.

 

Honda's have slightly higher resale values as a whole. The market is not very concrete though as most buyers are looking for real deals and most sellers are selling due to financial situations rather than disinterest in the bike. Maintenance schedule are similar but you're comparing a gs500 to an r1 is not reasonable. Within the same make, the maintenance program will be nearly identical. Within the same class, the 4 japanese manufacturers will be very similar.

 

Heres how I would rate them...

1. Honda

2. Yamaha

3. Suzuki

4. Kawasaki. I must say I've yet to own a Kawasaki, but I've always heard rumors about bad build quality and such.

 

I've owned 3 kawasaki sportbikes and never had a problem w/ build quality. I had a minor issue w/ an r6, I won't go into detail but it is a well documented design failure. Never had a problem with any hondas. I don't think there is any lack of build quality in suzukis but as a whole they are usually significantly more abused and incorrectly modified. This won't apply to a new bike if that is your case. Here is my list.

Honda-no problems other than cct, always a smidge more expensive, best chassis design as a whole

Kawasaki-no problems, "weak" clutches as a whole, always more power at the same or cheaper price. awesome brakes as a whole

Yamaha-some small design flaws, quickly recognized and fixed, very quick and light throught sportbike line, slightly behind field in power delivery out of the box

Suzuki-a few documented design flaws, one incident of suspected poor build/assembly quality, good power, good ergos, very aftermarket friendly. Excellent amateur racer/trackday bikes as a whole