Johnathon Hayes LOL, biker hell bro. Where all the engines overheat and the rum is always gone! How do you like the Yamaha? Which model did you have and trade for?
MOTOBLADE lol nooooo! I need my rum! I traded for the 1600 Midnight Star. She’s hypercharged. I’ll admit it doesn’t sound as good as the HD but I’ll trade that for reliability.
Not a bad thing you just went from #4 to #1 . what can you do reliability speaks louder than a name with the industry standards . If I was to make a American bike I` use the GM 2.5 liter four since that is a great engine.
So you get in middle of firing everyday ???? Just jocking man just tell me I'd you had any eprience of Kawasaki cruiser how reliable they are on very long ride let's say 400-600 km in one stretch ??
Yea those bikes are definitely for the people that have the time and money to baby them.. the maintenance is so damn expensive bcus of the "quality" of their parts and everything is so technical that it takes hours to do the simplest of repairs. Fwiw, i feel like those bikes are meant to break down or experience wear and tear sooner so you can replace things often and keep them up to date instead of lasting long and running them into the ground
I know Friends had Harleys with no ending trouble .even in the 1970`s Japan bikes had a great record of hassle free driving Our 1973 Honda 350 had no internal engine trouble the whole 42,000 miles we rode it !
As a Ducati 748 and BMW F650 Funduro owner, these bikes require a lifestyle which includes DIY on all maintenance and repairs. It is part of the biking experience and while I'm sure these machines weren't purposefully designed to be high maintenance, a bit of care and regularly servicing makes them as reliable as anything else.
got little honda Stunner cbf125 from 2009. 55000 km. no breaks, no drops no failure. various tough trips covered. leh ladakh for example, 1200 km in 30 hrs, etc. still mileage of 55km per litre at 70-80 speed. i dont really find a reason to exactly change it anymore. thanks for the video. Japanese engines last like forever.
My 1997 Honda VLX600 with 60000 miles on the clock has never seen the inside of a service station, and has never let me down either! She gets a full service every year or 3000 miles (whichever comes first) and still has all original sprockets, clutch assy, rear brake shoes just to mention a few. Oh, and she has had just one owner, never had a fall and looks as good as the day I bought her! I am soon to be 70 and have no intention of changing.😎
My son picked up an 05 for 300 from a cop who got it at auction. It was "totaled" by insurance. It got side swiped while parked. Only broke some lights. Also brakes were locked up from sitting too long. I fixed it. Now this bike starts up almost b4 you touch the button. Fun to ride. I have a rocket 3 but this is a friendlier bike. Told my son...my rocket is like a fancy woman you married, but the shadow is the cute girl next door who is a joy to be around.
That's why i chose Yamaha . Love it to bits, starts first time every time, easy maint, simple servicing. No faults after 4 years of owenership . Superbly enginerd/ build quality and most importantly really sharp pricing.
Had a couple of Yamahas years back. Great bikes. especially when we talk about their Legendary VMAX. hate em or love em...you can't deny what a great bike it is
If you ride a bike as your primary means of transportation, and can't/don't want to absorb the cost of mechanical failures (including the cost of alternative means of transportation), it just makes sense to go with one of the big 4 Japanese mfrs.
Another reason I bought my '18 Yamaha V Star. Fits me like a glove and is a torquey bike for a 250 V-twin SOHC. Returning after 50 years and wanted a reliable bike.
There's absolutely no surprise there for me. Over the last fifty years, I've owned BMWs, Harleys, and all four Japanese machines at some point. My personal experience supports this consumer report, although I'd say that before BMW went high tech and higher performance they had a reputation for reliability and simplicity. They were often referred to as The Gentleman's Express. A comfortable reliable machine that would eat up the miles, and those that rode them certainly did eat up the miles. I've owned more Yamahas than any other brand and at the moment ride a V-Star although I just added a V-Strom to the stable. Ride safe.
Kawasaki is rank #1 for less engine problems. They are rank #4 for minor problems overall. Ducati is rank #1 for the most engine problems and number #3 overall for engine and minor problems.kawasaki is 4 year straight sbk world champions in superbikes.
I bought a lot of new bikes when I was younger and I found Honda had the most issues. Yamaha was second in problems but Kawasaki and Suzuki never needed a single warranty claim. Just my experience.
I bought a Japanese bike built in England! Suzuki GSX-1000ABS and only thing wrong on the whole bike is somebody stripped the mirror out so gotta fix that but the rest is new and mint! Had 2k miles on it and was setting up on stands In a air and heat controlled garage! So it’s pristine exept the mirror! I will probably switch to Michelin tires and get the factory’s off it before I do any long trips or anything! But I rode it home 350 miles and put a 1k miles on it so far and it’s perfect!
I’ve had three R Series BMWs and two K Series BMW’s and never had an issue with any of them. I do all of my own maintenance. I think you’re being tough on the Beemers.
This is based off of consumer reports, unfortunately their ratings are slightly under actual because they comb through insurance company reports and coverage. I wasn't surprised to see Harley on that end of the list but there were a few I was generally surprised to hear about. I'd like to see where the MV Agusta falls overall.
I’ve had my Yamaha quad for 8 years, and nothing at all fucked me up. (Only a dirty carb which is gonna happen) And after 7 years of use, my John Deere Gator TX (Which is a Kawasaki made engine) had no problems, but the problems started flushing in. Hey, she got hella use out of me :)
Not sure where you live, but I saw BMWs ALL the time up in Alaska. Of the bikes you'd see up there, there were: Harleys, KLR650's, and BMW: 800s, 850s, 1200s, or 1250 Adv. Tour bikes. Between those three, you had well over half of the bikes running around in the Last Frontier. Now that I'm retired from Alaska and back down in the world, I still see quite a few 1200 or 1250 GS's.
I really enjoyed the presentation of this vid taken whilst riding on some interesting roads... especially in the latter part of the vid. Anyway, it is not surprising that the best are Japanese manufactured bikes. The now retired CEO of Honda ensured his factories were immaculate and his staff were treated like kings. An awesome work ethic! Upon his retirement, he travelled the world to personally shake the hand of every single Honda employee!! Who does that in the Western world? Nobody!
