I LOVE my TL1000s. A $200 R1 shock and 2 hours work and the rear end was transformed. Two Brothers pipes and it sounds amazing. With torque to burn it just makes me smile the whole time I'm riding it. My B-king just languishes in the shed ignored.
I love my CTX1300. I have been riding for 56 years and 16 bikes and have covered all of southern Africa and most of north This ticks most of my boxes. Visually it’s a “love it or hate it” I installed a touring windshield. If I could change anything I woul lose the stupid sound system and enlarge the side bags, but after 16 bikes I have concluded there is no “ Perfect “ bike….Happy riding…
I also own one, and I could say all the same things. It's a good bike with a tall windscreen. I must also say that the latest generation of Gold Wing is better in every way than the CTX.
@@AgentJayZ I agree, but with eight year newer technology and literally twice the price I would hope so…..Just did the “ Lake Superior Circle Tour” last month, still loving it..
You hope that these never happen again? Some of these bikes are just fine...sure they may not have sold well.. but they have a following and used can be a good value. Its motorcycling, there is something for everyone.
Re the Honda DN-01, narrator makes reference to the engine.. comes from the uninspiring Deauville NT700..... he said. Well, petrol is €2.17 a litre now and my Deau is returning 79mpg. Shaft drive saving on chain & sprocket replacement costs. How are all the 1000cc sports bike rider getting along....? 40mpg and 200bhp that you can't really use. Lol
Honorable mention may be the '84-'86 Honda Nighthawk S, cb700sc. I bought a new one still in the showroom in '89, red, white, and blue. Of course, all sales were down after the 70's anyway. This bike was super low maintenance, had shaft drive, a gear indicator, and inline four cylinder goodness.
My wife had a CTX 1300. We were able to get it out the door, brand new for $9800. EVERY place we went it would ALWAYS attract a crowd. We drove it for 5 years and we almost as much as we paid for it as a trade in. She loved that bike as we traveled the country on it. But she loves her Indian Chief Vintage even more.
Have owned 2 TL1000S and still have my TL1000R since 11 years. Love it and will never sell it! But they are rare, I have not seen one TLR in the area I live in since I moved here, in 2003...
One of my coworkers swore by them and rode them a ton each year. Sounded great as I remember. THUNDERING! Ducati's bikes sounded like absolute hell! I bought a 929RR in 2000. Millennium Edition. Almost bought the RC51. They were priced at the exact same price $9,999.00 each. The 929 looked better IMHO, and had two more cylinders. The 51 proved more collectable in the long run, however. I bought a 2004 ZX10 after that, and that bike was lightyears ahead of Honda. Way more comfortable and had way better geometry for my style. More Over-the-Forks riding position. The thing did well over a hundred in first gear. Crazy! The 929 was better suited for drag races. You could really launch it off the line. I geared it down and added a 520 drive chain. The Ninja was crazy. It would just keep accelerating madly until you chickened-out. And you certainly would🕊
I still have my R1200C (2001). Under rated IMO. Is it power house? No. Reliable? Yes, I have 45K miles on it with very little maintenance. Cruises all day long at 80-90 mph with room to spare. (If I'm wanting a fast bike I grab my S1000RR or the K1200S) The C handles really well, rides nicely and is smooth. I'm looking forward to test ride the R1800.
I must be particularly bad at choosing my bikes, my last two were respectively a GTS1000 and an R1200C, which I still own by the way. The GTS1000 was heavy, yes, but it managed to make the horrible roads of my region (Quebec) passable and it was so nice to see the horde of curious people kneeling in front of it to admire the unusual design of its direction. As for the R1200C, having tried other custom type motorcycles, it has a lot more drive than most of them and there is hardly ever a day when I am given signs of admiration watching her parade through the streets.
I would use the R1200c, just like the XR1200, it looks like it's made to be a Sportster not a long rider......why I wouldn't have the 1800 no way to put forward controls and I would get 1800 to be a Sportster......well maybe a V-MAX
I also had the R1200C, it was amazing, I sold it cause it had a considerable amount of miles but everything worked like a Swiss clock. I’d buy one again, the 2004 Montauk model would be my pick.
Aprilia Futura was away ahead of it's time, not only did Triumph use it to style their ST, but Honda obviously bought one to style the VFR800...still one of the comfiest bikes I've ever sat on, I'd still buy one today!
Because the ST and the VFR look VAGUELY like a Futura (the VFR doesn't really) that makes you think they "bought one to style" their bike. Both the VFR and several Triumphs had single sided swingarms before the Aprilia and all sports tourers looked similar at the time. It was simply a popular style at the time and everybody copied everyone else as ALWAYS
I nominate as flops Yamaha's 1982 and 83 Vision XZ-550 V-twins. Its engine is best described as a hopped-up version of a horizontally split V-Max. The 82 had carburetion problems, a middling single front disc and fixed-damping suspension. For 83 Yamaha fixed all those problems, lowered the bars, rear-set the foot controls and added a sport-touring fairing with lowers having innovative and efficient leg vents flowing no air/ambient air or engine heated air. The engine made more torque than any mid-size bike of the era, was one of the all-time smoothest and peak HP was decent too. Vision had superb handling and cornering clearance. The shaft drive performed seamlessly but chain drive would have saved weight and allowed easy final gear changes. If Yamaha had given it chain drive and waited for the 83 refinements (with a sport fairing instead of the larger sport-touring type,) the Vision would have more likely succeeded. Unfortunately, the world recession also helped seal its fate.
I owned an '83 Vision, and it was a great-looking, fast little bike, and it should've been a great-handling one too, but it suffered from inadequate front forks which caused me a couple of heart-stopping moments in fast turns before I realized it's limitations. The electrical system was problematic too. Mine just completely died twice, unexpectedly and for no apparent reason, necessitating expensive replacing of the main electronic control module. But it was a fun bike!
Owned an Aprilia RST 1000 for 4 years. Rode great when it was working properly, which was occasional. 'Factory' support was useless on multiple electrical issues. Looking great and being comfortable only goes so far when you're sick of getting stranded. We called it the Futurama.
VF1000R springs to mind. It was so “ ordinary even Honda Australia would race them - VF1000 instead with Mail Campbell aboard. I had a friend who had the “R” and said he was never satisfied with the handling, power was good. He put it down to the wheel size which I believe were 16”. At that time getting good rubber for that size tire was tough. The other from that time was the Honda CBX750. It actually was a very nice bike and pretty quick. For some reason it did sell well. My only guess is that at the time that if you weren’t riding something north of 900cc it was a mid level bike. The only thing I remember of that time was a little controversy over the 16” front wheel. Thats my 2 cents worth.
---- actually,Honda has been producing the DN-01 series for a long time - they just didn't use that particular designation - the CBX comes immediately to mind
@@bonesrhodes3762 Do you mean the CBX 500 & 650 from the '80s or the CTX 700? The CTX has a parallel twin but very similar in concept to the DN. My friend has a CTX and loves it.
@@joshrandall3632 --- no: talking about the CBX 6 banger - they were notorious bad sellers - the last series with the bags Honda had to literally give away to get rid of them - I'm very aware of bikes that may be wonders in their own right or even great bikes yet impossible to sell - those are ALL "Do Not Own One " bikes from the public perception. CX 500/650 ( esp turbos ), Seca 650 turbos, PC800s ( PC was code for "pretty silly" - the Japanese just misspelled it ) etc. - just dogs as far as salability when introduced ( when I bought my dealership, it came with 9 CBXs - took me 7 years to sell 7 [ to other dealers OR to someone off the street ] at whatever the current dealer cost was at the time - the last 2 I just gave up and used as shop bikes.
I worked at HD when that Sportster came out - I sold everyone of them I could get - I would steal them from other dealers to meet my demand. Ditto for the Buells. Too many that work for HD have never been on the track, never been on dirt, never been over the 85mph mark. THAT is what killed the bike.
Have to agree with you on that. You need to be a biker to appreciate and understand how they are on the road trail or track. Because that way you know how to make them better. Especially when you slip the road a crippler on one.
HD's problem, which has always been it's problem is that they MUST cater to the big-inch vtwin crowd. Coming out with the smaller bikes labeled you as a "girl" or "sissy" by those in the big-inch camp and an "idiot" by non HD riders who knew they had better bikes overall for far less cash. Like I've been saying since the yuppies took over about 1990-ish "Harley Davidson, the motorcycle that refuses to evolve, just like the men who ride them!"
I had always wanted a Harley - loved the sound - and made the big mistake of buying an 883 Sportster. I wanted to love it, I just could not. That 883 is so underpowered, at 55 if you twisted the throttle the bike said 'Are you SURE you want to go faster?' Years before I had a Suzuki GS1000 which I loved from day one. It would go as fast as you wanted, no problem, it was also a ton easier to handle around town for me, and at low speeds. The 883 was a very nice looking bike but after the looks, there wasn't anything in it for me.
I'm the proud owner of a 2009 XR1200 that I bought lightly used in 2020. Not wrong about being heavy but it's a fantastic bike that's become a bit of a cult favorite in Harley history. I get a lot of thumbs ups and comments on it from those who actually know what it is. I would be surprised if HD DIDN'T make a modern rendition of it with the new Sportster architecture.
Harley got killed in the marketplace every time they tried to recycle the Sportster (love 'em, I have three Evos and an Ironhead) engine into a "modern" sporting machine because looking good is just not enough. XLCR is also a classic but like XLCR the agricultural gearbox and utter lack of power also helped kill Buell. Sportys were sporting into the early 1970s. The traditional Harley market also killed off the FXR which is rightly a cult favorite. Good by Harley standards and good by sporting standards mean drastically different things and a "sport bike" with under 100HP weighing 600lbs is just a sexy cruiser. Harleys are old man bikes (I'm old and also collect vintage British machines). Performance is not what they do unless stroked (like my 89" S&S Sporty or V124 S&S FXR) and even then most of that is in a straight line.
