Rank the Big Four

[Adam R]

Here's my ranking of the big four Japanese motorcycles:

1) Honda

2) Suzuki

3) Yamaha

4) Kawasaki


Yes, perhaps I stepped out on a limb here by saying I think Hondas are superior to Suzukis, but having ridden both in a variety of different models from cruiser to sportbike, I stand firmly by my opinion.

Rankings can be for build quality, aesthetics, race lineage, mechanical reliability, performance, diversity of product line or what ever intangible you want to come up with.  My ranking takes all of these factors into account.

[Eisenfaust]

I'd find it hard to rank them.

I like suzukis because I own one, and I rather like the tech put into the new GSX-R series.

I know I want my next bike to be a honda, simply because they feel more 'right' than any other bike I've been on. I sat on about 75 different bikes at the last bike show I went to, everything from Harleys to MV Agustas, and the only bike I had to keep getting on again and again was the 600RR.... a bike I didnt even *like* before trying it out. Now, its the primary object of my moto-lust. I just kinda wish it came standard with a slipper clutch and a steering damper, like the GSX-R600. They also make the VFR, which is another bike I really like.

Kawasakis seem cool, they do the whole raw and brash thing well, but I'm not sure thats what I want in a bike. Cool Ram Air technology though, no doubt derived from their experience making airplanes.

Yamahas have this habit of looking really cool when they come out, then aging poorly. The R6 seemed super hot when it came out... now its just kind of meh to me. Definitely not comfy, either. I love the R1, but way too much bike.

[Michael]

I think all of them get fourth place.  These days there is nothing between them and the decision has to be one of personal preference, as they are all built well, reliable, etc, etc.
At the risk of revealing my eccentricity, I'd put Moto Guzzi first, then Ducati (especially the beautiful Multistrada) with BMW third.

[Stephen072774]

I would rank them just like Adam.  My first bike was a pre Honda Rebel... the CM200t twinstar.  After riding the 200 for a year, I wanted to move up to a bigger cc twin cyl. bike.  I looked at Honda's entire line-up to find nothing that was in the class I wanted.  I like the Hawk650 but they were hard to find.  I didn't want an inline 4 like the 599.  Wants left??? the cb250??

I am disturbed by the lack of smaller twins by Honda so I felt my only option was the GS or the EX, and we all know thats a no-brainer :lol:

[JetSwing]

1. Yamaha

2. Suzuki

3. Honda

4. Kawasaki

[Jake D]

I don't argue with Adam's order either.  I have to think the GSXR is a can't miss, and I really like my GS.

But, when I look around, that Honda 599 and the Honda 919 are just great looking bikes.  When I get something else, it will probably be one of those two, or an SV or Bandit.  

Both Honda and Suzuki are great companies though.

[JetSwing]

Honda 599 and the Honda 919 are just great looking bikes

i agree that they are good looking bikes...but i was disappointed by some of the reviews on those bikes...not so great.

also hondas are tad overpriced...

[CAN_Porn*Star]

[geekonabike]

I'm still a relative newb, like I think I've ridden all of 1.5 years, and read WAY too many mags on bikes.  (BTW that doesn't mean you know anything more than theoretical specs I've found...remember Motorcycle Consumer News!).  I think ranking is kind of artificial and depends on what you want in a bike.  

My first bike was a I think a '93 (+/-) CB250.  For what it was, it was very well designed, simple, efficient, popular all over the place.  I was drooling over the prospect of a 599, until I got on one.  The ergos were good if you like riding bucking bulls.  And both bikes are way overpriced new so I haven't really looked back to Honda, unless I get the Shadow lust,  

If I wanted an inline four I'd go with Yamaha, and I really like the YZFR600R or whatever (don't need a true crotch rocket, I want to put 50K miles on any new bike I buy).  If I wanted a 500-class inline twin it's a real tossup between the Kawasaki Ninja 500 and the GS500F because of price and the a/c versus l/c aspects, but I'll stay with the GS because of ergoes and IMO FUN, not to mention (OK I'll mention it) I've heard this forum bests any Ninja 500 forum out there hands down.  

So I think the way these manufacturers are on quality, etc., you have to go bike by bike, not company by company.

Now if these folks would let us have some of their other bikes here in the States, who knows?  I'll especially mention Honda:  let us try the CBF250's (and other CBF###'s), maybe CB1300 (LOVE CB Ergos!), CB400SF, maybe Yamaha SR400's, and they could all bring us even more "standards."  I was in Asia last summer and picked up a mag that listed all the Japanese bikes manufactured today, and was astounded how many standards they make (like the old CB350's), that we can't get in the US.  I have a 6' tall friend who once owned an '04 Ninja-500 and an old CB200 and you know what?  He fit better on the CB!

