Arkon,
I'm familiar with the Yamaha Clavinovas, so I'll try to give some opinions about them. First, yes, the Clavinovas are notoriously overpriced in North America. I'm an American living in Spain, and prices are much more reasonabl here. The CLP-120 sells for about $1375 USD, bench included.
Basically, make the best choice that you can. I haven't seen the technics models, so I can't help out there. I can say that the CLP-120 is a fairly low-end model, and that there's a world of difference between the 120 and the 130. Perhaps, you cannot afford the 130, though. If the technics models sound better to your ears, or if these models have any obvious bonuses that the Yamaha doesn't, you might find yourself leaning toward them. You're right, though: Yamaha service is supposed to be solid.
Finally, you might want to check out the CVPUG (CVP-User's Group). Go to Yahoo; the CVPUG is a Yahoo group of Clavinova owners. Although the group is dedicated to the CVP models, there's plenty of general discussion as well. Also, you might want to check out Keyboard Centre, run by Steve Loates. This is a Canadian shop with its own Web page, and their prices are hard to beat. Many Americans have bought their Yamahas from Keyboard Centre and had it shipped abroad. I think the store is in Ontario.
Hope this helps
