The 10 Most Reliable Motorcycle Manufacturers

Motorcycle riders these days have a wealth of choices in front of them. Some prioritize style, others power, and still others just want a nice, comfortable bike they can ride all day without feeling it for days after. At some level, however, just about everyone must recognize two key factors: price and reliability. These two attributes go hand-in-hand for obvious reasons, and so today, Chaparral Motorsports takes a look at the most reliable motorcycle for your dollar.

Methodology
Trying to nail down the most trustworthy bikes on the road is a tall task. For reference, our listing abides by the following parameters:

• The data cited covers more than 12,000 separate vehicles, as owned by 11,000-plus individual riders.
• A total of 10 popular motorcycle manufacturers were referenced in the survey.
• All responses relate to four-year-old machines that were produced between 2008 and 2014.

Responses were provided by subscribers to Consumer Reports and originally published in April of 2015. Reliability was measured by how often repairs were needed on any major system or component of a motorcycle.

General Findings
It’s worth noting that how reliable a brand’s bikes were did not necessarily correlate with stated levels of ownership satisfaction. Also of interest, three-wheel machines tended to require the most frequent repairs, while cruiser models were the least likely to experience any type of mechanical failure. Finally, survey responses indicated that the most reliable motorcycles generally were produced by Japanese makers. Models by American and European manufacturers ranked consistently lower by comparison.

The Lower Tier
The three brands with the highest reported failure rates included popular Italian manufacturer Ducati (33%), German BMW (40%) and Canadian maker Can-Am (42%). It is relevant to note that not all repairs are priced equally, either. As an example, the median cost for BMW bike repairs clocked in around $450; work on Kawasaki motorcycles came with expected bills of about $270 by the same measure.

The Middle of the Pack
Some western brands did fare better than others, including British bike maker Triumph (29% failure rate) as well as American brands Harley-Davidson (26%) and Victory (17%). These expectations did not impact how happy many owners were with their rides, however. Victory and Harley bikes beat out the rest of the field in the satisfaction survey, with ratings of 80% and 72% respectively.

The Top Four
Japanese companies are commonly known for producing reliable cars and trucks, so perhaps it’s no surprise that they dominate the top tier for motorcycles as well. Here are the brands least likely to saddle you with an unexpected breakdown:

• No. 4: Kawasaki (15% failure rate)
• No. 3: Honda (12%)
• No. 2: Suzuki (12%)
• No. 1: Yamaha/Star (11%)

With failure rates nearly three-to-four times lower than names like Can-Am and BMW, it’s plain to see why eastern entities have enjoyed such success in this sector.

Other Takeaways
Motorcycles tend to differ from passenger vehicles in that they are more often acquired with recreation in mind. They’re less often one’s exclusive or primary method of transportation, which means that you’re probably not going to base your next purchase entirely on a bike’s dependability. That being said, it’s always smart to be prepared.

Data pulled from this survey revealed that the average repair expense totaled just under $350 for a motorcycle. This could be a result of any number of failures, the most common of which include:

• Fuel system problems (13%)
• Brake repairs (18%)
• Accessory issues (19%)
• Electrical system failure (24%)

Repair data was drawn from a 2014 Consumer Reports survey, which factored in almost 3,000 repaired vehicles. Results also showed regular service needs for a range of other parts and systems, including the clutch (8%), body paneling (6%), drive system (6%), valve train and frontal suspension (5% each). All told, it would definitely make sense to keep a few hundred dollars available for that proverbial rainy day, regardless of who manufactured your machine.

Selection and Service in San Bernardino
Whether you’re looking for new or preowned bikes, or if your current ride needs a little work, Chaparral Motorsports is the first and only source you need. Check out our huge inventory of motorcycles, ATVs, utility vehicles and more. We’re also stocked with all the OEM parts you need to get the most from your machine—take a look at our selection today.