Yamaha EF2200is Generator VS Honda EU2200i - Best Portable Generator?

Yamaha's brand NEW EF2200is generator packed with amazing features that rivals Honda EU2200i generator. Learn what makes it so special and see it side by side with the Honda and decide for yourself. Yamaha finally woke up!

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[tombstone]

We have 2 honda's EU2000 and have been very depenable running extended periods keeping our Lazy Daze class C warm in the winter and cool in the summer you can go with Honda or Yamaha both outstanding generators.

[vikingmike]

The Honda Eu2200i has the GXR 120 engine which features a forged steel crankshaft along with a cast iron
cylinder sleeve. It is a true to form industrial engine. Great video by the way. Cheers !

[normanrhone]

Your reviews are among a tiny fraction of sensible uploads on YouTube. Thanks so much for the effort you put in to give us simple and sensible content.

[mark_barrentine]

What a lot of people don't take into consideration is the noise level. His testing showed 57db for the Honda vs 65db for the Yamaha, that's a noticeable difference. The db scale is logarithmic instead of a straight line, so 70db is TWICE as loud as 60db. Also from all of the demos I've heard, the Honda inverter generators always have a lower pitch when in ECO mode which is more tolerable to be around. So if you plan on using it a lot, get the Honda, your ears and nerves will thank you .

[AverageJoeHotRodShow]

Honda should fight back and start making Pianos.

[bassproable]

I work for a well known return repair center, in 4 years I have seen 100s of generators. Ill just say I've seen plenty of blue, yellow and green ones. The Hondas are like a unicorn.

[johnnybeanz]

I have two of the last gen models of the Yamahas. I expect they will run at least as long as I will. The new features are nice but outweighed so to speak by the weight and extra noise. The feature I really like is the carburetor gas empty, but obviously you can work around that by turning off the gas and running until it stops. As to run length, I bought one of those external tanks that goes into your existing tank and adds 5 gallons worth.
Very nice review.

[jeffreycaban]

Another stellar video.
Memories of the New England 2008 Ice Storm come to mind after watching. Working in an Auto Parts store gas cans were sold out everywhere and we were getting them shipped from all across the Country.
I remember you couldn't find a Generator and Home Depot were having them shipped in on 18 wheelers and if you were lucky enough to time it just right you grabbed it right out of the truck.
We lost power for 5 days but some around our area were out for two weeks plus.
Unitil electric company was set to be lynched!

[jbriordanjr]

Great job on comparing the two generators. You isolated the specific differences which will be great for consumer in the market. Thank you!

[andreweastwood]

I bought the Honda eu2200 last summer before the bluetooth feature came out. I really like the Yamaha and the extra features it has. It would be nice to have the drain valve, the power output indicator and the rv outlet. If they were both available when I was in the market it would have been a very tough decision. Right now I am happy with the Honda and both the size and the decibel level are good consolations for me.

[rbarr]

Good review. I still prefer my EF2400is, mainly for the quiet, but it also has a hinged cover to access the oil -- no need for panel removal, convenient or otherwise -- and another for the spark plug, and the ability to shut off the fuel with the machine still running, so it burns MOST of the remaining fuel in the carb. It has the fuel gauge you mention, and a nice winter-friendly fuel cap, and it's always in 'economy' mode. No switch. However, I have to admit that fuel drain is a COOL feature. If weight were a factor, this new guy would be a probable choice.

[andymacdougal]

Yamaha it is! Thanks for your review.

[ardi]

Excellent video! Very well done! Informative & to the point & I liked your comparison of the two generators! People making YouTube videos should use your videos as the gold standard on how to narrate & edit videos! You are a true professional! After reading the comments especially from the guy who had to replace two timing belts and the high cost of replacement I'd definitely go with the Yamaha!

[johnraguso]

Great video analysis, but you left out one "big" competitive feature that the Honda has over the Yamaha, specifically the size of the engine. Although the Honda is lighter with a smaller profile, it also sports a larger 121cc engine vs the Yamaha's 79cc, which is roughly 50% more displacement. This will translate to less stress on the mechanical architecture and more longevity with frequent use.

