a honda rider

[Laava]

Ha ha very tactfull! " I bought a V Strom, therefore I don't care what people think of me!":yes::sunny:

[McJim]

I went from Honda to Ducati cos the Honda service intervals were too short and the parts too expensive.

This flies in the face of conventional wisdom but on paper it's actually true!

Thought about a Firestorm but the forks were the wrong way up, the fairing was too small and the service intervals too short.

I don't call Honda riders gay though, and I've yet to hear anyone actually MEAN it anyway.

Gixxer riders are sheep.

[90s]

I thought much of it was to do with the perception (and sometimes reality) that Hondas occupy a premium price point for the japanese bikes? ie. it is fair to refer to my GSX as "a poor man's Honda CBR600" because that's exactly what it is. Suzuki and others used to follow Honda's lead much of the time until recently.

And the residual anti-Honda feeling I thought came from the fact that they were usually the first 'asian' bikes into a market stirring up various unsavoury sentiments. Once people stopped calling them rust-bucket deathtraps and realised that they had destroyed the old manufacturers they just got more mad.

Probably wrong on all counts, but otherwise can't see why you wouldn't like Honda as much as any good manufacturer, even if you wouldn't love them in the way you can love brands such as Ducati just for being them.

[Boob Johnson]

Isn't there a true bikers' saying that "it ain't what you ride, it's the fact that you do ride that counts"?Hear hear :niceone:


*rep sent*


On my way home from Tauranga on Monday, at a gas station filling up & another bike pulls in, he was on a HD with a prospect patch on his back & here's the two of us checking each others bikes out & havin a good ol chin wag.


Two very different people bought together by a common interest :rockon:

[Animal]

I'm not prejudiced or superstitious, I've owned six Hondas, seven Suzukis, three Ducatis, two Kawasakis, two Montessas, a Yamaha, a Morini and a Triumph. Every one of them made me smile while riding them, working on them, or simply watching them leak oil onto the kitchen floor (the Trident). I've never been drawn to - or driven from, buying any particular brand because I've bought every one to meet a specific purpose. There are shitloads of brands I've never owned because they haven't built anything that really attracts me. Also, my budget dictates much of my choices. Right now I can afford the valve caps for a MV. Does that count?

[one-speed]

[QUOTE=
it is because the avoiders choose to do so coz they are scared to admit the mistake they have been making for so long, that honda is the god of all things 2 wheeled.


*my thought's exactly:innocent:

[Jantar]

I am a Suzuki man through and through, and have been for 37 years. In that time I have never come across any anti-Honda comments, other than percieved ones from a very small proportion of Honda riders. Even in this thread there doesn't sem to be any real anti-Honda sentiment, just comments from Honda riders about why there might be.

I have had comments like "You only ride Suzuki, what's wrong with Honda?"
My reply is of course that there is nothing wrong with Honda, its just that I prefer Suzuki. I have owned only one Honda, a CB500 four many years ago, and it was a delightful bike to ride. The only Honda I haven't enjoyed riding was the early GoldWing.

Oh, and Blackbird..... Nice save there Geoff. :niceone:

[007XX]

I'm not prejudiced or superstitious, I've owned six Hondas, seven Suzukis, three Ducatis, two Kawasakis, two Montessas, a Yamaha, a Morini and a Triumph. Every one of them made me smile while riding them, working on them, or simply watching them leak oil onto the kitchen floor (the Trident). I've never been drawn to - or driven from, buying any particular brand because I've bought every one to meet a specific purpose. There are shitloads of brands I've never owned because they haven't built anything that really attracts me. Also, my budget dictates much of my choices. Right now I can afford the valve caps for a MV. Does that count?


Good on you mate!

Sorry if I come across as rough and crude about this, but honnestly:

Why would we care anyway wether some people decide to be brand racists ?:whocares:
Fark, the day I start getting this narrow minded, I'll go and drive a Ford...:killingme:shit::innocent:

All kidding aside, I love my bike, but then, I also look forward to outgrow her and get myself a SV650 or maybe an Xtra Raptor:love::drool:

[Animal]

Good on you mate!

