What bike maybe wasn't so great?

[cyberswine]

Loving my monster, took a break  to put on a coat of wax and got to thinking about all the bikes I've owned and loved.  Then I started thinking about what wasn't so great............
For me it was a Honda 750F i4  I bought new in maybe '85.  The front end was kind of squirelly right from the start, it had five pressed steel spokes riveted or otherwise attached to the rims.  After a few months I was debating whether to change the tires, the wheels or the forks when I dumped on some wet railroad tracks for no good reason.  I traded it within a couple of weeks for a Gpz, took the loss and never looked back.  No internet back then, never knew if it was just me or what 

[Grampa]

I first wife.




Horrible ride.

[ducpainter]

I first wife.




Horrible ride.

Were her wheels...

square?

[muskrat]

at least you got to ride her.  mine had throttle body sync issues. 

My not so great bike was my 125cr.  It was fun but wild as hell.

[sofadriver]

Some friends and I were just talking about this yesterday.

For me, it was my '08 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST. Cheese-us, what a great looking bike! As red as the reddest Ducati.
But the headlights were the worst ever and the mediocre suspension was pretty much unfixable. Had an awesome exhaust note but really lacked personality otherwise.
I still miss her (but not all that much)

[Frisco]

I don't know that I've ever had a bike I didn't like - wait there was that ST3 but it's not that it was a bad bike just not good for 2-up which is what I got it for - 1969 SL100 (have to love ur first) 1971 SL350 (lots of miles and first new) 1989 CBR600, 1995 Virago 1100, 1999 Valkryie, 2002 Roadstar, 2003 Roadstar Warrior, 2005 FJR, 2006 ST3, 2007 Stratoliner, 2007 S4RS - doesn't count ex's bikes - liked them more than the ex LMAO 

[NorDog]

A radical 1956 Panhead chopper I bought in 1978.

I knew it was a beater when I bought it.  The plan was to ride it home and tear it down for complete makeover.

By the time I finally had a complete running bike back on the road I spent 10 years and a classified amount of money, and the only things I was able to use from the original bike was the transmission case, transmission gear set, timing gears, and flywheels.

I got hosed.

To the opposite idea, the best bike I ever had that I thought was going to be a total looser but wound up loving: 1977 BMW R100/7, purchased in 1985.

[yamifixer]

Had a CR500 once for about 2 weeks. That thing was trying to kill me. the throttle was a toggle switch that went from off to insane in a millisecond. The only bike that ever scared me.

Also not really in love with a Hodaka trail bike I once had. the shifter went thru the front sprocket and the carnage that came from a missed gear still makes me shutter.

[mickyvee]

  My 120 Jota. Heavy, thirsty (very) ,uncomfortable, wayward (very), harsh suspension, bendy front forks when using the superb brakes, and super skinny tyres. However, the one saving grace was the utterly intoxicating exhaust note from the hollow pipes. Spine tingling stuff, and, nice though it is, my Evo doesn't sound a tenth as good!

[Narflar]

Honda ST1300

I got it for the wife and I to ride and it was just a heavy boring bike.  I never could get used to the weight of it and it just wasn't fun to ride.  That electric adjustable windscreen was the best thing ever though.

[J-Speed Inc.]

98 Bandit 600 and 99 ZRX1100. 

The Bandit barely had enough power to do anything more than 60 on the highway, however, it was VERY reliable and easy to work on.

The ZRX was heavy and had terrible suspension, however, the power of that engine was ridiculous.  I went to take a right-on-red in 2nd gear, gave her a blip of throttle, and the front wheel came up.  A week later she had a new owner and I collected a tasty profit!

[ducatiz]

'61 XLCH bobber

I bought it in a box and spent a year building it back.  Had the frame and tank painted nicely.  I did a fine job of building it and it ran well, but it was just an unpleasant ride.  It was my first and last harley.

not that i haven't ridden harleys i liked, i love the XR, but it's just not my taste overall

[avizpls]

Two of my current and favorite bikes are mentioned in here all ready.

My CR500 does indeed scare me....thats what makes it great.

My triumph 1050 ST headlights are the worst worst worst ever, but the rest if the bike is fantastic. Including the suspension which I remedied with simply new springs.

Bad bike-can't think of any!

[red baron]

This is what came to mind when I read the thread title.

[EvilSteve]

For me, it was my '08 Triumph 1050 Sprint ST.

Funny thing is, in '08 they *improved* the headlights on the Sprint ST! I rode one cross country and back, took me most of the trip to wam up tot he bike, like two thirds. The bike was never fun, it was ok in long sweepers but that's not really where it was aiming I think. For what it was trying to do, it was pretty good just bland. The real shame of that bike is how they made a 1050 triple seem so boring.

This is what came to mind when I read the thread title.

I know people who own (yes, present tense) them and love them.

For me, it was my S4RS, gorgeous bike, all the bells and whistles but it wasn't in the best shape when I got it and after spending a year fixing it (and finally getting it working right and feeling good) I just couldn't deal with it.