And the worst bike you have ridden was????
 

Ok, what's the worst bike you have ever ridden and why?

Others you have found to be disappointing?

Buell Firebolt. It's the first motorcycle I've ever brought back early from a demo just to give it back.... :panic:

MV Augusta F4 1000 - it had some incredible flat spots in the power band. Not as awesome as I expected it to be.

CR80.

I thought riding a 2stroke kids bike was a good idea at the time(of being a young adult). Turns out, it sucks.

There are some standouts...

Like the new VMax- awesome torque, but zero modulation. Great if you want to leave a smoking black stripe at the intersection, and nothing else.

Whatever little Zook supermoto- no likey grenades between my legs.

I wouldn't call it a "worst" but the FZ6 was a disappointment. *yawn*

Ninja 250. Sounded like a sewing machine and went about as fast.

gz250 i wasnt expecting much and it still failed to deliver. Maybe if it didnt have the cruiser bars.

Katana 600. owner neglects the fuck outta it and the design is terrible to me. alternately, I dont know whether to say the 92 EX500 I had, or the new 250.

The 500 I was working on CONSTANTLY,
The 250, handles great, even at low speeds, BUT it just felt gutless and behaved like a sewing machine pretty much.

I haven't found one that I absolutely hate, but I haven't ridden very many either.

For me, the Hondamatic 750, at least there is a clutch on a Ninja 250

I can enjoy anything with two wheels and an engine... I can't think of any bike I ever hated, but I'd say my least favorite was the nastly little pit bike I shattered my kneecap riding (or more accurately falling off of).

Buell - low redline - with a revlimiter that could kill you, bike sounds like it's falling apart at 5xxxK, uncomfortable to ride, there wasn't one damn thing I liked about it.

Funny... that's almost EVERYTHING I liked about the Buell.

Do you date cripple women as well?? ;)

I haven't ridden that many bikes, I never liked my first bike, EX500. It was just slow and heavy. I didn't mind slow as much as heavy and all the weight was on the nose.

Same complaints! Except it felt like it was falling apart at idle too :lol:

Until I met perfection.

If you guys seriously think Buells are the worst bikes then you don't know how to ride it. If you can explain to me why you need to redline a motor that makes 60 some odd foot pounds of torque at 2000 rpm then I'll hear your argument.

That wasn't my problem - I ride a Ducati, I don't need a redline.

I didn't like the feel, how it makes power, can't trail brake on it, idle wasn't rough... it was like the idle setting got ripped off in the wrong place. I don't look for comfort in bikes, but the seating position was "off".

I will generally ride any motorcycle that you throw me the keys for and have. And, I'm even curious to ride the new ones - will give them a shot too. But, man... I'm telling you... the other demos were tough.

Just got off of one yesterday..
DRZ400 SM....seat like a 2x4; after 45 minutes my butt hurt so bad I had to stop. Had to rev the pi$$ out of it to keep up a moderate pace.

Was fun in the tight stuff....but you're a cripple by the time you get to the fun stuff..........

Rode it about 90 miles ......back, butt and legs are trashed today............torture rack, and slow.....

I've ridden maybe a hundred or so bikes...liked most, really loved a few, hated a couple....

Yzf600r..... for me, the worst ergos on any streetbike, ever, with mediocre performance and the motor buzzed so much it put my hands and feet to sleep...

Suzuki T500...handled stock like a drunken hula dancer.....scared the crap out of me all the time.

Honda dream 305... broke down every other day....bike was posterboy (girl) for FRAGILE...

Laverda Formula 750......... POS, what can I say. The designers were drunk when they designed it, the workers were drunk on cheap Chianti when they built it.............

2003 Ducati 749. Brand new dealer demo bike and it kept stalling at stop lights because of crappy electronics that turned out to be endemic to that MY. Also, ran incredibly hot but that's not unusual for race bikes.

I can not believe I'm going to do what I'm going to do....

I agree with OSP.

I have rode many bikes. I always try to keep in perspective the intention of design.

Because my bike makes more torque AND horsepower and revs to 12k

a BMW GS650F...thing was totally gutless, vibrated like crazy. My ass, legs and arms were asleep in minutes. The mirrors were useless at highway speed due to the vibes. I actually asked my boyfriend to switch back so I could get back on my cheap ass 250. Just didn't feel right at all. We sold it off shortly after for a profit.