Sorry if I come across as rough and crude about this, but honnestly:

Why would we care anyway wether some people decide to be brand racists ?:whocares:
Fark, the day I start getting this narrow minded, I'll go and drive a Ford...:killingme:shit::innocent:

All kidding aside, I love my bike, but then, I also look forward to outgrow her and get myself a SV650 or maybe an Xtra Raptor:love::drool:

I had an SV650 before I bought my TL1000 and to be honest, the SV was more fun. It didn't have me barking-mad rabid power of the TL but also didn't have the... shall we say, suspension quirks? I spent crazy amounts of money on the TL to make it half the fun the SV was. Go figure!

V-twins certainly do have a character all of their own, but I'm becoming more and more attracted to a triple, of the 675 Triumph kind. *Goes off to look at bank statement, then bursts into tears*:cry:

[Griff]

With the greatest respect..

It is easy to understand why Hondas are frowned upon.

Honda is an annogram of "Hando"
"Hando" is the short form of the Japanese phrase "Hando Jobo"

[ceebie13]

Seems some riders will always define a HONDA as a

Horrendous Overrated Non-Descript Arsehole of a bike! :whocares:

[Blackbird]

Oh, and Blackbird..... Nice save there Geoff. :niceone:

I had visions of both you and JP looming over my shoulder, hence the fancy footwork.:nono: Apart from the VStrom being an impressive machine in its own right.:Punk:

[007XX]

I had an SV650 before I bought my TL1000 and to be honest, the SV was more fun. It didn't have me barking-mad rabid power of the TL but also didn't have the... shall we say, suspension quirks? I spent crazy amounts of money on the TL to make it half the fun the SV was. Go figure!

V-twins certainly do have a character all of their own, but I'm becoming more and more attracted to a triple, of the 675 Triumph kind. *Goes off to look at bank statement, then bursts into tears*:cry:

Oh I hear you my friend...

Me darling hubby had a TL and found the front wheel had a bad habit of wobbling a bit in corners at speed: not cool!:nono:
And also getting speeding tickets became a bit of a habit I'm told...:innocent:

So he's gone through a few years of Triumphs from the Speed triple, 955 Daytona (rhaaa, lovely :drool:), to the Tiger...And now has a SV1000, mostly because I chewed his ear about it for the last 4 years! And he absolutely loves it!!! especially with the mods he's done on it...

The Vtwin is definitely my fav type...I'd be hard pressed to change now that I've had a taste of it!

[janno]

The Hondas I've had are by far the best bikes I've owned in terms of design quality - all the bits are where they should be and easy to service, the build quality is excellent, and they just fit like a glove and are so user friendly to ride and easy to live with.

Second that.

I've had a Yamaha, and a Suzuki, still got a '76 Ducati, and the above quote pretty much sums it up for me. The Duc is a glorious beastie but a bitch to keep running nicely.

My NT 650 fits me perfectly, has got plenty of grunt and basically you couldn't kill it with a brick. Which is my idea of a bike.

Personally I wouldn't care if my bike was made by Walt Disney. It's the right bike for me.

AND!!! I have just got a phone call telling me my Brisbane Honda has just gone straight through Nz vinning and I'm now ready to conquer the world. I believe the phrase is WOOOOTT!!

[Sparky Bills]

Hondas are great bikes! Always have been, always will be!

The Honda Riders Club put on training days with Aaron Slight and Hayden Fitzgerald and their prices are very fair!

Ive come to the conclusion that people say what they hear from other people. Most cant make a decision by themselves and wait for others to make the choice for them.

Kinda sad really.

oh yeah... P.S.
BUY A HONDA YOU SUZUKI LOVING FREAKS!!! or a ducati:innocent:

[avgas]

The Honda Riders Club put on training days with Aaron Slight and Hayden Fitzgerald and their prices are very fair!

Not to mention the occasional free meal....lol

[Sparky Bills]

Not to mention the occasional free meal....lol


EXACTLY!!
They put on a REALLY good meal at their training days too.

[Animal]

I chewed his ear about it for the last 4 years! And he absolutely loves it!!!

Far canal, that's way too much information! And I don't really want to know what the two of you get up to!:buggerd:

:laugh::lol::killingme

[-df-]

If people actually take these comments seriously then they need to take a look at themselves. I've made the "gay" remark before, but as a 100% piss take.