[joeblow]

Good review but you missed several items that would sway the reader even more towards the Honda and make users who already own the Yamaha, to ditch it for the Honda:

1) The Honda 2200 has a switch setting that cuts off the gas and allows the generator to continue running to burn the gas out of the carb whereas on the Yamaha you physically have to drain the gas and then re-pour it into the tank. A minor difference I agree but in the Honda you don't have to remove a cover, catch the gas in a container and then re-pour it into the gas tank like you do in the Yamaha.

2) The Honda makes a "companion" model (looks a lot like the one you show) that you link with parallel cables to the standard (non companion) model and that companion model does have a 30 amp plug. What this means is that you can just buy the Honda companion model (and use it just like the Honda 2200 you tested) and then it's also RV-ready just like the Yamaha as both have 30 amp plugs. The caveat is that neither the Honda nor the Yamaha generator can produce 30 amps by itself. Both the Honda and the Yamaha are limited to ballpark 1, 800 watts or 15 amps. All that the 30 amp plug ensures is that when you draw 15 amps sustained from the 30 amp plug, that the breaker for the 30 amp plug won't blow (it might blow the generator breaker but not the plug breaker) whereas if you draw 15 amps continuous from a 15 amp socket it might blow it.

3) Go to both manufacturers webpages and you find that the Honda is rated at 48 dB(A) at 25% load and 57 dB(A) at 100% load and the Yamaha is rated at 57 dB and 65 dB. basically, the Honda makes the same amount of noise at 100% load that the Yamaha makes at 25% load. Takeaway: the Honda is FAR QUIETER than the Yamaha

4) Also, readers should know that the Honda uses a whopping 121cc commercial grade engine while the Yamaha uses a much smaller 80cc engine. So what do you want in an engine: a much smaller engine (Yamaha) "running" to produce power or a 50% LARGER Honda engine "loafing" to produce that same power?
Takeaway: The Honda is a 50% LARGER engine and it doesn't operate as near to it's top end as does the Yamaha engine. This translates into longer life for the Honda engine. In fact, I have a 14 year old Honda 2000 model that "purrs" and will last

5) And finally, as you already mentioned but in light of what I typed above bears reiterating, the Honda is far lighter and has much smaller dimensions than the Yamaha does. So....one wonders how Honda is able to use a 50% larger engine than does Yamaha and yet put it in a lighter and much smaller Answer: better engineering.

[billm]

I bought the EU 2200i based on your recommendation. It has served me well, thank you. I watch a lot of your other videos, also. Keep up the great work :-)

[kathrynb]

That rv hook up is essential for boondocking in the wild. You could go three days if just used 2 or 3 hours a day. More if you bring extra gas. I'm glad I held off buying one. This is a winner.

[blakeh]

Looks like a good unit! Nice to see some extra features that should really be included in every generator (gas gauge, easy access panel, output indicator, carb drain, etc)! My only improvement would be if it could also run on propane!

[trsmith]

Check the emissions sticker. The older model Yamaha had an iron sleve and had a higher durability and cleaner over time vs the Honda. The Honda had a timing belt the Yamaha doesn't. Both are great. Most people won't wear them out. I have the older Yamaha and it has been great. Thanks for the review.

[greensavant]

5 years ago I choose the Yamaha 2000 over the Honda for lighter weight, gas gauge (still not listening Honda?!), longer run time, even though the tanks were the same size on those models, the petcock that allowed you to run the carburetor dry, and back then the Honda had a low oil warning light, but not auto shut off (as the Yamaha did have). Also, the Yamaha had always been CARB, and Honda didn't get on that wagon for way too long (different repair parts between the models? I would sure check if I owned one.) The result? The Yamaha has half the scheduled maintenance requirements of the Honda.
I have never regretted the decision.