I have a DN-01 and I love it! the transmission is amazing, fully automatic and no steps in the gears, it just smoothly matches engine speed and gearing to perfectly match any situation. the only thing is the wind screen is WAY too small. I bought an aftermarket unit that is twice as tall and it's still too small. the only other thing is, it's got to be the heaviest 700 in history. which only comes into play when you're moving it around. once underway it's no problem. my son rode it and he loves it too. i also consider it to be beautiful, it looks like I stole it from Batman
Ah yes, but then Honda built the NM4 Vultus - the true 'batbike' which is far superior to the DN01 IMO. The DCT works really well, it goes around corners as if on rails and sips fuel like a 125, but at highway speeds.
@@pnblondon1087 Far superior, pssh! It looks nice but not AS good, and transmission system isn't as fun (obviously). Still, probably not a bad bike, and each to their own.
If I were a billionaire, I would have a garage full of Honda's flops. It seems that every few years, they make something... weird. The CBX, Hawk GT, PC800, DN01, NM4, GB500TT, CTX1300, Rune. Decent rides, and everyone a conversation starter.
I have been trying to find an XR 1200 that's stock and clean at a reasonable price for a while. In no way a "WORST" just a sales flop due to HD dealers and sales staff having no clue as to what it was.
Possibly worthy of this list: Honda: PC800 Pacific Coast, Yamaha: XZ550, TX750, XV920RJ and its European version, the TR1 Harley-Davidson: XCLR hugely desirable and collectible today, but at the time nobody wanted one. Suzuki: RE-5 with the Wankel rotary
Yeah the XR happened right during the 08-2010 recession....also the “performance Harley” wave didn’t hit yet. People either had sport bikes or regular Harleys. LOVE mine though absolutely awesome bike, definitely a ripper. People still wonder what it is today and still turns heads.
@@waydegardner7373 yeah for bigger guys it’s definitely cramped and the rear sets don’t help hah. I’m 6ft 185lbs so it feels like a giant dirtbike or something to me. Sits pretty tall too (for a Harley)
@@My.name.goes.here. yeah can you imagine with all these sporty builds now/ bagger racing league. People literally would be killing to get them. Every time I ride I get people asking about it or wanting to buy it.
The Yamaha TX750 has to be one of the biggest lemons of all time. They came out in 1973 and Yamaha Australia entered 6 or 7 of them in the 6 hour production race at Amaroo Park in Sydney, all with top riders. Only one of them finished. I became a Yamaha dealer 5 years later and by then they had virtually disappeared.
I had one. Bought it for $300 sold it for $100 blown up (bent valves ) because the heads weren't cracked. It leaked oil out of the head gasket the whole 2 years I owned it. Some one at Yamaha forgot the cam chain tensioner and when you get one second hand with out the manual you just ride it until the chain jumps a tooth.
The 500cc version of the Harley Street sells very well here in Australia. It’s HD’s only LAMS (learner legal model) which makes it a popular choice for people wanting to get into cruisers. You’d want to really want that HD badge though. It’s painfully slow, too small and feels cheap- despite being quite expensive. You can get a vastly superior Honda Rebel 500 for significantly cheaper. But the Honda isn’t a HD, I guess…..
As a life long Harley owner in America you should always buy the top best models. Invest in better suspension, more power, then you got a cool bike! Any of these bikes stock are kinda lame.
I had a CTX1300.. It was actually a great bike to be honest. It was comfortable, it was surprisingly. The Bluetooth stereo was decent. The lighting for night riding was the best of any bike Ive owned. They should of sold it as a middleweight Goldwing.. A taller windshield. I traded it for a Valkyrie 1800. Some days I regret it.. The CTX was never given a chance..
I still have mine. It won't light your hair on fire, but I don't ride that way, anyway. It works very well for commuting, day rides, and touring. It pulls like a freight train and that's way more important to me than having to climb the revs to get to the powerband. It's also the most stable bike I've ridden. Five years ago it got me down the Grapevine with wind blowing 45mph and punching gusts at 65mph. I was moved about but was able to keep it in my lane. If I was on my Tiger 800 I'd probably have been blown over to the other side of the freeway. I've often thought of getting a different (flashier?) bike, but the CTX has been so damn dependable, has reasonable maintenance, and realistically satisfies my riding needs, that I just can't see getting rid of it for trivial reasons.
I bought one in February with 2,600 miles. I enjoy it. I prefer to think of it as a mini GW. The V4 is outstanding. Add taller windscreen, highway pegs and top case and you have a great tourer.
As a daily street rider since late 80s and owned all types and brands, I've been around through these on the lists... Bad bikes? Hardly, not all. GTS, TL's, Ducati classic and XR1200R are great bikes. Now the BKing which I still own a 08 black on black in the garage mix. Absolutely great bike and was simply too far ahead of its time.
I had a 1200C and totally customized it. Sculpted Corbin seat, chrome forks, all polished aluminum, de-badged, repaint. It ran great and was a real grabber wherever I parked it, including next to Harleys. Too far ahead of its time.
My B King is awesome! It was made way before its time. Whenever i ride it nowadays i always get compliments on how cool it looks. Handling is great, and performance wise it really doesn't need a turbo. Would be sick though.
I absolutely love my XR1200X, but I do see why it didn't take off. If only Harley spent the time engineering an aluminum chassis instead of reusing the tubular steel cruiser chassis. Maybe then it would of taken off and still be around today.
Ducatis Sportclassics/GT/PS were much better and more stylish than any of new scrambler series. They just didn't appeared in the right time. I rode GT and SC and they were both fun and nice to ride.
@@My.name.goes.here. Yes. For sure. A mate had the R1200 C and loved it and I like the styling better than the new 1800, Another friend has the Paul Smart. great to ride and doubled in value and a third friend has a TL1000s . Sold all his bike but that one(even thought it didn't stop all that well and wasn't nimble in the tight stuff.)He reckons it is the best V twin for low down pull.
A lesser but equally interesting list would be bikes that started off as “flops” but over time evolved into decent motorcycles that withstood the test of time.
Specifically the PC800, which has a dedicated cult following. It turns out to be a really good lightweight touring bike that doubles as a great commuter, something that the Goldwing fails at miserably.
I had a PC800. Bought mine used in '92 for $3500 with 3900 miles. Great all around bike. Commuter to weekend getaway! Almost the perfect bike with a Kenwood stereo system to boot!! That was my 2nd luv
@@jbb3675 Of course if when you want to pound out the miles on a long trip. But when you are running to the store in heavy city traffic, it takes a lot more effort than it is worth. I've had two Goldwings. For the current iteration, the seat is too wide and you can't even touch the ground.
Since I have been riding since the mid 80s... 1. Yamaha 550 Vision 2. Honda FT/VT 500 3. Kawasaki 900/1000 Eliminator 4. Yamaha TDM 850 5. All early to mid 80s turbo bikes All the above bikes were not necessarily bad, just introduced at the wrong time and didn't sell at all. The 550 Vision was so dismal, there were dealers offering BOGO. Yes, buy one Vision and get two! It was that bad in the early 80s in ref to sales in general.
some 70's/80's bikes were strange and i agree with your list... the Kawasaki Z750 Turbo was the best turbo bike of the time.... i had one and some gripes were fuel economy at high speed vs smallish tank and no turbo oil pump timer. it was a pleasure to ride on the high side of 160kph and still blew off most bikes of its time. now-a-days we are spoilt with 300kph machines that handle and brake very well out of the crate.
Ahhh yes.... The TDM. I forgot about that oddball, the start of the ADVs (IMHO). Like most on this video list it was regarded as a good bike and really did well out of the US for awhile.
The TDM 850 was a great bike, just needed a slightly taller screen. I had the pleasure of racing one in a French competition road rally back in 1993, including a race at Le Mans. I could never understand why Yamaha didn't sell a Peterhansel Dakar replica - an XTZ Ténéré with TDM 850 engine.
I'm sorry to see the CTX 1300 on this list, as it seems to be on almost everyone else's "bad idea" list. I bought one and it met my needs perfectly. Comfortable, fast, quiet, practical, and (I think) good looking with a MASSIVE rear tire that really grabs the road. With Honda reliability. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a hell of a nice bike.
You must surely include in any flop list the Suzuki RE5. Great idea, wonderful to ride but no one was ready for it and no one bought it. Well maybe a few but that was it. It had that amazing flip up instrument binnacle and the motor was so smooth you could balance a coin on its edge on the petrol tank.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 Why thank you.. It's a VS800 V twin shaft drive and I guess they stopped production of these when they stated making the the Boulevard range. It's a cool ride, not over heavy and it handles well... but I guess all things change, before this one I had a UK version however this one is an America import and it's slightly bigger than the ones that were sold in the UK.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 The rotor seals were delicate and needed replacing as i recall. you had to keep oil in the lubrication tank! Also it competed with the shaft drive goldwing. If you were heavy on the trottle those chains were short lived. Dad had one for a few years. Fun to ride!
I like most of these, at least the ones designed from crazy concepts like the DN-01. Like you said, Honda from time to time, pushes the boundaries and comes up with something brilliant, but will never make them any money. The Valkyrie Rune, the crazy Vultus. Then there are the weird scooters like the Helix, or the Suzuki Gemma. Some of them are just ahead of their time.
I have owned both an 2001 Aprilia Furtura and a 2005 Honda VRF 800. I liked the Aprlia better. The slipper clutch and the geometry of the Futura made it a better handling, easier to flog bike. The VRF only had a very slight advantage in that the rider position was a bit more comfortable for all day rides. The Aprilia had much more H.P. and usable torque and the handling was much better. I slso owned a 2002 Aprilia Mille and it and the Futura had telepathic handling. It was very easy to go VERY fast on both bikes but you had to work just a little harder to wring the most out of the Mille. The Honda on the other hand was a good handling bike PROVIDED you didn't push it too hard Both Aprlias would give ample warning at their limits before things would start to go bad, the Honda , not so much. In fact it's because of this that I sold it. Out on the edge with it, like if you hit a bump while on the edge in a corner it would react very fast and with no predictability from one bump to the next. Both Aprlias were very stable and would not upset as easily. Given the Aprlias, and Italian V Twin bikes are generally better handling than the Japanese inline and even V 4s like the VRF. The Honda wasn't a bad bike, its just the Aprlias were better. As to costectics, the Furtura did take a bit of getting used to, at first the mirrors , from the front reminded me of a certain moth that has antennas that look like a fern leaf lol, but after getting to know that bike, its power and the way it handled, I accepted the funky mirrors, since looking into them was the only time I saw my buddies when we were out riding lol
All true. But the biggest all time flop was the 1970s Suzuki RE5 rotary. Rumor was that it was such a big flop that Suzuki loaded their left over parts on a barge and dumped them in the ocean.
