revtothelimit - motorbike forum

I had a chat with a couple of dealers that I know yesterday and both of them commented that Japanese bikes are nowhere near the build quality that they were 25 years ago, one is a Yamaha dealer who also sells Aprillias and the other a Suzuki, Kawasaki and KTM dealer, both said that no one would pay for the quality on a mid range bike, they said that stuff like R1s and ZX10s were still high quality but the mid range stuff was poor compared with 90s bikes.

This reflects what I feel when I look at new bikes, for instance the CBR650 looks like a budget bike when you compare it to a CBR600 from the 90s, is it just me or do you feel the same?

I suspect a large part of this is the fact you're not allowed to use the properly toxic shit during manufacture any more!

Le_Fromage_Grande wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:35 am for instance the CBR650 looks like a budget bike

that's because it is ?

Every time someone on here buys a mid priced bike they spend lots of time and money getting suspension and fuelling sorted. CBA with all that.

Sports bikes work great out of the box.

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:45 am Sports bikes work great out of the box.

Not everyone either wants a sportsbike or indeed are able to bend in the right places to ride one.

weeksy wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:47 am

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:45 am Sports bikes work great out of the box.

Not everyone either wants a sportsbike or indeed are able to bend in the right places to ride one.

Of course. Just a shame they don't make other bikes work properly.

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:45 am Every time someone on here buys a mid priced hike they spend lots of time and money getting suspension and fuelling sorted. CBA with all that.

Sports bikes work great out of the box.

This is true, the problem for me is that the only decent quality sportsbikes on sale in the UK have a lot of power, which I don't want, though I was impressed with the Aprillia 660 I looked at yesterday - don't know if I'd buy one though because of reliability worries.

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:48 am

weeksy wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:47 am

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:45 am Sports bikes work great out of the box.

Not everyone either wants a sportsbike or indeed are able to bend in the right places to ride one.

Of course. Just a shame they don't make other bikes work properly.

Deffo agree with that. But i also wonder if sometimes 'we' are asking for more than is realistic. Working on bumpy B roads and fast Silverstone for example. The Honda CB1000R i test rode honestly seemed to tick each and every box (apart from the engine configuration).

weeksy wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:52 am

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:48 am

weeksy wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:47 am

Not everyone either wants a sportsbike or indeed are able to bend in the right places to ride one.

Of course. Just a shame they don't make other bikes work properly.

Deffo agree with that. But i also wonder if sometimes 'we' are asking for more than is realistic. Working on bumpy B roads and fast Silverstone for example. The Honda CB1000R i test rode honestly seemed to tick each and every box (apart from the engine configuration).

Aren't they about £15K new, which indicates that you can get a really good bike if you're willing to spend the money, shame about it's goping looks.

I think they're 12-13 or so... but yes, not cheap for sure.

When they build and sell budget bikes, they could offer better versions?
I'm sure that if they offered a better version that works properly for 500-1000 extra then it would sell? And the resale price would be higher?

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 12:02 pm When they build and sell budget bikes, they could offer better versions?
I'm sure that if they offered a better version that works properly for 500-1000 extra then it would sell? And the resale price would be higher?

most kinda do, think of the KTM 890R which has full WP, Brembos etc... the 765RS which is again higher spec, even the MT09SP which is the same apart from electronics and Ohlins.

Yorick wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 11:45 am Every time someone on here buys a mid priced bike they spend lots of time and money getting suspension and fuelling sorted. CBA with all that.

Sports bikes work great out of the box.

I agree with that.

It's much easier (cheaper) to make a sportsbike comfortable,than it is to make a less focussed road bike handle.

Sportsbikes are the flagship models and get the quality kit. On some 'lesser' models corners are very often cut.

I think the field is more even among Jap factories now. They were all pretty shit in the 70s,then Honda gained a name for quality for a time. Honda pretty much rest on their laurels now and the other three have upped their game,so there's little to choose between them.

A slight thread derail,but BMW were a quality act in the 60s and 70s,now they are inferior to most Jap bikes,yet continue to command higher prices.

I bought a new Honda last year. The 'quality' of the most of it (compared with a 2007 Honda) is dire. It works, but it will look tatty very quickly.

I've said it a million times, the 1990's were the best years for motorcycle quality.

Best looking bikes too.

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:05 pm I've said it a million times, the 1990's were the best years for motorcycle quality.

Best looking bikes too.

One out of 2 ain't bad.

A neighbour has just got a new MT09, the build quality is awful, it looks like the blind apprentice with Tourette’s was given the job of finishing and fitting the wiring loom.

MingtheMerciless wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:08 pm A neighbour has just got a new MT09, the build quality is awful, it looks like the blind apprentice with Tourette’s was given the job of finishing and fitting the wiring loom.

Fuck the wiring loom, cunt.

weeksy wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:05 pm

KungFooBob wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 9:05 pm I've said it a million times, the 1990's were the best years for motorcycle quality.

Best looking bikes too.

One out of 2 ain't bad.

You're right, bikes from the 80s are the best looking

Skub wrote: Mon Sep 20, 2021 8:07 pm A slight thread derail,but BMW were a quality act in the 60s and 70s,now they are inferior to most Jap bikes,yet continue to command higher prices.

In the 70s they were twice the price. And you got a tyre pump, toolkit and first aid kit.