Best Motorcycle Brand Ever!*

[sammyseaman]

Hmmmm?.......

[jstark47]

What???  No Royal Enfield in this poll????        

[Rabidsnipe]

Is it necessary to specify conceived by man?  Are there other options?

[1KPerDay]

Kawasaki. Planes, trains, big heavy powerful ships, heavy machinery, giant clinking, clanking, clattering collections of colligenous junk, and big heavy powerful motorbikes.  

[sammyseaman]

Is it necessary to specify conceived by man?  

Stupid question. Should I have said sheep?

Are there other options?

Yeah, it's labeled Options.

[chornbe]

I really like the mix of functionality my Guzzi offers, however Honda is my choice. They led the pack and changed the game more than once, and in many ways. Sure, they're a tad bit off their game at the moment, but they've brought a LOT to the table over the years and you simply can NOT overlook them.  

$.02

[Thunderbox]

There is absolutely no doubt that best brand is Harley Davidson.  To answer any different is just denial.  Now if the question was "what bike is the best you may get a different answer but as far as brand goes it's HD  the way."  

There is a difference between the brand and the bike.

[MadOzodi]

There is a difference between the brand and the bike.

troof

[fastfreddy]

Oh, I just noticed it said 'conceived by man" And I voted for Guzzi! How silly of me! Guzzi's are too good to have been conceived by a mere mortal!

My bad,
Fred

[Rincewind]

[1KPerDay]

Cool vid. Triumph probably does have the most diverse, coolest line of bikes in the world right now.

[chornbe]

Cool vid. Triumph probably does have the most diverse, coolest line of bikes in the world right now.

We just talked about Triumph a little on this week's show. 20 years this year under John Bloor's leadership since he bought the name (and assets?) back in the 80s. They've come a long, long way in a very short time.  

[Rabidsnipe]

Stupid question. Should I have said sheep?



Yeah, it's labeled Options.

Those two questions went together

[Orson]

only one company has a secret wind tunnel hidden inside a mountain.

that type of technology is usually only brandished by SPECTRE villains in a Bond movie.

They could quite easily take over the motorcycle world with this type of  technology, but prefer to live an idyllic life on the banks of Lake Como.

You hafta respect that.

Honda has done the most to destroy motorcycling. Their inline four CB750 in 1969 made people believe that British parallel twins were quaint relics, when in fact, they replaced a charismatic, evocative engine, with the soulless powerplant with all the charm of a quartz watch  

[sammyseaman]

Those two questions went together

Thanks for clearing that up  

[wbrisett]

I picked Triumph, mostly because I think they have done a great job of marketing and have a great mix of bike. I could have picked BMW because likewise I think they have one of the best mixes of bikes out there (sans a cruiser). But really there are several other choice mixes right now (Ducati, and even Yamaha or Honda) and picking just one for that selection is tough. But once you add in brand loyalty, I think it really tilts to Triumph.

[jsanford]

Normally I'd be tempted to nod sagely at what's been said about Triumph, but a disproportionate number of the other riders I know have had their bikes buck them off.

This poll feels like it angles from the marketing point of view.  From that point of view, I'd have to say Harley-Davidson.

[motrhead]

 I say Yamaha.
  Yamaha gave us 250cc two strokes twins for forty years!
  Harley probably wouldn't even exist without government intervention. They have kept motorcycle design in the USA stuck at 1950s levels, especially after killing Buell!  Moto Guzzi deserves more respect as a great brand than Harley. Their range of products over the years is surprising. Triumph is probably about equal to MotoGuzzi.
 Yamaha built competitve road racers before Honda. They were the first of the Japanese manufacturers racing in North America, and they have been selling bikes in North America around the same length of time as Honda. Yamaha and Honda are tied for number of top class GP titles (both are still behind MV), but Rossi could change that this year in Yamaha's favor.
 Yamaha builds a product line just as diverse as Honda, but without all of the first year failures (750-4 cam chains,CX500 cam chain adjusters,V4 cams,GL 1800 frames,stators in everything...). Yamahas just plain work. Other than the TX750, their bikes have usually been reliable. The customers don't have to do the testing.  Not much that Honda gave us was original, so they aren't as innovative as the supporters here would believe. (Inline sixes, flat fours, v-4s, and  transverse fours were all done before Honda produced them.) What Honda has is good marketing and a reputation still riding on the Cub!
 Both Yamaha and Honda have been equally daring with their products over the years, but I always prefer the comparable Yamaha bikes myself. Honda always seems to err on the safe side, with products that are too smooth, plastic, and boring. They are the overdog that tries to crush everyone else with cubic money (especially racing); while Yamaha just innovates, and competes with great original bikes. Yamaha is the thorn in Honda's side that forces them to try to improve; but try as they might, Honda doesn't seem to be able to build bikes with  soul. It seems like design by commitee takes all of the fun out of their bikes.
  After owning seven Hondas  (I still have three), and having ridden a bunch more, I prefer Yamaha --"The Best Brand Ever" .
 YMMV.

[ScottB]

Triumph.

I think they've bridged the gap between lifestyle brands (Guzzi, H-D) and really excellent motorcycles (the Japanese brands).  Besides, in my heart, I'm Steve McQueen.  

[sammyseaman]

 I say Yamaha.
  Yamaha gave us 250cc two strokes twins for forty years!
  Harley probably wouldn't even exist without government intervention. They have kept motorcycle design in the USA stuck at 1950s levels, especially after killing Buell!  Moto Guzzi deserves more respect as a great brand than Harley. Their range of products over the years is surprising. Triumph is probably about equal to MotoGuzzi.
 Yamaha built competitve road racers before Honda. They were the first of the Japanese manufacturers racing in North America, and they have been selling bikes in North America around the same length of time as Honda. Yamaha and Honda are tied for number of top class GP titles (both are still behind MV), but Rossi could change that this year in Yamaha's favor.
 Yamaha builds a product line just as diverse as Honda, but without all of the first year failures (750-4 cam chains,CX500 cam chain adjusters,V4 cams,GL 1800 frames,stators in everything...). Yamahas just plain work. Other than the TX750, their bikes have usually been reliable. The customers don't have to do the testing.  Not much that Honda gave us was original, so they aren't as innovative as the supporters here would believe. (Inline sixes, flat fours, v-4s, and  transverse fours were all done before Honda produced them.) What Honda has is good marketing and a reputation still riding on the Cub!
 Both Yamaha and Honda have been equally daring with their products over the years, but I always prefer the comparable Yamaha bikes myself. Honda always seems to err on the safe side, with products that are too smooth, plastic, and boring. They are the overdog that tries to crush everyone else with cubic money (especially racing); while Yamaha just innovates, and competes with great original bikes. Yamaha is the thorn in Honda's side that forces them to try to improve; but try as they might, Honda doesn't seem to be able to build bikes with  soul. It seems like design by commitee takes all of the fun out of their bikes.
  After owning seven Hondas  (I still have three), and having ridden a bunch more, I prefer Yamaha --"The Best Brand Ever" .
 YMMV.