Reliability myth takes a dent

**JayRacer37** · 2nd August 2009, 10:24

Originally Posted by Bob

Got your goat there, didn't I?

A few years back, I did research into product recalls by manufacturers. And guess which one made the most recalls? Honda. And which one made the fewest? That would be Harley-Davidson.

Yes, I was surprised as well.

Is that cos Honda admits and fixes it's F-ups, and Hardly just keeps on keeping on (Producing the same old shite)?

**Pedrostt500** · 2nd August 2009, 10:28

Originally Posted by speedpro

I've never owned one but a few mates along the way have and they were all pretty adamant that BMW stood for Bastard Might Work.

The rusty tank may be a cause for concern depending on the cause. Poor prep, poor storage, poor finish, poor construction?? Given modern manufacturing techniques it's unlikely to have effected just one.

Having owned a BMW the scariest thing is knowing that the price of parts with those horibble three letters on em will cost three times the much of any other makes bike part, I doubt Ill ever own another BMW.

**Mully** · 2nd August 2009, 10:35

Originally Posted by cheesemethod

I hate to think how much truth there could be behind that theory.

As I recall, Ford Motors in the 70s (??) had that with the Ford Pinto. The way the fuel tank was fitted meant it was prone to blow up in a minor nose to tail. Ford calculated that it was cheaper to defend lawsuits and pay compensation to anyone injured than to recall and repair all the cars.

**YellowDog** · 2nd August 2009, 10:49

Originally Posted by slowpoke

Given that bike manufacturers are starting to shut down plants (Harley etc)you have to think that bike storage is brimming all over the world. Some of it is going to be less than ideal, but needs must.

Who knows what's wrong with the tank? Is it a manufacturing defect? A poorly preserved bike in storage? Faulty materials? Yada yada....

How do you go from one tank to a whole batch? Jesus, it's worse than Chinese whispers............

Yes you ARE right.

I am sure that this tank was hand made as a one off.

AND the made up bike was stored in less than ideal conditions all on its own.

So no need to worry about how new your new bike actually is.

Build Date
Register Date
Storage Season.

**bogan** · 2nd August 2009, 11:06

Originally Posted by crash harry

Porous tank doesn't necissarily mean rusty... I've seen components that leak fuel for all sorts of reasons. I could have been a pinhole in a weld or a flaw in the sheet steel or something - to make the leap from "fuel tank weeps" to "rusty, poor quality control, undeserved reputation" is a bit of a jump.

I agree, unless the tank was left out in the salt spray on the boat ride over, it unlikely the tank would rust through so quickly. Even a good mash of the fuel tap during assembly/delivery could cause it.

Though me thinks I have a picture which may sum it up

**p.dath** · 2nd August 2009, 11:20

I wonder if they forgot to treat the tank. If they forgot to treat the tank, did they also forget to treat the rest of the bike?

But I agree. Probably a manufacturing glitch rather than overall change in build quality.

I've owned three Honda's now, and never had a single break down. My current Honda CBR600 now has 60k km's on it.

**pritch** · 2nd August 2009, 11:28

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

I've worked with just about every brand in the last 23 odd years...and the one brand who's rep for reliability is not deserved is BMW!

BMW has the benefit of a reputation that it possibly no longer deserves. Back in the day BMWs were built by tradesmen and their quality was unsurpassed. If you were going to circumnavigate the globe there was just one choice - BMW. (Although apparently nobody told Ted Simon that... )

When BMW opened their factory in Berlin and hired assembly workers off the street the quality unsurprisingly suffered. It still isn't necessarily bad, it's just no longer the absolute best you can get.

Honda reliability isn't a myth, it's based on a lot of surveys over nearly half a century now. I was talking to a Honda dealer who said they had never found a single loose fastener on a Honda. Pre-delivery checks will turn up the occasional loose nut on even the "prestige" European brands (KTM was mentioned specifically). They are built by humans after all, and that's what the checks are for.

Various Honda models are now assembled in India, Brazil, Italy, and possibly China, as well as Japan. Honda build quality is now more of a variable. The Japanese assembled bikes will be as good as ever but some of the others may not be to the same standard.

Bob referred to a 125cc bike? Hardly a flagship model and it's not exactly realistic to expect Faberge build quality on what is a basic budget bike.

Sorry, but the original post reminds me of Chicken Little's response to the acorn.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 2nd August 2009, 11:31

Originally Posted by pritch

but the original post reminds me of Chicken Little's response to the acorn.

"Ah, shit, not acorns again, why can't I have steak and chips"

**SixPackBack** · 2nd August 2009, 12:47

Originally Posted by bogan

I agree, unless the tank was left out in the salt spray on the boat ride over, it unlikely the tank would rust through so quickly. Even a good mash of the fuel tap during assembly/delivery could cause it.

Though me thinks I have a picture which may sum it up

I agree with crash harry, logically rust would be the least likely reason. Poor welding, poor design, seal failure are more likley. Regardless of the cause quality control is to blame!

**SMOKEU** · 2nd August 2009, 13:41

I've had endless problems with my Honda Melody and CG125, yet my CBR250R has performed flawlessly (so far).

**jonbuoy** · 3rd August 2009, 10:14

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

I've worked with just about every brand in the last 23 odd years...and the one brand who's rep for reliability is not deserved is BMW!

I nearly swallowed the urban BMW reliability myth till I started poking around a few BMW bike forums. Same goes for VW/Audis - Toyota beat them both hands down in consumer surveys. You can't go far wrong with a jappa.

**Edbear** · 3rd August 2009, 16:01

Originally Posted by Bob

Wait for news appearing around the world "Honda tanks are made of soft cheese"... and then everyone to repeat it, endlessly, until it becomes another urban myth

Honda tanks are made of cheese..!!???

Wait til I tell my friends!!!!

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

I've worked with just about every brand in the last 23 odd years...and the one brand who's rep for reliability is not deserved is BMW!

You mean to say that BMW bikes are built like their cars...?????

**Swoop** · 3rd August 2009, 16:40

Originally Posted by Bob

Wait for news appearing around the world "Honda tanks are made of soft cheese"

Possibly a good move. A tasty lunchtime snack without having to stop for a fatty pie.
Please get back to us when the other half of the story emerges.

Originally Posted by Mully

As I recall, Ford Motors in the 70s (??) had that with the Ford Pinto. The way the fuel tank was fitted meant it was prone to blow up in a minor nose to tail. Ford calculated that it was cheaper to defend lawsuits and pay compensation to anyone injured than to recall and repair all the cars.

Possibly the ford "explorer" A.K.A The "ford EXPLODER".

Bloody hopeless fraud manufacturing...

**Elysium** · 3rd August 2009, 16:45

Originally Posted by Swoop

Possibly a good move. A tasty lunchtime snack without having to stop for a fatty pie.
Please get back to us when the other half of the story emerges.

Possibly the ford "explorer" A.K.A The "ford EXPLODER".

Bloody hopeless fraud manufacturing...

Explains why Toyota are kicking the bi....small three over there.