Who makes the most reliable motorcycle?

[Aussieroaming]

I bought a brand new BMW GS 650...the engine shat itself after 20km...yes 20. BMW obviously replaced it under warranty with a new engine and the BMW service repairer told me I should consider myself lucky as they installed a brand new engine instead of repairing it. That little job took them 8 weeks by the time a new engine was flown in from Germany. No temporary bike supplied and I even had to pay for them to transport the bike back to me as they wouldn't cover the cost.

That was in Aussie and as much as I loved riding the bike I vowed never to get another one.

[BSJ]

Pretty much all established brands these days there is a higher level of repeatability in manufacturing and good potential for better quality on a lot of parts.

Plastic parts seem to be a little better today than 40 years ago.

Alloy parts are better now.

Paint is very good....plus powder coating.

CNC machining has improved fit of parts.

The only question I have, and is probably the most important, is what is the quality of the raw material going into the casting and machining sections? If a manufacturer skimps there we can't see it and won't know it for quite a while.