What's wrong with Hondas?

[vifferman]

While it's silly to say Hondas are gay, it could be fair to see that Hondas are perceived as bland. Compared to non-Japanese bikes, you could say they are lacking in character, generally because they are reliable, smooth, quiet, etc. Compared to other Japanese marques you could say they are bland, because they aren't usually as festooned with decals etc. as other bikes.
These things also apply to cars, and are why I own Yurpeen cars, even though they're less reliable than Jappers.

I started buying Hondas many hundreds of moons ago, when I was deciding on my first bike. I liked all bikes then, couldn't afford a Ducati, and had two preconceptions/misconceptions: Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki all sounded very Japanese, and of the four-stroke bikes available at that time (before the Zs were released) the Hondas were the best. So, I bought a Honda. Since then, every time I've been in the market for another bike, I've tested lots of bikes, but they all feel wrong, apart from the Honda. And even some of the Hondas feel wrong - I don't like the buzziness of IL4s.
But to be honest, I've had a hankering for an Italian bike since 1975.

[portokiwi]

Its true..... Its True.....
Hondas are justNICE

[Bend-it]

So you'd like to have an temperamental italian sex goddess but are stuck with a Japanese schoolboy after dropping the soap in the shower after gym class in 1975?

[driftn]

Rather see my sister in a brothel than my brother on a honda.
Thats what my old man used to say then the first bike he bought me was a CB250RS. Great bike quite possibly the best i have ever owned.

Dont have a problem with them myself I just prefer GSXR's

[portokiwi]

Mine was a CB750F Ohhh so nice to ride.

[vifferman]

So you'd like to have an temperamental italian sex goddess but are stuck with a Japanese schoolboy after dropping the soap in the shower after gym class in 1975?

Colourful, inaccurate, but essentially correct in principle.
What I would like is a gargre full of bikes: a supermotard, a cheap'n'cheerful commuter, a touring bike, a sprots bike, a race bike, perhaps a crusier, a dirt bike or three, etc etc.
However, I need to have one bike that does everything reasonably well: cue the VFR. It doesn't have the gorgeous styling of an MV or Ducati, but it's not too urglee.
It doesn't have the gorgeous sound and torque of a 90-degree v-twin, but it sounds pretty good, and doesn't need to be revved to move along.
It does pretty good duty as a sportsbike and tourer, even though it could do with more ponies and is slightly cramped two-up with three bags.
The Triumph ST has more power, but the VFR handles slightly better, and is better put together. The Ducati ST has better handling, but I don't like the styling as much as other Ducatis, and there's a wee taint of unreliability and high maintenance costs (unfounded perhaps) that hangs about. Plus the VFR is supposedly more comfy and more practical as a commuter.

Look at the phrases in bold: they could be taken as damning the VFR with faint praise. In fact, there's nothing really wrong with it, it's just kinda middle-of-the-road. If it wasn't for things like the V4 motor, single-sided swingarm (uglier than almost all other SSSAs), the gear-driven overhead cams, reliability and the excellent "jack of all trades" nature, you could perhaps assume it had little to make it stand out in a crowd.
Plus I've done a fair amount of 'tweaking' of mine to make it even more betterer. I have to - like my last three bikes, I've been informed "it's the last bike you'll ever have".

[Bend-it]

Just hassling mate! The analogy had to be expressed as it formed in my twisted little brain...

I'm all for practical bikes as well! test rode a cbr1000rr last year and absolutely loved it for NOT being as manic as some of the other litre sportbikes! Maybe I'm coming out of the closet as well eh?

But slammed the door firmly shut with my darling twin sister of an italian sex goddess...

[Big Dave]

It's a sad indictment on KB Suzuki Riders.

They have to make up this sort of thing to compensate for the fact that on any given ride there could be as many as 4 bikes exactly the same as theirs.

[popelli]

had a honda once a cb450

most unreliable and worst bike I have ever owned

parts quality was crap, valve cutouts on the pistons were noticebly different

valve kissed the piston and it went bang

honda did not want to know

have never and will never ever touch another honda ever again

[kiwi cowboy]

Thats just suzuki riders bleating cos they are on inferior machines & have no life.

well i have a onda and a suki does this mean i have a life or not

[retro asian]

On bimmersport.co.nz (BMW car forum) Hondas are even gayer than they are here on KB!!

Example: If a Honda Bike is gay, imagine that a CRX is gayer than a SNAG who wears emo pants and listens to Elton John while sipping Kahlua through a straw and crying "leave Britney alone!".....

[AllanB]

had a honda once a cb450

most unreliable and worst bike I have ever owned

parts quality was crap, valve cutouts on the pistons were noticebly different

valve kissed the piston and it went bang

honda did not want to know

have never and will never ever touch another honda ever again

That's the funniest thing I read here considering your riding list of Ducati and Harley - they were hardly the pinnacle of reliability in the same era as the old CB450!

Thanks for the chuckle.

Darn spunky looking those old 900ss bikes though

[Big Dave]

My first road bike was a CB450. I couldn't kill it - so I traded it on a SR500.

[AllanB]

My first road bike was a CB450. I couldn't kill it - so I traded it on a SR500.

He he he more funny stuff!!!!!

And the SR lasted.................?

Funny bikes those SR500's - in theory everything you need - a simple big thumper that's light (at the time) and handles well.

But living with them day in and out..........

They still have a following.

[mark247]

What are some of you guys on about? Hondas are pieces of shit. They are all rubbish. Never made a good bike ever. They are also GAYYYYY.