What's the most reliable bike?

[martybabe]

Hornet and bandit are clear winners for inexpensive and reliable.

BMW boxers, fj1200s, rf900s are bargain older reliable bikes.

I actually think the earlier list of marque reliability is pretty close, can't rely on it too much though cause all of the top bunch have made a lemon or two.

Ti's only my opinion but if you want new and reliable, on a budget, Hug a Hornet. If you have dosh to spare an air cooled beemer will probably outlast us all and still look good if a little odd.

[Blatman]

Cool, thanks guys. I should mention that as it's only gonna be a second bike I'm looking at about $5k.
Front runners seem to be Honda Hornet\CB\VFR or Suzi Bandit\GS or Yammy XS\XJ or Beema. Probably for the $ though I doubt I'd get a good Beema and not sure they're my thing anyway. Shame I can't afford a late model Trumpy, I saw a red Thruxton in Henderson today at it gave me a stiffy. I'll start researching prices on Trademe.

[Bonez]

Cool, thanks guys. I should mention that as it's only gonna be a second bike I'm looking at about $5k.
Front runners seem to be Honda Hornet\CB\VFR or Suzi Bandit\GS or Yammy XS\XJ or Beema. Probably for the $ though I doubt I'd get a good Beema and not sure they're my thing anyway. Shame I can't afford a late model Trumpy, I saw a red Thruxton in Henderson today at it gave me a stiffy. I'll start researching prices on Trademe.

Theres certainly lots to chose from for $5k.

[tubehead]

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

I own both a 97 VFR750 and 2000 VFR800( gear cam drive) and the myth that the 750 is more reliable than the 800 is rubbish the 800s fuel injection is bonus..They are both bullet proof and 100,000 miles is a yawn to these bikes 250,000 miles plus and a big plus at that.

[vifferman]

I own both a 97 VFR750 and 2000 VFR800( gear cam drive) and the myth that the 750 is more reliable than the 800 is rubbish the 800s fuel injection is bonus..They are both bullet proof and 100,000 miles is a yawn to these bikes 250,000 miles plus and a big plus at that.

However, the 2002+ VFRs are certainly less reliable - they had several recalls for various issues (brakes, wiring, charging system), and the camchain tensioner is a perennial Honda weakness.
My 2001 VFR800 has summat north of 80,000 km, and I've had no reliability issues at all.

[Pwalo]

Well it's sure as hell not an MVX250. The most reliable bikes seem to be those that are used the most.

[Monty69]

HONDA. You know it, i know it, everyone knows it, HONDAS own reliable.

[lankyman]

Yea man, go VFR 750 or 800 depending on how much you want to spend. Comfy and reliable with a nice beefy bottom end of power curve.

[Conquiztador]

Surprised that nobody has mentioned the BMW K100's? They do 200,000 K's and keep going. You point them in a direction and off you go. Today you get them for around $3K with 60 -120K on the clock.

OK, so they are boring, but...

[Ixion]

Do you mean 'reliable as in 'will not break down in the middle of nowhere' ; or 'reliable' as in 'needs a minimum of attention at all' ; or 'reliable' as in 'minimum cost to run it'.

It makes a difference.

Some bikes might be very reliable in the first sense, but need regular , extensive maintenance. GP bikes are reliable "Did not finish" gets no trophies - at a cost.

Any bike with a chain is going to need regular attention on that basis. So if your rule for reliable is 'never have to spend time on it' you need a shaft or belt drive.

BMWs (pretty much all of them ) are reliable in the first and second sense. But the regular maintenance will cost you $$$$

Maggots are good in all respects. But unfashionable

The 4 cylinder air cooled Yamahas are indestructible - but will need chain adjustment and twitivating. And regular tyres.

XT600 Yamaha is bullet proof but needs chain adjustment etc

But it is very much a personal assessment. I have even heard people claim that Eytalian electrics are reliable

[mujambee]

Suzuki SACS engines are regarded as indestructible here. All GSXF's, GSXR's up to W (1995) and air-cooled Bandits.

Those engines had several unique design features (can't recall now) that allowed them to run on cold oil.


If you go for the "engine lasts forever" you may want to try one of those.

[sondela]

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?

Well Obviously, it's expressed as a % of how often they break down!!
soo..BMW (90%)
Harley Davidson (80.1%)
and so on....

[Timber020]

RF900, bandits, GSX750F, 900 hornet are all good. The RF900 is great at touring and works good in town. Fast comfortable under rated machine. Great value for money.

[boomer]

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!

one that doesnt break down

[alanzs]

I have had a couple Suzuki Bandit 1200's that were the epitome of reliable. I never had to do any work on them, other than regular maintenance. Between two Bandits, I put on over 150,000k's in 5-6 years. Never had one leave me stranded...