Reliability between the Japanese brands

rongi#401
Profile picture for user rongi#401
Posts
1635
Joined
6/20/2016
Location
southern, CA, USA
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

?

1
5
|
Falcon
Profile picture for user Falcon
Posts
12562
Joined
11/16/2011
Location
Menifee, CA, USA
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.
13
Ingjr1
Profile picture for user Ingjr1
Posts
183
Joined
5/30/2019
Location
Spring Hill, FL, USA
Ingjr1 1/11/2020 4:24pm
1/11/2020 4:24pm
Buy a KTM.
6
11
seven10
Profile picture for user seven10
Posts
268
Joined
6/20/2009
Location
OXNARD, CA, USA
seven10 1/11/2020 4:40pm
1/11/2020 4:40pm
Husky
6
5
SoCalMX70
Profile picture for user SoCalMX70
Posts
3582
Joined
4/1/2008
Location
Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
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.

The Shop

See All »
zehn
Profile picture for user zehn
Posts
7895
Joined
1/15/2013
Location
Anchorage, AK, USA
zehn 1/11/2020 4:53pm
1/11/2020 4:53pm
Ingjr1 wrote:
Buy a KTM.
Yawn
2
1
Patrick461
Profile picture for user Patrick461
Posts
173
Joined
10/31/2018
Location
Dania, FL, USA
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
Profile picture for user Mr. Afterbar
Posts
2425
Joined
5/13/2019
Location
Green Bay, WI, USA
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
Profile picture for user Sabez
Posts
62
Joined
7/6/2019
Location
USA
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.
3
crusher773
Profile picture for user crusher773
Posts
2025
Joined
12/23/2009
Location
Coweta, OK, USA
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.
3
7
H4L
Profile picture for user H4L
Posts
2595
Joined
3/18/2016
Location
USA
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
3
DB97
Profile picture for user DB97
Posts
1179
Joined
7/28/2016
Location
Orlando, FL, USA
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.
1
usp4u
Profile picture for user usp4u
Posts
587
Joined
3/25/2011
Location
Karns City, PA, USA
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.
1
Denn700
Profile picture for user Denn700
Posts
1284
Joined
11/7/2006
Location
Shreveport, LA, USA
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.
JOE_SPROCKETS#1 1/11/2020 6:27pm
1/11/2020 6:27pm
All about maintenance bud. Don’t matter what brand but does matter who owned it.
fullysicmate
Profile picture for user fullysicmate
Posts
1646
Joined
1/4/2013
Location
Queensland, AU
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?
2
Mr. Afterbar
Profile picture for user Mr. Afterbar
Posts
2425
Joined
5/13/2019
Location
Green Bay, WI, USA
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
Profile picture for user Ingjr1
Posts
183
Joined
5/30/2019
Location
Spring Hill, FL, USA
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.
1
1
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.
3

Pit Row

See All »
davis224
Profile picture for user davis224
Posts
7569
Joined
8/15/2006
Location
Cornland, IL, USA
Fantasy
137th
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
Profile picture for user spimx
Posts
1314
Joined
3/25/2019
Location
Port Isabel, TX, USA
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.

Post a reply to: Reliability between the Japanese brands