Generators Honda vs Yamaha

I am in the market for a 5000 watt generator . I don’t need an investor just a regular generator.I have always assumed that Honda is the best unit available , probably because of the advertising they have . But I just saw a comparable Yamaha for almost half the price of Honda . I have been impressed with Yamaha outboards and snow machines in the past so I suspect there generators are in the same leagues. It is the price difference between the Honda and Yamaha that is sending up a red flag . My question is is there a big difference in the quality of power produced by the Honda compared to the Yamaha?
Thanks for your help

I don’t have any experience with larger generators but I have used the Yamaha inverter type on our houseboat vacations for several years and I’m impressed with them. They start first or second pull every time and are very efficient and quiet.

Can’t go wrong with either of those 2 I would think. Look at peak watts and running watts. Then generally, only run 80% of your running watts. Not sure what you’re running with it, but when machines start up it makes a big draw on the generator. That’s when your peak watts comes into play. Both good machines…Mayne look at warranty too? Ease of part finding?

Me personally the off brands are getting so good I refuse to pay for names any more. I have a log splitter and an 8500 watt generator with Power Horse engine ( Honda Clone ) I do not know hours on my log splitter but have had it going on 9 years and split roughly 10-14 cords a year and it starts second pull every time. I change oil once a year on it and it never has used any oil. My generator sits 99% percent of the time it is a portable backup for the house again Honda clone as long as the gas is fresh hit the key and it is running every time it only has about 15 hours on it and probably 20 years old.

I have both a yamaha and a Honda generator in the back of my work truck . The Honda I’ve had about 3 years and yamaha 2. Both used 5 days a week and are both awesome. I have a WEN at home for my fish house a 1000 and that as well has been great and a quarter the price of a Honda

My friends wen has been in use for 2 years now and he doesn’t work in the winters. Fishes about 4 days a week. Quite impressed.

2 quotes for honda came in with the lowest at $2,950 for a EM6500s3c

2 quotes for yamaha ef7200de came in at $1550

both units comparable in output and features
seems like a ford chevy debate but the price doesn’t make sense
Sort of like 2 fords for the price of a chevy or vise versa
Seems odd!

Can’t see paying those prices for 30+-year-old technology. Honda and Yamaha got everyone used to paying gold plated prices back when they were the most reliable game in town for small engines many years ago. Other makers caught up long ago. A generator isn’t the space shuttle.

I’d take a serious look at Harbor Freight’s Predator 8750 Max Starting/7000 Running Watts. $599. You can get it 20% off that by finding an online coupon. Read the reviews and decided for yourself.

Grouse

Grouse has a good point. Technology these days is so updated. Like I said my WEN was less the a quarter the price of a Honda and it is a 1 pull machine. As long as it has I gas I know it will run. But work bought both my yamaha and Honda gensets and they are literally used 5 to 6 days a week 10 hours a day. The Honda fell off a precast slab 14 ft on to concrete. I thought it was ruined. Rand down oil was all over it. I topped it back off and 3 pulls fired right back up. I personally wouldn’t pay Honda prices. That’s why my wen powers my ice house

I thought the big difference in Honda/Yamaha was the noise/decibel level when running. Are these other brands as quite?

EFI on a portable generator? When did this start?

https://www.costco.com/Generac-XT8000-Electronic-Fuel-Injection-Generator.product.100408954.html

HRG

I have a champion generator and I sure love it!! I went and bought a champion log splitter and love that even more. I do have a pressure washer with a Honda motor and absolutely hate it. Been in for service 2 times and has less than 10 hours on it.

rvvrrat wrote:

I thought the big difference in Honda/Yamaha was the noise/decibel level when running. Are these other brands as quite?

You’re thinking of the small inverter generators and yes, other makers have quiet ones as well. Harbor Freight’s 2000 watt inverter is the same DB level as Honda’s and others are equally as quiet.

The generators being discussed on this thread are larger construction or backup generators and they are not nearly as quiet regardless of brand. When you need bigger power, there is a price to be paid as far as noise.

Grouse

ended up ordering the Yamaha 7000 watt. Should get it later this week. Would have been nice to have an inverter but cant justify the cost considering this is a back up power supply for when the power is out. It will be noisy but if my house is protected I wont care !

Thanks for all the responses