Bikes that don't work

[Motu]

Some Kawasaki owners need an adjustment with a 4x2 across the back of the head too....but some of the bikes are ok.....

[Crasherfromwayback]

Yep I love mine. (Savage / LS650 -with the new styling, drag bars) But am looking to get a bigger bike (800cc) cos finding it works too hard on open road above 100k. And gets blown around a lot being light.

And boy have I got a deal for you....!

[vifferman]

I can't remember many of the bikes I've ridden, but when I had my "XBR500RS Mutant", I test-rode a Bros 400 and GB400 and thought they both sucked. I also swapped the XBR for a GN250 which I thought was comfy but gutless (the GN owner was raving about the Mutant and ready to buy it on the spot!)

When looking to replace my VFR750, I test-rode a SV650, and was very underwhelmed, and disappointed after all the hype I'd been fed...

[surfer]

Like Motu says,...I always thought the 650 Savage would be a big pile of dung but I thought it was a hoot to ride, at least around town,...top gear 50 km/h , thump, thump, thump !!

I had a 650 cabbage and it definitely wasn't. I loved that sound and it was even better after it had a bit of frame modification with a hardtail and goosenecked at the front. Some nice wide low bars made it look awesome. The thump thump sound was even better through shorty mufflers. Wasn't so cool when I fell off it, but had a soft landing on the pillion ha ha.

Mind you I still remember my Honda CM125 as the most enjoyable, probably because it was soooo looooong ago that all I can remember is the good times.

[Goblin]

Worst bike I ever rode I didn't even ride it...I was pillion. I Think it was a Harley Fatboy and it had these huge running boards instead of footpegs. I went all the way from Taupo to Wanganui on the back of this thing and it was the WORST, most frightening journey I have ever experienced. When the rider opened the throttle to overtake, it made the loudest noise and the vibration was horrible and it just had no acceleration what so ever. Half way through overtaking I had to close my eyes and hope like hell we got passed before the oncoming traffic came. Through the Paraparas the running boards scraped on every corner and I was shocked there was anything left of them when we finally reached Wangas. Was so glad I didn't have to go home on it.

[dawnrazor]

i once took a 1200 harley sportster out for a ride......I never want to repeat that experience, I was walking funny for a week afterwards.....horrible experience......it wouldn't accelerate, corner or stop..but it did look pretty!

[Nutter34]

Some Kawasaki owners need an adjustment with a 4x2 across the back of the head too....but some of the bikes are ok.....

I rest my case...

[terbang]

Ferried a friends K75 (BMW) up from Wanaka to Cristchurch. I didn't dislike it but after my then current steed (Grumpy old GSX1100) it was just a plain barbie bike. It handled ok, it had a bit of wick (only just) and it was very comfortable to ride but it didn't do much for me at all (Oh Yawn). Bloody near put me to sleep. I'm not a fan of Harleys and yes they handle appallingly and "wouldn't pull a sailor off yer sister" either but I've certainly had some fun riding them. I guess thats what counts.

[diggydog]

Wiped the sneer of my face when I rode a Sportster,I've never bad mouthed a Harley since and they are on my wish list.....

me as well, waiting for santa to get me one,if not one day soon.

[Gremlin]

Had a Yamaha dragstar 650 thing, when my 7 was in for a service... the only bastard bike I have come extremely close to sending down the road without me... twice

Sure, I loved pissing everyone off just opening the throttle, making a shit load of sound, and not being in license losing territory because of it. However, on the flip side, racing a bus down the motorway to get in front of it, when the lanes were merging... was not a highlight of the loan period

Of course, the pillion thought it hilarious, saying he heard all this sound, and we weren't going any faster... I managed to get the thing to 130, and exhausted myself in the process... I was very happy to get my bike back, but that said, hey, it was a loaner, and better than a 250...

[Brian d marge]

Mine would have to be the XR250 (waits for the flame war). I know its been an incredibly popular model, but after a succession two stroke trail bikes it just felt, well, flat ....

Agreed ,,, THOUGH,,,, they have there place ,,, the power delivery is suited to some NZ conditions

Stephen

[Forest]

When I was a student in Dunedin, I owned a Kawasaki GPZ 305 for a few months.

It was a truly atrocious piece of shit.

[Squiggles]

an 84 VT250FD, thing blew up before i managed to put it in gear albeit it was presumably all my fault

[notme]

Have you ever ridden a bike and just not enjoyed it?

Any cruiser.......

[/pt]

I have thus far only only ever been underwhelmed by a bike AFTER riding something better than it.....I went in a pretty ideal fashion through my bikes up to the current one, i.e. each was better than the last. What underwhelmed me the most was probably the Suzuki katana I owned for a bit....yes they are a classic, but FFS the 400cc version is underpowered and overweighted.....with sucky suspension.

As I said though, at the time it was better than the previous bike and so felt awesome until i upgraded.


I don't think I have actually ridden a "bad" bike so far though, even after owning (and riding) a CBR600RR and 250cc Zeal simultaneously,
the Zeal is not a bad bike as such, just obviously had a shitload less grunt and lower limits on the handling - but i kinda expected that, and thought that for what it was (and what it cost!) it went pretty damn good.

[SuperDave]

I hopped onto an FXR150 after a VTR250 and was completely underwhelmed. The FXR owner spent about 10 minutes hooning round the car park on my VTR and I stepped off the FXR after about 200 metres of riding and decided I was happier to just stand and wait for my VTR back.

You obviously weren't riding it properly. An FXR is pretty good for what it is in the twisties with a decent set of tyres. I managed to keep up with friends on 250 fours, I'm sure it'll keep up with a vtr if ridden correctly. (In corners of course, but straight line is for boy racers anyways)