Wait, a business man who care about his employees? That is rare! The Japanese bikes are fantastic, that's why I just bought another Kawasaki 2 weeks ago. Pure quality. Thanks for watching and subscribing, I appreciate it! Ride safe brother!
It's weird that almost every bike on the best list become non-existent in ten years and the bikes on the worst list are still being driven....with some resale value. somebody explain this to me. Great video! Thank you
@@MOTOBLADE Indian makes a great bike. lol, anything on two wheels with a motor is a great bike when it comes down to it. It's about knees in the breeze and the freedom you feel. The greatest moment of all the years and different bikes I've had, comes down to one bike hands down, not even debatable. I was 9, and my ride was a mini bike with a Brig's and Stanton 3.5 horse motor on her. by far the best ride to date!
@@MOTOBLADE forgot to mention that I drive a Softail slim now.. Milwaukee 8 motor pulls hard and smooth for a heavy bike. I'm digging all the customizing options I have. doing all the wrenching myself. it's a great ride for what it is
@@michaelreed9805 that's exactly right! Knees in the breeze is all that matters. I love the M8 engine. Tried in in many different Harley reviews. I recently picked up a Harley to go along with the Indian (videos on my channel). An iron 883 with a 1275 hammer performance conversion. Like you, I'm doing all the wrenching myself and having so much fun with it.
I’m on my first Kawasaki so I am encouraged by the survey findings. But they were never “third” because Suzuki and Honda tied for second. Three bikes ahead of them on the list means they came FOURTH. If five bikes had tied for second they would have been SIXTH... etc
The Vulcan S is nice and lightweight. Still plenty of power and a very fun ride. I think it would be an excellent choice. Thanks for watching :) Ride safe!
BRP/Can-Am, having owned a Spyder, for a heavy engineering company they those to cheap out on certain parts, like power modules and air suspension units, and charge a high retail price, I'm back to Japanese, I will never stray again!!
Interesting. My three Yamahas have had no major issues. Of two Hondas, one had charging problems. Similarly with two Suzukis, one had charging problems (quite funny - the magnets on the rotor/flywheel migrated to one side, only held in place by glue). After reading the raves, I thought a Multistrada would be my perfect bike. Journalists lie - a lot. Quite apart from the cost of repairs and servicing, the Skyhook suspension was crap - the bike wanted to do tank slappies all the time. Did no journalist notice this? The throttle maps were lethal. No power in 1st or 2nd gear until it was doing 16mph. Any old lady in a Prius would leave you for dead at the lights. My safety round town relies on knowing that the bike will do what I need it to do, not having some design engineer decide that I have to be saved from wheelies. Now if only Yamaha would fix the riding position on the Tracer GT - move the foot pegs forward 6 or 8 inches...
@@MOTOBLADE Hoping to get a new Honda Rebel 500 w/ ABS. I was stuck between the Zulcan 650 S, Triumph Street Twin, MT-07, but decided to settle for an easy to mod type just in case. Great vids, funny and informative haha!
One note I worked on many engines ,and noticed Japan uses a better alumimum alloy than engines made in the USA , Plus many being water cooled adds to longer life as with the Kubota lawn equipment engine witch holds up extremely well over Kohler & Briggs & stratton .
It's ironic that Harley Davidson sell the most motorbikes and there one of the worst in reliability . I thought they charge customers extra for having a premium product. 🤔 Guess not!
WICKEDLEE LOOPY Let’s call it for what it really is ! It’s PREJUDICE , BIGOTRY & HATRED for non Harley bikes that ( most ) Americans choose HD , EVEN if its an inferior bike all the way around ! The ironic thing though ... that while riding their patriot brand , they have 2 Japanese cars parked in their driveway ! Hypocrisy at its finest !
Harley would be up in the top 2 if they used a engine design like the GM 2.5 liter four .or a opposed design to reduce vibration witch would not shake parts off. Put a Kubota engine on a Harley along with it`s Bosch electrical system still be classified as a International !
Kawasaki is fantastic. Loved my Vulcan S! The irony here is that I ended up buying an Indian. Everything is great so far! How do you like the H2? That thing is supposed to be insane!!
I agree 100% but you are aware that Honda churns out more than double the bikes per year that Yamaha does and 3 times as much as Suzuki and Kawasaki. So this is not a very reliable list because you're not taking into account the units produced or so I perceive.
I have owned six modern day triumph motorcycles averaging over 50,000 miles per year and I’ve had zero issues with any of them. Two of them have reached over 75,000 miles without even needing a valve adjustment. The blubbering love over overrated Japanese cars and motorcycles continues.
I don't know about where you live, but in the last two places I've been (Alaska and now Utah) I see a LOT of BMWs. In Alaska I saw almost as many Beemers as I did any of the big 4 Japanese makers (other than KLR650s, which should be on the Alaska flag with the Big Dipper.) There are more Harleys than any other brands in Alaska than any I saw, but BMW shares the road equally with the rest. Surprisingly, there weren't as many KTMs up there. Here in Utah KTMs are everywhere.
I learned to ride motorcycles in the Philippines when I was in high school. It was the start to a 50+ year love affair with motorcycles with Kawasaki Concours being my favorite bike of all time.
Great job. I'm looking at getting back up after 33 years. I'm looking at a Vulcan S, Rebel 500 or CB500X. My wife is hot for a Can-Am Ryker. Sending her the video.
