Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I should start by saying that I did not purchase this product from Amazon; they were not selling it at the time. Even so, the generator that I have is the same Honda EU2000i that you find everywhere. I did a long, agonizing comparison between this machine and the Yamaha EF2000iS and I ended up buying the Honda. Both machines are EXCELLENT and will almost certainly provide you with years of trouble-free service. I'm a degreed engineer as well as a hands-on engine mechanic. So I understand the technical differences between the two machines. They are very comparable in almost every way, but there are some differences between their engine design as well as their features. Believe me, these differences are really not that important to the average end-user of this device. The main thing that stood out in my comparison was that the Honda has a 98.5cc motor and the Yamaha has a slightly smaller motor sized at 79cc. This makes the Honda slightly more powerful and able to withstand "block-loading" large loads (over 1000 Watts) as well as motor loads which are highly inductive. The Yamaha is more likely to trip the "Overload" circuit when block-loaded. However, since the Yamaha has a smaller motor it will give you slightly more run-time on the same amount of fuel. To me personally, the added run-time was not as important as the ability of the generator to withstand being hit with a larger load. This was the deciding variable in my comparison. That being said, the build-quality of both machines is really high. They are solidly-made and don't feel chintzy in any way. They are both also very quiet when compared to the cheaper inverter-generators that are out there. Neither one should give you any problems starting and usually do so on the first pull of the cord. I have had my Honda for over a year now. I only use it as a back-up power generator when my home loses electricity; usually during a storm. I also use it for occasional construction projects. It will often sit in my garage for weeks without being started. Then, when I go to use it, it starts right up every time. The reliability of the machine cannot be overstated. I live in New York City and all of the street vendors here use the Honda for their food carts, hot dog stands, etc. I have NEVER seen any other brand of generator (even a Yamaha) used by any of those guys. One other thing that you should consider is the Honda product support network. As of right now (2015) there are a lot more Honda service centers than there are Yamaha just about anywhere in the country. You can also go online and easily find any single part for the Honda and order it if you need it. In my case this hasn't been necessary because I've had no problems with it, but it's nice to know that it's there. Don't waste your time looking at all the $500 inverter generators that are out there. I'm sure some may be OK, but a lot of them are really problematic and most are very noisy. This machine is the gold-standard for what a 1600-2000 Watt inverter generator should be.