J.D. Power reveals individual manufacturer results for the first time

swadminDecember 22, 2006

For the first time, J.D. Power and Associates has publicly released brand-performance results from its annual Motorcycle Competitive Information Study. The public can access a portion of the results on the J.D. Power Web site.

Ten motorcycle brands were included in the study. The ratings indicated Victory was “among the best” for product, while Honda and Suzuki took top honors for quality. Four manufacturers (Buell, Kawasaki, Triumph and Victory) stood out for cost of ownership. BMW and Harley-Davidson were named best for sales and Victory was the same for service.

The study also found:

New motorcycle owners experience fewer problems with their bikes.

Brands that typically use multi-line dealerships continue to struggle in satisfying customer needs when it comes to the sales and service experience.

The number of problems per 100 motorcycles was down from 2005, with engine problems (also down) still the majority reported.

The 2006 Motorcycle Competitive Information Study includes responses from 6,916 owners who purchased new on-road motorcycles between September 2005 and May 2006. Owners were surveyed in September and October 2006.