I’ve owned a cb500x and it was a great bike with no issues but I only did about 24000 k’s on it and I currently own a Cbr500r with no issues but it’s only done 4000k’s and I would recommend the little Honda’s
oh man don't get me started on can am. got two friends running RT spyders and one bike has had a plethora of trouble as did his previous spyder. so 4 spyders and three of them where junk between the two owners. wiring harnesses, blown motor AND THE SHITTIEST CUSTOMER SERVICE KNOWN TO MAN!!!!! dealers were great but Bombardier act like just what they are, a bunch of ignorant, arrogant Queer-becers that exist on government subsidies. the trikes are foolishly hard to work on, requiring you to strip it to the frame for almost anything in-depth. the security system is always going nuts and giving no starts, water intrusion in fuse boxes, horrible tire wear straight from the factory always a powertrain malfunction indicator popping up on cluster when you start these mechanical nightmares. gawd I wouldn't wish these crap pots on my worst enemy. but folks believe me when I say that as bad as the product is, the corporate customer service is deplorable, deceptive, combative, arrogant, dismissive and hard to reach.
Been with Yamaha from the 60's . My last was a V-STAR 1100 , really don't like V-twins . This I would buy again .But now it's too costly and I'm 74 so the 650 is looking real good , price , maybe still too high for my finances .
After the Goldwing, with leg and arm issues, I’m heading to a smaller bike with less weight. Looking at the Kawasaki W800, just need to find some canners and a nice windscreen.
I question the surveys based on my own experience and talking with other riders, Victory vibrates more than comparable Harley and Indian bikes, yet came in higher in comfort? Then how reliable is any of these surveys?
As a old fart I'll stay with my two kawasaki zrxr s one 1100 modified nicely wild and my butter smooth 1200, at 70 my wife keeps telling me to act my age can't behave and ride wheelies.
I always tell people asking my opinions on bikes that you can't go wrong with any of the Japanese brands, they are king in reliability bar none! Btw, I heard that Victory didn't actually get killed off. Supposedly they are still "a brand" just "under new management" so to speak?
They are not being made anymore. Polaris is switching its focus to indian motorcycles. Unless another company came in to pick Victory up. They are just selling off what remains...
Yeah, I believe the Octane was the last one they made before the shut down production. I kinda want to get one before they're all gone. They were such good bikes!
Yes, i was recently watching videos on the Octane and I really want one now lol! Damn shame tho... they were my favorite American brand, although Indian is a close 2nd lol
I would say to that..I really hope that is true.They have done it before so why not again. Some of the victory bikes have in my opinion extremely great looking bikes. No other brand bikes comes close to that.
blackcauldron congratulations bro, I have Kawasaki Vulcan S ABS since february 2016 and I still think that is the best buy I have ever done! So, if you already bought it, wellcome to the club; if no, then hurry up.
Yea man, get one. Ive had mine for 2 years and its been fantastic. If its possible, get one from a kawi dealer that does the ergo fitting for you there on the spot so you get the most factory comfort you can get out of the gate.
Only % say nothing. When a lightbulb burns out, it counts as a repair, just like a major repair or replacement. But at least, you upload the best list till now.
don't waste your money. I have yet to experience anything outside of routine wear failures on any kawi I've ever owned. I ride my bike like they're rented and do all my own maintenance and repairs and the Lions share is oil changes, brakes, tires etc etc. nothing major ever.
gmctech you do your own repairs... What have you replaced on your bike? Not many people are mechanically inclined. As well as people don't want to research and join forums to find out how to repair things that fail on their motorcycle.
@@c-zen890 i had the extended warranty for like 5 months out of the 3 year that i was paying for. I got the warranty canceled and prorated for the time i didnt use.. here i am past the 3 year mark and never had any problems that didnt require basic maintenance.. tires, brakes, oil changes, air filter, chain clean/lube.. None of those required more than an hour and basic tools. I actually bought another ninja 8 months after the vulcan and said no thanks to the service package and extended warranty bcus that saved me $3000. i started doing the basic stuff myself, and i learned it all on my vulcan bcus mostly everything is visible and easy to access
Surprise surprise, the 4 BEST, MORE RELIABLE AND WITH BEST ENGINEERING are nothing more and nothing less than the insurmountable Japanese, I'm sorry for the expensive, luxurious and covered in carbon fiber from top to bottom europeans, because making more expensive a motorcycle to the force is not going to make them better engineered.
It would seem like allowance should be made for brands that pack a bunch of accessories and doodads onto their bikes. The more stuff, the more likely something is to break. But, if you think about it, you have to deal with the bike you buy. If you get a bike with a bunch of extra stuff on it, and it breaks down, then your bike is in the shop and you can't ride. So the survey has to be done based on the bikes people ride, not on some theoretical super basic machine that almost never breaks down because it has nothing on it but handle bars attached to an engine. But, still, is Yamaha #1 because their bikes are a bit simpler in design with fewer bells and whistles to malfunction? I have no idea. I think of the Rebel 300 and 500 --- sort of basic bikes that don't have as much on them to break down like, say, the Vulcan S. Does that give Honda an advantage in the survey? But then think of the Gold Wing ... absolutely crammed with tender electronics that could potentially break down at any moment. Or likewise the Star Venture. I think the bottom line is take into consideration these rankings, but also consider that within each brand different bikes will have very different reliabilities. A Honda Gold Wing is going to be in the shop a lot more than the 300.
If Polaris wanted to stay in the motorcycle industry they would call them Polaris motorcycles! They will sell off the Indian name in the future, which will be about the 8th time!
Motorcycle world is more an emotional one than rational one, nobody buy for a "rational bike" so if emotions keep you feel right on your bike they get irrationals points or stupidity points for some! Thats good! Some tell me i am-was "fuckedup" to buy a maxi-scooter like a Suzuki Burgman 650 executive "THAT'S NOT A MOTORCYCLE ITS FOR PUSSY'S" comments i get! Very emotional dudes! So i love the "Not A Bike" for its practical side and comfort and reliability like a Toyota but it's a fun "vehicle" too! For touring at this price and equipment level this is one of the best! The most surprising was when they try it and they tell me they like the Burgman way , fun and good feeling.......... so!