I briefly owned a ctx700n. It was as quick as a Honda Fit, and turned like a brick. The seat was way too low and the foot controls so far forward that I could barely reach them. The tiny glove box / frunk was a place to lose things down the deep narrow sides. Sold it for what I paid and moved on.
The problem I have with these bike list videos, whether they are “Bikes that were sales flops” or “Best 70’s sports bikes” or so on is that its painfully obvious that not only have these people likely never rode the bike they’re ripping apart or blowing smoke up, but most likely never even seen one in person. If its a rare bike, fair enough, but with what authority or knowledge do you rattle off your “expert” opinion from reading a specsheet? Ive worked in the motorcycle industry for years, yes the Dn01 was strange, and no I wouldn’t personally own one, but after working on one and riding it, I understand why the bloke who rode it into our workshop (and his wife) loved it so very dearly. It’s not just this bloke, lots of channels do this, it just annoy’s me because they clearly have no clue. Same with the r1200c, it actually rode surprisingly well, and had a decent engine in it, and the styling had its own charm. The average person drives a toyota camry, dont try to make out that they are “Style experts”. Go and actually ride the damn bike before you open your mouth. If you still dont like it fair enough, but come on!
The Suzuki TL might’ve been killed off but it was and still is an awesome bike and it was replaced with the Sv1000 that was also a great bike. And as fair as half naked V-twin bikes they really don’t have much competition. Understandably they aren’t for everyone, but for the people who prefer a good mix of torque and horsepower over only having top-end horsepower the Sv1000s is a great choice.
And yes the sv1000 did not sell well. The prediction was since SV650s were so popular that the 1000 would take off. At the dealership where I worked the TL sold well. The sv1000s sat around.
I bought a DN-01 for my wife. Sold it a few years later but should have kept it. I enjoyed riding it and actually didn’t mind the way it looked. Never gave me any problems.
The Futura was actually a very good sports tourer apart from the Italian electrics. The TLR 1000R was a great bike … As a Bimota SB8R which was the bike Suzuki should have made
What have we learned? 1; BMW can’t (and should not) build American style cruisers 2; Harley can’t (and really should not) make Euro themed nakeds and café bikes. 3; Honda engineers have NEVER actually been out riding apparently. I know we all like different things My two bikes are a 1999 BMW R1100s and a brand new Indian Super Chief. While I really think my Beamer is essentially the on road “do anything well but not the best” bike I wanted a low seat, floor boarded, snatch your arms off torque type experience as well. Enjoy your bikes my friends, more importantly, enjoy the ride. PS, DUCATI PLEASE BRING BACK THE MH900e as I’m finally able to afford it!
I hear ya! I have a '93 Sportster and a '98 Electra Glide, often referred to as my "go-kart and Lay-Z-Boy", depending on what type of riding I want to do
I almost bought a CTX-1300 when Honda slashed the price, but none of the dealers around me had the deluxe. No cruise control made searching for a deluxe not worth the effort. In fact, I passed on several Honda models because of the lack of cruise control. The F6B, and the CrossTourer are two examples of Honda falling short.
I think the Suzuki RF600 and RF900 were more of a flop than the TLR and TLS, unless we're just focusing on Suzuki's racing intentions. You'd be hard pressed to ride one of those older TL's and not have a $hit eating grin on your face afterwards.
Agree completely. The RFs were definitely bigger flops. Though good bikes (like all Suzukis at that time) they were just funky. The styling and Testarossa look sidepanels were off and they were more of a lost sport tourer (yet werent).
I’m proud owner of a TL1000S. Having regretted selling the first one I owned I went and bought another after trying out a couple of other makes. I guess it’s each to their own but I certainly love the ride, look and sound of my TL. I can think of worse bikes that would have made your top ten.
Agreed, harsh to put them in. I always wanted a go on the R to see if the "widowmaker" title was true, bearing in mind I used to own a Kawasaki 750 triple
The R 1200 c is a quite excellent motorcycle. The engine has plenty of steam, the chassis is stable, and the workmanship is of high quality. The copies sold in Germany usually have a low mileage , are unmodified and in top condition. They are now highly traded.
My brother had an earlier model R1200C. I rode it home from the dealership after it was serviced. Merging on the freeway was a harrowing experience, it was so underpowered and heavy acceleration was non existent. What a dog. As much as I’m a fan of BMW motorcycles, I’m on my 8th, I knew the R1800 would be yet another flop. Harley owns the cruiser market. The 1800c is not selling, It’s obvious with the abundance of inventory available on this bike nationwide.
I REALLY wanted a Yamaha GTS1000 when they came out, but couldn't justify the price. The hi tech cool factor was off the charts, but that was still not quite worth the cost.
I really enjoyed the CTX1300! It was a fantastic bike. Also, it had Bluetooth as well as an auxiliary jack. I put a solid 1k km on it in a few weeks time. That V4 in it was a peach. Keep in mind, I own a 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 675, so I enjoy exciting and terrifying bikes as well!
@Edward Elizabeth Hitler I think music inside the helmet is extremely dangerous. I would prefer ALL external sounds to be external sounds. I've had far too many close calls from riding with earbuds in. Had I been wise enough to forego the music, I would've heard the potential problem while there was still something I could do about it!
Hey flaxseed, I had an xz in the 80’s, great bike, got it cheap, guy selling it didn’t have anyone come and see it, as no one knew what is was! Had it several years, wife n me doing rallies and touring on it in uk and Europe, happy days.
I put a couple hundred miles on my cousin’s Vision when it was new. I have to say I was impressed with it. Great bike and I’ve no idea why it didn’t catch on.
My local Honda dealership had a DN-01 in a few years ago, in burgundy with low kms and a price tag of around $9000NZ. I liked the styling, but after doing a little research I decided to stear clear.
The great former Harley Instructor at AMI, Kurt Heinrichs, always told us that "where mechanical devices are concerned, simpler is better." A lesson all these manufacturers would do well to learn.
Have to add a Suzuki TC 125 Enduro to the list. I had one in the late 70's it has a 4 speed gear box with a switch for 4 speed street or 4 speed dirt. It failed both modes miserably. Better option was a 5 speed Suzuki TS 125 with a 5 speed gear box and no switch for dirt or street.
DUDE I had one it was lime green with the stripe on the tank can't remember what year ,it had the kick down box and I think it was 5 speed ,excellent bike imo ,farmers loved them for the low low gearing to chase cows .
It's an absolute shame the gt1000 failed. I Loved that bike - would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find and afford one. Why they haven't revisited it properly now that retros are in, is beyond me.
Are you kidding me? If the Yamaha Niken is not the most "How stupid are you?" assembly of ugliness ever offered for sale, then what the hell are you doing? I thought all those living-room-sofas-on-three-wheels abortions were the most ridiculous thing ever until Yamaha decided that doubling the unsprung weight on the front of a pretend motorcycle was a good idea. I would really like to have an XSR, but I fear somebody might see it and remember that Yamaha also built the Niken.
I think the Niken is so obvious, not even worth mentioning . Would still love to see one on the road, like the NM4, cool to look at and talk about, as long as the other guy owns it.
I agreed with most of the list until you came to the Honda NSA700 DN-01; which made me question all of your other opinions. The only reason these didn't sell was the price tag; because now, they are ultra-rare in the States, and people's necks nearly snap when I cruise by on one I picked up this summer. Got it for a song and a tap dance since apparently the seller listened to the likes of you - and after riding it a few hundred miles, I'm just laughing at the man's stupidity. One of the best mid-level cruisers I've ever been on (and I've ridden my fair share in the last thirty years); eclectic, beautiful, sips the gas, stable as a table, and purrs like a kitten; couldn't love it more.
@@Chris-po5sw You would do better to read the title of the video before making comments. This may not have sold well, in the U.S. due to the high price tag and ahead-of-its-time styling/engineering, but that doesn't make it "one of the worst motorcycles ever made". Far from it.
The CTX 1300 was a restyling exercise in Hondas attempt to get the retuned V4 euro 5 compliant. It wasn’t as powerful as the PanEuropean hence the need to make it into a bagger. It flopped on both of those points
Loved my tricked up TL1000R in bright yellow. Harley Davidson XR1200 was a piece of crap, and the company treated buyers like someone with the plague. They pull good money now though.
I was the local BMW salesmanager in Tucson Arizona where the R1200C was introduced. I immediately sold a dozen in the first month or so and didn't sell another one. I did the riding loop on one and hated the chassis and thought it might be a disaster. Then I was confused when I sold a dozen very quickly even after a demo ride. These folks were the BMW faithful, put a BMW roundel on a box and make it very expensive and voila it sells. How about the 1976 Harley XLCR?
I always cringe a little inside seeing a victory vision, only use I'd have for one is to yank the bigger engine and 6 speed to put in my victory vegas. Also, the Honda vtx 1800 is only good at straight rides, not a curvy mountain road type of bike, it's big and bulky along with top heavy and bars wider than the lane you're riding in.
I would add the CX500 Honda. Known in the UK as the plastic maggot, it had a fatal design flaw in the engine that resulted in the cam chain tensioner snapping, which then resulted in valves hitting pistons! They had two (or was it three) recalls to fix the problem then withdrew the model to be replace by the VT500. I owned a CX it had no torque, was chronically under-geared, over weight and was reluctant to start if it had been left for more than a week. It ranks as THE most unreliable bike I have ever owned in my 43 years of riding bikes.
Those were great bikes. Plenty of torque and lots of fun to ride. Maybe they had issues with a short run of them, but they sold a ton of them and they're pretty well known for lasting a long time.
@@joshrandall3632 Plenty of torque? You must be joking. It couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Chronically undergeared with gear change that agricultural. At 60mph the engine was turning over at 6500rpm, which is about the same as my current 200cc, 16hp, trail bike. It was claimed to have a top speed of 105mph, I got mine up to 85 when it seized. I took the heads off to see the score marks down the bore. No problem, I thought, I'll take the barrels off and get them rebored. That's when I found out that the genius who designed the engine had made the barrels and crankcase out of one casting. F****ed!
