Honda
Is there a better motorcycle brand on the planet than Honda? Not for our money! It ticks so many boxes. Honda bikes are reliable, well-made, and extremely popular — especially in Asia. The sales figures for the Super Cub are very impressive in that part of the world. But the global numbers deserve a mention, too.
Incredibly, Honda accounts for roughly a third of the total bike sales on Earth. That's an insane effort, right! The number's in the millions. And those motorcycles last as well. Does any other brand come close? Let's find out...
Yamaha
Hands up if you're a Yamaha fan. You'll be in good company! The Japanese brand has been around for 70 years now — and it's more diverse than you might expect. Alongside motorcycles, Yamaha produces musical instruments, too. Talk about range. As for the bikes, they're arguably some of the best in the world.
All Yamaha engines are meticulously tuned, making the bikes super reliable. They're highly rated for a reason, folks. We can't wait to see what the next few decades have in store. But is our next entry far behind in the quality department?
Kawasaki
We won't beat around the bush here — Kawasaki is an awesome brand. Its motorcycles are efficient, reliable, and great to look at. Does any other company make better large capacity bikes than the Japanese giant? No way! The build quality and after-sales support for those vehicles deserves a shout-out as well.
And of course, we can't not mention Kawasaki's sports bike output, either. It's fantastic! Remember folks, the Ninja H2R is still the most powerful production motorcycle in the world. It can churn out a jaw-dropping 310 horsepower. Holy smokes.
Suzuki
How do you follow the brilliance of both Yamaha and Kawasaki? Simple — say hello to Suzuki! This brand has been around for 116 years now, making its bow in the fall of 1909. It's since developed a reputation as one of the most stringent bike companies in the world. And for good reason.
Few brands put their motorcycles through more rigorous testing than Suzuki. Wind tunnels? Obstacle courses? Significant durability tests? The list goes on! If a bike makes it through that in one piece, then you're on to a winner.
BMW
It's fair to say that Japan has dominated these rankings so far. Yet here's a new face! BMW isn't miles away from the likes of Honda or Kawasaki — it's produced some outstanding bikes over the years. The R1250 GS? The M1000 RR? Lovely stuff. The German brand's efficiency can't be questioned.
But that's not the only thing in BMW's favor. Its motorcycles are normally brimming with cool accessories and features, too. We're talking onboard navigation, traction and stability control, ABS — that kind of stuff. The engines are no joke, either.
Harley-Davidson
Is Harley-Davidson the most recognizable motorcycle brand in the world? It's got to be in the conversation! The company was founded back in 1903, making it 122 years old now. That's quite a run, right? In that time, it's produced some amazing bikes that are simple to maintain. They also last, which you can't say about every vehicle.
So why isn't Harley higher up in these rankings? Well, it went through a very sticky patch between 1969 and 1981. During that period, quality control took a major dip, hurting the brand's reputation in the process. Fortunately, things did pick up after that.
Triumph
Triumph has quite the history, folks. Founded in the 1880s, this U.K. motorcycle brand stuck around for close to 100 years before going into receivership in 1983. It was quickly revived, though. By 1990, Triumph was rolling out its latest batch of bikes. Awesome! But what are they like? Do they hold a candle to the classics?
We'd say so. Triumph's latest efforts are slick, brilliantly made, and very nice to look at. You won't have any complaints about the handling or performance of those bikes. They're also very reliable. How does our next entry compare?
KTM
Based out of Austria, KTM has an extremely loyal following today. The brand's motorcycles are practical, generally affordable, and fun to ride in various conditions. What more can you ask for! But it's not all good news, folks. KTM bikes are also known to have a few issues, as we're about to find out.
Yep, people have reported problems with the suspension, fuel pump, ABS, and finish of certain KTM models. If that wasn't bad enough, oil leaks are another concern. Oof. Could you overlook those issues?
Ducati
On July 4 next year, Ducati will celebrate its 100th birthday. Quite the landmark, wouldn't you agree! The Italian brand is famous for its jaw-droppingly gorgeous motorcycles — you can't take your eyes off them. But is there substance behind all that style? Honestly, it's a bit of a mixed bag.
Older Ducati bikes aren't as reliable as you'd hope. Yet more recent efforts, such as the current version of the Monster, have been praised to the hilt in that department. Maintenance costs don't come cheap, though.
Indian
At 124 years young, Indian has enjoyed quite the lifespan. Mind you, it hasn't all been plain sailing for the American brand. Due to upstairs upheaval, it's gone through spells where the quality and reliability of its bikes have dipped significantly. And that's hurt Indian's reputation over time. But things are looking better now.
