What has made me change a brand in the past is really not the bike or the car itself but the dealer/brand itself.
Hey everthing is going to need repair and even with good maintenance will eventually break down. But for me this is where the test begins for the brand. How quickly is the fault fixed and the attitude and helpfullness of those involved. Bad service and you wont see me again. Good service and you have got a repeat customer for life.

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To those who say it can't be done - stand aside for those who are already doing it.

I used to be brand loyal. I had an idea that a certain brand (can you guess which one?) made more reliable bikes than the others. I had a series of minor issues and accepted the dealers excuses, followed by a major one that made me realise a) Pretty much all bikes are made to the same (shoddy) standards and b) (if you'll allow me to misquote Homer (Simpson)), it's the knowledge in your head not the badge on your tank that makes for easy trips.

By a series of mixed requirements like needing to carry a pillion on road trips as well as keep going in a Scandanavian winter I ended up with the Bonneville which I know my way round to the point or near total self reliance. I know where to get bits and they are common enough to be able to buy used on e-bay (which didn't exist when I used to be brand loyal). Likewise, I keep my MZ's because they are so easy to understand, fun to ride and worth very little if you sell. I'm learning the Brick as it does seem to have the functionality and support I'm looking .

I distrust certain brands due to experience of poor service. My dads Guzzi has been off the road for months at a time while we found parts (it's production spanned two model years, the Italians aren't sure which two though!). I only buy K100 parts from the independents due to a wish basically for revenge after my F650 hassles (childish I know). You'll struggle to get me in a Honda show room after the spares prices they charged me when I was a student (probably irrational, this was 20 years ago).

I think I'd say I'm loyal to models not brands.

Andy