@@Fubar_The_WEF So it's Honda's fault you can't take care of a moto? I didn't say they were the best bike ever, but they sold a ton of them, many of which are still running.
They sold heaps of the CX and made the Silverwing, Customs, Turbo and 650 versions too. The early chain tensioner made the chain rattle but I have never heard of a failure. The mechanical waterpump seal was a different story and needed replacing every 500000km. Some CDI high voltage gen coils died. Yes, hard starting after a longer break. Good torque for a relatively high revving 4 valve 500cc motor. But it lasts, examples with over 200000km are no exception. And it was economical too. Today a cult bike in Germany with a dedicated CX shop in Berlin, regular rallies and many fans of the legendary 'Güllepumpe'. Soo ugly but soo good. Definitely NOT A FLOP but a top 10 success bike.
On any form of riding (city cruising, touring, etc), the HD Street 750/500 gives me cramps on my thighs. I love Harleys, but I hate this one. Seat is too wide it makes you uncomfortable in short rides
I bought a 2002 BMW R12C 'Avantgarde' in 2007 with low miles. Didn't even test ride it. Listened to the motor, paid for it, threw a plate on it and rode it 12 hours back to home. I put 80K miles on that beauty (on a stock seat - frequently with my wife riding pillion on an Air Hawk) in 10 years and loved every mile (until the drive shaft stripped!). Of my 20 or so bikes I've owned over 45 years that was my favorite. I now ride a 2005 Yamaha FJR1300 (which is also very nice) but I miss that beemer 😥
Honda Rune + Yamaha Niken gt. The Rune looked very 'cool' and the Niken gt, with snowmobile aesthetics, caused involuntary nausea...both very expensive and gathered a ton of dust on dealer showroom floors. ..
This was pretty good overall, but you failed to mention a couple of the plus points of the GTS 1000. That Funny Front End worked really well - you could brake deep into corners in a way that none of the tele-forked bikes of the day could handle. And...that detuned 100bhp engine went on forever. I'll never forget meeting a London despatch rider with well over 200,000 miles on his GTS 1000! Also, the unique transmission of the DN-01 is worth a mention - as far as I'm aware, it's the only motorcycle with a quad-style fluid drive rather than the 'glorified rubber band' of most scooters or the true automatic gearbox of Honda's DCT. Honda's NM4 Vultus might feature in a future list of this kind, even though it's a great machine to ride, with stunning looks - better in both ways than the DN-01.
A friend of mine who worked in a Honda dealership said that DN-01 stood for Do Not Order One. Any such bike sat unsold in the dealer showroom for a loooong time.
Having owned one, I can suggest adding the 1988-1993 Suzuki Katana 1100. Affectionately deemed the "Can of Tuna" by dealers, they were heavy, slow, and uncomfortable to ride.
I went all over Europe, Sweden to Australia, Not one VTX 1800 NEO Stage 3 Exists - Mine is the last one avail 2007'. Only a handful of VTX 1300's were found. But they were 4 - 6 times more popular in the US than the 1800 versions, being the older near retired crew didn't like how top heavy the 1800's were, but even some women liked them. But they were right, the 1800 series when getting down to walking pace, the weight comes on strong if a U Turn was attempted. The steering bump stop was so wide, because of very wide fuel tank, the move to counter steer your balance point could take you down in middle of U Turn when you thought you could turn a tad sharper. You'd need both lanes of county road shoulder to shoulder even thinking of a U Turn. But the Massive Torque of the 1800 from stop sign clutchless shifting full throttle will pretty much rip your elbows out. 850lbs plus you and gear has no clue you are on it,, and it doesn't care. Your at 90 in fewest of seconds. Escaping any 4 wheel nonsense in the way to wide open freeway ahead. And the nicest fattest tires really made the ride softer than most,, except for Minnesota Pot Holes - The short swing arm heavy unsprung weight of rear wheel with shaft drive is basically a half ton 55 Ford truck impact. Your spine will take severe hit if seated, if you don't get weight transferred to floor boards in time. Milage wise was another issue, getting at best about 35 mpg. But the 5 gallon tank made sure you got there. But these 1800's are not going out to be babied when it's out for a ride, and milage is never a forethought. My last big tour was Tampa to Mpls, and that's a brutal 1700 miles at about 90+ all day and night. Much of it in heavy thunderstorms from Tennessee through Wisconsin all night long with lightning constantly 360 around me. Where at one point the Highway Patrol stopped me from getting back on the freeway warning me there was active tornado on the ground, and to follow him to safe hotel construction site of solid concrete stairway. And it was bad. Soon as sun came up we were gone. Clutchless shifting sequence by accident was the only couple minutes of video worth saving on my profile, when camera failed to capture scenic landscape,, and ended up aiming down at fuel tank instead. We custom build funny cars to drag bikes and clutchless shifting is the standard of Honda's Transmissions since early 60's of constant mesh gearbox to transform them to auto electronic air shifting for drag racing by tach sensor only. Just hang on if you can. Cheers
Flops? Yes. Worst ever made? Nope.
I LOVE my TL1000s. A $200 R1 shock and 2 hours work and the rear end was transformed. Two Brothers pipes and it sounds amazing. With torque to burn it just makes me smile the whole time I'm riding it. My B-king just languishes in the shed ignored.
I love my CTX1300. I have been riding for 56 years and 16 bikes and have covered all of southern Africa and most of north This ticks most of my boxes. Visually it’s a “love it or hate it” I installed a touring windshield. If I could change anything I woul lose the stupid sound system and enlarge the side bags, but after 16 bikes I have concluded there is no “ Perfect “ bike….Happy riding…
I also own one, and I could say all the same things. It's a good bike with a tall windscreen. I must also say that the latest generation of Gold Wing is better in every way than the CTX.
@@AgentJayZ I agree, but with eight year newer technology and literally twice the price I would hope so…..Just did the “ Lake Superior Circle Tour” last month, still loving it..
You hope that these never happen again? Some of these bikes are just fine...sure they may not have sold well.. but they have a following and used can be a good value. Its motorcycling, there is something for everyone.
I have the BMW 1200c. Just a boring bike.
Re the Honda DN-01, narrator makes reference to the engine.. comes from the uninspiring Deauville NT700..... he said. Well, petrol is €2.17 a litre now and my Deau is returning 79mpg. Shaft drive saving on chain & sprocket replacement costs. How are all the 1000cc sports bike rider getting along....? 40mpg and 200bhp that you can't really use. Lol
Saw one of those Harley 750 for sale for $3K just yesterday. Cheap
@@TeezerDriz I don't know about the liter bikes but my 1441 is doing just fine with 215 hp and who cares how many miles per gallon
@@Popsm0ke keep her on the back wheel and your front tyre will never wear out. 🤘
How is the Yamaha Niken selling? I’ve not seen one of them on the road….
I want one, just cannot budget for it right now. So I will keep riding my Honda Silverwing scooter. That 600cc motor just goes.
Great escort bike for the cycling tours...
I've seen one and it really took me by surprise to see it.
@@nikos-giorgos
yes, you can take out more cycles in one hit!
I can't say it appeals to me and I'm a Burgman rider who you would think is the target market.
Honorable mention may be the '84-'86 Honda Nighthawk S, cb700sc. I bought a new one still in the showroom in '89, red, white, and blue. Of course, all sales were down after the 70's anyway. This bike was super low maintenance, had shaft drive, a gear indicator, and inline four cylinder goodness.
Well I still own my 1977 Honda trail 90 With the incredible little engine that you can't kill
My wife had a CTX 1300. We were able to get it out the door, brand new for $9800. EVERY place we went it would ALWAYS attract a crowd. We drove it for 5 years and we almost as much as we paid for it as a trade in. She loved that bike as we traveled the country on it. But she loves her Indian Chief Vintage even more.
Have owned 2 TL1000S and still have my TL1000R since 11 years. Love it and will never sell it! But they are rare, I have not seen one TLR in the area I live in since I moved here, in 2003...
One of my coworkers swore by them and rode them a ton each year. Sounded great as I remember. THUNDERING! Ducati's bikes sounded like absolute hell! I bought a 929RR in 2000. Millennium Edition. Almost bought the RC51. They were priced at the exact same price $9,999.00 each. The 929 looked better IMHO, and had two more cylinders. The 51 proved more collectable in the long run, however. I bought a 2004 ZX10 after that, and that bike was lightyears ahead of Honda. Way more comfortable and had way better geometry for my style. More Over-the-Forks riding position. The thing did well over a hundred in first gear. Crazy! The 929 was better suited for drag races. You could really launch it off the line. I geared it down and added a 520 drive chain. The Ninja was crazy. It would just keep accelerating madly until you chickened-out. And you certainly would🕊
I had a 2001 TL1000R. LOVED IT! BOUGHT NEW FOR 10K
I had a yellow TLR for years. Smashing thing, and pretty comfy too. Took it to Italy once with our dog in the tank bag.
I have the R18 - never seen another one on the road. I still love it.
i have one as well! cheers. they are selling ok in Florida. we are moving about 5 a month. they really are nice bikes, they grow on you.
I still have my R1200C (2001). Under rated IMO. Is it power house? No. Reliable? Yes, I have 45K miles on it with very little maintenance. Cruises all day long at 80-90 mph with room to spare. (If I'm wanting a fast bike I grab my S1000RR or the K1200S) The C handles really well, rides nicely and is smooth. I'm looking forward to test ride the R1800.
Definitely not cookie cutter
I got one as well…nice and comfortable and it always get looks.
I must be particularly bad at choosing my bikes, my last two were respectively a GTS1000 and an R1200C, which I still own by the way. The GTS1000 was heavy, yes, but it managed to make the horrible roads of my region (Quebec) passable and it was so nice to see the horde of curious people kneeling in front of it to admire the unusual design of its direction. As for the R1200C, having tried other custom type motorcycles, it has a lot more drive than most of them and there is hardly ever a day when I am given signs of admiration watching her parade through the streets.
I would use the R1200c, just like the XR1200, it looks like it's made to be a Sportster not a long rider......why I wouldn't have the 1800 no way to put forward controls and I would get 1800 to be a Sportster......well maybe a V-MAX
I also had the R1200C, it was amazing, I sold it cause it had a considerable amount of miles but everything worked like a Swiss clock. I’d buy one again, the 2004 Montauk model would be my pick.