Enough brilliance for one post.  Keep it coming!

--Mike D.

[Adam R]

I think ranking is kind of artificial and depends on what you want in a bike.

  True, I agree.  Although I do think its fun generalize, even if there are discrepencies between specific models.  

Now if these folks would let us have some of their other bikes here in the States, who knows?  I'll especially mention Honda:  let us try the CBF250's (and other CBF###'s), maybe CB1300 (LOVE CB Ergos!), CB400SF, maybe Yamaha SR400's, and they could all bring us even more "standards."  I was in Asia last summer and picked up a mag that listed all the Japanese bikes manufactured today, and was astounded how many standards they make (like the old CB350's), that we can't get in the US.  I have a 6' tall friend who once owned an '04 Ninja-500 and an old CB200 and you know what?  He fit better on the CB!

Did you look into used Suzuki Bandit 400s or Honda CB1s?  The ergos on many bikes can be altered by a switch to a Corbin or other aftermarket seat and then playing with the handlebars.  I once did a 13hr ride on a little Bandit and didn't find it too uncomfortable.

[geekonabike]

Did you look into used Suzuki Bandit 400s or Honda CB1s?  The ergos on many bikes can be altered by a switch to a Corbin or other aftermarket seat and then playing with the handlebars.  I once did a 13hr ride on a little Bandit and didn't find it too uncomfortable.

No, and I haven't seen any that I know of.   When I look at the ergos on the newer Bandits I like what I see.  Too bad they don't have the 600 (or 650?  I forget) brought to the States anymore, which has me actually contemplating the 1200.  I never thought I'd consider a literbike.

I guess I am becoming a "Suzuki is #1" guy lately.  This can change with my mood, but I'm drawn to several of their models, and I haven't even looked at their bigger cruisers.  I absolutely love the ergos on the VStroms.  I could see myself on either of them, though budget wise I'd be stretching to get even the 650.

I was very happiliy surprised by my little test ride of the Savage.  I finally got to ride one after wanting to for a couple years.  At 6'2" I was surprised how comfy it was.  A big, flat seat relative to the GS probably was the deciding factor, but the arm position was nice too.  I hear the S40 is even better.  The simplicity, cool torque, flickability of that bike has me really considering a new S40.  With Suzuki financing, it's what, $94/month?  OK that's for like five years, but still.

So now I'm a hypocrite.  I do put Suzuki #1, in my present mood anyways.

Thanks for the tip.  If I see one of those bikes in the local ads I'll give them a call.

--Mike D.

PS:  At some point I'm going to rescan the archives and see about Corbins and other seating options for the GS.  I recall the post with the web site for DIY gel seat inserts, but my vinyl might not survive, so I might brind it to a rather cheap pro in OKC and see what my options are, or dig in and buy a Corbin or similar for my GS.

[Roadstergal]

I've owned three Suzukis, now, and they were all good clean no-frills yippee fun.  I'd put Suzuki at the top - but as a 5'1" gal, low and light are very important to me, and the Hondas and Kawasakis I was looking at weren't as good a fit for me.  When I bought my Savage, I looked at a Rebel first - but the 250 Rebel felt more ungainly than the 650 Savage I ended up with!

It's hard to rank meaningfully.  It's hard enough for cars, but fit issues and small details are even more critical for bikes...

[cucamonga]

Pose factor & performance - Suzuki (just ask Mladin)
Reliability, rider friendly - Honda
Overall performance, functionality - Yamaha
If you love that green color - Kawasaki

[CAN_Porn*Star]

It seems that the top 2 are Honda and suzuki in no Particular order
not one person picked kawi

[The Buddha]

IMHO ... depends on year of major design of the bike ... and other factors itself ...
Pre 82 KZ kawi's and GS suzuki's ...
Example Mid 80's ~83-88 or so inline 4 ... no contest yamaha ... XJ series and derivatives there of ....
Late 80's Suzuki's GSXR and derivatives and of course the GS.
Early 91 - 96 or so I-4's Honda, Vtwins - suzi Intruders.
96 and later - None of the lot with a small maybe to the R1.
Muscle bike - Kawi ZL derivatives, small cruisers - LTD 454 - Vulcan 500 through 98 ... when they went to chain drive.
I almost have a buy and a do not buy list ... Some that I haven't mentioned are on the buy and many other un mentioned are do not. I look for redemming qualities on bikes.
Cool.
Srinath.

