Worst motorcycle ever! - Page 13

TLR_Mart · 02-20-2013, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by concours

The bike went WITH the house sale?

Yes and no. The house was sold, and my dad didn't want to fill up his new garage with the TX750, since I already had my ZX-9R to put away as well. So the bike was offered to one of the people looking at the house. He walked away with the keys to the bike, but not the house ;)

Don't quote me on the price, but I think he got 1$ per CC.

Solarbronco · 02-20-2013, 02:35 PM

A friend of mine owns a Harley repair shop and used to work in their factory, for 12 years.

He says that Harley's are without a doubt the worst bikes ever made. And that the newer ones are even worst than the AMF years. He says that this is the reason why he owns a Harley repair shop. His personal ride is a Victory.

LilGreenBooger · 02-20-2013, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2WheelTrampin

the one on the right with the liberator bedroom furniture for a seat.

farmerstu · 02-21-2013, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Solarbronco

A friend of mine owns a Harley repair shop and used to work in their factory, for 12 years.

He says that Harley's are without a doubt the worst bikes ever made. And that the newer ones are even worst than the AMF years. He says that this is the reason why he owns a Harley repair shop. His personal ride is a Victory.

that sounds more like a friend of a friend story or a friends cousins husband. also if you do a little honest digging you'll find that AMF wasn't nearly as bad as urban myth says it was. not great but definitely not that bad, had it not been for amf ,harley would not exist today. bth harley is no less reliable then any other modern bike. certainly the equal of victory.

Blue&Yellow · 02-22-2013, 06:49 AM

Harleys are about as complicated as a two-wheeled tractor so they're pretty reliable as far as I'm concerned. And you see some with huge miles around so that says something as well.

The problem with Harleys as I see it is that if you drive them in anything other than sunny California and lock them in a warm garage during the night they will rust like no other bike I now.

Here in Sweden they're hopeless - leave them outside for one misty summer night and it's all brown speckles. And I'm not only talking about the chrome - the steel and bolts too!!

Then they handle and brake like crap as well so... that's my pick I guess.

Racersteve · 02-22-2013, 07:22 AM

Worst mc? Each had their own personality, but I couldn't label anyone of them as worst. I did have a Lacrosse Montesa 250 that had to be TOWED to 40 mph every time it first started the day to get it going, but it would kick start one kick when warm and was a fast, fun bike after that. Frustrating, perhaps, but probably related to my lack of money for a new stator from SPAIN!

DR Donk · 02-22-2013, 08:55 AM

I had a '74 Honda CB450 back in '83 as one of my earlier bikes. By the time I got it had been used, abused and poorly maintained. I'm sure when it was in its prime it was a good bike but for me?

Six months after I got it, I sold it and never looked back.

farmerstu · 02-22-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue&Yellow

Harleys are about as complicated as a two-wheeled tractor so they're pretty reliable as far as I'm concerned. And you see some with huge miles around so that says something as well.

The problem with Harleys as I see it is that if you drive them in anything other than sunny California and lock them in a warm garage during the night they will rust like no other bike I now.

Here in Sweden they're hopeless - leave them outside for one misty summer night and it's all brown speckles. And I'm not only talking about the chrome - the steel and bolts too!!

Then they handle and brake like crap as well so... that's my pick I guess.

braking test i found on your ktm990 131 feet 60 to 0
braking distance on my hd wide glide with 21 inch front and single disc 118 feet.(to be sure it won't stop that quick 4 or 5 times in succesion)
harley may have thier problems but quality chrome and paint aren't it. if other bikes don't rust it is probably because they are made of plastic.
sure they don't handle like a sport tourer but for a cruiser they handle as well as any and better them some.

Pantah · 02-23-2013, 08:25 AM

The worst I ever owned was a 1970 Yamaha RT1 360. I turned it into a trail bike but the suspension was so bad it would go into a tankslapper just coming off a little jump or rolling whoops. I tried racing it a little, but it was hopeless. Eventually the tranny broke. I replaced it with a 1971 Penton Six Days 125. Now that was a real motorcycle, and it's competition was the Yamaha CT1, which was a POS too. I cleaned up on that thing for awhile. But it wasn't long before the Honda Elsinore 125 ate everybody's lunch. That ended the reign of the Sach's powered Euro racers.

Aussijussi · 02-23-2013, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmerstu

braking test i found on your ktm990 131 feet 60 to 0
braking distance on my hd wide glide with 21 inch front and single disc 118 feet.(to be sure it won't stop that quick 4 or 5 times in succesion)
harley may have thier problems but quality chrome and paint aren't it. if other bikes don't rust it is probably because they are made of plastic.
sure they don't handle like a sport tourer but for a cruiser they handle as well as any and better them some.

Next one is a Harley outrunning the 990, pull an other one.

slartidbartfast · 02-23-2013, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aussijussi

Next one is a Harley outrunning the 990, pull an other one.

Why would you be surprised that a low, rear-heavy bike can outbrake a tall dualsport?