Brand-new Ninja 250 at a Kawasaki event. I was riding it like a two-stroke; WFO everywhere, and it still wasn't even remotely exciting. Definitely the most boring thing I've ever ridden.

Trail braking was absolutely an issue on the early XB's. That has been corrected, or at least improved. I dont have a problem with trail braking, but you're probably a better rider than I am. Idle should be between 900 and 1050rpm. Who knows with a demo. Surely they've been abused.


Your bike makes more than 84 ft lbs of torque?

Idle was where it was "supposed" to be - I asked about it. :lol: Man, it was rough.

I'm doing an event at the track with the local HD dealer - I'm certainly willing to ride anything they'll throw me the keys for. I'm curious....

Well, it is a 45* pushrod twin, after all. :lol: I like the idle. Sounds angry.

I'm not here to defend buell. I've quickly grown tired of that.

Ill just say, I paid about 3000 less for a new buell than anything else I was considering..

I expected the Buell hate. It always comes up. I've grown tired of defending too. But I couldn't help myself. And the deal I got on mine negates all hate as well.

Mine does.:D

I like riding any bike. No matter what it written on the tank.(unless, of course, said bike is in poor running condition)

Absolute worst overall was a recent spin on a Triumph Bonneville. It was like PUSHING a sewing machine down the road on a handtruck

Next to worse was the PRE-XB buell's. (I actually LOVE the XB9 & 12) but the cyclone, or thunder bucket-o-bolts-shaken-not-sturred was aweful. It would shake itself across the carport at idle


Worst ergos I've experienced was a 1995 Ducati 916. Great handling and engine, but I was done in 20 minutes...and this was back in my 20's

Worst seating was the Suzuki DRZ-SM. Felt like I was strattling a saw-buck for the duration

Worst handling was the 2006 Tony Stewart edition Big dog chopper I rode at bike week. You need a WIDE TURN mudflap on the back of that thing....sheeesh

It's not hate - someone asked a question, we answered it. You say it was cheap, someone could argue you get what you pay for :nee:

I haven't ridden many bikes, and I have never hated any of them. But since you asked which was the worst bike I will say the KLR 650. Too damn tall even for me, vibrates worse than my 250 and had about the same amount of power.

You found a great deal. Current MSRP (US Dollars):

1125R $12,499
XB12R $10,299
GSXR1000 $12,899
ZX10R $11,799

Seems to me that the Buell really isn't much for savings, particularly when you consider that both the GSXR and ZX10R will stomp the shit outta the XB, performance-wise.

I like the XB (particularly the Lightning Long), I'm just not willing to pay the price when I can ride any Japanese literbike from the last five years and get more performance for less money.

I'm Canadian. The xb was 10.7.

A gsxr 1000 is about 15000 or more.

I'm just as fast on either. The only difference being, insurance would have been double. Tire wear would have been double. Maintenance would have been double. And I would have been bored cruising around at where I enjoy riding the xb all the time.

So ya, I could have spent more initially and in the long run to be the exact same rider I am now.

I love my bike. Its cheaper than any comparable Jap bike. And I'm happy with 100 hp.

Squids must be making more money these days.

Holy shit have the Gixxers gotten pricey! redflip

My worst bike ever was a HD Street Bob.

Total POS.

It had @ 12k miles on it and felt like it would fall apart at any possible second.

Honda rebel

He said 60...mine makes 71 @ 7k

Buell , 883 sportster(i think they're the same bike) and a Drz400(or whatever they're called)

I've only ridden one bike that I'd rather not ride again. my girlfriends shadow 600. it was made as a male torture machine. was just not comfortable on it at all.

Everything I've ridden was decent...at least in it's on way imho.

The bike that I've ridden that I felt most out of place was a Honda Goldwing and it is an incredibly NICE bike...just not what I'm used to riding.

I was also riding 2 up in the NH/Vermont mountains and didn't know the roads and hadn't ridden in over 5 years. :lol:

After riding it though it is quite a nice bike...I was surprised how easy it was to ride.

Bikes I've ridden and owned most of them...