Aprilia Futura was away ahead of it's time, not only did Triumph use it to style their ST, but Honda obviously bought one to style the VFR800...still one of the comfiest bikes I've ever sat on, I'd still buy one today!
Because the ST and the VFR look VAGUELY like a Futura (the VFR doesn't really) that makes you think they "bought one to style" their bike. Both the VFR and several Triumphs had single sided swingarms before the Aprilia and all sports tourers looked similar at the time. It was simply a popular style at the time and everybody copied everyone else as ALWAYS
Nonsense, the Honda VFR800 was on the roads 3 years before the Futura even existed.
@@georgebarnes8163 Understand the conversation, before commenting
@@williamrae9954 lol, not the sharpest knife in the block, are you.
@@georgebarnes8163 Ha...so far in the distance from you,you do not even understand what we are talking about...
I nominate as flops Yamaha's 1982 and 83 Vision XZ-550 V-twins. Its engine is best described as a hopped-up version of a horizontally split V-Max. The 82 had carburetion problems, a middling single front disc and fixed-damping suspension. For 83 Yamaha fixed all those problems, lowered the bars, rear-set the foot controls and added a sport-touring fairing with lowers having innovative and efficient leg vents flowing no air/ambient air or engine heated air. The engine made more torque than any mid-size bike of the era, was one of the all-time smoothest and peak HP was decent too. Vision had superb handling and cornering clearance. The shaft drive performed seamlessly but chain drive would have saved weight and allowed easy final gear changes. If Yamaha had given it chain drive and waited for the 83 refinements (with a sport fairing instead of the larger sport-touring type,) the Vision would have more likely succeeded. Unfortunately, the world recession also helped seal its fate.
My local Yamaha dealer back in the 80's could ride whatever he liked, and his ride of choice was a Vision.
I owned an '83 Vision, and it was a great-looking, fast little bike, and it should've been a great-handling one too, but it suffered from inadequate front forks which caused me a couple of heart-stopping moments in fast turns before I realized it's limitations. The electrical system was problematic too. Mine just completely died twice, unexpectedly and for no apparent reason, necessitating expensive replacing of the main electronic control module. But it was a fun bike!
Owned an Aprilia RST 1000 for 4 years. Rode great when it was working properly, which was occasional. 'Factory' support was useless on multiple electrical issues. Looking great and being comfortable only goes so far when you're sick of getting stranded. We called it the Futurama.
VF1000R springs to mind. It was so “ ordinary even Honda Australia would race them - VF1000 instead with Mail Campbell aboard. I had a friend who had the “R” and said he was never satisfied with the handling, power was good. He put it down to the wheel size which I believe were 16”. At that time getting good rubber for that size tire was tough.
The other from that time was the Honda CBX750. It actually was a very nice bike and pretty quick. For some reason it did sell well. My only guess is that at the time that if you weren’t riding something north of 900cc it was a mid level bike. The only thing I remember of that time was a little controversy over the 16” front wheel.
Thats my 2 cents worth.
@8:08 A local Honda shop owner told me that franchise owners very quickly dubbed the DN-01 to "Do Not Order One!" ;-)
Or... Do Not Own One
---- actually,Honda has been producing the DN-01 series for a long time - they just didn't use that particular designation - the CBX comes immediately to mind
@@bonesrhodes3762 Do you mean the CBX 500 & 650 from the '80s or the CTX 700? The CTX has a parallel twin but very similar in concept to the DN. My friend has a CTX and loves it.
@@joshrandall3632 --- no: talking about the CBX 6 banger - they were notorious bad sellers - the last series with the bags Honda had to literally give away to get rid of them - I'm very aware of bikes that may be wonders in their own right or even great bikes yet impossible to sell - those are ALL "Do Not Own One " bikes from the public perception. CX 500/650 ( esp turbos ), Seca 650 turbos, PC800s ( PC was code for "pretty silly" - the Japanese just misspelled it ) etc. - just dogs as far as salability when introduced ( when I bought my dealership, it came with 9 CBXs - took me 7 years to sell 7 [ to other dealers OR to someone off the street ] at whatever the current dealer cost was at the time - the last 2 I just gave up and used as shop bikes.
I worked at HD when that Sportster came out - I sold everyone of them I could get - I would steal them from other dealers to meet my demand. Ditto for the Buells.
Too many that work for HD have never been on the track, never been on dirt, never been over the 85mph mark. THAT is what killed the bike.
Agree...owners of 'parade bikes' have no concept or experience of 'exceeding the posted national speed limit'. LOL.
Have to agree with you on that. You need to be a biker to appreciate and understand how they are on the road trail or track. Because that way you know how to make them better. Especially when you slip the road a crippler on one.
HD's problem, which has always been it's problem is that they MUST cater to the big-inch vtwin crowd. Coming out with the smaller bikes labeled you as a "girl" or "sissy" by those in the big-inch camp and an "idiot" by non HD riders who knew they had better bikes overall for far less cash. Like I've been saying since the yuppies took over about 1990-ish "Harley Davidson, the motorcycle that refuses to evolve, just like the men who ride them!"
I would still buy one of those today. Local dealership only ever had 2!!! They should resurrect it with the new engine.
I had always wanted a Harley - loved the sound - and made the big mistake of buying an 883 Sportster. I wanted to love it, I just could not. That 883 is so underpowered, at 55 if you twisted the throttle the bike said 'Are you SURE you want to go faster?' Years before I had a Suzuki GS1000 which I loved from day one. It would go as fast as you wanted, no problem, it was also a ton easier to handle around town for me, and at low speeds. The 883 was a very nice looking bike but after the looks, there wasn't anything in it for me.
I'm the proud owner of a 2009 XR1200 that I bought lightly used in 2020. Not wrong about being heavy but it's a fantastic bike that's become a bit of a cult favorite in Harley history. I get a lot of thumbs ups and comments on it from those who actually know what it is. I would be surprised if HD DIDN'T make a modern rendition of it with the new Sportster architecture.
Harley got killed in the marketplace every time they tried to recycle the Sportster (love 'em, I have three Evos and an Ironhead) engine into a "modern" sporting machine because looking good is just not enough. XLCR is also a classic but like XLCR the agricultural gearbox and utter lack of power also helped kill Buell. Sportys were sporting into the early 1970s. The traditional Harley market also killed off the FXR which is rightly a cult favorite. Good by Harley standards and good by sporting standards mean drastically different things and a "sport bike" with under 100HP weighing 600lbs is just a sexy cruiser. Harleys are old man bikes (I'm old and also collect vintage British machines). Performance is not what they do unless stroked (like my 89" S&S Sporty or V124 S&S FXR) and even then most of that is in a straight line.
I have a DN-01 and I love it! the transmission is amazing, fully automatic and no steps in the gears, it just smoothly matches engine speed and gearing to perfectly match any situation. the only thing is the wind screen is WAY too small. I bought an aftermarket unit that is twice as tall and it's still too small. the only other thing is, it's got to be the heaviest 700 in history. which only comes into play when you're moving it around. once underway it's no problem. my son rode it and he loves it too. i also consider it to be beautiful, it looks like I stole it from Batman
Ah yes, but then Honda built the NM4 Vultus - the true 'batbike' which is far superior to the DN01 IMO. The DCT works really well, it goes around corners as if on rails and sips fuel like a 125, but at highway speeds.
@@pnblondon1087 Far superior, pssh! It looks nice but not AS good, and transmission system isn't as fun (obviously). Still, probably not a bad bike, and each to their own.
I have had a DN01 for 12 years and I still love it.
I'm looking at one soon, I hope in 2024.
It was the bike that made me go for my bike license. Even though I rarely ride anymore I can’t part with it
kupiłem 4 miesiące temu! Jestem zachwycony! Niech się Panu sprzęt dobrze sprawuje!
Just bought one today, and I love it as well. This video can suck it :P (well okay, it was overpriced when it came out)
@@Kiatrasi Mine is 12 years old now and still running like a new one.
If I were a billionaire, I would have a garage full of Honda's flops. It seems that every few years, they make something... weird. The CBX, Hawk GT, PC800, DN01, NM4, GB500TT, CTX1300, Rune. Decent rides, and everyone a conversation starter.
The XR1200, the CTX1300, and that Yamaha with the freaky front suspension all seem like great ideas. I'd love to have anyone one of them in my garage.
Yeah I would jump on a chance to pick up the HD XR 1200 at a reasonable price
I think it would be cool to have that single sided fork on the front of a moto with a single sided swing arm.
I have been trying to find an XR 1200 that's stock and clean at a reasonable price for a while. In no way a "WORST" just a sales flop due to HD
dealers and sales staff having no clue as to what it was.
Possibly worthy of this list:
Honda: PC800 Pacific Coast,
Yamaha: XZ550, TX750, XV920RJ and its European version, the TR1
Harley-Davidson: XCLR hugely desirable and collectible today, but at the time nobody wanted one.
Suzuki: RE-5 with the Wankel rotary
I know they're real dogs but I've always liked the PC800. No idea why.
@@joshrandall3632 They are the swiss army knife of motorcycles. I'll never sell mine.
PC800 is an awesome machine that was ahead of its time.
Yeah the XR happened right during the 08-2010 recession....also the “performance Harley” wave didn’t hit yet. People either had sport bikes or regular Harleys. LOVE mine though absolutely awesome bike, definitely a ripper. People still wonder what it is today and still turns heads.
If the XR1200 was on the showroom floor today they wouldn’t be able to keep them in stock. It really was just bad timing
I agree. I love the look of the XR. Too small (form factor) for me but very nice to look it. Especially in the Harley orange.
@@waydegardner7373 yeah for bigger guys it’s definitely cramped and the rear sets don’t help hah. I’m 6ft 185lbs so it feels like a giant dirtbike or something to me. Sits pretty tall too (for a Harley)
@@My.name.goes.here. yeah can you imagine with all these sporty builds now/ bagger racing league. People literally would be killing to get them. Every time I ride I get people asking about it or wanting to buy it.
