Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 2015 Consumer Reports Motorcycle Reliability

They did this last year and they're continuing it, which makes me happy. No surprises for the top 4, but some big surprises on the bottom...BMW...only Can-Am is lower than BMW.

11,000 bikes over a 4 year period, and the results are displayed in % of bikes that will encounter a "major" repair in a 4 year period.

Reliablity by brand
Brand Percent failed
Yamaha/Star- 11%
Suzuki - 12
Honda - 12
Kawasaki - 15
Victory - 17
Harley-Davidson - 26
Triumph - 29
Ducati - 33
BMW - 40
Can-Am - 42


HOWEVER - Harley Davidson ranks highest in owner satisfaction.
https://www.yahoo.com/autos/s/makes-most-reliable-motorcycle-100025261.html

Because, when you analyze the list, you'll note that those bikes above HD are mostly cruisers or crotch rockets.. Most HDs are like a good Lazy-Boy chair; one can ride that sumbish from 6:00 am - 10:00 pm and not feel like you've been run over by a cement truck, nor have ones knees fitted for grease zerks..

And I would bet the median age of HD owners are well in their 50s - where knees cannot take the hunched-over crotchies without needing a pry-bar to dismount..

BTDT, when I was young..

Yeah but with the upper list you do have sport bikes who have their damn guts run out. A jap bike can't be beat for reliability.

my expirence doesn't jive with this.every time I would go ride with HD's,they would get off stiff and sore,while I was perfectly comfortable,this after only 100 miles or so.

I'm surprised the Honda # is that high. I would have thought it to be in the single digits.

Bought my first Suzuki 30+ years ago. Great bike a GS750. Rode it for 10-12 years and a whole lot of miles.

Currently riding a 2009 Suzuki 650 V-Strom. Rugged & reliable twin that weighs less than 500 pounds, delivers 55 mpg routinely, up to 63 mpg at times. Gets up and GOES pretty doggone well, particularly for a mid-size motor. Entirely trouble free for six years now. I only put about 4,000 - 5,000 miles a year on 'em, but sometimes take the bikes for 1,500 - 3,000 mile tours. I don't stick to pavement. Lots of dirt miles for this particular Suzy. Longest day in the saddle was 800 miles, which I'll admit was about 100 miles too far for this rider, in my late 50's.

Ya know, the absolute reliability of a Japanese built bike anymore is pretty incredible. Then again, in my experience, it always has been good.

Regards, Guy

Let's see how you do after 750 miles..

Besides, when ya reach the 50's+ you can get stiff for absolutely NO reason at all.

In some cases, I fully agree. Before I got my first HD Ultra Classic (2005) I rode an '87 Kawasaki Voyager 1300 for eighteen years before I traded it for the HD. The only repair was a couple of switches on the handlebar during that entire time.

Two reasons I got rid of it; (1) IF I would have needed some serious repairs I'd have a helluva time finding parts and (2) the Voyager had only one position for the feet - while the HD I could add the highway pegs and stretch out my knees..

Riding from here to Sturgis (600+ miles) on the Voyager got to be painful. But I've put 735 miles one time on the HD and wasn't all that tired at the end of the day..

Your buds, fluffy, might have been on other models of HDs that may not be quite as comfy. I did have a 2004 Sportster 1200 for a couple years. After 20 miles I hadda get off and walk around.. Man, that was a truly uncomfortable/stiff ride..

I can always tell when HD riders are out for a group ride. By the chase truck following them, to pick up the strays.

Rode straight through from Bar Harbor, Maine to Jacksonville, Fla. on my Road King stopping only for one meal, gas and towards the end a bottle of water.

Comfort city.

Metric riders would have needed a freakin' chiropractor at the end.

The last time I went to Vegas I rented a HD VROD
I was cruising around Red Rocks and saw a broken down Honda I stopped to take a picture.
Funny part was it was brand new CBR 1000 which I admit is a cool bike.
His cell phone wasn't working either.
He had a friend on another Honda so I suggested he hop on the back and his friend could take him into town to get help. He said if he carried a passenger the back fender would break off. They are just for looks.
It was all I could do to keep from laughing. No Hondas for me Thank You very much.

Sorry, you lost me at "I rented a VROD"

Lol

Bought my '97 HD Heritage Springer brandy new in November '96. Still have it. Harley shop owner near where I work found out I had it when I was asked to handle communications for a function we were throwing featuring HD's.
Showed it to him in present state and explained work I'd had done to it over the years to get it where it is today. Guy told me to never sell it.

Had several nice Jap bikes when I was younger. Never had any complaints about them, but if I was going for a longer ride I'd want a Harley or my Dad's Gold Wing.

Had to see what all the hype was about.

I understand, just foolin with ya.



Note the Victory ranking on the list, not too shabby!



I agree with redneck and others on the cushy ride of some of the bigger HD cruisers.


My last HD was a road king classic, which had air ride. Really nice ride as someone else here noted.

I see a lot of the Can Am 3 wheel bikes here around in my neck of the woods in Alabama.
Did not know they had that bad a record!

I really, really do not like the reverse trike bikes.

Yuck.





Now THIS, is a bike.

What constitutes a major repair?

Dave, Nice! That's my bike. But, it looks like this now for around town and short hops. I've got a pack that slips over the backrest real nice.

That's what I'm talking about!

Beautiful!

You said you have been doing stuff to yours over the years, I'll have to hear some details sometime. I did send you a PM too, so if you have any details you would care to share you could do it by PM too.

Very nice bike.

where da ammo cans?