How unreliable are other bikes?

A buddy of mine asked me the other day why I even considered a KTM 950 and a Husaberg 400E SM v the BMW or japanese bikes, notably the DRZ400SM I'm planning on buying. especially since dealer backup, parts availability and warranty don't compare let alone the questionable reliability.

My response: you can't put a price on happiness. If I was dead certain I would have been happier on the KTM950 I'd own it now. If the Husaberg 400e supermoto was really going to do everything for me on trackdays I'd own it now instead of waiting for the DRZ400SM. I would gladly take the potential aggravation of those bikes if they made me happier in the long run.

I agree. Japanese is the obvious way to go. Cheaper inital outlay, and overall reliability is hard to beat. But that's not the only reason to buy a bike.

I've found the service and parts costs of my 12GS comparable to Honda's I've owned, 3 to date.

But I also agree that this isn't just basic transport. My first ride, a Honda 150 scooter was bought because it was cheaper than a car and reliable. If I was still of that mindset regarding two wheeled vehicles I'd still own it.

Personally the 12GS, and hopefully the DRZ400SM, makes me happier than I've been with any bike and I can't imagine another model doing everthing so well, for me. The added benefit of reliability, parts availability etc just sweetens the deal.
 
Too right, 'bikes arn't just transport. I must have had twenty of Honda's products, from lawnmowers, through lots of 'bikes, to my current car. Every single one has worked perfectly, but not one has stuck in my mind. I know my next 'bike will be a Ducati. I've heard all the horror storys and I don't care. I want one. I do feel sorry for the lads who buy a BMW as transport, and then have nothing but trouble with it, but If I needed a 'bike for transport, it would have to be Jap every time.
 
I love the bikes that have been fun to ride and only let me down when it didn't matter, but like everyone else, I'm really pissed off if a bike breaks down when it really does matter, like on holiday or the day before a track day or on the way home from work and it's pissing down. So I reckon most owners feelings about reliability stem from when the bike broke and what it's efect was on them. Of course, the more often it breaks down the morre chance there is of it being really annoying.
My Honda Blackbird has only had one major problem in 40000 miles and 4 years but as this was in Strasbourg on holiday it meant I was really pissed off, especially as it did it again three times on the way back home before the real fault was eventually found.
On the other hand the GS has not failed once so I should be really pleased but with all the horrible problems others on this forum have had I'm now beginning to worry about long foriegn trips (which are the reason I bought a BMW, well that and the fun factor of the GS).
I appreciate that problems get exagerated on sites like this but there does seem to be a worrying trend on problems for GS owners.
 
SQD8R said:

This is a good post and brings issues regarding any bike into perspective. We've got that the internet is just a tool and that people are likely to post more negative issues than positive.
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Quite.

However, if Honda built a bike that I could love as much as the GS then I'd have it. However, they don't so I've got the GS.......for it's looks, speed, handling, all-round capability, technology and that king of the road effect. Let's face it - are our GSs a heart purchase or a head purchase? If its just down to the latter.........we'd all be riding Deauvilles and would be very happy.

But it wouldn't exactly be exciting would it?
 
Gonzo said:
Quite.

However, if Honda built a bike that I could love as much as the GS then I'd have it. However, they don't so I've got the GS.......for it's looks, speed, handling, all-round capability, technology and that king of the road effect. Let's face it - are our GSs a heart purchase or a head purchase? If its just down to the latter.........we'd all be riding Deauvilles and would be very happy.

But it wouldn't exactly be exciting would it?
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yup...update the Africa Twin, put the dang VTR motor in it, or better yet the RC51 motor, and sell it in NA. That's would get me on a Honda again.
 
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