I'm a kwaka man through and through...probably from the ZX7R's when I used to watch them race...although I now own a honda CR250 (after looking for a good KX250 and not finding one in my price range) and it blitz's my mates KX250 of the same year that he just got (well...in a straight line...we have different skills for courners) and just feels nicer to ride for me anyway...so in a way I'm glad I couldn't find a KX, because I've now got a bike that works for me that I would never have considered before. Goes to show...try them all before you buy.

I think the people that make those comments and mean them have never actually ridden on one before.

(note: altho my bikes plastics are now starting to go pink from sun fade...that doesn't help!!!!)

[Deano]

Hold On Now Death Approaching.

[justsomeguy]

Haven't read the whole thread ----

But basically Honda's are for Homo's - Honda... Homo.. geddit?

Kawasaki-kwaka are for kunts.... cunts

GSXRs are common - so sheeps, wannabes (part of a group)

Harleys and Ducati's are expensive - so rich snobs --

Yamaha - well not many around so any random piss take is allowed.

Old bikes -- vintage crap

New bikes -- ah you're just using technology to make up for your lack of riding ability

Indians - dairy owners

Chinese - fish and chip owners

Poms - silly gits

------

See a pattern?? It's all harmless piss taking. Nothin serious about any of it. It's just KB's culture - and I love it.

By the way yawl are all a bunch of numbnuts...:yes:

[vagrant]

A quick survey of the carpark outside work shows 1x XL250, a VT250, a honda scooter, a suzuki scooter, and 2 fireblades. (but not mine because I'm a Nana and it's raining:o) There is also one of those electric rechargable scooters, but we don't know who made it, as none of us can read Chinese.

Does that mean anything at all, probably not, :Pokey:

[Renegade]

i really hate the honda cars, driven lots of them and they are all the same, inside and out, just identical and boring, then those boy racers get hold of them and put an after market exhuast on them and now they sound like a cat on fire screaming itself to death.

Honda bikes on the other hand i have always liked to some degree, its was the little things like a cover here or a chrome cap there that set them apart, attention to detail and finish i guess.

[marioc]

Yeah its the riced up Civics and tegs etc that have given Honda cars a bad name.
As for bikes dunno what thats all about.

[scumdog]

. Character has you standing by your Harley miles from home in the middle of the night. Thank you, but no thank you. So I will (hopefully) gladly sacrifice character for reliability.

Whatever turns your crank.


I had a Honda once - funnily enough if you took the name 'Harley' out of the above sentence and replaced it with 'Honda" it would be 100% accurate in my experience!! Character I could have done without!

However, I've nothing against Hondas and if the need arose would be quite happy to buy another one.:yes:i

[merv]

Yeah its the riced up Civics and tegs etc that have given Honda cars a bad name.


Like the CRX that hit a bridge the other day.

[Sanx]

Like the CRX that hit a bridge the other day.

It's all the boi-racers that, as someone said, stick a trash can on the end of the exhaust system and think they've turned their mum's old Civic into a Civic Type-R. Honda do make some very good sporty cars. The Type-R Integras and Civics are remarkably effective back-road scratchers for the price they come in at. Light-weight, nimble and got good power too, provided you can get used to the engine characteristics and feel comfortable revving the nuts off it all the time.

I used to have an S2000 back in the UK. Two litre, 240hp, rear-wheel drive, very stiff chassis and fantastic handling. I had great fun pissing all over Porsche Boxster owners - under acceleration, on the brakes, round bends, pretty much everywhere really. Though that probably says more about the sort of nouveau-riche poseurs who go out and buy Porsches than it does the actual cars. Once you got used to the engine needing more than 6000 rpm on the clock to produce any power, it was a great car.

[merv]

I was surprised with the Fifth Gear show on TV1 a few Sunday's back where they raced what looked like a reasonably standard 4 door Accord Euro in an endurance race and it pissed on the Mazda RX8's. No doubt it had a type R spec V-tec engine.

We swear by Honda cars too - still got two in our stable.

[Sanx]

I was surprised with the Fifth Gear show on TV1 a few Sunday's back where they raced what looked like a reasonably standard 4 door Accord Euro in an endurance race and it pissed on the Mazda RX8's. No doubt it had a type R spec V-tec engine.

We swear by Honda cars too - still got two in our stable.