Bmw not known for motorbikes? Crazy how different european markets are to us. In UK you see bmws all over yet never ever see the likes of Harleys or Indians
I cant tell you where they are on this list. But from my experiences and words on the street, they are fine in the dirt, not so great on the road. They do have some nice street bikes but a lot of people are trading them in bcus they require constant maintenance and everything is all electronic. If you like all the tech then try one out.. Ive ridden the rc390, duke 690, and the superduke R 1290... i didnt like the way the 690 engine felt and sounded and it was the least comfortable (which is just my opinion), the 390 was pretty fun for being a small bike, and the superduke was a riot, kinda scary at some points but it was the thrill ride of a lifetime and i could definitely see myself buying the GT model in a few years.. i really like their dirtbikes tho
Traded a Harley for a Yamaha. I know I’m going to hell.
Johnathon Hayes LOL, biker hell bro. Where all the engines overheat and the rum is always gone! How do you like the Yamaha? Which model did you have and trade for?
MOTOBLADE lol nooooo! I need my rum! I traded for the 1600 Midnight Star. She’s hypercharged. I’ll admit it doesn’t sound as good as the HD but I’ll trade that for reliability.
Hypercharged sounds cool
Not a bad thing you just went from #4 to #1 . what can you do reliability speaks louder than a name with the industry standards
. If I was to make a American bike I` use the GM 2.5 liter four since that is a great engine.
You may have traded your “soul”, but your wallet will thank you!😂🤑
I have owned Hondas, Suzukis, & Kawasakis, never had a problem with Japanese bikes. I do think the Kawasaki is the most bulletproof.
Yes kawasaki motor is great
So you get in middle of firing everyday ????
Just jocking man just tell me I'd you had any eprience of Kawasaki cruiser how reliable they are on very long ride let's say 400-600 km in one stretch ??
The KZ 900... Wow, still a beast on the drag strip
Kawasaki just sounds so cool 🤩
Damn Ducati and BMW..the most expensive bikes breaks the most
MrCow you obviously never had a Harley-Davidson before.... Most unreliable brand ever
Edward Steinjolt I didnt no. Although i am riding on a cruiser atm (vulcan s) i doubt i will ever buy a harley
Yea those bikes are definitely for the people that have the time and money to baby them.. the maintenance is so damn expensive bcus of the "quality" of their parts and everything is so technical that it takes hours to do the simplest of repairs. Fwiw, i feel like those bikes are meant to break down or experience wear and tear sooner so you can replace things often and keep them up to date instead of lasting long and running them into the ground
I know Friends had Harleys with no ending trouble .even in the 1970`s Japan bikes had a great record of hassle free driving Our 1973 Honda 350 had no internal engine trouble the whole 42,000 miles we rode it !
@@chuckbear1961 l
Yamaha and honda at my place is both king in motorcycle .
They are fantastic bikes!
As a Ducati 748 and BMW F650 Funduro owner, these bikes require a lifestyle which includes DIY on all maintenance and repairs. It is part of the biking experience and while I'm sure these machines weren't purposefully designed to be high maintenance, a bit of care and regularly servicing makes them as reliable as anything else.
I get that completely...it's a passion
got little honda Stunner cbf125 from 2009. 55000 km. no breaks, no drops no failure. various tough trips covered. leh ladakh for example, 1200 km in 30 hrs, etc. still mileage of 55km per litre at 70-80 speed. i dont really find a reason to exactly change it anymore. thanks for the video. Japanese engines last like forever.
That's awesome bro! That bike will last forever!
My 1997 Honda VLX600 with 60000 miles on the clock has never seen the inside of a service station, and has never let me down either!
She gets a full service every year or 3000 miles (whichever comes first) and still has all original sprockets, clutch assy, rear brake shoes just to mention a few. Oh, and she has had just one owner, never had a fall and looks as good as the day I bought her! I am soon to be 70 and have no intention of changing.😎
My son picked up an 05 for 300 from a cop who got it at auction. It was "totaled" by insurance. It got side swiped while parked. Only broke some lights. Also brakes were locked up from sitting too long. I fixed it. Now this bike starts up almost b4 you touch the button. Fun to ride. I have a rocket 3 but this is a friendlier bike. Told my son...my rocket is like a fancy woman you married, but the shadow is the cute girl next door who is a joy to be around.
That's why i chose Yamaha . Love it to bits, starts first time every time, easy maint, simple servicing. No faults after 4 years of owenership . Superbly enginerd/ build quality and most importantly really sharp pricing.
Had a couple of Yamahas years back. Great bikes. especially when we talk about their Legendary VMAX. hate em or love em...you can't deny what a great bike it is
If you ride a bike as your primary means of transportation, and can't/don't want to absorb the cost of mechanical failures (including the cost of alternative means of transportation), it just makes sense to go with one of the big 4 Japanese mfrs.
Get some good saddlebags for storage and it can be done! And a good rain suit too ☔️
I have owner both Hondas and Yamahas and both have been bulletproof!
Honda is very reliable. I’ve have a 2007 Honda shadow VT600C VLX deluxe and it’s never broken down once and always started up in the spring.
Another reason I bought my '18 Yamaha V Star. Fits me like a glove and is a torquey bike for a 250 V-twin SOHC. Returning after 50 years and wanted a reliable bike.
Top Best 4 are Japanese :)
Inder They do make quality bikes!
@@MOTOBLADE and cars lol
Victory is not Japanese.
@@jamestodd2612 Right, but he said top 4. Victory is number 5.
There's absolutely no surprise there for me. Over the last fifty years, I've owned BMWs, Harleys, and all four Japanese machines at some point. My personal experience supports this consumer report, although I'd say that before BMW went high tech and higher performance they had a reputation for reliability and simplicity. They were often referred to as The Gentleman's Express. A comfortable reliable machine that would eat up the miles, and those that rode them certainly did eat up the miles. I've owned more Yamahas than any other brand and at the moment ride a V-Star although I just added a V-Strom to the stable. Ride safe.
Kawasaki is rank #1 for less engine problems. They are rank #4 for minor problems overall. Ducati is rank #1 for the most engine problems and number #3 overall for engine and minor problems.kawasaki is 4 year straight sbk world champions in superbikes.