Katoom72 · 02-23-2013, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by farmerstu

braking test i found on your ktm990 131 feet 60 to 0
braking distance on my hd wide glide with 21 inch front and single disc 118 feet.(to be sure it won't stop that quick 4 or 5 times in succesion)
harley may have thier problems but quality chrome and paint aren't it. if other bikes don't rust it is probably because they are made of plastic.
sure they don't handle like a sport tourer but for a cruiser they handle as well as any and better them some.

Yeah, all of the bolts on my bike are made from plastic.

Aussijussi · 02-23-2013, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slartidbartfast

Why would you be surprised that a low, rear-heavy bike can outbrake a tall dualsport?

I looked up some figures on braking and surprizing to me, the cruisers actually stop really well, the best being Suzuki Marauder 800, 107ft, V Rod was 109 feet, Triumph Speed Triple 105 ft, Sportster 883 139ft, Road King 126ft, Fat Boy 154ft, KTM ADV 990 125ft

Can-am Kid · 02-23-2013, 07:26 PM

As a wrench in the early 80's when a majority of the nominees were first sold I would have to say the Dneper was the worst bike of all time.

Disassembled it looked like it had been manufactured by a grade 8 shop class using a dull hack saw and a big hammer. All though flying the side car always made me giggle like little girl.

My second choice would be the 1980 Honda Passport. No power, wouldn`t turn without wobbling like a drunk and the suspension was non-existent.

However it the Honda VF750 that made me hang up my wrenches. Beautiful design but a complete bee awch to work on. It is the reason a tune up now costs $$$$$$ and everyone wants to be a Harley mechanic.

viverrid · 02-23-2013, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by slartidbartfast

Why would you be surprised that a low, rear-heavy bike can outbrake a tall dualsport?

A tall dualsport with dualsport tires.

02-23-2013, 08:25 AM	#189
Pantah Red Sox Nation Joined: Oct 2004 Location: India Wharf Oddometer: 8,902	The worst I ever owned was a 1970 Yamaha RT1 360. I turned it into a trail bike but the suspension was so bad it would go into a tankslapper just coming off a little jump or rolling whoops. I tried racing it a little, but it was hopeless. Eventually the tranny broke. I replaced it with a 1971 Penton Six Days 125. Now that was a real motorcycle, and it's competition was the Yamaha CT1, which was a POS too. I cleaned up on that thing for awhile. But it wasn't long before the Honda Elsinore 125 ate everybody's lunch. That ended the reign of the Sach's powered Euro racers. __________________ Straight ahead and faster -Bo Weaver 1970 "There I was..." -Griffin Niner Three Hotel

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02-20-2013, 02:35 PM	#182
Solarbronco Adventurer Joined: Jun 2012 Location: Idaho Oddometer: 45	A friend of mine owns a Harley repair shop and used to work in their factory, for 12 years. He says that Harley's are without a doubt the worst bikes ever made. And that the newer ones are even worst than the AMF years. He says that this is the reason why he owns a Harley repair shop. His personal ride is a Victory.

02-22-2013, 06:49 AM	#185
Blue&Yellow but orange inside... Joined: Jan 2010 Location: Sweden Oddometer: 754	Harleys are about as complicated as a two-wheeled tractor so they're pretty reliable as far as I'm concerned. And you see some with huge miles around so that says something as well. The problem with Harleys as I see it is that if you drive them in anything other than sunny California and lock them in a warm garage during the night they will rust like no other bike I now. Here in Sweden they're hopeless - leave them outside for one misty summer night and it's all brown speckles. And I'm not only talking about the chrome - the steel and bolts too!! Then they handle and brake like crap as well so... that's my pick I guess.

02-22-2013, 07:22 AM	#186
Racersteve Adventurer Joined: Dec 2012 Oddometer: 12	Worst mc? Each had their own personality, but I couldn't label anyone of them as worst. I did have a Lacrosse Montesa 250 that had to be TOWED to 40 mph every time it first started the day to get it going, but it would kick start one kick when warm and was a fast, fun bike after that. Frustrating, perhaps, but probably related to my lack of money for a new stator from SPAIN!

02-22-2013, 08:55 AM	#187
DR Donk Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2009 Location: Western Michigan Oddometer: 222	I had a '74 Honda CB450 back in '83 as one of my earlier bikes. By the time I got it had been used, abused and poorly maintained. I'm sure when it was in its prime it was a good bike but for me? Six months after I got it, I sold it and never looked back.

02-23-2013, 07:26 PM	#194
Can-am Kid n00b Joined: Apr 2012 Location: Some where in BC Oddometer: 2	As a wrench in the early 80's when a majority of the nominees were first sold I would have to say the Dneper was the worst bike of all time. Disassembled it looked like it had been manufactured by a grade 8 shop class using a dull hack saw and a big hammer. All though flying the side car always made me giggle like little girl. My second choice would be the 1980 Honda Passport. No power, wouldn`t turn without wobbling like a drunk and the suspension was non-existent. However it the Honda VF750 that made me hang up my wrenches. Beautiful design but a complete bee awch to work on. It is the reason a tune up now costs $$$$$$ and everyone wants to be a Harley mechanic.