Says more about the RX8. I test drove one a while back. Put my foot down in 2nd, waited for the power to come, and then it hit the rev limiter. Dunno what it was doing with the claimed 280 ponies Mazda says it makes, but it sure wasn't using them to make the car move.

[Blackbird]

I was surprised with the Fifth Gear show on TV1 a few Sunday's back where they raced what looked like a reasonably standard 4 door Accord Euro in an endurance race and it pissed on the Mazda RX8's. No doubt it had a type R spec V-tec engine.

We swear by Honda cars too - still got two in our stable.

Those Euros are a fantastic drive. We have one as a pool car at work and there's always a scramble to get it ahead of the Falcon and Maxima.

[merv]

Those Euros are a fantastic drive. We have one as a pool car at work and there's always a scramble to get it ahead of the Falcon and Maxima.

Thought about one for Mrs merv recently but for the price of the bottom spec Euro we bought the new top spec Civic so she got the leather, sunroof, body kit and all the biz and she was happy with 114kw instead of 140kw coz she hardly leaves town in it.

[NighthawkNZ]

All hondas suck... except mine :D

[avgas]

EXACTLY!!
They put on a REALLY good meal at their training days too.
Oh man you missed that one - can anyone find the thread relating to my comment cos i cant anymore.
I feel old now

[Sketchy_Racer]

Well.. i own two of the best bikes in the world..

Yep they're hondas.. guess that makes me Gay..

I don't care cause i know your jealous!!

[007XX]

Far canal, that's way too much information! And I don't really want to know what the two of you get up to!:buggerd:

:laugh::lol::killingme


You're right, innocent people like you should know these things...:nono::killingme :bleh:

[Kittyhawk]

It's because Suzuki riders have little willies. Ever notice that it's the GSX-R riders who make the biggest fuss?:innocent:

I out ride those little willies on my little gixer then!

My best mate, he is gay and he used to ride a honda, back in his day..

[Usarka]

The people who don't buy a honda because they don't want to be ridiculed are the ones who are ghey.

ride what you want.

[Goblin]

All this Honda bagging reminds me of a ride I did as a pillion with the Japanese Vintage Motorcycle Club a number of years ago. We were on an old waterbus and there was a couple on a Honda Rollerdoor. The lady started out really friendly and giggled at all Paul's jokes about Hondas. He was giving them shit and by the end of the day she'd had enough and decided she didnt like him anymore! :laugh: All this from a guy who rode a CB250 to Manfield and back for the WSB when Stroudy was on the Britten.:rofl:
It's really not what you ride....but how you ride it. :yes:

[westie]

I dis like hondas cos THEY ARE THE BEST!!
But having never ridden another brand I can honestly say that any other brand, apart from honda, have nothing to offer me!:rockon:

[Deviant Esq]

It's all the boi-racers that, as someone said, stick a trash can on the end of the exhaust system and think they've turned their mum's old Civic into a Civic Type-R. Honda do make some very good sporty cars. The Type-R Integras and Civics are remarkably effective back-road scratchers for the price they come in at. Light-weight, nimble and got good power too, provided you can get used to the engine characteristics and feel comfortable revving the nuts off it all the time.
I have the original Civic Type R - a 1990 SiR. It's a great car. Body could do with a little work because of careless previous owners and even more careless hailstones... :angry:... but the stock B16A motor in it still loves to be revved. It surprises quite a few with how well it can get up and go for "just a Civic" or "just a Honda", can leave behind a few that wouldn't expect it to. They're getting quite hard to find now, the original SiRs, because most of them have been thrashed, crashed, or both... or have been taken off the road and entered into 1600cc NA front wheel drive rally, where they continue to do very well for a 20 year old design (was designed a few years before it was produced). I got mine in factory condition, was very lucky to get it especially at the pittance I paid. I won't be selling it.

The non standard decals were put there by the previous owner and will be removed. The body will be tidied. But it still gives you an idea... and no, it does not have a fart can! :laugh:

[Oakie]

Tall poppy syndrome partly. People want to dis whatever is regarded as being top dog. I reckon also partly because of the old Honda advertising ... something along the lines of "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". What self-respecting biker wants to be regarded as 'nice'?