Kawasaki is amazing quality. The Vulcan S was a great bike, I enjoyed it a lot.
Kawasaki is the best
I bought a lot of new bikes when I was younger and I found Honda had the most issues. Yamaha was second in problems but Kawasaki and Suzuki never needed a single warranty claim. Just my experience.
I bought a Japanese bike built in England! Suzuki GSX-1000ABS and only thing wrong on the whole bike is somebody stripped the mirror out so gotta fix that but the rest is new and mint! Had 2k miles on it and was setting up on stands In a air and heat controlled garage! So it’s pristine exept the mirror! I will probably switch to Michelin tires and get the factory’s off it before I do any long trips or anything! But I rode it home 350 miles and put a 1k miles on it so far and it’s perfect!
Congrats on the new ride! Ride safe!
I’ve had three R Series BMWs and two K Series BMW’s and never had an issue with any of them. I do all of my own maintenance. I think you’re being tough on the Beemers.
This is based off of consumer reports, unfortunately their ratings are slightly under actual because they comb through insurance company reports and coverage. I wasn't surprised to see Harley on that end of the list but there were a few I was generally surprised to hear about. I'd like to see where the MV Agusta falls overall.
Consumer reports is not the gold standard they would like you to believe. Id like to see a poll of owners
Lindsay Merritt I have owned my BMW R1200RS since new 2015, hasn’t missed a beat. Touching wood as I write this😀
St. ounay. Relax and enjoy your bike. I’ve done THOUSANDS of miles on BMW’s and they’re great bikes. 😀
Indeed I will. Actually thinking of trading in for the new R1250RS. Looks very tasty 😃
Couple of week back I have joined Kawasaki family and based on your information I made a great choice.
That's great! So glad I could help. Enjoy your new ride!
My first bike was a Kawasaki . John Deere uses Kawasaki engines in many of their lawn tractors with great results over Briggs & Stratton & Kohler
Suzukiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii with love!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great machines from The Toro GTS lawn mower engine to the Chevy Tracker ( Both made by Suzuki) RELIABLE
I love Suzuki, I have a Gixxer
@@avim4896 I have dl1000 now and like it.
My o7 bonneville gave me zero problems in the 2 yrs and 20000 miles i put on it.
Comfort for me includes reliability.
I'm glad victory made the top five.
It's surprising that Triumph was scored in worst 5 because so many people say so highly of Triumph bikes in terms of quality.
Quality yes... But reliability... Not so much compared to a Japanese made one.
Build quality is great, engine quality is shit.
@@xfedoraxdavex7359 so do an engine swap?
My favorite bike of the 12 that I own is also a green one.
Nice! Which bike is that?
Gonna get myself a Vulcan this month..
Proud Owner of Yamaha😍😍😍
Nice! Which model?
@@MOTOBLADE R15s
Planning to Upgrade to R3 or R6
@@rameshsridhar84 very nice! I just got a Ninja 650 and I am enjoying it very much. I will have to try an R6 sometime!
@@MOTOBLADE I love the Ninja's too, by the way Congratulations for your Brand new bike.
your videos are far more informative than other youtoubers thanks for that
I appreciate that, thank you :)
@@MOTOBLADE better than yamy noobs videos 🙂
@@rajkulal1thats a meme channel
Honda is still the best simply because it sells WAY MORE than the others.
Lower cost plus 2X the reliability . Just like Honda`s cars and lawn equipment
Chuck B
Exactly.
I’ve had my Yamaha quad for 8 years, and nothing at all fucked me up. (Only a dirty carb which is gonna happen)
And after 7 years of use, my John Deere Gator TX (Which is a Kawasaki made engine) had no problems, but the problems started flushing in. Hey, she got hella use out of me :)
Not sure where you live, but I saw BMWs ALL the time up in Alaska. Of the bikes you'd see up there, there were: Harleys, KLR650's, and BMW: 800s, 850s, 1200s, or 1250 Adv. Tour bikes. Between those three, you had well over half of the bikes running around in the Last Frontier. Now that I'm retired from Alaska and back down in the world, I still see quite a few 1200 or 1250 GS's.
Happy owner of Honda and Suzuki
Very nice!
I really enjoyed the presentation of this vid taken whilst riding on some interesting roads... especially in the latter part of the vid. Anyway, it is not surprising that the best are Japanese manufactured bikes. The now retired CEO of Honda ensured his factories were immaculate and his staff were treated like kings. An awesome work ethic! Upon his retirement, he travelled the world to personally shake the hand of every single Honda employee!! Who does that in the Western world? Nobody!
Wait, a business man who care about his employees? That is rare! The Japanese bikes are fantastic, that's why I just bought another Kawasaki 2 weeks ago. Pure quality. Thanks for watching and subscribing, I appreciate it! Ride safe brother!
@@MOTOBLADE Yes. Very rare indeed. Thank you for your reply. Love riding and I really enjoy the vids/education provided by channels such as yours.👍
I see BMW MC everyday, old and new. It must be a regional thing.nice info.
It's weird that almost every bike on the best list become non-existent in ten years and the bikes on the worst list are still being driven....with some resale value. somebody explain this to me. Great video! Thank you
I thought the same thing!! I'm on an Indian now, and it's wonderful but wasn't even on the list at the time!
@@MOTOBLADE Indian makes a great bike. lol, anything on two wheels with a motor is a great bike when it comes down to it. It's about knees in the breeze and the freedom you feel. The greatest moment of all the years and different bikes I've had, comes down to one bike hands down, not even debatable. I was 9, and my ride was a mini bike with a Brig's and Stanton 3.5 horse motor on her. by far the best ride to date!
@@MOTOBLADE forgot to mention that I drive a Softail slim now.. Milwaukee 8 motor pulls hard and smooth for a heavy bike. I'm digging all the customizing options I have. doing all the wrenching myself. it's a great ride for what it is
@@michaelreed9805 that's exactly right! Knees in the breeze is all that matters. I love the M8 engine. Tried in in many different Harley reviews. I recently picked up a Harley to go along with the Indian (videos on my channel). An iron 883 with a 1275 hammer performance conversion. Like you, I'm doing all the wrenching myself and having so much fun with it.
