Those who started a battle of motorbike brands to show who makes the most reliable motorbike have ended up with a nationalist confrontation. Yamaha, Suzuki, Honda and Kawasaki are all among the most reliable brands, according to our survey of more than 11,000 Consumer Reports subscribers. Expected failure rates for four-year-old motorbikes ranged from 11 to 15 percent in this group. Find a closer look at these most reliable motorbike brands.
Yamaha
The winner of the Grand Prix and who will win the crown of the most reliable motorbike brand is Yamaha. With an impressive statistic of only 11% of the total number of motorbikes produced require repair in the first four years of life. This is a very small number compared to the number of motorbikes which Yamaha manufactures each year. But it's simply a matter of economies of scale when it comes to the big four. Higher production volumes lead to higher profits, which are reinvested in quality control, and it's a kind of cycle that continues. As a reminder, almost half of all BMW and Ducati models spend time in the repair shop before their fourth anniversary. In fact, BMW motorbikes are known to have four times the risk of mechanical failure in the first four years of ownership. This can really add up when you think of the initial cost of the motorbike as well as the increase in shop prices for BMW maintenance.
Suzuki and Honda
At the 2nd step of the podium for the most reliable motorbike brands are in fact two brands that are at a perfect equality in terms of reliability. This is unprecedented in this competition which has never seen a tie in the final. Our best choice for second place is Suzuki and Honda. With only 12% of repairs during the first four years of life these brands are very reliable and respectable. Suzuki and Honda are definitely powerful players in the motorbike industry. So, it's not entirely surprising that both are on this list. It is surprising that they are tied in the same place, although both brands are known for making excellent beginner motorbikes as well as the full range of heavy hitters.
Kawasaki
In 3rd place is a well-known motorbike brand, Kawasaki. With a very honourable survey result, only 15% of their manufactured motorbikes require repairs in the first four years. Kawasaki has properly secured its number three position, which places it at the bottom step of the podium of the most reliable motorbike brands.