What do Japanese riders think about the stereotypes of each motorcycle manufacturer

There are four major motorcycle manufacturers in Japan: Honda, Yamaha, Kawasaki, and Suzuki.

Japanese riders have long-held stereotypes about the riders who prefer each manufacturer.

Although this stereotype is becoming less and less common these days as the individuality of each manufacturer is fading, it persists.

In this article, we will explain the stereotypes of each of the four major Japanese manufacturers.

Honda: Normal

A rider riding a Honda is considered normal and boring.

Honda motorcycles are generally regarded by Japanese riders as being uninspiring and uninteresting.

However, Honda motorcycles are also seen as reliability-oriented, as they are among the most rugged Japanese vehicles that are not prone to breakage.

Yamaha: Artists and people who value appearance

Yamaha Motor was originally derived from a company that made musical instruments and became independent.

They still have a large involvement with the musical instrument division, and they still cooperate in motorcycle manufacturing through muffler sound and wood processing. (I heard this from a Yamaha test rider I know.)

For this reason, Yamaha motorcycles are said to be beautiful to look at, and the riders on them are people who understand the art.

However, I have the impression that Yamaha is fragile among Japanese cars.

Kawasaki: A man among men

Kawasaki’s parent company, which was primarily a heavy industry company, acquired a motorcycle company and started making motorcycles.

Because of this, the company’s motorcycles are said to be designed in a rugged and wild manner.

In the 1980s, the company made many of the bikes favored by biker gangs and is said to be the company that makes the most masculine motorcycles.

Suzuki: a metamorphosis

Suzuki is the Polish equivalent of the role of Poland in ethnic jokes.

Suzuki is a company that is good at cutting costs, such as in mini cars and compact cars.

This is evident in the design of its motorcycles, with similar bikes sold with bodies that are $1,000 or cheaper than the competition.

Japanese riders also appreciate that HAYABUSA is a strange manufacturer that often makes bikes with designs that no one appreciates or concepts that are 20 years ahead of their time as if their marketing department is crazy.

The HAYABUSA, however, is a great bike.

However, there are a few riders who particularly like Suzuki’s bikes, especially those with strange designs.

They are commonly referred to as “SUZUKIN” those infected with the Suzuki virus.

The term “SUZUKIN” is used especially on the Internet.

Among them, people who ride large, strange Suzuki motorcycles such as the “B-king” and the “GS1200SS” are called “SUZUKING”.

This term is meant as mild derision, so it is not recommended to call Japanese people who ride Suzuki motorcycles “SUZUKING” indiscreetly.

However, if a foreigner suddenly calls a Japanese rider “SUZUKI,” the Japanese rider will be surprised and laugh.

At least you don’t have to worry about being hit.

Kaoru Sugiura

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A man who was president of a motorcycle circle when he was a student
・Motorcycle history 10 years
・Mileage over 100,000 km
・Achieved around Japan
Hobbies include long-distance camping touring and playing with motorcycles
Currently riding TRX850, W650, PCX, Mark X

I am creating articles with the aim of creating a blog that can be useful to those who read it.

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