Brand Loyalty?

[Al Gorithum]

Had quite a sports few bikes over the years, including many that were supposed to be among the best at the time.

For some reason I seem to be a "Suzuki person" as my favourites are the original slabby GSXR750 and the Hayabusa over everthing else I've ridden. Don't know if it's some sort of unconscious bias or they just great machines, but looking around now for a new bike - no other brands seem to appeal.

Definitely not a "badge man" otherwise I'd be on a Duke or Harley etc. Do you have a bias or do you test everything you like the look of?

[airsafari87]

I just go for whatever appeals to me.

Brand loyalty is not something I have ever had wether it be to a car, bike, or clothing manufacturer.

There are certain brands that I like or trust and will generally gravitate towards them when making a purchase, bit I will still look at the other comparable options available first before making a purchase.

Edited by airsafari87 on Tuesday 9th February 12:14

[Cylon2007]

Not sure it's brand loyalty, I'm the same in a way, had loads of Kawasakis, triumphs, couple of Hondas (didn't last long) and although i've ridden GSXRs and they do ride lovely I've never owned one and probably never will. It's mainly the 'shellsuit' styling/paint that puts me off.

Thing with biking it heart over head in most cases, my current bike is a 2017 Street Triple RS, probably - no definitley - the best I've ever owned (for me) and like you until the new Speed Triple RS was announced there was nothing out there of any make that took my interest. If I could afford/justify more than 1 bike then maybe that would change but as it is the one bike I won does everything I need/want, commute, scratch, track days, tour.

[bogie]

When I was younger I was drawn to Kawasaki as they always seemed to have the fastest thing out there, so I had more Kawasakis than any other brand....although not for 5 years or so now.

But generally, no, not brand loyal.

[Zedboy]

I get the Brand thing, for me it’s about sticking with what works for you. I’m on my 9th Z1000 and the latest one is always the best. Hasn’t stopped me lusting after an original A1 or A2 recently though.

[LuS1fer]

I used to buy Honda's for the quality and styling but that was back in the 8Os and 90s.

My return to biking in 2013 led to a Honda MSX125 though it seemed bulky for what it was and regrettably, Thai quality is not Japanese quality and the new MSX looks gash.

I swopped to a Suzuki SV650S in 2016, based on the old school styling and lack of plastic fantastic addenda. Quality was very good and it was a good bike. I have given up biking again but would have been tempted by the Suzuki's again and the locality of the dealership also key.

As for Honda, they used to have great metallic paint finishes and styling flair. Now they seem to have very dull colour schemes and no idea at all.

[CAPP0]

None that I'm aware of, as above I just go for what appeals, but my son recently pointed out that I've had a lot of Yams!

[Jazoli]

I've had 6 Triumphs and 12 Kawasaki's, and maybe 10 Yamaha's and 8 Suzuki's so no real loyalty here, I have had more Kawasaki's in recent years than anything else, I like green bikes!

[Neal H]

In 20 years of biking I’ve only owned 4 bikes and 3 of those have been Yamaha. I’m not brand loyal though, I think I always look to Yamaha first as my experience with them has been entirely positive. I’ve owned my current one for 10 years as nothing has appeared that has made me want to change it.

Until the new Triumph 1200 Speed Triple that is, so I’ve ordered one of those. I hope it proves to be as good as the Yamaha’s!

[anonymous-user]

My history is 1 Honda, 1 Yamaha, 1 Suzuki, 1 Triumph then 6 KTMs and a BMW. I like the KTMs the most. Always. By Miles. So I'll probably by more of them.

[trickywoo]

I'm a Suzuki man too. I really like the engineering integrity and ease of working on their bikes and cars, not that anything much goes wrong.

I tried a Triumph and didn't like how it felt lashed together in comparison. Honda has never appealed to me in the old firebland cliche way. I quite like Kawasaki, I'd have a ZZR1400 if the maintenance wasn't such a ball ache. Yamaha are generally unappealing but I'd find it difficult to say why other than I just don't want one. Don't want a Ducati because of cambelts. Had an Aprilia and didn't get on with it, don't want another.

[crofty1984]

I seem to be drawn towards BSAs, but I think that's mainly a function of price and availability. If you wanted a sporty 650 british twin, you'll probably pay £1000 mre for an equivalent Triumph Bonneville over the BSA Lightning. Then again, Bantams seem to be going for silly money nowadays, so if I was after a tiddler I'd probably go for a James or something Italian.

[Pothole]

from about 1984:
Honda
Honda
Suzuki
Suzuki
Honda
Honda
Honda
Suzuki
Kawasaki
Yamaha
Triumph
Triumph
Moto Guzzi

I'd buy another Honda or Triumph in a heartbeat. The others not so much.

[Ilikemotorbikes]

I've owned more hondas and yamahas than anything else but I've got no major bias.

There's a chap on a Facebook group I'm in and he literally won't even entertain hearing about any other bike if it doesn't have a Honda badge... Very peculiar!

A good bike or one that takes your interest is irrelevant to the manufacturer its from I think

[Timbo_S2]

Mainly Suzuki I suppose (Had a GSXR600 & 1000, and still have a 750).

Otherwise had honda, KTM and Ducati. And currently a BMW.

So no, not really. Other than Kawasaki don;t do much for me.

[dibblecorse]

I always wanted a Ducati ever since seeing the 916, so passed my test and set the goal that if I got to 3 years NCD I would get one .. and have stuck with them since ...

So my journey was:

1. Honda VFR400 NC30 - So wish I had kept this, such a delicate toy.
2. CBR600FX - Last of the carb's models.
3. Ducati 996 MY2000 - Still have it
4. Ducati Monster S2R 800cc - Been and gone
5. Ducati Multistrada 1000S DS - First grown up bike
6. Ducati Hyperstada 821 - So much fun for a small package, will buy another at some point.
7. Ducati 999R Fila - Still have it
8. Ducati Panigale 1199S - Track bike - Still have it - I think I have found my perfect (for me) track bike.
9. Ducati Multistrada 950 - Commuting workhorse for the last 3 years, recently returned to Ducati Finance as not being used during the pandemic as I'm at home ....

Next purchase I will likely hunt down a late year / low miles Ducati Hyperstrada as it was better suited to me than the Multistrada was and Ducati no longer make them new.

[Hungrymc]

I think brands do have some traits that tend to stay fairly constant (at least until they do a significant reset such as BMW when they launched the S1000RR).

Understandable that some people tend to settle on a brand with traits they like, at least for a period.

[Biker's Nemesis]

I think its a bit short sighted to stick eith one manufacturer.

[dibblecorse]

Biker's Nemesis said:

I think its a bit short sighted to stick eith one manufacturer.

Not if they have a range that meets your needs and the only option away from that brand is to start a whole new dealer relationship, I'm so deep into Ducati ownership that I have some awesome resources available to me that I would not have as a new customer to anyone else, I have looked at / test ridden alternatives but keep coming back to the support I get being worth something.

[KTMsm]

I have no loyalty to brands as such but I find I prefer KTM as they are less about looks and more about how they ride, I have a 450, 525, 950, just sold a 690, I'm also used to working on them, their groups and Dealers

I also have Orange gear so if it was a tie between KTM and another I'd choose the KTM but that's as far as it goes

I recently bought a CBR600 as a cheap track bike but as I haven't had a chance to ride it in the dry it's too early to say if I like it.

I did really enjoy the ER6N which is my first Kawasaki but many components are very cheap which put me off long term ownership