"Back in the day I worked at a dealer who sold both Jap and Brit bikes, so have a fair idea of what the bikes are actually like to work on. Old Brit bikes have a lot going for them, and understandably have a big following. However its silly to suggest they perform better and are engineered to higher standards than Jap machinery. If this had indeed been the case, then I guess Norton, BSA, Triumph, and all the rest of the Brit manufacturers would still have been in business today, and the Japs would have gone to the wall.Carbonfibre "
financial success of a company is dependant on a number of factors. Great design and high quality material is probably a minor factor, unfortunately.
Some of the most sought after and highly regarded Classic motorcycles today are those produced by the Vincent HRD company from 1926 - 1955. Valuations go up every year, even though there are quite a number of the bikes available.
A series A twin recently sold at Bonhams for the equivalent of $440,000.
The design and outright performance of those bikes at the time they were built was light years ahead of anything else. If put in good working order, they still make a wonderful touring mount for long distance/high speed travelling today. I've ridden my 47 HRD 24,000 miles in the last few years, most of it two up with full luggage.
But the company was a complete financial failure.
The Jap bikes back then were the other end of the spectrum- made of cheap materials designed to go a short distance and then be replaced. But they were very affordable so the masses could buy them.
To the credit of the Japanese manufacturers, they improved their products greatly over time.
But in the 70s they were a poor substitute for the real thing.
I still don't undertand why you spend time here slagging British bikes. Must be a peverse pleasure I guess.