If you had to describe yourself as a Japan-bike person, which would you choose?

[MotoCreations]

Honda VFR's with the V-4 engine and geardrive camshafts and carb'd -- glorious sound and torque like an electric motor.  I'd still build my own trellis-framed chassis and bodywork though!

[Dietrich]

I've ownerd at least one of each, but have to go with Honda.  The ergos are great (for me anyway) and the name is just so soothing.  Honda.  Hooonnndaaaah.

[SacDuc]

Dude....  86 the prozac, K?  I just put it here because it's not really moto-related but rather about the brand you identify with.....oh whatever just put your tin-foil hat back on then!

Aw c'mon, just some good natured fun.

Serious answer: have very little experience w/ japanese bikes. But the brand Honda says "bullet proof" to me. Also I get wood whenever I ride Grio's GB. 500cc and one cylinder = fun!


sac

[CDawg]

Back in 1999, I was chosing between the R1 and the 996.  I ended up buying the Yahmaha because I didn't want to go in debt for the Ducati.

[DesmoDog]

Honda... I was looking for an RC30 before I bought my 996...

but rule out the RC30 and I'd probably go for Yamaha...

[MikeZ]

Gotta go w/ the Suzuki's.  The SVs look pretty nice.

[DY]

Kawasaki ninja ZX6-R.  It was the first bike i ever drooled over and lusted after. 

[monsterduc]

I started on a '96 Suzuki Bandit 600 because it was cheap an available.  After two years on that I traded up to my '99 TL1000R.  

I was looking at SV650's when I wanted a street bike after making the TL track only but bought my S2R instead.  

The blue and white Suzuki racing color schemes are gorgeous (except for in 2000) and I like the styling of the GSXR's, particularly the 2006-2007 GSXR 600/750 with the stubby exhaust.

[Howie]

I can't say I would choose by brand, more of a model thing.

[Kroe]

I recently bought an 07 cbr600rr.... LOVE it!!!

[raulduke]

Honda.

CBR600RR is a great bike....a soulless pit of despair and totally lacking characture....but a great bike

[Kroe]

Honda.

CBR600RR is a great bike....a soulless pit of despair and totally lacking characture....but a great bike

A great big capital YUP!!! The CBR is technically better than my old 98 m750 but it can't touch the cool factor of the Duc with a stick.

[ROBsS4R]

The Ninja's always called my name

[swerdna]

I started on a '96 Suzuki Bandit 600 because it was cheap an available.  After two years on that I traded up to my '99 TL1000R.  

I was looking at SV650's when I wanted a street bike after making the TL track only but bought my S2R instead.  

The blue and white Suzuki racing color schemes are gorgeous (except for in 2000) and I like the styling of the GSXR's, particularly the 2006-2007 GSXR 600/750 with the stubby exhaust.

Yeah... I dig the blue/white Suzuki styling...

But I grew up a Honda guy... so I have to go for the US Hornets. ... or an SV650.

[gnostic203]

Do tell.  I thought the KLR's were 'bulletproof'.

You would think, after all a 20 year old engine design should be pretty rock solid (with the exception of the doohickey).  Besides the body work, the 2008 model had a few engine changes.  Most notably was thinner piston rings with less tension and a new bore.  The new bore was found to be a mirror finish by many mechanics and combined with the thinner tension oil rings allowed for oil to pass the rings and glaze the cylinder.  At least that is the speculation.

The meat and potatoes is my bike began burning oil during my 3500 mile road trip from Vegas to Banff National Park in Canada.  By the time the bike had 5k miles it was sucking down over a quart of oil every 400 miles.  Kawasucki rebuilt the bike under warranty and gave it back to me in worse condition.  It started drinking a quart every 350 miles (I discovered this in Death Valley).  This time apparently my valve guides were out of spec.  Needless to say the bike just passed its 1-year mark and has been rebuilt twice and in the shop half a dozen times for a total of over 15 weeks down due to the various repairs.  The worst part is its not just my bike, take a trip over to klr650.net and check out the oil consumption threads if you are curious.  Such a shame, the bike is fun and one of the only like it in its class.