I rode an xr, best Sportster I ever rode
The Yamaha TX750 has to be one of the biggest lemons of all time. They came out in 1973 and Yamaha Australia entered 6 or 7 of them in the 6 hour production race at Amaroo Park in Sydney, all with top riders. Only one of them finished. I became a Yamaha dealer 5 years later and by then they had virtually disappeared.
I had one. Bought it for $300 sold it for $100 blown up (bent valves ) because the heads weren't cracked. It leaked oil out of the head gasket the whole 2 years I owned it. Some one at Yamaha forgot the cam chain tensioner and when you get one second hand with out the manual you just ride it until the chain jumps a tooth.
Thanks for the nightmares! We parted them out when dead ones came into the shop.
Yep a mate of mine had a brand new TX 750 Yam. Catastrophic engine failures come to mind....haha.
They were only made for 2 model years. Most of the 1st year problems were corrected but it was too late. Too bad because it was a decent ride.
The 500cc version of the Harley Street sells very well here in Australia. It’s HD’s only LAMS (learner legal model) which makes it a popular choice for people wanting to get into cruisers. You’d want to really want that HD badge though. It’s painfully slow, too small and feels cheap- despite being quite expensive. You can get a vastly superior Honda Rebel 500 for significantly cheaper. But the Honda isn’t a HD, I guess…..
As a life long Harley owner in America you should always buy the top best models. Invest in better suspension, more power, then you got a cool bike! Any of these bikes stock are kinda lame.
I like those Rebels, and you can quickly upgrade to 1100....that should be a real winner for Honda
I've always liked DN-01. For me it's beautiful and unique.
I had a CTX1300.. It was actually a great bike to be honest. It was comfortable, it was surprisingly. The Bluetooth stereo was decent. The lighting for night riding was the best of any bike Ive owned. They should of sold it as a middleweight Goldwing.. A taller windshield. I traded it for a Valkyrie 1800. Some days I regret it.. The CTX was never given a chance..
I still have mine. It won't light your hair on fire, but I don't ride that way, anyway. It works very well for commuting, day rides, and touring. It pulls like a freight train and that's way more important to me than having to climb the revs to get to the powerband. It's also the most stable bike I've ridden. Five years ago it got me down the Grapevine with wind blowing 45mph and punching gusts at 65mph. I was moved about but was able to keep it in my lane. If I was on my Tiger 800 I'd probably have been blown over to the other side of the freeway. I've often thought of getting a different (flashier?) bike, but the CTX has been so damn dependable, has reasonable maintenance, and realistically satisfies my riding needs, that I just can't see getting rid of it for trivial reasons.
I recently bought a CTX700 DCT, yeah a band nerd.... the manga styling has even grown on me
@@markheinig you’ll probably be a very proud owner of it more and more as time goes by. I’d love to have a go on one.
Cheers
I bought one in February with 2,600 miles. I enjoy it. I prefer to think of it as a mini GW. The V4 is outstanding. Add taller windscreen, highway pegs and top case and you have a great tourer.
@@benoreskovich504 My thoughts exactly. 👍
As a daily street rider since late 80s and owned all types and brands, I've been around through these on the lists... Bad bikes? Hardly, not all. GTS, TL's, Ducati classic and XR1200R are great bikes. Now the BKing which I still own a 08 black on black in the garage mix. Absolutely great bike and was simply too far ahead of its time.
I had a 1200C and totally customized it. Sculpted Corbin seat, chrome forks, all polished aluminum, de-badged, repaint. It ran great and was a real grabber wherever I parked it, including next to Harleys. Too far ahead of its time.
My B King is awesome! It was made way before its time. Whenever i ride it nowadays i always get compliments on how cool it looks. Handling is great, and performance wise it really doesn't need a turbo. Would be sick though.
I always thought they were decent bikes
My B-King was brilliant. I rode an R1220C as a service bike in the late 90s. It was a good ride. Good video, though.
I absolutely love my XR1200X, but I do see why it didn't take off. If only Harley spent the time engineering an aluminum chassis instead of reusing the tubular steel cruiser chassis. Maybe then it would of taken off and still be around today.
The problem was killing off Buell....He definitely had something good going.
@@thevtadventure1062 I couldn't agree more, Erik would've changed the game for Harley if he was still making bikes for HD.
The model deserved development.
'Would of'? What DO you think that means?
Ducatis Sportclassics/GT/PS were much better and more stylish than any of new scrambler series. They just didn't appeared in the right time. I rode GT and SC and they were both fun and nice to ride.
Seems to be the downfall of several of the motorcycles listed here. I just really can’t agree with a lot of what this man is saying in this video.
@@My.name.goes.here. Yes. For sure. A mate had the R1200 C and loved it and I like the styling better than the new 1800, Another friend has the Paul Smart. great to ride and doubled in value and a third friend has a TL1000s . Sold all his bike but that one(even thought it didn't stop all that well and wasn't nimble in the tight stuff.)He reckons it is the best V twin for low down pull.
A lesser but equally interesting list would be bikes that started off as “flops” but over time evolved into decent motorcycles that withstood the test of time.
Specifically the PC800, which has a dedicated cult following. It turns out to be a really good lightweight touring bike that doubles as a great commuter, something that the Goldwing fails at miserably.
I had a PC800. Bought mine used in '92 for $3500 with 3900 miles. Great all around bike. Commuter to weekend getaway! Almost the perfect bike with a Kenwood stereo system to boot!! That was my 2nd luv
Add the mighty CBX to that list.
@@Daveinet The Gold Wing Tour DCT in an amazing commuter bike! Don't knock it till you try it!
@@jbb3675 Of course if when you want to pound out the miles on a long trip. But when you are running to the store in heavy city traffic, it takes a lot more effort than it is worth. I've had two Goldwings. For the current iteration, the seat is too wide and you can't even touch the ground.
Since I have been riding since the mid 80s...
1. Yamaha 550 Vision
2. Honda FT/VT 500
3. Kawasaki 900/1000 Eliminator
4. Yamaha TDM 850
5. All early to mid 80s turbo bikes
All the above bikes were not necessarily bad, just introduced at the wrong time and didn't sell at all.
The 550 Vision was so dismal, there were dealers offering BOGO. Yes, buy one Vision and get two! It was that bad in the early 80s in ref to sales in general.
some 70's/80's bikes were strange and i agree with your list... the Kawasaki Z750 Turbo was the best turbo bike of the time.... i had one and some gripes were fuel economy at high speed vs smallish tank and no turbo oil pump timer. it was a pleasure to ride on the high side of 160kph and still blew off most bikes of its time.
now-a-days we are spoilt with 300kph machines that handle and brake very well out of the crate.
Ahhh yes.... The TDM. I forgot about that oddball, the start of the ADVs (IMHO). Like most on this video list it was regarded as a good bike and really did well out of the US for awhile.
The TDM 850 was a great bike, just needed a slightly taller screen. I had the pleasure of racing one in a French competition road rally back in 1993, including a race at Le Mans. I could never understand why Yamaha didn't sell a Peterhansel Dakar replica - an XTZ Ténéré with TDM 850 engine.
Love that Honda and the cbx650, gl650,
I'm sorry to see the CTX 1300 on this list, as it seems to be on almost everyone else's "bad idea" list. I bought one and it met my needs perfectly. Comfortable, fast, quiet, practical, and (I think) good looking with a MASSIVE rear tire that really grabs the road. With Honda reliability. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a hell of a nice bike.
You must surely include in any flop list the Suzuki RE5. Great idea, wonderful to ride but no one was ready for it and no one bought it. Well maybe a few but that was it. It had that amazing flip up instrument binnacle and the motor was so smooth you could balance a coin on its edge on the petrol tank.
I was fascinated by that bike and would have bought one but too busy at the time trying to support a family
@@jayjackson597 If I'd of been fascinated by the bike I'd of had my family trying to support me buying one lol
That's a cool bike with a rotary engine. I just couldn't figure out why they stopped production.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 Why thank you.. It's a VS800 V twin shaft drive and I guess they stopped production of these when they stated making the the Boulevard range. It's a cool ride, not over heavy and it handles well... but I guess all things change, before this one I had a UK version however this one is an America import and it's slightly bigger than the ones that were sold in the UK.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 The rotor seals were delicate and needed replacing as i recall. you had to keep oil in the lubrication tank! Also it competed with the shaft drive goldwing. If you were heavy on the trottle those chains were short lived. Dad had one for a few years. Fun to ride!
The DN-01 is a beautiful bike to ride and looks fantastic. WTF's wrong with a bike that looks a bit different than most others.
I like most of these, at least the ones designed from crazy concepts like the DN-01. Like you said, Honda from time to time, pushes the boundaries and comes up with something brilliant, but will never make them any money. The Valkyrie Rune, the crazy Vultus. Then there are the weird scooters like the Helix, or the Suzuki Gemma. Some of them are just ahead of their time.
Don't forget the Honda Fury 😎😉
Honda is notorious for putting crap out before it's perfected.
I have owned both an 2001 Aprilia Furtura and a 2005 Honda VRF 800.
I liked the Aprlia better.
The slipper clutch and the geometry of the Futura made it a better handling, easier to flog bike.
The VRF only had a very slight advantage in that the rider position was a bit more comfortable for all day rides.
The Aprilia had much more H.P. and usable torque and the handling was much better.
I slso owned a 2002 Aprilia Mille and it and the Futura had telepathic handling.
It was very easy to go VERY fast on both bikes but you had to work just a little harder to wring the most out of the Mille.
The Honda on the other hand was a good handling bike PROVIDED you didn't push it too hard
Both Aprlias would give ample warning at their limits before things would start to go bad, the Honda , not so much.
In fact it's because of this that I sold it.
Out on the edge with it, like if you hit a bump while on the edge in a corner it would react very fast and with no predictability from one bump to the next.
Both Aprlias were very stable and would not upset as easily.
Given the Aprlias, and Italian V Twin bikes are generally better handling than the Japanese inline and even V 4s like the VRF.
The Honda wasn't a bad bike, its just the Aprlias were better.
As to costectics, the Furtura did take a bit of getting used to, at first the mirrors , from the front reminded me of a certain moth that has antennas that look like a fern leaf lol, but after getting to know that bike, its power and the way it handled, I accepted the funky mirrors, since looking into them was the only time I saw my buddies when we were out riding lol
You tye grammar police ?
