Honda Build Quality / Reliability
Discussion
I suspect it started earlier than the AT. My old man bought a new Deauville in 08 and about 2-3 years later started restoring a 1920s Royal Enfield that looked like it had been dragged out of the North Atlantic after 60 years in there.
One day I was round his and there was a lump of very rusty black metal on his bench. I was trying to work out which bit of the Enfield it was, when I noticed a much later coating on parts of it. Yep, it had fallen off the Deauville. Think it was part of one of the stands, or something but was in worse condition than the bits off the 90 year old Enfield.
My brother's now got the DV in his garage as it's too heavy for dad so he put it into service as a winter hack but he's been told it won't get through another MoT due to corrosion of the rear subframe. Yes, the bike's been well used in all conditions but so was the one it replaced which never had those issues.
To me 'the rot' seemed to set in before the AT...
One day I was round his and there was a lump of very rusty black metal on his bench. I was trying to work out which bit of the Enfield it was, when I noticed a much later coating on parts of it. Yep, it had fallen off the Deauville. Think it was part of one of the stands, or something but was in worse condition than the bits off the 90 year old Enfield.
My brother's now got the DV in his garage as it's too heavy for dad so he put it into service as a winter hack but he's been told it won't get through another MoT due to corrosion of the rear subframe. Yes, the bike's been well used in all conditions but so was the one it replaced which never had those issues.
To me 'the rot' seemed to set in before the AT...
I still recall the CX500 and CB750KZ debacles.
When I sold Hondas in 1982, we had a batch of CM125s with paint fingerprints under the lacquer.
The MB/MT5 mopeds had generator/CDI issues.
The CB400N side stripes peeled off.
In other words, Hondas, even in their heyday, had issues but an overall reliability or a perception of such. My 1977 Gold Wing was built properly.
In 2013, I returned to biking on a new Honda MTX125 Grom. Like many modern Hondas, built in Thailand. After 5000 miles, it was showing its age and Thai build quality was clearly lacking.
I replaced it with a Suzuki SV650S and it was far better quality.
When I sold Hondas in 1982, we had a batch of CM125s with paint fingerprints under the lacquer.
The MB/MT5 mopeds had generator/CDI issues.
The CB400N side stripes peeled off.
In other words, Hondas, even in their heyday, had issues but an overall reliability or a perception of such. My 1977 Gold Wing was built properly.
In 2013, I returned to biking on a new Honda MTX125 Grom. Like many modern Hondas, built in Thailand. After 5000 miles, it was showing its age and Thai build quality was clearly lacking.
I replaced it with a Suzuki SV650S and it was far better quality.
Edited by LuS1fer on Thursday 30th March 14:46
trickywoo said:
The 08 era blade had dreadful oil burning issues and why they had such consistent reg/rec issues on everything is a mystery.
Honda have been living on past reputation for years.
Where as my 08 Blade did not burn oil and ran perfect for 5 years from touring to the med to trackways. Bought new Honda have been living on past reputation for years.
I never had a issues with Honda's but my last was that Blade.
The only bike I've NOT had any issues with are Hondas. My CBF500 is now showing rust spots on the subframe but it's been badly abused in the past so I'll strip and repaint it in 2 part epoxy. Infact that's a lie. The only actual issue it had was a failed fan switch which cost me about £18. Everything else I've had issues with has been due to me f
king about with it and not really knowing what I'm doing. It does have 74,000 miles on it though and is 17 years old.
king about with it and not really knowing what I'm doing. It does have 74,000 miles on it though and is 17 years old. Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff