The other day, an acquaintance at a Japanese motorcycle manufacturer asked me why Europeans would travel on Japanese bikes when they have a choice of European bikes with an image of being travel bikes.
I really couldn't give an answer, so I though I would ask the rest of the community about their choices.
So, why did YOU choose a Japanese or a European bike?
Seeing as the last time a "which is better" thread was started it degenerated into name calling, maybe we should keep it to the reason
you personally chose the bike you did.
OK, I'll start it out with what I chose.
I went with a BWM even though I live in Japan because the Japanese manufactures didn't sell their bigger bikes in the home market. At the time, all the off road capable bikes were 250cc or smaller (and a bit short for me as well). Africa Twin and Transalp were discontinued in Japan, KLR and DR 650 never released here, etc. I really didn't have much of a choice!
I was also influenced by many of the high-profile travelers then being on BMW (Helge Pedersen, Grant & Susan Johnson, etc.)
So, what is your story? Why did you go for Japanese or European?