All true. But the biggest all time flop was the 1970s Suzuki RE5 rotary. Rumor was that it was such a big flop that Suzuki loaded their left over parts on a barge and dumped them in the ocean.
I briefly owned a ctx700n. It was as quick as a Honda Fit, and turned like a brick. The seat was way too low and the foot controls so far forward that I could barely reach them. The tiny glove box / frunk was a place to lose things down the deep narrow sides. Sold it for what I paid and moved on.
I hope Aprilia resurect the Futura around the RS V4 engine, but with that exact styling... I'd buy it!!
And the Falco half faired version.
I have an ;04, and I can say that it has the best stock seat I've ever experienced. Cool bike which is only now being appreciated for its styling.
Good call...me too
The problem I have with these bike list videos, whether they are “Bikes that were sales flops” or “Best 70’s sports bikes” or so on is that its painfully obvious that not only have these people likely never rode the bike they’re ripping apart or blowing smoke up, but most likely never even seen one in person. If its a rare bike, fair enough, but with what authority or knowledge do you rattle off your “expert” opinion from reading a specsheet? Ive worked in the motorcycle industry for years, yes the Dn01 was strange, and no I wouldn’t personally own one, but after working on one and riding it, I understand why the bloke who rode it into our workshop (and his wife) loved it so very dearly. It’s not just this bloke, lots of channels do this, it just annoy’s me because they clearly have no clue. Same with the r1200c, it actually rode surprisingly well, and had a decent engine in it, and the styling had its own charm. The average person drives a toyota camry, dont try to make out that they are “Style experts”. Go and actually ride the damn bike before you open your mouth. If you still dont like it fair enough, but come on!
This dude prolly got his list from chatgpt
"manufacturers should never get swept up in (motorcycle) show excitement" so true ! And applies to many things notably, of course, cars ...
The Suzuki TL might’ve been killed off but it was and still is an awesome bike and it was replaced with the Sv1000 that was also a great bike. And as fair as half naked V-twin bikes they really don’t have much competition. Understandably they aren’t for everyone, but for the people who prefer a good mix of torque and horsepower over only having top-end horsepower the Sv1000s is a great choice.
And yes the sv1000 did not sell well. The prediction was since SV650s were so popular that the 1000 would take off. At the dealership where I worked the TL sold well. The sv1000s sat around.
What the hell? This list includes like 5 of my favorite bikes, including the Aprilia Futura and GTS1000.
I agree, they may not have sold well but they were great bikes
No they weren't.
Owned a Futura for 16 years and 30K miles and it was absolutely wonderful. Loved that bike.
Says it all 😢😢
I remember when the Honda DN-01 came out. The acronym was soon referred to as "Do not order one".
yah I asked the dealer about one and they laughed and said forget it
I bought a DN-01 for my wife. Sold it a few years later but should have kept it. I enjoyed riding it and actually didn’t mind the way it looked. Never gave me any problems.
@@Cleanandgood Sounds like a total idiot dealer. Here's a guy ready to buy a bike, but no, lets just flat out deny him. Great business sense!
@@darylrogers8749 Mine is 12 years old now and still runs like new.
@@Cleanandgood Ridiculous and pathetic dealer. It's a great bike.
The Futura was actually a very good sports tourer apart from the Italian electrics. The TLR 1000R was a great bike … As a Bimota SB8R which was the bike Suzuki should have made
What have we learned?
1; BMW can’t (and should not) build American style cruisers
2; Harley can’t (and really should not) make Euro themed nakeds and café bikes.
3; Honda engineers have NEVER actually been out riding apparently.
I know we all like different things
My two bikes are a 1999 BMW R1100s and a brand new Indian Super Chief.
While I really think my Beamer is essentially the on road “do anything well but not the best” bike
I wanted a low seat, floor boarded, snatch your arms off torque type experience as well.
Enjoy your bikes my friends, more importantly, enjoy the ride.
PS, DUCATI PLEASE BRING BACK THE MH900e
as I’m finally able to afford it!
I hear ya! I have a '93 Sportster and a '98 Electra Glide, often referred to as my "go-kart and Lay-Z-Boy", depending on what type of riding I want to do
I almost bought a CTX-1300 when Honda slashed the price, but none of the dealers around me had the deluxe. No cruise control made searching for a deluxe not worth the effort. In fact, I passed on several Honda models because of the lack of cruise control. The F6B, and the CrossTourer are two examples of Honda falling short.
I think the Suzuki RF600 and RF900 were more of a flop than the TLR and TLS, unless we're just focusing on Suzuki's racing intentions. You'd be hard pressed to ride one of those older TL's and not have a $hit eating grin on your face afterwards.
I'm with you on that statement.
Agree completely. The RFs were definitely bigger flops. Though good bikes (like all Suzukis at that time) they were just funky. The styling and Testarossa look sidepanels were off and they were more of a lost sport tourer (yet werent).
The b-king over 10 years later is still a weapon💁♂️🏍
Absolutely! Still have my 08 black in black in the garage mix. Its an amazing bike that won't be sold.
In black with the Yoshimura under tail exhaust….. under rated bike
Mine was the ltd blue white with gold wheels. Amazingly it was lighter than ma old cb1300sa. Another do it all underrated bike.
We sold a DN-01 to a lady with one leg. She absolutely loved that bike. By the way, DN-01 stands for "Do Not Order One."
BMW R1200 half baked styling and hideous? That thing still looks awesome today!
I’m proud owner of a TL1000S. Having regretted selling the first one I owned I went and bought another after trying out a couple of other makes. I guess it’s each to their own but I certainly love the ride, look and sound of my TL. I can think of worse bikes that would have made your top ten.
Ditto, TLS for 13 years now and still counting
Agreed, harsh to put them in. I always wanted a go on the R to see if the "widowmaker" title was true, bearing in mind I used to own a Kawasaki 750 triple
@@originalshadowfax The H1 500's had a more vicious powerband.....I still got mine and I'm still upright....
How DARE you put a TL1000R in there.😉 Awesome bike.
Best sounding VTwin out there. 👌
The TL1000s was also rated "Motorcycle of the year" in two different USA based magazines. This fellows top ten flop list is pretty weak.
My SV 1000S was a big improvement... but still a bit quirky, not knowing it's "place".
The R 1200 c is a quite excellent motorcycle. The engine has plenty of steam, the chassis is stable, and the workmanship is of high quality. The copies sold in Germany usually have a low mileage , are unmodified and in top condition. They are now highly traded.
You forgot the Aprilia Mana 850. The bike that Honda used as the inspiration for the NC750X.
My brother had an earlier model R1200C. I rode it home from the dealership after it was serviced. Merging on the freeway was a harrowing experience, it was so underpowered and heavy acceleration was non existent. What a dog. As much as I’m a fan of BMW motorcycles, I’m on my 8th, I knew the R1800 would be yet another flop. Harley owns the cruiser market. The 1800c is not selling, It’s obvious with the abundance of inventory available on this bike nationwide.
The R1800 sounds like a wet fart.
I love my B-King and I would never sell it
I had one for over 7 years. Absolutely fantastic bike. I wish I still had it.
if they had superccharged it ,it would have sold even though it doesn't need it.
😁 , 👁 ❤️ my 🐝 🤴🏿2. Very few in the US.
Yep, 08 black on black in the garage mix. Absolutely love it, mines not going anywhere either.
I REALLY wanted a Yamaha GTS1000 when they came out, but couldn't justify the price.
The hi tech cool factor was off the charts, but that was still not quite worth the cost.
I really enjoyed the CTX1300! It was a fantastic bike. Also, it had Bluetooth as well as an auxiliary jack. I put a solid 1k km on it in a few weeks time. That V4 in it was a peach. Keep in mind, I own a 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 675, so I enjoy exciting and terrifying bikes as well!
@Edward Elizabeth Hitler So does radios.
@Edward Elizabeth Hitler I think music inside the helmet is extremely dangerous. I would prefer ALL external sounds to be external sounds. I've had far too many close calls from riding with earbuds in. Had I been wise enough to forego the music, I would've heard the potential problem while there was still something I could do about it!
This video tops the list of Worst Motorcycle Flop Videos Ever Made
When VR46 was living in London, I was a courier and he was wearing flip flops. Valkyrie, through traffic...boy can ride. Respect. 😂
Should the Niken be in this list ????
Absolutely YES.
Had a Yamaha Vision (XZ 550 ) in the early 80's. 550 cc 4 stroke 70° liquid cooled DOHC V-twin shaft-driven.
Never took off, only produced 2 years.
Hey flaxseed, I had an xz in the 80’s, great bike, got it cheap, guy selling it didn’t have anyone come and see it, as no one knew what is was! Had it several years, wife n me doing rallies and touring on it in uk and Europe, happy days.
I put a couple hundred miles on my cousin’s Vision when it was new. I have to say I was impressed with it. Great bike and I’ve no idea why it didn’t catch on.
I believe it may have been the 1st bike sporting 4 valves per cylinder. Very innovative.
Still got the promo sticker...used to be on the bedroom wall, I cut round it while re-modelling the room!
Suzuki TL1000 and B King are glorious bikes.....i would have them in my collection any day of the week.
Agree!
I must be a weirdo. I liked the R1200C, B-King, and the XR1200 is my favourite HD if I could own a second bike.
Yeah, me too. The 1200C with a bit more power. So easy to work on them and low centre of gravity.
Owned a Futura, beautiful bike, loved the sound and looks. Not enough dealers around though if anything went wrong. ☹️
Interesting video... Thanks!👌👍
My local Honda dealership had a DN-01 in a few years ago, in burgundy with low kms and a price tag of around $9000NZ. I liked the styling, but after doing a little research I decided to stear clear.
The great former Harley Instructor at AMI, Kurt Heinrichs, always told us that "where mechanical devices are concerned, simpler is better." A lesson all these manufacturers would do well to learn.
@terracer All of which can be done either comparatively simply, or absurdly complex.
I had no idea that the BMW r1200c didn’t sell well. I always loved the look of the HD XR1200 too
Have to add a Suzuki TC 125 Enduro to the list. I had one in the late 70's it has a 4 speed gear box with a switch for 4 speed street or 4 speed dirt. It failed both modes miserably. Better option was a 5 speed Suzuki TS 125 with a 5 speed gear box and no switch for dirt or street.