[merv]

At the time millions of Yanks did and that's where the money was made in the 60's.

[sarahtvet]

I am going to ring export company and ensure crate extra well padded so the CB doesn't hear what she is heading into :-)

[Rhino]

The Wing has 87,000 miles on it and still goes like a train. I know of one 1500 with over 268,000 mile on it. The only work done is cam belts and the usual plugs, filters etc. It has never had the heads off.:gob:

We have ridden from Christchurch to Auckland in one day on three occasions now. Leave Chch at around 8:30 am, catch the 1 pm ferry and just ride back to Auckland. Bloody comfortable and rolls along at whatever speed we wish to travel without any stress.:rockon:

Not bad for a gay bike.

[merv]

Gay we may be but then those cheap Suzukis are just like cheap tarts I reckon.

[cowpoos]

bang for buck...hondas are shit!!! theres a couple of them that have a nice paint job [aye deano ;)] but as a rule they lack performance in thier respective class...they lack the value...the engineering on them is solid...that can't be argued really...but there new quads the formans still have frickin drum brakes for christ sake...get them wet and they stop working!! I liken them to brigs and stratton same old shit with a new acronym attacted every update...!!!

Does anyone know if honda are the biggest sellers in any other country besides auz ??? [ausies are dumbshits]

[Mekk]

Yeah ? I thought was 'Gixxer Country' personally.


It may depend on where we live, I personally see more Hondas than Gixxers...but then probably more GN's than Hondas...and they have a pretty bad stigma too.

[Deano]

bang for buck...hondas are shit!!!

Fark off Poos ya dick :Punk:

[Coldrider]

but as a rule they lack performance in thier respective class...they lack the value...the engineering on them is solid...that can't be argued really...
Honda create bikes to be sold to the masses, race track bike sales are few & far between. Honda motorcyles do tend to be down on HP but make up in ridability, even for challenged riders, maximum HP means very little in everyday riding, hence Honda sells more, oh my god, I betta buy one....

[Brian d marge]

I think it was because a few years back A dealer ( Colmans?) came over here and dumped a lot of cheaap GSXRs on your market

Being such a small market is has had a Knock on effect

From my point of View ;

Honda ,,,The work culture at honda is leading to snow blindness They lost some good Engineers and are floundering ( good quality products though )

Yamaha , hooked up last year with a casting company and was putting out some interseting stuff at the mo its the most interesting company

Suzuki Copy , and are very good at low cost volume engineering.
Kawasaki somethings happening there ,, dont know what ,, but they are doing something there !

Stephen

[merv]

OK to keep you happy I have I think now filled in all the Castrol Six Hour winners with a bit of help from Roogazza and LB.

The record was it ran for 15 years and the brand winners were:

Suzuki 5 wins
Kawasaki 4 wins
Honda 3 wins
Yamaha 3 wins

OK so the cheap tarts won the most but it wasn't exactly total dominance.

[Edbear]

...goes like a train...


Must... resist...:innocent:

(p/t)

I actually think the bagging is just 'cause it's fun and not serious! Somebody picked on Honda and it caught on...

I'm sure everyone really likes Honda's:yes:

[Zuki Bandit]

suuuuuuzuuuuuuuuukiiiiiiiiiiii

kaaaaaaawaaaaaaaaasaaaaaaaakiiiiiiiii

yaaaaamaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaa

Honda




Just dont have the same ring to it.

[merv]

On the world stage how many GP wins has Honda had?

Who comes next?

Oh OK, its not the cheap tarts then.

So if Hondas are sooooo sloooow, how come?

[McJim]

suuuuuuzuuuuuuuuukiiiiiiiiiiii

kaaaaaaawaaaaaaaaasaaaaaaaakiiiiiiiii

yaaaaamaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaa

Honda




Just dont have the same ring to it.

Ducaaaaaaatiiiiii!
Apriliaaaaaaaaaaah!
Bimotaaaaaaaaaa!
MV Augustaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Laverdaaaaaaaaaa!
Moto Guzziiiiiiiiii!
Cagivaaaaaaaaa!