Honda Trail 50

Honda Trail 70

88 Kawasaki 600R

94 Honda CBR F2

95 Honda CBR F3

93 Kawasaki ZX 11

98 Kawasaki ZX9R

00 Yamaha R1

07 Yamaha R1

07 Yamaha R6

99 Bigdog Bulldog

Several Harley Sporters and a Dyna Wideglide

05 Hayabusa Turbo

05 Ducati 999R

06 Yamaha R6

98 Yamaha R1

Newer Honda Goldwing but forget the model year

Forgot these two...

08 or 09 Victory Vegas Jackpot

08 or 09 Yamaha (Star) Raider

Probably a few that I can't remember at the moment. :lol:

how'd you like that 600r?

Well it was my first bike and I thought it was the chit at the time. :lol:

When I look at the current 600's and then look at one of my old pics it is pretty funny to me.

I bought it new in 88. :lol:

Oh yeah just thought of two more bikes I've ridden...

08 or 09 Victory Vegas Jackpot

08 or 09 Yamaha (Star) Raider

I liked both of them...for cruisers.

Worst bike? Triumph Speed Triple

I heard so much about this bike so I went and bought one.

It was the worst suspended bike I've ever ridden.

Welcome!

A 1972 Harley Sportster.

883 Sportster all noise and nothing else

Buell Thunderbolt I tried twisting the throttle but it still sucked

ZX12R was brutal on my nuts.

Yamaha Virago was like driving a stake into my tailbone and spine.

I rode a newer bonnie and loved it! In fact, my test ride lasted 300 miles. Great bike. It was my father in laws. He needed 200 miles by the weekend to get his first service. I overshot a little.


I've loved pretty much every bike I've ridden (which is probably in the 100s)

I rode an F650 funduro from College Park Md, to Fredericksburg Va via I-95. That kinda sucked. I think supermotos are seriously overblown. I like riding them fast on twisty roads but getting there kills the deal. Unless you live on seriously killer roads, they're a waste. Uncomfy and pretty gutless at highway speeds.

I've ridden four bikes in my life.

Previous: '04 ninja 250 (Loved it, wish I still had her)

Current: '01 Honda VFR (My naughty red robin). '71 Honda CL70. (still working out the kinks)

Last but not least my dad's Honda shadow 1100.


Runner up on the Hate list would be the Shadow. I just could not get comfortable with the seating posistion.

First prize would be my CL70. I mean come on. A bike that is 38 years old and has been sitting out in the weather with the carb off for who knows how long should run like a dream. Am I right?

The EX 500 feels light as hell though for its heavy weight. Like the SV650s.

I'm gonna say an HD Sportster.

Big difference for me when it comes to the weight of the SV and the EX500. But I'm half your size, at least!

Just about any 600ss.

Lack of tq is a serious no no to me. I hate having to downshift to pass. And they tend to make my hands numb once you get em into their power.

I liked the Speed Triple I rode this summer. Though I didn't get to rail on it, the suspension didn't feel all that bad to me.

The worst bike? A home built mini bike with a 5hp Briggs and Stratton back when i was 10. Oh and a 1980ish Honda 110cc trail bike sucked sweaty balls as well.

The rest of them were all enjoyable to ride. The FJ1200 was the first street bike I ever rode so I didn't know any better. Had I ridden something nicer first, I may have not liked that bike.

Yeah, I guess this topic really should be "worst street bike". My Daytona 675 sucked on the street, like any SS bike. They are made for racing at 10/10ths, not tooling around the city.

whats wrong with downshifting to pass? I still do it on the 954, def keeps the cagers from having a chance to do something stupid

I didn't say anything was wrong with it. I just prefer not to do it.

Suzuki RE-5 Rotary

Heavy, flexy chassis, funky handling feel.

It's a unique, rare ride, but I couldn't find much to love about it.

I do it on the bus.
Nothing like going form 80 to 180 in the time it takes to pass two cars.

Don't even TRY to beat your chest and PRETEND you've got the balls to go over 140 on that bus :lol:



I don't think I even did THAT on mine :idk:

2006 Harley Road Glide

Not a bad bike, just not my cup of tea.

140mph isn't crazy fast. I have had my little GSXr up past that.

that is in km/h.(and I was closing in on 140mph at the strip)

Worst was a harley softtail. And its not just a cruiser thing since I loved the two victories i have ridden. I really don't enjoy 600s anymore after riding the R1 for over a year. I'm spoiled by having power wherever i am through the revs.