Since being picked up by Polaris in 2013, Indian's motorcycles have improved tenfold. The build quality, performances, and stellar aesthetics can't be questioned. Slowly but surely, it's clawing back its reputation.
Royal Enfield
Much like Indian, Royal Enfield has been around for 124 years as well. Impressive! And similarly, the brand has enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in recent years, too. Modern versions of the Interceptor and Continental GT have earned plenty of praise from bike fans. The prices aren't that bad, either.
But has Royal Enfield fully recovered from its past mistakes in the eyes of motorcycle enthusiasts? That's tough to say. The brand had a really dodgy period a while back, as it produced some very unreliable bikes.
MV Agusta
Is the MV Agusta the best motorcycle brand out there? Probably not! But while it can't compete with the heavy-hitters, it does have some plus points. Visually, its bikes look fabulous. The lightweight materials boost both handling and agility on the road, making journeys more enjoyable. And there is a standout model.
Yes, the MV Agusta Rush 1000 is a tremendous vehicle. With its 16 valve, four-stroke engine, it can produce a whopping 208 horsepower in full-flight. Woah! Would you turn your nose up at that?
Moto Guzzi
Moto Guzzi finds itself in a pretty interesting position here. Compared to a lot of other motorcycle brands, it's very much a "middle of the road" name. But that's not a bad thing! Its bikes are dependable, aesthetically pleasing, and good performers. You can probably add unspectacular to that list.
So what models stand out in Moto Guzzi's lineup? Well, the V7 and V85 TT bikes deserve a mention. Their design, build quality, and modern tech continue to catch the eye of riders both young and old.
Benelli
It wouldn't be unfair to say that Benelli lacks the name recognition of a lot of other bike brands. It often finds itself near the back of the line! But is that justified? Sort of. While the likes of Ducati, Moto Guzzi, and many more focus on high performance, Benelli doesn't.
Instead, it has a greater interest in entry-level motorcycles. And for what it's worth, those vehicles are usually pretty solid. So Benelli does have an important place in the industry — just not with the big boys!
Hero MotoCorp
Once known as Hero Honda, Hero MotoCorp enjoyed a fantastic spell in India back in the '80s and '90s. The 2000s wasn't a bad time, either! But how good are the brand's bikes today? Do they hold a candle against the bigger names? No, to put it bluntly.
Motorcycles from Hero MotoCorp are practical and fairly minimalist. They're not high performers on the road, which is sure to disappoint many. The flat designs are hard to look past, too.
NIU
Making its bow in 2014, NIU has since become the leading figure in the electric mobility space. It's a very innovative brand, creating some exciting motorcycles and scooters over the years. Those vehicles tick plenty of boxes, folks! But why is NIU so low in our ranking?
Well, it's more down to pedigree than anything. NIU can't really compete in that respect. Time is on its side, though. With a bright future ahead, it could jump a few places before long.
Bajaj
We won't beat around the bush here — Bajaj does a lot right. Its bikes are affordable, fuel efficient, and usually quite durable. So how come it isn't higher in the ranking, then? Well, the brand does have its issues.
Bajaj motorcylces often require consistent maintenance to stay up and running. The repair shop can feel like a second home! Electrical troubles, engine vibrations, and premature wear and tear are frequently cited by owners.
Aprilia
It's hard to hate on Aprilia as a brand. After all, its bikes look amazing and perform brilliantly on the road. But we can't ignore the reliability issues that have plagued the Italian company over the years.
Regardless of the model, Aprilia's bikes are known to suffer with oil leaks, melted wiring, rectifier malfunctions, and corrosion. If that wasn't enough, gas tank expansion is another concern for riders. Holy smokes!
Bimota
If we were ranking motorcycle brands on looks alone, then Bimota would be right near the top. Its bikes are absolutely stunning! But gorgeous designs can only get you so far. Bimota is no stranger to significant headaches.
Remember the V-Due model? That disaster almost killed the brand back in 2001. And while Bimota did manage to recover, it's since faced other glaring issues. Expensive maintenance? Questionable reliability? Bad depreciation? Yikes.
Norton
Ah, Norton. We're sorry to do this to such a historic name, but it must be done! From 2008 to 2020, the motorcycle brand was in a complete mess. And that's putting it kindly, folks.
During that spell, quality control was at an all-time low. Norton's bikes had so many recurring problems. The company eventually went into administration in 2020, before being saved. Things look a lot better now, but plenty of riders are still wary. Regaining trust isn't always easy.
Through: Ronald Saunders / Wikimedia Commons