Works for the Italians too :rofl:

[swbarnett]

suuuuuuzuuuuuuuuukiiiiiiiiiiii

kaaaaaaawaaaaaaaaasaaaaaaaakiiiiiiiii

yaaaaamaaaaaaaaahaaaaaaaa

Honda




Just dont have the same ring to it.
Hooooooondaaaaaaa

Kind of like the sound it makes as it passes you...:dodge:

[Sully60]

As someone who has been in the industry and sold bits for all the big four jap brands and some euro stuff as well, I have to say the thing with Honda is that ther're kinda just plain old boring. They generally make fine machinery that is well engineered, well assembled and well supported by the importer.... but Yawn.
Old guys (sorry Merv) who have done the flat out thing and want solid reliable comfortable machines that don't have to go back to the dealer to be fully serviced every 10K. Good for them but motorcycling is about sensation, exhiliration, excitment (sometimes image) not service intervals, fuel consumption blah blah.

I'm not trying to offend anyone here but the majority of people who purchase bikes on the second set of criteria buy Hondas, maybe this is what this thread refers to?
In our little corner of the industry we recognised three distinct groups of riders.
Goldw(h)ingers, VFR riders and the rest.

James Toselands got the right idea!
Blue (yellow in his case)to the bitter end!

[swbarnett]

motorcycling is about sensation, exhiliration, excitment (sometimes image) not service intervals, fuel consumption blah blah.
I agree totally but who said reliable can't also be exiting? I'd rather be riding a "slightly" slower bike than sitting on the side of the road with a faster one that's broken down.

It seems to me that Honda doesn't come out with a lot of very fast bikes but every now and then they do and nothing else can touch it. For my money Honda is better at the overall package (or at least has been in the past), the combination of reliable, fast enough (for us road riders anyway) and pleasing to the eye.

[Zuki Bandit]

Hooooooondaaaaaaa

Kind of like the sound it makes as it passes you...:dodge:

I know I know, I shouldnt disrespect the mighty Honda. Everyone who has ridden in my family has sworn by them (and at them).
I think the Honda's reputation of "being reliable" may have been twisted into "playing it safe.

Just my opinion though dude.

[jafar]

I've never actually came across any empirical evidence as to why some people don't like Honda. Are there any good reasons for the boycott?

What boycott ? The crap about Honda is from idiots. The same kind of bull as the Ford / Holden 'debate' . Those concerned with this are intellectual minnows that wouldn't have the intelligence to tie their own shoelaces.:whocares:
:zzzz:

[scumdog]

What boycott ? The crap about Honda is from idiots. The same kind of bull as the Ford / Holden 'debate' . Those concerned with this are intellectual minnows that wouldn't have the intelligence to tie their own shoelaces.:whocares:
:zzzz:


Yeah?
Well ya won't catch ME in a Holden............

[Deviant Esq]

Well ya won't catch ME in a Holden............
Nah, yours has had the work done to make sure you're the one doing the catching, not the other way around!! :bleh:

[jafar]

Yeah?
Well ya won't catch ME in a Holden............

Wouldn't catch me DEAD in a holden :bleh:

[popelli]

The crap about Honda is from idiots.

best call me an idiot then

last honda I had was nothing but trouble and the worst bike I have ever owned

[Sanx]

What boycott ? The crap about Honda is from idiots. The same kind of bull as the Ford / Holden 'debate' . Those concerned with this are intellectual minnows that wouldn't have the intelligence to tie their own shoelaces.


Yeah?
Well ya won't catch ME in a Holden............

But do you have trouble with your shoelaces, SD?

[El Dopa]

I reckon also partly because of the old Honda advertising ... something along the lines of "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". What self-respecting biker wants to be regarded as 'nice'?


At the time millions of Yanks did and that's where the money was made in the 60's.

Yes. From what I've read, bike sales in the US took a massive nosedive in the late '60's, at least part of the reason being all the unfavourable publicity Hells Angels etc were getting.

Well, all the outlaw bikers cultivated the perception (or at least did nothing to change it) that they rode big bad bikes that were always one step away from exploding or throwing the rider without warning - you had to be a real hard arse to even think about riding one, let alone mastering one.

So honda cunningly outflanked the lot of 'em, releasing bikes that were little more than scooters - harmless looking and harmless handling - aiming them at mom and pop america, with the infamous advertising strapline "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". Result: big publicity, big sales.