A Buell Lightning(?), what a piece of shit!!! It vibrated so bad that I thought it was going to fall apart! No power, vague brakes, goofy riding position... no thanks!!!

How dare you. HOW DARE YOU!......................wait. I don't have one of those.

:lol: I LOVE the position of my DRZ... compared to the RR... it's relaxed and the seat is better than the RR's for riding in straight lines for long periods of time.

I rode for 2.5 hrs on the DRZ today stopping only to fuel up. felt better than I would riding the RR for 2.5 hrs.

I was cold as hell... as it was 56 here today... but LOVED IT.

The DRZ is defiantly not a fast bike... :lol: but I like it's pace...


Only bike I've ridden I didn't like was Amorok's can't remember what it is.. but fuck I hated that thing.

Worst bike: KTM SMC-690.......what a POS.......TONS of brake dive, seat too high and narrow, bars feel like ape hangers, hitting the rev limiter constantly

That huge fixed fairing takes getting use to for anybody. I know for me... I don't like it. And I hear its even more wierd in the wind.

A chopper. I probably could have gotten used to having no rear suspension, my legs almost straight out in front of me, my butt half a foot off the ground, and the front wheel half a block ahead of me, but the ape-hanger handlebars were laughable. I really don't know how anyone can go around a corner with them.

Usually sparking...

Worst bike was one of the earlier Katana 600s. It ran like crap and the previous owner put huge Harley like grips on it.

Most disappointing was a 2002 GSXR600. I felt like my 96 F3 had more power (I'm sure technically no) but it felt like it took forever to get into the power.

Seats that are only 6 inches wide are comfortable? :scratch:

better than the RR's seat... which is 1" THICK. after about 3miles you can feel the ribs of the plastic framing... THAT sucks especially as they're perfectly aligned with the bones in my scrawny ass! :lol:


But to be completely honest... I rode for 2.5 hrs and never once thought about the seat other than to note it was much more comfortable than the RR's.

the width didn't bug me too much... as my ass is skinny... so it wasn't like the damn thing was wedge'n up my crack...

I could easily do any of my previous trips again on this bike... even the 5000 mile Indy trip last year... (probably wouldn't loop it either :rofl:)

Yea, I liked my DRZ as well but I only used it for trail riding, never as a street bike.

:lol: should have know'n you'd had a DRZ too... what fucking bikes haven't you owned! :lol:

Hey ebbs when did you get a drz?

Eh, I have a scrawny ass too, but I prefer hard seats like that.

The problem with soft seats (like most Suzukis) is that they allow your butt bones to sink down, which puts more pressure on what's in between (your taint/prostate).

I finalize the deal on Monday... but took it for a couple hour ride yesterday. they've got some goodies to put on it ;) (wish i could do it... but have no way of doing so with it being my only vehicle)

well on a sport bike I'd agree... especially when your riding agressively...

but the DRZ's seat isn't really SOFT... it's hard actually... but there's no plastic ribbing to poke me in the arse

i thought you were getting a bimmer?

I posted a pic when Nick got his... I've only owned one Honda and it was a late 70s model...:lol: I've only had one Kawasaki and it was an IT-175 enduro... Otherwise, I've owned about 15 bikes from Yamaha and Suzuki so nyahh!!!!:lol:

no matter how I swing it... couldn't afford the 13k sticker price.

and after calling 7 dealerships... closest one 2hrs away... a total of 20 times... I got 0 call backs... uh... no thanks.

Hahaha... nice... I'll have to go back and check out that thread.

GSXR whore

could always go back to the buell idea, nows def the right time too. maybe a uly with bags like the other guy?

naw... I was looking at the 1125r... not the Uly... and I like how light and nimble the DRZ is...

idk... I just really like this bike...

What more reason do you need? No way I could live with that thumper though!

i know you were, just didnt quite equal out to the f's abilities

[QUOTE=Mikey;277609]You found a great deal. Current MSRP (US Dollars):

1125R $12,499
XB12R $10,299
GSXR1000 $12,899
ZX10R $11,799

I can get a brand new 1125r with FULL FAIRING (yes it looks sweet) for about 10,000 not including tax. numbers can be massaged either direction.

