What's the most reliable bike?

**Big Dave** · 23rd March 2009, 16:41

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%)

To me this makes no sense - Expressed as a % of what?

**Motu** · 23rd March 2009, 18:01

BMW airhead - they are going for bargain prices at the moment.Not only are they no fuss reliable,but any repairs are super easy,and all parts are still stocked by BMW.

**Hiflyer** · 23rd March 2009, 18:01

im guessing you choose your model of bike then the % of people that think its reliable?? seems way to biased for me. . i'd go with any suzuki, bandits go and go and go and go. never heard o any problems with them, except the fork seals on the 98-99-00 models were a bit iffy apparently

**Hiflyer** · 23rd March 2009, 18:02

Originally Posted by Motu

BMW airhead - they are going for bargain prices at the moment.Not only are they no fuss reliable,but any repairs are super easy,and all parts are still stocked by BMW.

yea but theyre a beemer, im sure he doesnt mind what make the bike is but cmon, its a beemer, most people have standards

**AllanB** · 23rd March 2009, 18:19

Originally Posted by Hiflyer

yea but theyre a beemer, im sure he doesnt mind what make the bike is but cmon, its a beemer, most people have standards

Plus if he gets a BMW he will not be able to wave at other riders anymore.....

**Hiflyer** · 23rd March 2009, 18:24

Originally Posted by AllanB

Plus if he gets a BMW he will not be able to wave at other riders anymore.....

yea he will, only if its a cop bike will he not wave, (they use beemers rite?) oh no not another thread hijacked into a waving thread

**AllanB** · 23rd March 2009, 18:34

Waving threads are excellent - they bring out the best in the KB community

**Edbear** · 23rd March 2009, 18:43

Pretty much any modern Jappa really. The 900 Hornet is a great general purpose bike and I concur with the sentiments about them here.

But mine is just as reliable and comfy-as. Also looks the business!

**98tls** · 23rd March 2009, 18:55

Would have to agree with the previously posted Bandit,great all-rounder,bulletproof.Would agree with the Hornet posters as well to be honest though not my thing personally.

**Motu** · 23rd March 2009, 18:57

Originally Posted by AllanB

Plus if he gets a BMW he will not be able to wave at other riders anymore.....

I don't wave anyway,doesn't matter what bike I'm on.I don't have standards - that's why I will ride any bike that comes along.If you box yourself into a corner by saying I don't like this,and i don't like that - you will miss out on some very excellent bikes to ride.Your problem,not mine....

**AllanB** · 23rd March 2009, 19:07

Originally Posted by Motu

I don't wave anyway,doesn't matter what bike I'm on.I don't have standards - that's why I will ride any bike that comes along.If you box yourself into a corner by saying I don't like this,and i don't like that - you will miss out on some very excellent bikes to ride.Your problem,not mine....

100% agree, bling sent - I was just taking the piss

.

The Bandit - forgot about these - I'm pretty sure Noah rode one off the ark - the bloody things go forever.

If you like the look, keep an eye out for a GS1200ss - Bandit 1200 engine (with slightly smaller carbs & taller gearing), heaps of grunt and on TM they go cheaper than a Bandit. I had one - excellent speed-tourer as well. Hard on the wrists around town, but Rapid Art in Hamilton make higher clip-ons.

**cheshirecat** · 23rd March 2009, 19:20

94 to 97 vfr's because of the gear cams and 300 to 500 refinments after previous generation before they upped the cc and made it complicated. US VFR forum replies are normal to get 100,000 miles without anything except updating rectifier. Total for my vfr after 80,000k is one tailight bulb and one rectifier and this seems to be the norm. Honda were on the line to make the VFR work

**Subike** · 23rd March 2009, 19:25

You want cheap and reliable?
In opinion, any older Yamaha 4 stroke multi,
cheap as, comman as, plain as, reliabile as.
Go to any south Island rally and you see them by the dozens, from the older XS650's to the more refined XJ1300, nothing to see 100 - 200k on the clocks for some of these old girls, and a recent CHCH XS1100 finally failed after 380K
Sure there are suzukis, hondas and Kawasakis that are their equal in performance and reliability, but not in price.
But then I am baised, 178k on my 79XS1100 and still running sweet as.

**AD345** · 23rd March 2009, 19:34

Originally Posted by Big Dave

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%)

To me this makes no sense - Expressed as a % of what?

It'll be like Consumer surveys

"90% of respondents who owned a BMW motorcycle reported no breakdowns/mechanical work over regular servicing/whatever in the last x time period"

**Blackshear** · 23rd March 2009, 19:41

Take your pick

They'll all work fine with a few dollars thrown at them!
One just needs a spark...
The other a spark plug... A colossal amount of shark oil and scouring

And the other needs a new fork seal, and rear suspension bushings

But I got no monies to tinker

ALSO
As if my post had as little to do with this thread as it was...

Who's heard of a single geared bike... With no centrifugal clutch