I know there area lot of people here who know their bikes, so that's why I'm asking it here first..
What is generally considered the most reliable motorcycle engine? It's not for a BEC project or anything, so power or suitability for BEC
purposes are not reall relevant.. 2 or 4 cilinder, air or watercooled also does not matter. Any opinions?
Honda c90 bullit proof
Aircooled Suzuki engines are well known for their reliability etc. Also Hondas are well known for reliability.
Adam
Honda C90. Excellent machines.
I had a Kawasaki zxr750 water cooled, And when i sold it it had done 65k
always serviced had one cam chain and a clutch, ive now got a suzuki
gsx1400 oil cooled 2 1/2 yrs old and done 20k never missed a beat
As a rule a Honda engine, pan european motors are nigh on bomb proof...
I am a very keen biker and had many bikes in my time and by far the most reliable have been Hondas. Any of the fireblade engines would give great power to weight performance but they do tend to get a thrashing. The blackbird engines are brilliant but expensive as the grass track boys tend to snap them up. A real powerful engine (but alittle heavy) for not a lot of dosh can be dragged out of a cbr 1000f something like a G plate would be ideal they were good for 160mph but are forgotten beasts now. Not sure how tall they would be though.
They aren't making them any more though, not economical as they never need replacing 
. edit:- Known in the trade as Honda Chicken, or
Placky.
[Edited on 28/12/05 by Peteff]
It has to be a C90.
And I snapped one in half. Pre "big bone" stage of my life before we have any comments, it was on a jump I could fly over on my YZ. Why do
most scars come from acting a twat ?
Honda CX500, the couriers friend.
The NTV600/650 took over from that when it went out of fashion, reliability and no chain to mess about with is the big attraction.
I had no idea the CX500 was ever even in fashion.
and that isn't a misprint
your all forgetting about the honda cg125! unbreakable!
You don,t say what you want it for but I'd say use what is used by he high mileage bikers! Police / ambulance etc ( Honda Pan st1100 BMW R1100 )
or if you want smaller Honda DEAUVILLE 650 the despatch riders choice.
I know of one pan with 125000 an no problems . vfr800 are concidered bullet proof as well. (not the vvt version.)
So the Maggot and the Chicken Chaser are in the lead.
Ducati Pantah anyone ?
MZ 250 ETZ 
I've got a Honda NTV and it's been totally reliable.
I see a HONDA theme emerging...
C90's are the dogs nad's or so I'm told!
What's all this Honda business then....there are other better bikes out there without horrible clunky gearboxes
My son has one, 1975, original engine, runs like a sowing machine. Never had any work done, other than he had it stripped down and totaly repainted
last year.
Is he a farmer or is it a sewing machine?
quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
Honda c90 bullit proof
Friend had a GSXR1100H (oilcooled) bought new and sold 3 or so years later with about 140,000 on the clock.
ATB
Simon
quote:
Originally posted by Coose
quote:
Originally posted by mangogrooveworkshop
Honda c90 bullit proof
Not strictly true! On the Team Lard John O'Groats to Lands End trip last year, mine shat its' big end just south of Glasgae! Saying that, I'd been slip streaming a bus earlier and pushed along by a CB1300, both times well off the clock!
quote:
Originally posted by G.Man
[
He said bullit not ejit
hehe the c90 is a good little engine but i was allways rebuilding my m8s when we used to race around the woods on these ,,most of them had 110 big
bore kits on and fancy exhausts
dirt monkey
quote:
Originally posted by tomblyth
You don,t say what you want it for but I'd say use what is used by he high mileage bikers! Police / ambulance etc ( Honda Pan st1100 BMW R1100 ) or if you want smaller Honda DEAUVILLE 650 the despatch riders choice.
I know of one pan with 125000 an no problems . vfr800 are concidered bullet proof as well. (not the vvt version.)
Without doubt the Suzuki GS850. I've seen more than a couple with more than 75000 km with little more than regular maintenance. The crank runs on roller bearings, low pressure oil system, air cooled, shaft drive. Weakest link is the charging system, but can be addressed with aftermarket regulators.
lol, this is an old thread, you already said that 5 posts up!
For sheer fun an unrestricted FS1E, there's an immaculate one for sale in a local dealer £1500
Tony
quote:
Originally posted by JoelP
lol, this is an old thread, you already said that 5 posts up!
My vote goes to the Kawasaki GT750 shaft, the couriers friend.
Al.
Kwacker Z650.
Bombproof provided regular oil changes were strictly adhered to.