Which bike did you hate?

I was just reading a post which compared the merits of the 5th gen VFR to Ducati ST and as I read the initial post and the subsequent responses I started to wonder why we spend so much time comparing things and trying to justify what we do or what we like. I've owned a decent number of bikes over the years and ridden even more. Some of the bikes provided enjoyment on the road or the track or in the dirt, while others entertained me in the shop or simply by looking at them. A number of the bikes came to me purely by accident, our paths crossed at the right time and place resulting in me taking them home while others were sought out and hunted down for specific reasons. Eventually they were sold to other enthusiasts for reasons that don't really matter but they ranged from the need to clear up debt or lack of acceptable storage. Every bike had a story and I had a reason why I bought and eventually sold it. I only have one right now but if my finances were different I would likely have a stable full. Why? Just because I I can find pleasure of some kind in almost anything mechanical that I can tinker with and ride.

Now we spend a lot of time talking about why one bike is superior to another but have we ever tried to establish a list of the all time biggest TURDS? This is hard for me because as I have already stated, I find pleasure in things that don't always make sense because I like to tinker with them and the more cantankerous that are the better....sometimes. My old Audi Coupe Quattro gave me fits trying to sort out and eventually it wore me down and I sold it but I would buy another in an instant because they are so pretty and I'm not that bright.

The one bike that stands out for me as being the biggest load of poo that I ever owned was an ancient Kawasaki KLR 250. It was heavy as hell, ugly, hard to start and made no power when it eventually came to life. The suspension sagged and had no damping that I could detect so off road it was down right dangerous. Compare that to a Yamaha XT500 of a similar vintage (late 80s), the Yamaha weighed the same but actually had some grunt once running and therefore provided some grins when running fire roads or in sand pits. I know it's not fair to compare the 250 to a 500 but I never rode the KLR 650 so I can't but I will agree that the comparison is apples to oranges and thus is flawed.

So for me the KLR was the biggest two wheeled Turd that comes to mind. Any of you have a stinker you want to share?

 

Had a hodaka ace 100 bac in the think I pushed that pos more than rode it!!!

 

Of the motorcycles I've owned/own (Honda CX650C, VF1000R, VFR800, Suzuki GSXR1300) the 86 VF1000R was probably the worst. Top heavy, suspension sucked & brakes weren't much better. But that was the bike I owned longer than any other, accumulated the most miles & had more memorable experiences with. If i could get that exact bike back, I'd probably ante up $$$$ big time.

Like a you & a lot of motorcyclist I appreciate just about anything mechanical. if it make noise & moves it'll get my attention. But I have to ask, Isn't it the flaws or quirks in our respective bikes that really draw us in? You know, its a love / hate thing.

 

I believe that there is something to this as well. The ownership experience transcends simply the riding of the machine itself. Sometimes the weaknesses equate to character such as the dry clutch on a Ducati superbike and character serves to enrich the overall experience. Now I draw the line a breaking down. If a bike is so unreliable that it may or may not leave you stranded on the side of the road it becomes a liability but even that can be the beginning of an adventure of sorts. If you're up for that sort of adventure then these bikes are your friend.

Personally, I prefer bikes that get me where I'm going but do so with attitude like my old Yamaha RZ500. It looked pretty good too and made happy noises!

Oh but this was supposed to be all about the turkeys so I will offer up another that I have ridden but never owned, the 1976 Honda CB750A "Automatic". Big, heavy, sluggish, slow, etc etc I would never have one!

 

I think the biggest POS that I've owned was a 1984 BMW K100. Good bike to ride, but it had so many design problems & quirks is just wasn't funny. I bought as it looked the goods & was getting good press from the mags & I had previously owned a R65 that was totally bullet proof, easy to DUI & a pleasure to ride. 2nd would be my Yammie XZ550, I had owned the same model a few years before (new), but mine had all the recalls done (they replaced the fuel pump & airbox set up). 1st one run like a clock, V twin, shaft drive adjustable bars, water cooled & put out as much power as my Kawasaki Z650. Got this one 2nd hand & it spent more time in the shop than on the road. Bastards at the Yammie dealer couldn't or wouldn't get their respective heads around the obvious problems. Never buy a used bike from a dealer if you want to get things fixed under their so called "Warranty".

 

The comparos in the MC press are usually aboot similar bikes. The thing that boscoedude posted was about his stuff and had really very little to do with a fair comparison of similar machines .

Moving right along, an otherwise great topic.

Biggest TURD and as expected a PITA , a brand new HD Sportster I bought in a weak moment, POS. Rode a flatracker one season. HD racebikes like any other pure racebikes from the factory have little to do with stree machines save in looks.. A shiney example are the roundy-round cars that look like the same cages at your local______dealership

Anybody ever ride a HD golfcart?

 

True.. The odd thing was that the K75's were pretty good bikes.

 

When I was a teen I wanted a Triumph really bad and I found a 250 Trophy for a price I could afford. I loved that bike but it didn't love me back. It had a total loss electrical system. I pushed it more than I rode it and I had it torn down most of the time. I didn't even sell it after it dropped a valve and ruined a piston. It didn't have enough power to get out of its own smoke but it was a real Triumph after all. I thought motorcycle riding was supposed to be painful and lots of work. My second biggest doo doo bike was a BSA 441 Victor I had many years later. It was the same as the 250 except it would charge the battery.

Call me strange but I always thought the Yamaha Vision XZ550 had a great look. The engine didn't sport fake fins and the plumbing had a certain symmetry.

 

:drum::spider:My last bike was a Great bike a 2002 Yamaha R6 with four carbs and sold it because of the miles and my back was killing me. It was really fast and handled great except I may have dropped it a few too many times