And naturally, it drove the real big bad bikers up the wall - their one defining macho characteristic (I ride a big bad bike, therefore I am big. And bad. Grrr) was being fatally underminded by something a bit....well...safe and poofy.

Looks like Honda's reputation is still somewhat defined by reliability and solid dependability, and being a bit sort of boring.

For myself, I ride what I can afford. If I had the money, there'd be a CBR600 sitting in the gargre next to all the other bikes.

[rphenix]

I've never actually came across any empirical evidence as to why some people don't like Honda. Are there any good reasons for the boycott?

Who knows! I grew up on my dads "Honda BigRed" 4 wheeler and had my own XR100 at the age of 9 and a bit then came the XR200 other than a few clutch levers and general maintenance nothing ever broke on the old XR hehe so I've got quite the soft spot for Honda hell it was thanks to the XR100 and that gentle thud thud of the four stroke that made me fall in love with motorcycles :)

[McJim]

What boycott ? The crap about Honda is from idiots. The same kind of bull as the Ford / Holden 'debate' . Those concerned with this are intellectual minnows that wouldn't have the intelligence to tie their own shoelaces.:whocares:
:zzzz:

You gotta watch out for madmen that contemplate trading one of their Hondas for a Moto Guzzi though.....:rofl:

Mind you - it sounded nice and you looked the part on it.

[jafar]

You gotta watch out for madmen that contemplate trading one of their Hondas for a Moto Guzzi though.....:rofl:

Mind you - it sounded nice and you looked the part on it.

Getting that one past the wife will be a trick :yes: Bloody nice bike to ride the guzzi, may the lotto gods smile on me then it will be MINE :laugh:

[scumdog]

But do you have trouble with your shoelaces, SD?

I haff no shoelacess, I only wears chandals...

[Edbear]

Getting that one past the wife will be a trick :yes: Bloody nice bike to ride the guzzi, may the lotto gods smile on me then it will be MINE :laugh:



Ur incorrigible, mate!:spanking:

[jafar]

I haff no shoelacess, I only wears chandals...

That does explain a few things :shutup:

[Bonez]

You do meet such nice people on Hondas. Especially old, no, anceint Hondas.

[Shadows]

I thought nobody liked them because they are Jappas. :dodge:

Seriously though, I've owned three and they were perfectly fine.
The GB was even quite fun.

[FkNAmerican]

good question: Here in the states Honda's tend to get the shit end of the stick from everyone who doesnt actually own one. Its odd. Its almost a Honda vs. Everyone Else deal. I've never seen a brand that was more maligned and more purchased at the same time then Honda motorcycles.

I mean I know highly intelligent people.....experienced mechanics with decades in the motorcycle buisness workign on all kinds of bikes.....who just HATE Honda's. Ask them why and the answer never seems to be any kind of real fault. Nothing mechanical, nothing about ergonomics, no real design flaw. They just hate them.

The only other "hatred" I've come accross thats similar would be the Pakistan-Indian hatred. I've got a couple Indian friends. Great people. Well educated. One of them went to Johns Hopkins med school. The other went to Duke University. Ask them about Pakistan, however, and they go balls to the wall crazy. Its kinda like that with "Honda Haters".

And it gets even better because there seems to be this disconnect between the number of people that "hate" Honda and the number of people who actually ride a Honda. EVERYBODY seems to hate Honda AND nearly EVERYBODY seems to ride a Honda. So, somewhere in there, some B.S. is going on.

To sum it up: You bitch about Honda being boring b/c its what everyone else is doing........then you go buy one because its time to put your money where your mouth is and b/c its what everyone else did.

[Bonez]

The GB was even quite fun.Ahhh, at last someone with a clue.....................

[Wolf]

My favourite three bikes have been a Suzuki (TS125), a Honda (CB360) and my current XT225 - for different reasons.

The old Honda CB550 I had was a crapped out piece of shit - but we can put a lot of that down to a) being left in a paddock for years to the point that it seized and b) being put together incorrectly by the numpties at a certain Honda dealership. I also found it too heavy and unwieldy for me - being a puny short-arse - and most of my disappointment with it stems from the fact it wasn't as good a specimen as my old CB360.

The CB360 was a great little tourer, comfortable, reliable, manouevrable. Not a rocket, but who cares? Really liked it.