DUDE I had one it was lime green with the stripe on the tank can't remember what year ,it had the kick down box and I think it was 5 speed ,excellent bike imo ,farmers loved them for the low low gearing to chase cows .
Had a TC100 with the 4 speed and dual range. Yes, a 5 speed would have been better.
They were just a fart box with wheels.....I learned to ride on one..👍
It's an absolute shame the gt1000 failed. I Loved that bike - would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find and afford one. Why they haven't revisited it properly now that retros are in, is beyond me.
The Aprilia Moto with orange tank was a sales disaster.... But I'd kinda like one in my garage.
Are you kidding me? If the Yamaha Niken is not the most "How stupid are you?" assembly of ugliness ever offered for sale, then what the hell are you doing? I thought all those living-room-sofas-on-three-wheels abortions were the most ridiculous thing ever until Yamaha decided that doubling the unsprung weight on the front of a pretend motorcycle was a good idea. I would really like to have an XSR, but I fear somebody might see it and remember that Yamaha also built the Niken.
I think the Niken is so obvious, not even worth mentioning . Would still love to see one on the road, like the NM4, cool to look at and talk about, as long as the other guy owns it.
I agreed with most of the list until you came to the Honda NSA700 DN-01; which made me question all of your other opinions. The only reason these didn't sell was the price tag; because now, they are ultra-rare in the States, and people's necks nearly snap when I cruise by on one I picked up this summer. Got it for a song and a tap dance since apparently the seller listened to the likes of you - and after riding it a few hundred miles, I'm just laughing at the man's stupidity. One of the best mid-level cruisers I've ever been on (and I've ridden my fair share in the last thirty years); eclectic, beautiful, sips the gas, stable as a table, and purrs like a kitten; couldn't love it more.
Maybe an awesome bike but just because you like, doesn't mean it isn't a flop
@@Chris-po5sw You would do better to read the title of the video before making comments. This may not have sold well, in the U.S. due to the high price tag and ahead-of-its-time styling/engineering, but that doesn't make it "one of the worst motorcycles ever made". Far from it.
The CTX 1300 was a restyling exercise in Hondas attempt to get the retuned V4 euro 5 compliant. It wasn’t as powerful as the PanEuropean hence the need to make it into a bagger. It flopped on both of those points
Loved my tricked up TL1000R in bright yellow. Harley Davidson XR1200 was a piece of crap, and the company treated buyers like someone with the plague. They pull good money now though.
I was the local BMW salesmanager in Tucson Arizona where the R1200C was introduced. I immediately sold a dozen in the first month or so and didn't sell another one. I did the riding loop on one and hated the chassis and thought it might be a disaster. Then I was confused when I sold a dozen very quickly even after a demo ride. These folks were the BMW faithful, put a BMW roundel on a box and make it very expensive and voila it sells.
How about the 1976 Harley XLCR?
If you care, that word is "voila" (it's French)
@@ntdscherer I do. Thanks
I always cringe a little inside seeing a victory vision, only use I'd have for one is to yank the bigger engine and 6 speed to put in my victory vegas. Also, the Honda vtx 1800 is only good at straight rides, not a curvy mountain road type of bike, it's big and bulky along with top heavy and bars wider than the lane you're riding in.
I would add the CX500 Honda. Known in the UK as the plastic maggot, it had a fatal design flaw in the engine that resulted in the cam chain tensioner snapping, which then resulted in valves hitting pistons! They had two (or was it three) recalls to fix the problem then withdrew the model to be replace by the VT500. I owned a CX it had no torque, was chronically under-geared, over weight and was reluctant to start if it had been left for more than a week. It ranks as THE most unreliable bike I have ever owned in my 43 years of riding bikes.
Funny, I got stuck with one to run errands on that had been abandoned. And worked...fine. I mean, it was a pig alright, but it ran
Those were great bikes. Plenty of torque and lots of fun to ride. Maybe they had issues with a short run of them, but they sold a ton of them and they're pretty well known for lasting a long time.
@@joshrandall3632 Plenty of torque? You must be joking. It couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding. Chronically undergeared with gear change that agricultural. At 60mph the engine was turning over at 6500rpm, which is about the same as my current 200cc, 16hp, trail bike. It was claimed to have a top speed of 105mph, I got mine up to 85 when it seized. I took the heads off to see the score marks down the bore. No problem, I thought, I'll take the barrels off and get them rebored. That's when I found out that the genius who designed the engine had made the barrels and crankcase out of one casting. F****ed!
@@Fubar_The_WEF So it's Honda's fault you can't take care of a moto? I didn't say they were the best bike ever, but they sold a ton of them, many of which are still running.
They sold heaps of the CX and made the Silverwing, Customs, Turbo and 650 versions too. The early chain tensioner made the chain rattle but I have never heard of a failure. The mechanical waterpump seal was a different story and needed replacing every 500000km. Some CDI high voltage gen coils died. Yes, hard starting after a longer break. Good torque for a relatively high revving 4 valve 500cc motor. But it lasts, examples with over 200000km are no exception. And it was economical too. Today a cult bike in Germany with a dedicated CX shop in Berlin, regular rallies and many fans of the legendary 'Güllepumpe'. Soo ugly but soo good. Definitely NOT A FLOP but a top 10 success bike.
On any form of riding (city cruising, touring, etc), the HD Street 750/500 gives me cramps on my thighs. I love Harleys, but I hate this one.
Seat is too wide it makes you uncomfortable in short rides
I agree, good drivetrain but poorly designed chassis. That engine in a buel chassis would have been cool.
I bought a 2002 BMW R12C 'Avantgarde' in 2007 with low miles. Didn't even test ride it. Listened to the motor, paid for it, threw a plate on it and rode it 12 hours back to home. I put 80K miles on that beauty (on a stock seat - frequently with my wife riding pillion on an Air Hawk) in 10 years and loved every mile (until the drive shaft stripped!). Of my 20 or so bikes I've owned over 45 years that was my favorite. I now ride a 2005 Yamaha FJR1300 (which is also very nice) but I miss that beemer 😥
Hey! That GTS video was shot in San Diego, my hometown. Now I want one.
I had a mate with a DN 01.... nobody could work out what it was supposed to be...
Honda Rune + Yamaha Niken gt.
The Rune looked very 'cool' and the Niken gt, with snowmobile aesthetics, caused involuntary nausea...both very expensive and gathered a ton of dust on dealer showroom floors.
..
You forgot Big flop from Suzuki the RE 5 ,meaby classic now,but over complicated with rotary engine
What ever happened to the Yamaha TX 750 twin cylinder ?
It was swiftly and rightly forgotten.
This was pretty good overall, but you failed to mention a couple of the plus points of the GTS 1000. That Funny Front End worked really well - you could brake deep into corners in a way that none of the tele-forked bikes of the day could handle. And...that detuned 100bhp engine went on forever. I'll never forget meeting a London despatch rider with well over 200,000 miles on his GTS 1000! Also, the unique transmission of the DN-01 is worth a mention - as far as I'm aware, it's the only motorcycle with a quad-style fluid drive rather than the 'glorified rubber band' of most scooters or the true automatic gearbox of Honda's DCT. Honda's NM4 Vultus might feature in a future list of this kind, even though it's a great machine to ride, with stunning looks - better in both ways than the DN-01.
HD street 750, does that radiator have MAC written across the top of it,
Yet ten more examples of the Marketing Department believing their own hype and failing to understand what real marketing research looks like.
A friend of mine who worked in a Honda dealership said that DN-01 stood for Do Not Order One. Any such bike sat unsold in the dealer showroom for a loooong time.
TLS a TLS are not flops….had a 1997 TLS currently have.a TLS 1999 with Olins conversion….awesome road bike
The R1200C would have been a nice bike with a bit more power. I now own the K1300R, and it is fantastic.
Having owned one, I can suggest adding the 1988-1993 Suzuki Katana 1100. Affectionately deemed the "Can of Tuna" by dealers, they were heavy, slow, and uncomfortable to ride.
I went all over Europe, Sweden to Australia, Not one VTX 1800 NEO Stage 3 Exists - Mine is the last one avail 2007'.
Only a handful of VTX 1300's were found. But they were 4 - 6 times more popular in the US than the 1800 versions,
being the older near retired crew didn't like how top heavy the 1800's were, but even some women liked them.
But they were right, the 1800 series when getting down to walking pace, the weight comes on strong if a U Turn
was attempted. The steering bump stop was so wide, because of very wide fuel tank, the move to counter steer
your balance point could take you down in middle of U Turn when you thought you could turn a tad sharper.
You'd need both lanes of county road shoulder to shoulder even thinking of a U Turn.
But the Massive Torque of the 1800 from stop sign clutchless shifting full throttle will pretty much rip your elbows out.
850lbs plus you and gear has no clue you are on it,, and it doesn't care. Your at 90 in fewest of seconds. Escaping
any 4 wheel nonsense in the way to wide open freeway ahead. And the nicest fattest tires really made the ride softer
than most,, except for Minnesota Pot Holes - The short swing arm heavy unsprung weight of rear wheel with shaft drive
is basically a half ton 55 Ford truck impact. Your spine will take severe hit if seated, if you don't get weight transferred
to floor boards in time.
Milage wise was another issue, getting at best about 35 mpg. But the 5 gallon tank made sure you got there. But these
1800's are not going out to be babied when it's out for a ride, and milage is never a forethought.
My last big tour was Tampa to Mpls, and that's a brutal 1700 miles at about 90+ all day and night.
Much of it in heavy thunderstorms from Tennessee through Wisconsin all night long with lightning constantly 360 around me.
Where at one point the Highway Patrol stopped me from getting back on the freeway warning me there was active
tornado on the ground, and to follow him to safe hotel construction site of solid concrete stairway. And it was bad.
Soon as sun came up we were gone.
Clutchless shifting sequence by accident was the only couple minutes of video worth saving on my profile, when camera
failed to capture scenic landscape,, and ended up aiming down at fuel tank instead. We custom build funny cars to drag bikes
and clutchless shifting is the standard of Honda's Transmissions since early 60's of constant mesh gearbox to transform
them to auto electronic air shifting for drag racing by tach sensor only. Just hang on if you can.
Cheers