When I initially read this, I wasn't paying attention to the order. Was thinking that it was total BS. But I was wrong. (again)
10 Motorcycles With The Lowest Maintenance Costs
10 Motorcycles With The Lowest Maintenance Costs
Cheapest and Most Reliable Motorcycles
- Thread starter Sierra1
- Start date
That is a surprising list. Some brands don’t belong on it in my opinion.
jbrown
Active Member
It just sounds like a list of popular brands to me.
Fennellg
Well-Known Member
Hard to say but thing change. My bmw friends have been reporting reliability with valves staying put. Trust but verify. Good advice.
Cough, cough, Royal Enfield? And Harley should not be above Suzuki and Kawi.
RCinNC
Well-Known Member
I'd like to see the actual methodology they used to define "reliability", and how they applied those parameters to the bikes they were evaluating. The foundation for the article seems to be a SlashGear survey that depended on owner responses, not actual research. That's a fairly non-scientific way to determine a failure rate of a product, especially since you can't factor out brand loyalty. The SlashGear article doesn't explain how the survey was conducted, nor what specific questions were asked of the very limited (605) number of respondents. Honda doesn't even appear in that SlashGear list; there's no way I'd believe that any actual research went into study of reliability where a Harley comes in at number 1 and Honda doesn't even make an appearance.
Take that Ducati in for its desmodromic valve adjustment and report back about it's low maintenance cost.
RCinNC
Well-Known Member
I did some noodling around on line at some Ducati forums and saw posts that the price range for a valve check for a Ducati was in the $800-$1200 range. A 1260 has to have the valve check done every 18,000 miles or so. My valve checks for the Yamaha have cost me about $400, with approximately the same check interval. It makes me really question what the author of the article's definition of "affordability" is.
It's really just a puff piece article, designed to do exactly what it's doing; generate conversation.
It's really just a puff piece article, designed to do exactly what it's doing; generate conversation.
Fennellg
Well-Known Member
Our valves are not a walk in the park gentleman.
The article even mentions the lack of consistency between their poll, and the Consumer Report results. Somewhat surprised that Yamaha was #1 on both lists.
Bill_C
Well-Known Member
I've owned 2 Ducatis and you either learn to do valve adjustments yourself or prepare to pay $1k every time you need them adjusted. Not exactly low cost in that sense. Other than valves, not expensive to maintain in all honesty.
As for Harleys, I've owned them as well and depending on the model, they aren't bad either. In fact, if it wasn't for the cost of parts I'd still own one. Evo Sportsters are very reliable and ridiculously easy to maintain. Also very easy to squeeze out extra hp if you're so inclined. The big twins had cam chain guide issues but they were easy to replace and HD finally fixed that issue from the factory. I've seen them go 100k before needing serious work.
All this to say, I think most bikes are reliable if they fit your riding style and you maintain them. If you ride an HD like an R1, expect issues. If you ride an R1 like a Goldwing, expect issues. If you ride your bike for the purpose it was designed, you're probably gonna be fine. Just my 2 cents.
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As for Harleys, I've owned them as well and depending on the model, they aren't bad either. In fact, if it wasn't for the cost of parts I'd still own one. Evo Sportsters are very reliable and ridiculously easy to maintain. Also very easy to squeeze out extra hp if you're so inclined. The big twins had cam chain guide issues but they were easy to replace and HD finally fixed that issue from the factory. I've seen them go 100k before needing serious work.
All this to say, I think most bikes are reliable if they fit your riding style and you maintain them. If you ride an HD like an R1, expect issues. If you ride an R1 like a Goldwing, expect issues. If you ride your bike for the purpose it was designed, you're probably gonna be fine. Just my 2 cents.
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That was an absolutely trash article, ESPECIALLY putting Royal Enfield at the top above any of the Japanese brands.
You read it wrong, like I did the first time. The list is backwards. Royal Enfield is in last place. Yamaha in first. But H-D in front of Suzuki and Kawi? Nah. (Still not a great article though)
One word summary
Sophistry
The question is why?
Sophistry
The question is why?
Usually money is involved. JD Power is particularly guilty of this.
whisperquiet
Well-Known Member
The last motorcycle that stranded me was my 2008 KLR650 on the Trans
Labrador Highway with a wiring short. I got it running and sold iit when I returned home as it was a common problem. I would vote for any small Japanese manufactured twin…..VStrom, Kawasaki Ninja/Versys, Honda CB500X, or Yamaha 250 twin as the cheapest and most reliable bikes for sale.
Labrador Highway with a wiring short. I got it running and sold iit when I returned home as it was a common problem. I would vote for any small Japanese manufactured twin…..VStrom, Kawasaki Ninja/Versys, Honda CB500X, or Yamaha 250 twin as the cheapest and most reliable bikes for sale.