Reliability between the Japanese brands

rongi#401
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rongi#401
Edited Date/Time 1/12/2020 12:00pm
Thinking about getting a new bike, I want to know the real deal about reliably between the 4, no spooky campfire stories, where do they rank for engine failures ect

?

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Falcon
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Falcon 1/11/2020 4:14pm
1/11/2020 4:14pm
You're going to hear 16 different combinations of opinion on this. I'd say Honda and Yamaha are about equal and Suzuki and Kawasaki are slightly less reliable. You could overcome any differences by your maintenance or lack thereof.
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SoCalMX70
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SoCalMX70 1/11/2020 4:49pm
1/11/2020 4:49pm
I've definitely heard the least about Yamahas having issues. That is probably fairly meaningless though. They all require similar maintenance.

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zehn
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zehn 1/11/2020 4:53pm
1/11/2020 4:53pm
Ingjr1 wrote:
Buy a KTM.
Yawn
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Patrick461
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Patrick461 1/11/2020 5:00pm
1/11/2020 5:00pm
My Honda has been very reliable. I’m 225lb vet int. I punish mine take care of her and she’s all good
Mr. Afterbar
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Mr. Afterbar 1/11/2020 5:28pm
1/11/2020 5:28pm
Clearly a pick your favorite brand thread. Suzuki is as reliable as any and has almost no votes.
Sabez
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Sabez 1/11/2020 5:46pm
1/11/2020 5:46pm
Honda is the best when it comes to reliability. I have a old xr and its start 1st kick everytime.
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crusher773
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crusher773 1/11/2020 5:51pm
1/11/2020 5:51pm
That's because it's an XR trail bike. Nobody beats KTM reliability and standing behind what they sell.
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H4L
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H4L 1/11/2020 5:51pm
1/11/2020 5:51pm
In 4 decades of owning all 4 brands this has been my experience.

1. Red
2. Blue
3. Green
4. Yellow
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DB97
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DB97 1/11/2020 6:03pm
1/11/2020 6:03pm
My friends 18 yz450 today at 48 hours 😂 it can happen to any bike though.
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usp4u
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usp4u 1/11/2020 6:04pm
1/11/2020 6:04pm
H4L wrote:
In 4 decades of owning all 4 brands this has been my experience.

1. Red
2. Blue
3. Green
4. Yellow
In the "four stroke era"....
1. Yamaha
2. Suzuki
3.KTM/Husq
4. Kaw
5. Honda

Since 2006 I haven't seen as many valvetrain and head problems than are present within the CRFs.

Ron Hamp made a nice living correcting those issues for Red Riders.
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Denn700
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Denn700 1/11/2020 6:14pm
1/11/2020 6:14pm
Yamaha used to hands down be the most reliable in the 4 stroke era but they have had issues with the 250F and 450 the last few years.
My older KTM’s gave me problems but no issues with my 18 or 19.
My Honda 450’s were good and the 250F had a few issues.
All my Kawasaki’s were good.
Suzuki 450 was good. I’ve never owned an RMZ250.
fullysicmate 1/11/2020 7:59pm
1/11/2020 7:59pm
I have interpreted this vote as a vote for the least reliable, is that correct?
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Mr. Afterbar
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Mr. Afterbar 1/11/2020 8:00pm
1/11/2020 8:00pm
fullysicmate wrote:
I have interpreted this vote as a vote for the least reliable, is that correct?
Yep. Popularity contest.
Ingjr1
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Ingjr1 1/12/2020 11:08am
1/12/2020 11:08am
Sabez wrote:
Honda is the best when it comes to reliability. I have a old xr and its start 1st kick everytime.
Lawnmower engines last a long time.
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Dirty Points 1/12/2020 11:58am
1/12/2020 11:58am Edited Date/Time 1/12/2020 12:00pm
Sabez wrote:
Honda is the best when it comes to reliability. I have a old xr and its start 1st kick everytime.
Nah. Yamaha. I have a piano even older than your XR. No issues ever. Start playing without even 1 kick.
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davis224
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davis224 1/12/2020 12:04pm
1/12/2020 12:04pm
Used to be Yamaha hands down when it was the 5 valve head. I think they gave up a little reliability for more power with the 4 valve head, but Honda and Yamaha (save for 07 and earlier Honda heads) were definitely a tick above the rest in terms of quality of parts used. Now if you want reliability above all else... try moto-ing a Honda Recon 250. Indestructible.
spimx
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spimx 1/12/2020 12:19pm
1/12/2020 12:19pm
Mr. Afterbar wrote:
Clearly a pick your favorite brand thread. Suzuki is as reliable as any and has almost no votes.
Suzuki is notorious for clutch problems, I have seen broken foot pegs and deviations in the valves much more than Honda or YZ with stainless valves. It really pisses me off that my 97 KX 100 immediately seized the bolts from the shrouds into the gas tank, now my 18 kx450 has the same problem and the 19/20 has the same stupid bolt.

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