[gryhound89]

I just bought a '98 honda superhawk with 32,000 miles last month.  I was sort of leery with the miles being that high, but a little research told me that they can last much longer.  I've put about 1500 miles on it so far and it runs great, no leaks or weird noises.  I can't remember ever reading about any modern bike where the concensus was "that bike's a turd, don't buy it".

[The Buddha]

1998 Honda Superhawk ... oh yea that is a turd ... dont buy it ...  :lol:
BTW not entirely BS ... you haven't been on the GS mailing list Circa 1998-1999 ... have ya ...
Insurance claims have been rejected when the engine cases broke on it after a climb the curb type accident ... funnyily nohting else was broken on it ... the guy didn't go down, he may have lost the tires and I dont remember if he even lost a wheel ... but busted cases ... the no frame design ... That category large displacement sport V twin has the TL's which hands down are better. So just dont crash ... probably have worse to worry about if you do ... BTW a guy on a 954 also managed to do that same thing couple years ago ...
Cool.
Srinath.

[Adam R]

Well different bikes eventually become known for different weaknesses.  

I always heard that the Superhawks get poor gas mileage (nothing new for 1000cc Twins) but never heard anything about the cases breaking.  Sounds like that might have been a freak accident or something else involved.  

I remember reading that there were some technical problems/recalls with the late 90s Bandit 1200s.  I also know Yamaha FZRs are known for weak intake valves.  So here and there, there are models that are less than perfect.  But I would agree, there is no modern Japanese "turd" bike that I know off that is a must "run away from" type of bike.  And a good thing too, my g/f had a VW Rabbit and thats more than enough mechanical hassle for anybody.

[pixelmonkey]

i rank them in different catagory...


DIRT
-------------
Honda
Yamaha
Suzuki
Kawasaki


STREET
-------------
Yamaha
Honda
Suzuki
Kawasaki


QUAD
-------------
Yamaha
Suzuki
Honda
Kawasaki


something to think about is Kawasaki was recently purchased by suzuki... their dirt bikes are the first to show, as the new 250 4 stroke bikes are identical, othern then plastic!

chris<pixelmonkey>

[The Buddha]

Well different bikes eventually become known for different weaknesses.  

I always heard that the Superhawks get poor gas mileage (nothing new for 1000cc Twins) but never heard anything about the cases breaking.  Sounds like that might have been a freak accident or something else involved.  

I remember reading that there were some technical problems/recalls with the late 90s Bandit 1200s.  I also know Yamaha FZRs are known for weak intake valves.  So here and there, there are models that are less than perfect.  But I would agree, there is no modern Japanese "turd" bike that I know off that is a must "run away from" type of bike.  And a good thing too, my g/f had a VW Rabbit and thats more than enough mechanical hassle for anybody.

See Honda got real real lucky ... a few days or so after the case break situation the TL headshake incident happened and that entirely occupied the press and every motorcycle rag's attention ... the case break incident just was ignored. I want to say it happened in england for that same reason. BTW ducati was also runing the swingarm pivots trough engine cases as per Micheal Moore back in 1999 ... and they were replacing them and getting killed.
Honda's have more research and a longer development cycle than most others I believe, and they also dont parts bin as much as suzuki ... but when things are shown to have a disadvantage they are far more stubborn in changing and far more resistant to it. Now if the pivotless design as they called it was so superior (their claim was that it made the superhawk handle better) why did the RC51 have a full frame, then the 929 had the pivotless, so did the 954 and then the CBR 1000 is not ... make up your mind ...
List of turds to run away from ... OK not exactly ... but I'll start ...
V4 honda's from 82-85 or so ... Oil pressure and supply to the head.
Vulcan 750 - Though at the right price I'll gladly buy a few of them ... but design wise the guy that did it needs to be taken to a field and beaten ... Alternator dying ... and to get at it motor has to come out, and the gear shift shaft sliding off into the engine ... held in place by a clip ... again motor has to come out and cases split ...
Instead of running away type thing ... I'll look backwards ... each category and sub category has versions from all 4 or atleast 2-3 of the 4 ... I'll buy only those that have some redeeming qualities ... Vulcan 750 - hydraulic valves and I dont care about the alternator cos I saw off the frame and fix the stator and the shift shaft issues and have a boltable sub frame. Intruder 800 and virago 750 and shadow 750 - decreasing order of desirability. Long list of criteria for each ... be picky ... else we'd all be riding Ex500's ...
Cool.
Srinath.