Topic: Why do people say these bikes are unreliabe

[DavePhipps]

With my old cb the only time it was unreliable was when the regulator went out.
It seems that if you get the engine sorted leave the air intake/ carbs alone, and have good electrics, they will run forever.
The main things the bikes need are better stopping power and better suspension. Atermarket shocks and springs take care of suspension and a drilled disk or dual disk setup helps that point.

Please post your opinions/stories.

[bryanj]

Who sez they are unreliable?

[bozo4onion]

Mine has never let me down......yet. I do see several newer Harleys on the side of the road being kicked endlessly by sweaty cursing dudes. IMO if you maintain the bikes in a timely manner w/quality parts they are as dependable as newer bikes. They just require a little more attention like any other high maintenance mistress. Who are these "people"?

[Sporkfly]

I've heard just the opposite, one of Honda's most reliable bikes!

 

[Really?]

I have always known Honda to have the most reliable bikes.  Even the wild ones that only Honda will take on.  Followed by Yamaha, Kawasaki, Suzuki...  Basically, proof is what you see most on the road and including the past/vintage and still being picked up and restored/modded.  I have been riding for 30 years and this is what my old eyes have seen.

[goon 1492]

Ya don't want to bash harleys too much, remember most of those people that have them bought one with no mechanical skills or are not mechanically inclined at all so the usual maintenence goes right out the window for those poor soul's (the bikes I mean) Harleys are good bikes they are just higher maintence, my neighbor's brother has a 73 cb750 (836 cafe) and has a harley road king, very nice bikes and he told me himself he rides the old honda more than the harley because the harley riquires more attention.

[goon 1492]

OH yeah the honea has a nice kerker 4 into 1 that was loud  he also had pods      , he asked me if I wanted to hear it, fired it up and filled up the garage with that sweet smell of exhaust in seconds  , he said right before starting that its been a while since he started it and it fired up within three turns of the motor  , kinda wish i had pics the whole bike was chrome, I mean frame, swing arm, guages, everything but the seat.

[HondaMan]

Honda set the world's standard of motorcycle reliability with the CB750 and the other SOHC4 engines. The brakes were too big in the beginning, and chains were not strong enough

Over the years the brake pad makers (disc) have lessened the gripping power of the pads, selling them cheaper, which pretty well drove Honda out of that spares market (they now buy them from 3rd party vendors).

Diamond and Reynolds stepped up in the chain market to fix this weakness, and the whole world benefitted from their moves to improve chains as the result.

The first motorcycle to ever go 100,000 miles without a rebuild was the gawd-awful looking BMW 600 opposed twin, but its 0-60 MPH time was measured with an hourglass. The next one was the CB750K0, with 1/4 mile times in the 12s.

Since these SOHC4 bikes, the only other bikes to make the no-repair distinction for the 100,000 mile mark were bikes that followed the Honda design, either SOHC4 style (Kaw, Suzy) or Gold Wing style.

It wasn't until the late 1990s that Harleys ever made that trip, and I have only heard it by innuendo, not an odomoeter check.

The weakest link on SOHC4 bikes is their battery (it must be removed when not in use for 4 months or more, especially in winter), because it is small. The next spot is the points, which can be resolved in many ways, like with my Transistorized Ignition. After those 2 items, the rest of their reliability is up to the owner, who must lube the chain when needed and change the oil and tires. That's all it takes to reach 100,000 miles.

So, is that unreliable? And, compared to what?

[Johnny5]

Unreliable because every 200 miles you have to put gas in it.

Ridiculous.

[montana550]

I've never seen another 4 cylinder motor run so well on 3 cylinders when one goes down.

[Skonnie Boy]

My K3/6 is ridiculously reliable, still took me on a 500 mile roundtrip after overheating and seizing early this summer.  All the problems I've had with the bike come down to wiring and gaskets that are over 30 years old, or the battery.  In other words, normal stuff that comes with age.  I just hit 35K miles, and may hit 50K without rebuilding the engine.

At this point I would like to knock on wood, in reference to the abovementioned sentence.

Also, considering I have no idea what kind of idiot(s) owned the bike before I did, I think my ride's pretty reliable.

Yeah, 200 miles and then the bike just stops for no reason.  Total bullsh!t, I agree.    

[KB02]

Unreliable because every 200 miles you have to put gas in it.

Ridiculous.

 


Why do  people say these bikes are unreliabe?

Are you sure they said Honda and not Harley? I mean, they both start with an "H." Must be someone had a bad expierince with ONE bike and has now branded the old Hondas as crap. Stupid people.

Seriously though, the dependability of a bike is directly proportionate to it's maintainence. If you take the time and keep it maintained, you're gonna have a great bike that will last you years. If you beat the snot out of it and and don't do valve adjustments, then you are liable to have some problems. It's like anything, really. 

[Really?]

I've never seen another 4 cylinder motor run so well on 3 cylinders when one goes down.

My XVZ12DN and others like mine (different years) can run on 3 cylinders and you would not know it unless you happen to fix it.   

[gregimotis]

In one hour, I depart for a 4 day, 1500 mile ride through Southern Utah.  My bike shows 78,000 miles on the odometer.

I'll do a book report on the reliability on Tuesday.  Ha, Ha, later losers!

[Bodain]

Many of us are always scouting for that rare find. Occasionally you come across them. Doesn't really matter if it's a Honda four or an old 70's CB whatever....

