TOPIC:

I have always considered Honda at the top, followed by Yamaha, Kawasaki. and last Suzuki.
Am I taking a downgrade in reliability if I trade my 85 Shadow 500 for a 96 Vulcan 500?

We haven't done any Yamaha's but the other 3 all seem pretty reliable after we clean every connector in the wiring harness. Even that cold blooded bitch 80' Suzuki GS 1100E.

All japanese manufacturer share same culture, ethic, manufacturing methods, and suppliers.

......their key is continuous reinvesting in their manufacturing facilities, .......and their associates (employees in the USA) participation in the progress of company (no unions).


I've owned all their brands at some points, and see little difference in quality.    All excellent as they are more similar than different..     At one time or another' each have had some models that are more outstanding than others.      

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and all of them rely mostly in many other diverse products that are not motorcycles or even related.. 

ckahleer wrote:

I have always considered Honda at the top, followed by Yamaha, Kawasaki. and last Suzuki.
Am I taking a downgrade in reliability if I trade my 85 Shadow 500 for a 96 Vulcan 500?

I didn't realise there are other Japanese manufacturers  why would I? 

In my opinion, at the time I bought my first Superbike (March 1999), nothing came close....
 

I was always surprised at oil-change time... the oil would be honey colored, and never needed a top-up, between changes, ever.
Build qulity, fit of panels etc. was un-matched.

30+ years on, I couldn't say....

H.
 

I put a crank and rods in the naked version of that back in early 2000 - To be fair to Honda it was being used for this kind of work at the time by Craig Jones (yes that is a V-Rod)


 

Keeping it "on brand" this is him with a late model Z1000

Craig Jones stunt drift training 2012 - YouTube

I know which one has the best name