What's the most reliable bike?

[Blatman]

I'm thinking of getting a second bike and doing a restoration job on my main one. So will be looking for something minimum 650cc+, preferably larger. For around town and country and the odd cruise.
Anyway what I want is something stone cold reliable! It'll be secondhand so I know it will depend on the previous owner, don't care if it's Jap, German, British or whatever.
So tell me what you think is the most reliable bike? If you're a mechanic all the better!

[slofox]

English motorcycle magazine, Ride, has published their survey results amongst 10,000 motorcyclists in the United Kingdom in this month's publication. (Sep 2004)

The motorcyclists were asked how reliable their motorcycle is. Results:

1. BMW (90%)
2. Honda (89.2%)
3. Yamaha (85.5%)
4. Triumph (84%)
5. Suzuki (83.2%)
6. Kawasaki (82.8%)
7. MZ (81.3%)
8. Harley-Davidson (80.1%)
9. Aprilia (77.1%)
10. KTM (74%)
11. Buell (72.2%)
12. Cagiva (70.5%)
13. Ducati (69.1%)
14. Moto Guzzi (68.8%)
15. CCM (63.8%)

[Blatman]

EXCELLENT - thanks.
But reliability would vary between models from the different companies. I'm trying to zero in on a particular model

[vifferman]

That's marque specific, not model specific.
Honda VFR750s and 800s (excluding the Vtec model) are pretty reliable. The engines are almost indestructible, and the only weak point is the R/R, which is not really any cause for concern. I had the one on my 750 fail, and it was easily 'recitified' (pun intended). The 800 has done over 50k miles (80,000km), and is still running strongly. As an example of how bulletproof the engines are, a courier in the UK got over 800,000 miles from his, and a guy in Mrka makes a supercharger kit for them which requires no mods to engine internals (with an extra 50%+ hp). He's been running his own kit for over two years with no problems.

[Tony.OK]

Depends on your budget really, not being biased but you'd be hard pressed to go past a Honda, maybe a Hornet 900 or something.

[CookMySock]

Instead of getting an older bike, why not buy something that is old-bike price, but nearly new.

This bike is a vtwin 650cc, 2007, as-new condition, noisy exhaust, 7,800km, asking $6,500
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Mo...-208425876.htm

Steve

[Blatman]

Makes sense, my last few cars have been Hondas and they just go and go and go....

[peasea]

Depends on your budget really, not being biased but you'd be hard pressed to go past a Honda, maybe a Hornet 900 or something.

By brother-in-law has one and apart from servicing regularly he hasn't had to touch it.

I have a mate with an older 750 GT Kawka that he can't kill and it cost him sfa to buy. His previous bike was a BMW and he never put a spanner on it other than at service intervals.

Budget has a lot to do with it.............

[elevenhundred]

I remember years ago Classic Motorcycle Mechanics mag rated the Honda CX500 (plastic maggot) as one of the most reliable bikes ever, once they'd had some initial problems ironed out that is. They were very popular with motorcycle couriers.
However I think I'd forgo some reliability if it meant I did have to ride a CX500

[nico]

English motorcycle magazine, Ride, has published their survey results amongst 10,000 motorcyclists in the United Kingdom in this month's publication. (Sep 2004)

The motorcyclists were asked how reliable their motorcycle is. Results:

1. BMW (90%)
2. Honda (89.2%)
3. Yamaha (85.5%)
4. Triumph (84%)
5. Suzuki (83.2%)
6. Kawasaki (82.8%)
7. MZ (81.3%)
8. Harley-Davidson (80.1%)
9. Aprilia (77.1%)
10. KTM (74%)
11. Buell (72.2%)
12. Cagiva (70.5%)
13. Ducati (69.1%)
14. Moto Guzzi (68.8%)
15. CCM (63.8%)

a few of these figures seem a bit fishy bmw 90% me thinks not that orta stir things up
id say any japa would be fine

[White trash]

I hear that Hondas MVX250 is a real winner. I've owned three of them so should be qualified to respond.

[Timaa]

hornet 900, plenty of mods available and they keep going strong, honda reliability and enough fun in the twisties too.

[Burtha]

hornet 900, plenty of mods available and they keep going strong, honda reliability and enough fun in the twisties too.

How come there are so many up for sale all the time then?

[LBD]

a few of these figures seem a bit fishy bmw 90% me thinks not that orta stir things up
id say any japa would be fine

And a lot would come back to the style of bike and its use and how reliability was measured...ie If Maintenance $/Km were the measuring rod, and we take a BWM tourer...it will rank high because it generally clocks up many km of constant warm running. Use the same bike for short haul commuting and the figure would drop.

Then take a CB900, Many of those commute and as such do harder km's than the touring BMW, does that make it less reliable? Maintenance $ per Km yes, Maintenance $ per trip no. Use this bike for the same purpose as the BMW and its Maintenance$/Km would drop...

Then there is the CT110....

My bet is on the likes of a SV 650 for a reliable all rounder to meet your needs....

[AllanB]

Depends on your budget really, not being biased but you'd be hard pressed to go past a Honda, maybe a Hornet 900 or something.

Yep I would point you here as well - there have been some relatively silly prices for the odd one on Trademe recently - presumably people wanting cash in a hurry and offering the bike up with a low, no-reserve price.