The bikes ran for years, then sat idle for years. Possibly outside in weather. You pick them up. Go over the basics and they fire right up.  

nuff said!

[DavePhipps]

Frankly I agree with everyone here. The people that  I have met that said these old bikes are unreliable must be nuts.
 I have never had a more reliable bike than my old CB550. It always started no matter what. Yes, I  rode the thing in sub zero temp all the way to 100+ degrees. I took my 550 to New York and back with no problem. The only reason my old bike died was because of an ex-girlfriend that destroyed it out of revenge.

[manjisann]

My bike is great! The only thing unreliable about it is the dude wrenching on it   I don't have near the experience as some of the other old salts here (nowhere near   ) but everything I've been able to discern says these babies are as realiable as can be!

Brandon

[Master Ted]

Go over the basics and they fire right up.

My K2 CB750 (former basket case) is nothing short of amazing. I've rode 150 to 200 miles a day all summer long doing my daily Zen... no kidding, ride is all I did this summer. From the dead this new life bike has blown a fuse, required a chain adjustment, several oil changes and that's it (I have Hondaman's ignition). The engine and nearly every part are original save batt, cables, grips and so forth. The trusty CB750 has shown this retired guy one of the best summers ever. I'm now fixing to pack her south on a trailer for the winter and continue the fun in AZ shortly. 34,000 miles.

[speedy gonzalais]

let me tell you a story about a little honda MTX125 that got thrashed and thrashed untill the big end starts to rumble, It then goes on to do another 800 miles in my possesion then it gets sold and used daily and to this day 2 yrs and and a hell of a lot of miles later is still rumbling and running not giving up.

Or another about a honda ATC110 That i took through ditches and streams, sandy mud flats and this one time i pulled handfulls of sand out the carb thinking oh no thats gotta have f***ed it but proved wrong by the honda once again as it fired up and carried on for the whole summer.

Or another about a C90 rescued from the bottom of a lake left to dry out drained the carb fresh petrol new battery 6th kick and off she goes

Or a cb650 thats 3 years older than me done a hell of a lot more miles than me but it still pulls away from most cars on the road starts with a flick of the button rain,ice or snow yea ive had problems but she still goes.

And it aint just the bikes they make great cars lawn mowers generators strimmers and more, If people say Perpetual motion aint possible then il say honda is the next best thing!

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Honda has been good to me.  They take sitting for decades and then fire up with no oil use or internal repairs, amazing.  Ask an Iron Head Sportster owner about reliability. My machinist said it best " I spent all the money it needed, I rebuilt it exactly right, and it was still an unreliable piece of #$%*" He is a man that possesses attention to detail and skill.  He also stated he didn't know much about how to work on his Honda because it never has broken.  H.O.N.D.A. whats that spell? reliability and value.   

[TwoTired]

Why do they say the bikes are unreliable?

1 - Because they are comparing to modern cars that go thousands of miles without any attention, other than turning the key.
2 - They are unfamiliar with the concept of a tuneup, chain maintenance, etc. that was excepted as routine maintenance 30 years ago (mostly before they were born, or weren't yet aware of vehicles outside of their car seat).
3 - They think a 30 year old abused and neglected bike should run without stoppage, regardless of varnish in the carbs, corrosion of the electrical components, or how many times they have dumped/crashed the bike while learning to ride their "cheap" starter bike.
4 - They think choke operation is an on/off affair, like a key switch, if they know what a choke is or does.  (computers take care of that stuff for them nowadays.)
5 - They think spark plugs should last 30,000 miles (if they know what a spark plug is).
6 - Their "other " vehicle is a Toyota.  And, it's still waiting for its first oil change.
7 - They got the bike form their 18 year old friend who is an excellent mechanic (he knows what a wrench is) and the bike keeps dying.  (Also has a ten year old battery that looks good.)
8 - Don't all gas tanks have rust in them?
9 - Their buddies new scooter/bike has run for the last six months with nothing but gas added to it. (and the monthly payments)
10 - They don't own one or have no desire to own one.  They're preferred brand simply MUST be better...(dorkboy)
11- They've seen Shinola and excrement and they both appear to be the same, except for a slightly different odor (except when they have a cold).

There could be more reasons...

[Gregorymoto]

Who ever is talking is doing so out there But, i have been all over on my bike. I once rode from Seattle to Tex Gulf coast and back. Let me tell you this was back when i had no money and the old F was rough.

[Jim F]

My son drives a Honda Civic
can you guess what kind of motor is in that car

Yep

single over head cam 4 cylinder
makes about 90 HP on a good day

keep up the good work Honda

Jim

[Soos]

I'll agree on the abuse proof of these engines.

65,000+ miles on my cb650 innards now(30,000 within the last 3 years)... all except the pistons. I didn't NEED the overbore, I WANTED it. 

In fact when i pulled the pistons, they were WELL within specs for stock pistons, the piston bores as well.


I have no doubt that my little SOHC4 motor will pass the 100,000 mile marker in the next few years.
I wouldn't put it past a SOHC4 honda to do 150,000 miles.

And reliability..... If one can survive me driving it.... it should handle almost anything.
Thank god for rev limiters!

l8r

[KingCustomCycles.com]

You can dismiss old Honda motorcycles for alot of things but reliability is not one of them.