best Japanese motorcycle maker

[Ninja Geoff]

best japanese bike manufacturer? pick the one that makes a bike in your favorite color.

[Hondagirl]

Honda. Honda. Honda.
And Kawasaki fourth.

[RhadamYgg]

I would agree that Honda is probably the "best" one. Of course, there are some issues they have too, but overall they seem to have the fewest that I hear about.

However, as mentioned, Kawasaki is the only one who puts out a 250 sportbike in the US. I haven't been all that thrilled with Kawasaki though; in terms of service and reliability, but I do like my bike (when it runs).

Also, while I've decided it's completely impractical for me to get a cruiser, I really like the look of the Yamaha(Star) cruisers most. I've heard that Yamaha has pretty good reliability/quality too.

Do you really have a lot of problems? I don't seem to have a lot.... What kind of problems, so I can be on the lookout. You'd think that a 25 year old model would have all the kinks worn out.

RhadamYgg

[RockBottom]

You'd think that a 25 year old model would have all the kinks worn out.

RhadamYgg

Not necessarily. I'm a 52 year old model and I don't have all the kinks worked out.

[HYPERR]

I haven't been all that thrilled with Kawasaki though; in terms of service and reliability

Kawasaki is the least desriable franchise to have out of the big 4. Multi-line dealers tell me that Kawasaki is hands down the most unreasonable when it comes to warranty claims.

[matthew5656]

I like Honda and Suzuki bikes myself. Any logical reasoning provided? Nah. Mostly due to a personal taste? Very much, yes.

[Wrider]

No one makes a bad bike anymore, save Lifan. As far as japanese bikes go, pick your favorite color, favorite design, and go from there!
Wrider

[Dragon on Wheels]

Do you really have a lot of problems? I don't seem to have a lot.... What kind of problems, so I can be on the lookout. You'd think that a 25 year old model would have all the kinks worn out.

RhadamYgg

It's actually not a multitude of problems. Just one part that wasn't put together well and they never fixed. I had problems with my battery when I bought the bike, so I brought it in for them to fix. At first they gave me a whole speech about how there's nothing wrong even though the battery would have no charge after less than a week. Finally, they said they'll replace it, but the 2nd battery had the same issues. I've since replaced that one with a battery I bought at Wal-Mart and it's been fine so far, but I have so little confidence in the bike that I don't dare travel too far. I've been lucky that every time it didn't start has been at home.

It may not be Kawasaki the manufacturer's fault, but that specific dealer has been less than helpful/useful and either they gave me bad batteries or there may still be some electrical drain somewhere that I haven't figured out. (if my current battery continues to be reliable after December, it will have lasted several months longer than either of the batteries the dealer put in) I suppose my general impression after having to push the dealer to fix a part that wasn't done right in the beginning and them never actually fixing it has given me a negative impression of Kawasaki. So, the service was bad because they never fixed the issue and they kept giving me an attitude every time I had asked for them to look at it, and the reliability was bad because with their batteries, the bike wouldn't start some of the time. Everyone I talked to told me that it wasn't normal for a bike to continually need to be recharged every week except for the dealer.

Sorry for the long rant.

[IcyHound]

I had warranty work done on both of our Kawasaki's (odd little things, my radiator cap was bad and the other half's fan mount broke) without a single problem. I would and will buy another Kawasaki. I'm drooling over an 06 636 or a current big machine.

Anyway, we also have a Yamaha (me) and a Suzuki (him). I think the Honda's are nice but none of them are comfortable to me.

It is about personal choice. I have been debating Triumph but their general scarcity is unappealing. I don't like the Italian bikes personally for nothing more then looks. When you move to comparisons you are splitting fine hairs. Pick what you like.

[Ltdave]

I like Honda and Suzuki bikes myself. Any logical reasoning provided? Nah. Mostly due to a personal taste? Very much, yes.

I like Honda and Yamaha bikes myself. Any logical reasoning provided? Nah. Mostly due to a personal taste? Very much, yes.

although i dont have any hondas never had any hondas and dont know if i will ever have any hondas although i do love their gold wings...

currently have 3 yamahas. all XJ models...