Went to showroom twice to get a Honda, because I did my training course on a Honda but twice I walked out with Kawasaki without regrets.
FJR 1300 owner, best bike I've ever ridden!
Kawasaki great engines. I have eagle 125cc kawasaki 40years but no problems in engine good running conditions.
Hi!
Brother the report you referenced is from 2015 and I guess in 3 years a lot of things change...
I’m on my first Kawasaki so I am encouraged by the survey findings. But they were never “third” because Suzuki and Honda tied for second. Three bikes ahead of them on the list means they came FOURTH. If five bikes had tied for second they would have been SIXTH... etc
I'd love to know what the things that go wrong with the least reliable.. is it accessories or issues with engine? That make a load of difference
Kawasaki let's the good times roll.
Heck yeah 😎
I like the Kawasaki 650 that you are riding. I may buy one, one day. My V Star 650 is getting pretty heavy for me now at age 66.
The Vulcan S is nice and lightweight. Still plenty of power and a very fun ride. I think it would be an excellent choice. Thanks for watching :) Ride safe!
Just work out
I like your bike, nice. I wonder where Royal Enfield comes into the reliable chart, maybe near the bottom, but I love them.
They do have aretro charm. But ive heard bad things about the singles and good on the bigger twins
BRP/Can-Am, having owned a Spyder, for a heavy engineering company they those to cheap out on certain parts, like power modules and air suspension units, and charge a high retail price, I'm back to Japanese, I will never stray again!!
I've always wanted a spyder, but I've heard too many stories like yours. Thanks for watching!
Interesting. My three Yamahas have had no major issues. Of two Hondas, one had charging problems. Similarly with two Suzukis, one had charging problems (quite funny - the magnets on the rotor/flywheel migrated to one side, only held in place by glue). After reading the raves, I thought a Multistrada would be my perfect bike. Journalists lie - a lot. Quite apart from the cost of repairs and servicing, the Skyhook suspension was crap - the bike wanted to do tank slappies all the time. Did no journalist notice this? The throttle maps were lethal. No power in 1st or 2nd gear until it was doing 16mph. Any old lady in a Prius would leave you for dead at the lights. My safety round town relies on knowing that the bike will do what I need it to do, not having some design engineer decide that I have to be saved from wheelies.
Now if only Yamaha would fix the riding position on the Tracer GT - move the foot pegs forward 6 or 8 inches...
Thank you for helping me decide on my first bike!
You are super welcome! Glad I could help. What did you get?
@@MOTOBLADE Hoping to get a new Honda Rebel 500 w/ ABS. I was stuck between the Zulcan 650 S, Triumph Street Twin, MT-07, but decided to settle for an easy to mod type just in case. Great vids, funny and informative haha!
@@cristianvillanueva8782 Awesome! Whatever you ride, be safe and have fun. Glad you enjoy my channel. I really appreciate that 😁
One note I worked on many engines ,and noticed Japan uses a better alumimum alloy than engines made in the USA ,
Plus many being water cooled adds to longer life as with the Kubota lawn equipment engine witch holds up extremely well over Kohler & Briggs & stratton .
They are very well made machines. I still prefer my American-Made Indian Chieftain, but no doubt the Asian manufacturers know their stuff!
It's ironic that Harley Davidson sell the most motorbikes and there one of the worst in reliability . I thought they charge customers extra for having a premium product. 🤔 Guess not!
Part of what turned me off to Harley. Talking to owners who were fed up with paying a premium price for subpar product.
WICKEDLEE LOOPY Let’s call it for what it really is ! It’s PREJUDICE , BIGOTRY & HATRED for non Harley bikes that ( most ) Americans choose HD , EVEN if its an inferior bike all the way around ! The ironic thing though ... that while riding their patriot brand , they have 2 Japanese cars parked in their driveway ! Hypocrisy at its finest !
Harley would be up in the top 2 if they used a engine design like the GM 2.5 liter four .or a opposed design to reduce vibration witch would not shake parts off. Put a Kubota engine on a Harley along with it`s Bosch electrical system still be classified as a International !
Its brainwashing.
I own a kawasaki ninja H2 and i can say that kawasaki >> high end brands
Kawasaki is fantastic. Loved my Vulcan S! The irony here is that I ended up buying an Indian. Everything is great so far! How do you like the H2? That thing is supposed to be insane!!
I agree 100% but you are aware that Honda churns out more than double the bikes per year that Yamaha does and 3 times as much as Suzuki and Kawasaki. So this is not a very reliable list because you're not taking into account the units produced or so I perceive.
I'm simply going off a consumer reports reliability index. And this video was 4 years ago, so those numbers may have changed.
Thinking about buying a Goes Tekken 125cc 4 stroke bike. Is it good???
For beginner rider ofc
Install videos,reviews related to motorcycle videos are always welcome in my opinion.
Cruiser John Thanks for the feedback!
I have owned six modern day triumph motorcycles averaging over 50,000 miles per year and I’ve had zero issues with any of them. Two of them have reached over 75,000 miles without even needing a valve adjustment. The blubbering love over overrated Japanese cars and motorcycles continues.
I don't know about where you live, but in the last two places I've been (Alaska and now Utah) I see a LOT of BMWs. In Alaska I saw almost as many Beemers as I did any of the big 4 Japanese makers (other than KLR650s, which should be on the Alaska flag with the Big Dipper.) There are more Harleys than any other brands in Alaska than any I saw, but BMW shares the road equally with the rest. Surprisingly, there weren't as many KTMs up there. Here in Utah KTMs are everywhere.
I don't see any beemers in Vermont. All harleys and some Asian adventure touring bikes.
BMWs are some of the most popular in California
So if Victory is tops, buying a used Victory is a good idea, but is it hard to find parts when needed?
