Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

[M_114]

I'm thinking of purchasing a new 50hp 4 stroke. any thoughts on suzuki versus honda. The suzuki maybe cost about 200 bucks more. any advice, pros-cons would be appreciated<br />M_114

 

[JB]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

Howdy, M.<br /><br />Both are very good engines but the decider for me would be that the Suzi is EFI.<br /><br />EFI makes as big a difference on 4 stroke outboards as it does in cars.<br /><br />You might also consider the new Mercury EFI 60 4 stroke if a 60 is an option.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[CAPTBLACKSMARINE]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

I AGREE WITH J.B. THE SUZUKI WOULD BE MY CHOICE OF THE TWO . BUT I WOULD ALSO SHOP DEALERS AND BE SURE I HAD A GOOD DEALER CLOSE BY FOR WHICH EVER ONE I CHOSE TO BUY .

 

[rtice]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

M_114, Do a seach on this message board on suzuki. There are few of us Suzuki owners that have had some problems.

 

[CAPTBLACKSMARINE]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

THERE MAY BE A FEW PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS BUT THERE ARE FAR MORE OF US WHO HAVE HAD EXCELLENT SERVICE OUT OF SUZUKI MOTORS. I HAVE RAN AND OWNED MANY SUZUKI'S AND HAVE HAD AND SEEN VERY FEW PROBLEMS FROM ANY OF THEM .

 

[JB]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

Howdy, M_114.<br /><br />Those few problems that have raised such a stink have been with the DF70. I have a DF70 and love it.<br /><br />CaptBlacksMarine is correct. Though the problems that do occur make a lot of noise, they are still rare. I would not pass on a Suzi because of them.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[rtice]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

Gentlemen, My problem is not the Suzuki engine, its what happened to me when my camshaft failed on my new 2001 DF70. Prior to this failure, I was just like the rest of you proud owners(preaching to whoever would listen). They are a very fine running engine, the best I have ever owned.<br />Good starting, idles all day, no stink(old 2 strokes), good on gas, great power both on lower end and WOT. I don't want to come across as a whiner or complainer, but when my camshaft failed, I was without a boat and motor for 3 months, that's a half of a season in Minnesota. Motor problem was incorrectly diagnosed at first. Waited 5 weeks for an oil sending unit which did not fix the problem. Then nearly 2 months to get the camshaft and get it installed.<br />Suzuki will not tell me why this failure happened or why they installed a different part number camshaft. I've written them three letters. Their response was the fact that it was repaired at an authorized Suzuki Dealer and by and authorized Suzuki Tech. and the fact that I ran it for 1 hour after the repair should be enough to satisfy my questions. I hope there are only 4 of us out there with a camshaft failure on the DF60/70 4 stroke. My condensed story.

 

[enn]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

I would go for the Suzuki - EFI is an important feature.<br /><br />I have had Suzuki and Honda (1 of each) OBs for years and have always been wery happy with them. Newer has any problems with my Suzuki OBs - guess you have been unlucky with your dealer - but that dosent make Suzuki a bad engine.

 

[M_114]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

I'm going to go try out the suzuki 50 hp today. There seems to be a signif difference between the 60hp and 50hp size/weight-wise. One of the mechanics also suggested that the 50hp is the more "advanced" engine. Why is EFI important. I've been told so I don't have to choke the motor or squeeze the fuel line bulb which really never bothered me. I think I may miss the smell of the gas/oil fumes on the water. So why is EFI important. I'm suspicious its just something else that could break.

 

[Franki]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

EFI is good for the same reasons it is good in a car engine..<br /><br />a Carb can only give an "educated guess" on how much fuel to deliver, fuel injection can take much more then the throttle position into account when deciding how much fuel/air is needed.<br /><br />Also, Fuel injection usually disperses the fuel into the air better then a carb.<br /><br />So you get better fuel ecconomy and better emissions...<br /><br />I'd say more power too, but HP is HP really, but with two engines, same size same block/heads ect, one fuel injected, and one carb, the efi motor will be better in pretty much every respect.. <br /><br /><br />rgds<br /><br />frank

 

[Duckbay]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

M_114<br />Just to stir the pot, have you considered the 50Hp Yamaha 4 stroke, high thrust?<br />David.

 

[M_114]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

I'm not sure I need a stirred pot right now. but the more information the better these things are spendy and buyers remorse could be severe. Whats the advantage of the Yamaha? and what is high thrust? I did take the suzuki out yesterday its a nice engine, quiet and had a very steady throttle increase also had a tilt feature which I liked.

 

[SeaDawg]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

M 114, the Yamaha is just another good engine, like all the other you are looking at. <br /><br />You should be fine with any of the 4-stokes in that range, as long as you get the features that you want. <br /><br />You only need high thrust (called bigfoot by mercury and mariner) if you have a really heavy boat and don't want to go fast.<br /><br />They have larger beefier lower units, and bigger diameter propellers.

 

[Duckbay]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

It seems we generally only talk about the issues or problems with a particular powerplant. In monitoring the forum, it seems if you don't hear anything, it's a good thing! <br /><br />I think you're about buy a very good product. Hopefully your Suzuki Rep is there, on the remote chance you have an issue.<br /><br />David.

 

[M_114]

Re: Honda versus Suzuki 50hp 4 strokes--

I did in fact look into the yamaha 50 hp but it didn't have fuel injection. I tested the suzuki with the fuel injection and maybe it was just my imagination but it seemed to have a "smoother" acceleration in that you didn't seem to hit spots where the engine sort of ran rougher til you either accelerated or de-accelerated. the mechanic who came for the ride said it was because carburators have one ideal speed and everything else is somewhat of a compromise. Also maybe later I can't either say yes or no to this but supposedly the fuel injection won't be so effected by altitude so I can fish on the columbia at about sea level or around 7000 ft above sea level in montana without the motor running rough. I'll be happy to test this theory and report back by september