Many many moons ago when I bought my first little bike, the byword for Motorcycle Quality was Honda. The tiny C100 and then the C50, C70 and C90 were amazing and ran almost for ever, even with little or no engine oil! Then when Honda launched the CB750, the motorcycle world was rocked and the British bike industry shaken to its core.
The various UK and European manufacturers tried to decry these Japanese bikes as toys or sewing machines or UJMs (Universal Japanese Motorcycles). A road 750 with 4 cylinders had never been seen before, most British and Italian bikes at that time were singles or twins. The quality of these new bikes was an unknown but proved to be excellent and the Japanese worked hard to correct any defects and improved the bikes continuously, as the Brits had never done.
Fast forward now almost 50 years from the CB750, Honda remain the world leader producing something over 2 million 2-wheelers per year, an astonishing number. BUT in order to expand they have followed a strategy of manufacturing around the world, in particular in Asia for the massive Asian bike markets. The days of the Japanese manufacturing bikes in Japan have long gone, these days only very few of their high priced and high technology bikes are Made in Japan.
And the quality?? Well, given that the bikes were now being made all over the world, even the mighty Honda Corp could not possibly keep everything at the Japanese level. Bikes made in Thailand (for instance) are sold in Europe and the finish quality is poor, perhaps it almost never rains there whereas the famous English winters are much harsher.
So Yamaha, always number 2, stepped up to the plate. And in my opinion they have now managed to take the quality crown from Honda. Yamaha too manufactures bikes all over the world BUT seem to have better quality controls. Yamaha also manufacture bikes in Italy and in France and whereas they can never compete with Japanese quality, the bikes are well made and use many top European components. Bikes are also made by Yamaha in Asia for the Asian markets but there seem to be less bikes made in Asia and then sold into Europe, so the quality of bikes seen here is generally excellent.
I have a 2018 FJR1300 which is now out of production as it can no longer meet the ever tougher EU regulations for emissions and noise. These bikes were made in Japan and the quality is fantastic, I aim to keep her for many years!!
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