Thanks for sharing man. Hope that I could get a bike on my own. Greetings from Philippines! I liked your vids man. ☑️☑️
Dave Alexander Nuñez Thank you!
I learned to ride motorcycles in the Philippines when I was in high school. It was the start to a 50+ year love affair with motorcycles with Kawasaki Concours being my favorite bike of all time.
Which bike is that you are riding
Kawasaki Vulcan S, 2015 model.
@@MOTOBLADE thankyou for this amazing video
@@satvikgopal2928 You're welcome! Thanks for watching!
You've hardly seen bmws in this country? Theyre everywhere.
Polaris Victory sold no manuals. Had tremendous electrical problems. Victory had to change there name to Indian. Hope they learn.
Great job. I'm looking at getting back up after 33 years. I'm looking at a Vulcan S, Rebel 500 or CB500X. My wife is hot for a Can-Am Ryker. Sending her the video.
Best advice I can give is test ride everything. Best way to find what you like. Thanks for watching!
I’ve owned a cb500x and it was a great bike with no issues but I only did about 24000 k’s on it and I currently own a Cbr500r with no issues but it’s only done 4000k’s and I would recommend the little Honda’s
oh man don't get me started on can am. got two friends running RT spyders and one bike has had a plethora of trouble as did his previous spyder. so 4 spyders and three of them where junk between the two owners. wiring harnesses, blown motor AND THE SHITTIEST CUSTOMER SERVICE KNOWN TO MAN!!!!! dealers were great but Bombardier act like just what they are, a bunch of ignorant, arrogant Queer-becers that exist on government subsidies. the trikes are foolishly hard to work on, requiring you to strip it to the frame for almost anything in-depth. the security system is always going nuts and giving no starts, water intrusion in fuse boxes, horrible tire wear straight from the factory always a powertrain malfunction indicator popping up on cluster when you start these mechanical nightmares. gawd I wouldn't wish these crap pots on my worst enemy. but folks believe me when I say that as bad as the product is, the corporate customer service is deplorable, deceptive, combative, arrogant, dismissive and hard to reach.
I don't agree with Yamaha.
I'd say Honda.
I actually own a Suzuki V-Strom 1000 that I love.
Been with Yamaha from the 60's . My last was a V-STAR 1100 , really don't like V-twins . This I would buy again .But now it's too costly and I'm 74 so the 650 is looking real good , price , maybe still too high for my finances .
After the Goldwing, with leg and arm issues, I’m heading to a smaller bike with less weight. Looking at the Kawasaki W800, just need to find some canners and a nice windscreen.
I love that bike. I saw my 1st one in the early 2000s. I didnt get one but it led to me getting an 07 bonneville which was bullet proof. Same look
What was the percentage of bikes sold? I bet Honda sold more bikes so 14%of 1000 is better than 13% of 700
Neil fields it doesn’t matter how many’s sold that’s why they use percentage. Percentage remains the same.
There’s plenty of maths courses around!
Ive had a Suzuki Vstrom 1k for 5 years with a 0% breakdown percent.
I question the surveys based on my own experience and talking with other riders, Victory vibrates more than comparable Harley and Indian bikes, yet came in higher in comfort? Then how reliable is any of these surveys?
As a old fart I'll stay with my two kawasaki zrxr s one 1100 modified nicely wild and my butter smooth 1200, at 70 my wife keeps telling me to act my age can't behave and ride wheelies.
Never act your age and never slow down! Keep going forever! Wish you all the best. Thanks for watching!
Aren’t all Harley components made outside of the USA and only assembled in the USA ? Harley should get the assembled in Japan and many be Number 1.
Not a bad idea! Too many overseas parts in Harleys in my opinion. Thanks for watching!
Harley's are junk, poor quality outdated rubbish
Yamaha FJR 1300 es great bike with very few problem.
What about royal infield and Moto Guzzi
Great video bro
Mr CASILLAS-ORTIZ Thanks bro!
I always tell people asking my opinions on bikes that you can't go wrong with any of the Japanese brands, they are king in reliability bar none! Btw, I heard that Victory didn't actually get killed off. Supposedly they are still "a brand" just "under new management" so to speak?
They are not being made anymore. Polaris is switching its focus to indian motorcycles. Unless another company came in to pick Victory up. They are just selling off what remains...
MOTOBLADE damn I see... She cuz they came out with the Octane, which is an awesome bike (although it uses an Indian engine)
Yeah, I believe the Octane was the last one they made before the shut down production. I kinda want to get one before they're all gone. They were such good bikes!
Yes, i was recently watching videos on the Octane and I really want one now lol! Damn shame tho... they were my favorite American brand, although Indian is a close 2nd lol
I would say to that..I really hope that is true.They have done it before so why not again.
Some of the victory bikes have in my opinion extremely great looking bikes. No other brand bikes comes close to that.
honda africa twin ....is awesome
Your videos are always helpful. I’m still buying a vulcan s ni matter what other people
Say
blackcauldron yeah man, I like mine a lot. Thanks for watching!
blackcauldron congratulations bro, I have Kawasaki Vulcan S ABS since february 2016 and I still think that is the best buy I have ever done! So, if you already bought it, wellcome to the club; if no, then hurry up.
Leobel Carmona Actually just got a new bike too :)
Yea man, get one. Ive had mine for 2 years and its been fantastic. If its possible, get one from a kawi dealer that does the ergo fitting for you there on the spot so you get the most factory comfort you can get out of the gate.
2007 harley fatboy owned 7 years not one brake down in 43000 km
so where do you get your imfo from
Link to source data is in the description.
BMW Motorcycle are used by many Police Agencies here in California
Ofcource Yamaha , The crossplane R1, R6 ❤️❤️😍😍
Only % say nothing. When a lightbulb burns out, it counts as a repair, just like a major repair or replacement.
But at least, you upload the best list till now.
You’ve only sees a couple of BMW ‘s in the last year??? Not really known in the U.S. ???
Thank you very much!
Regarding your statement that BMW's are rare "in this country", I contend that you haven't been paying attention.
I don't see those bikes either in the US here at Kansas. I see those bikes a lot in Mexico, nothing special about them, hell of expensive.
I ve owned 22 motorcycles and my worst bikes 10 Harleys
Was Aprilia in this report?
I have had à yamaha xj900s 47000mileslater itsstill ok nobreakdowns ?
So Indian is no longer American. I did not realize that.
Love your videos from Mizoram, India.... How about the reliability of KTM motorcycle engines?
KTM, Benelli & RE are worst in the terms of reliability.
@@kiranbhabal3329 could be a lot worse MZ, Royal Enfield, Ural, Dnepr
Love your channel man I just started motovlogging and we have the same helmet
Awesome! I like mine. Very comfortable.
With Kawasaki being so reliable, I don't know if it is necessary to purchase an extended warranty from the dealer. Thoughts?
LIONS 67 depends how long and for how much. I honestly am not worried about mine in the least, and it was used... super reliable and well made.
don't waste your money. I have yet to experience anything outside of routine wear failures on any kawi I've ever owned. I ride my bike like they're rented and do all my own maintenance and repairs and the Lions share is oil changes, brakes, tires etc etc. nothing major ever.
gmctech you do your own repairs... What have you replaced on your bike? Not many people are mechanically inclined. As well as people don't want to research and join forums to find out how to repair things that fail on their motorcycle.
gmctech so possibly buying extended warranty might be better for some people. Unless your 100% sure its that reliable.
@@c-zen890 i had the extended warranty for like 5 months out of the 3 year that i was paying for. I got the warranty canceled and prorated for the time i didnt use.. here i am past the 3 year mark and never had any problems that didnt require basic maintenance.. tires, brakes, oil changes, air filter, chain clean/lube.. None of those required more than an hour and basic tools. I actually bought another ninja 8 months after the vulcan and said no thanks to the service package and extended warranty bcus that saved me $3000. i started doing the basic stuff myself, and i learned it all on my vulcan bcus mostly everything is visible and easy to access
Surprise surprise, the 4 BEST, MORE RELIABLE AND WITH BEST ENGINEERING are nothing more and nothing less than the insurmountable Japanese, I'm sorry for the expensive, luxurious and covered in carbon fiber from top to bottom europeans, because making more expensive a motorcycle to the force is not going to make them better engineered.
YO FOLKEES MY 2014 M109R NO PROBLEMS EVER 3500 MILES LOVE IT EXCEPT ITS SO FKN HEAVY
It would seem like allowance should be made for brands that pack a bunch of accessories and doodads onto their bikes. The more stuff, the more likely something is to break. But, if you think about it, you have to deal with the bike you buy. If you get a bike with a bunch of extra stuff on it, and it breaks down, then your bike is in the shop and you can't ride. So the survey has to be done based on the bikes people ride, not on some theoretical super basic machine that almost never breaks down because it has nothing on it but handle bars attached to an engine. But, still, is Yamaha #1 because their bikes are a bit simpler in design with fewer bells and whistles to malfunction? I have no idea. I think of the Rebel 300 and 500 --- sort of basic bikes that don't have as much on them to break down like, say, the Vulcan S. Does that give Honda an advantage in the survey? But then think of the Gold Wing ... absolutely crammed with tender electronics that could potentially break down at any moment. Or likewise the Star Venture. I think the bottom line is take into consideration these rankings, but also consider that within each brand different bikes will have very different reliabilities. A Honda Gold Wing is going to be in the shop a lot more than the 300.
Very good point! Simplicity in design would be a benefit in the types of statistics.
If you ask a BMW owner, its the best bike ever.
If you ask a former BMW owner, its hes worst bike ever.
AND THATS A FACT !
Kind of like Volvo car owners. They have an almost cult following but Volvo's are always rated as unreliable.
If Polaris wanted to stay in the motorcycle industry they would call them Polaris motorcycles! They will sell off the Indian name in the future, which will be about the 8th time!
Motorcycle world is more an emotional one than rational one, nobody buy for a "rational bike" so if emotions keep you feel right on your bike they get irrationals points or stupidity points for some!
Thats good! Some tell me i am-was "fuckedup" to buy a maxi-scooter like a Suzuki Burgman 650 executive "THAT'S NOT A MOTORCYCLE ITS FOR PUSSY'S" comments i get! Very emotional dudes!
So i love the "Not A Bike" for its practical side and comfort and reliability like a Toyota but it's a fun "vehicle" too! For touring at this price and equipment level this is one of the best!
The most surprising was when they try it and they tell me they like the Burgman way , fun and good feeling.......... so!
Scooters arent for me but i like anything on 2 wheels. But it looks real comfortable
Suzuki and Honda are the most reliable, after that Kawasaki and Yamaha, because Yamaha isn't so reliable anymore
Bmw not known for motorbikes? Crazy how different european markets are to us. In UK you see bmws all over yet never ever see the likes of Harleys or Indians
And what about KTM??
Why the hell do youtube videos constantly recommend bmw bikes then for beginners wtf.
This was a consumer reports reliability assessment of motorcycle owners. I did not choose BMW.
Where does KTM stands...?
I cant tell you where they are on this list. But from my experiences and words on the street, they are fine in the dirt, not so great on the road. They do have some nice street bikes but a lot of people are trading them in bcus they require constant maintenance and everything is all electronic. If you like all the tech then try one out.. Ive ridden the rc390, duke 690, and the superduke R 1290... i didnt like the way the 690 engine felt and sounded and it was the least comfortable (which is just my opinion), the 390 was pretty fun for being a small bike, and the superduke was a riot, kinda scary at some points but it was the thrill ride of a lifetime and i could definitely see myself buying the GT model in a few years.. i really like their dirtbikes tho
KTM doesnt even matter, bullshit indian brand
@@cyryl3693 they do matter, and they are Austrian german
@@Daddy-Saxon japanese i4 still the best.
@@cyryl3693 I think it's a matter of perspective for me, its simply. The world likes to see superman bleed
Yamaha 😍😍😍