Never hated a bike but i did not like the 1125cr

Triumph Speed Triple ......no steering damper, felt wobbly - upright position beats you to death - supension way too soft - power was disappointing.

Nothing :D

yeah... I just meant I've kinda moved on from that type of riding... though I still like the 1125r.. be a good sport tourer if they got all the first year issues fixed... sucks they went down...

if Harley didn't treat them like a read headed stepchild... they'd have sold more... IMO

[QUOTE=Antwanny;279985]anyone can now... but that's paying about 4,000 over what everyone else is now

:lol:

ugh- full fairings on the 1125R. Disgusting!:td:

NO NO NO!!! I love Triumphs so the bike MUST be great! You are just an asshole that didn't know how to ride the bike correctly!!!!:lol: It never ceases to amaze me when someone can be so in love with a brand that they can't/won't see it's short comings. I have done it myself. I loved my V-Max and I would defend it to the end against my friends that owned CBR900RRs, which was the bike to own at the time. Eventually, I had to admit and realize that although it was a cool bike, it could not compete with crotch rockets on their turf.

Buell came on the scene claiming that he had built a better sport bike...I'm sorry but that was not the case and in my opinion, was never the case. Sure if you traded in a 600 for a new 1125R, you may be happy but I couldn't imagine dropping my 1000 for one. Almost everyone I know that owns a Buell and that is satisfied, used to ride a 600 or some cruiser. I have never met a guy that traded in a liter bike on a Buell.:idk:

You're confused.


Buells appeal to people who don't give a shit about being the fastest, or riding the fastest bike.


I don't care if nobody else likes them. I actually prefer it.


But, I just know for a fact that the majority of people who talk shit about them have never really ridden one.


I came from a 600. I hated my bike when I first bought it. Then I got "it". It appeals to me because of its powerband, not in spite of it. I don't want something that makes top end power.

I could have bought a busa, or gixxer 1000. I wanted a buell. There was no brain washing. I made an informed decision based on a number of reasons.

I know it doesn't spec out as good as an equivalent race bike. And I'm fine with that.


I just hate to hear, "its a pos.". When I know it isn't. It keeps up with much faster bikes in the twisties. And as far as I'm concerned, I'm riding a slow bike fast. I should be left in the dust according to spec sheets.

But in real life, its more than capable. Its more than the sum of its parts.

I'm not confused about anything. Look over Buells ad campaigns and hype when they FIRST CAME OUT. He squarely claimed that, "fuel in the frame, under slung exhaust, oil in the swing arm and ZTL brakes" were far superior to what the Japanese were offering. They later stepped away from that stance when it became obvious that it wasn't true. I'm not talking about your bike or the new 1125R, I'm talking about the first generation and baby they were fucking pieces of shit, I don't care who you are!!!

As far as your "bike" keeping up, maybe you are a better rider than your friends... who knows? I know guys that can take a Ninja 250 to the Gap and clean your fucking clock on your Buell! Does that mean that the Ninja 250 is a better bike? Of course not.

Every time this subject comes up, one of you guys jump up and accuse the person "bashing" Buell of not riding one. Well I have ridden the older ones and they sucked!!! I have not ridden one of the new bikes, so I don't claim to be an expert. How many GSXR1000s have you ridden and for how long? I've owned a liter class sport bike since 1994, longer if you count the '86 Ninja 1000 I rode for over a year (Army buddy's bike).

This thread was started with the question, "what was the worst bike you've ever ridden?", for me that's a Buell. If he had asked what the worst bike owned was, I'd have to say my AMF/Harley Sportster. I had it for about 6 months and it spent 3 of those months in Barnett HD's service dept. Hell, I spent more time on my bud's Kawasaki than I did on my bike!

2000 something Harley Custom. Pretty bike but damn... Of course, reach was a huge problem for me! Couldn't reach the controls with my feet... every time I had to slow down or stop I had to scooch up onto the tank :lol:

Yeesh! :lol:

FYI, the first generation Buell's were steel framed.

There was no oil in the swing-arm, fuel in frame or ZTL brakes.

If a Buell is the worst bike you've ever ridden then your resume isn't as diverse as I thought it was. If you said over-hyped or disappointing I would understand.