Honda HRC NSR500
Visually, the Honda HRC NSR500 is an absolute delight. And its engine isn't bad, either. A two-stroke V4 that can produce 200 horsepower? Holy cow! So what's the problem here? Simple — this bike is a nightmare to control once it gets going. The torque is sudden and explosive, catching many riders off guard. You can't have fun when you're constantly on tenterhooks.
Kawasaki KLR650
Is the Kawasaki KLR650 a reliable motorcycle? Without a doubt. But is it fun to ride? No way! It's ridiculously underpowered for a 650cc bike, producing just 40 horsepower — max. Oof. On top of that, it takes forever for the KLR650 to build up speed from a standstill, too. It's often been compared to a small car in that respect.
Suzuki V-Strom 650
It'd be very unfair to call the Suzuki V-Strom 650 a bad bike. After all, it's comfortable to ride and has a nice V-twin engine. But having said that, this is still an incredibly bland motorcycle. It doesn't get the blood pumping on the road, while the design itself leaves much to be desired. Fun? We don't think so, folks.
Honda DN-01
A questionable look is the least of the Honda DN-01's problems. This motorcycle has a real identity crisis. Is it a scooter? A cruiser? A sport bike? All of the above? To make matters worse, it doesn't do anything well. How does that happen! The DN-01 is also nicknamed "Do Not Own One," which is pretty telling. But is it a better bet than our next entry? Let's find out...
Honda CX500 Turbo
The Honda CX500 Turbo should be a slam-dunk. It looks great, has a nice engine, and produces a fair amount of power. Yet the motorcycle's mechanical and electrical issues are a big concern. Alternator failure, overheating, valve train wear, and broken chain guides are some of the more common problems here. It's hard to enjoy a bike ride with all that hanging over you!
Kawasaki Versys 650
The Kawasaki Versys 650 is as reliable as they come. You won't be left wanting on that front, guys! But is it fun to ride? Dull, more like. The acceleration on this bike is pretty underwhelming, leaving riders in a state of pure disappointment. Where's the excitement? You'll struggle to find that here. And the same can be said of our next entry, too.
Honda Gold Wing
We're going to be blunt here — the Honda Gold Wing is an absurdly large motorcycle. It weighs over 800 pounds! Unsurprisingly, its size works against it on the road. Despite being able to produce around 125 horsepower in full-flight, it feels very ponderous at lower speeds. It doesn't make for the most comfortable of rides on longer journeys, either.
Honda CBR500R
If you're looking to get into motorcycles, then the Honda CBR500R makes for a great beginner's bike. It's reliable, easy to ride, and looks pretty cool. But for the more experienced riders, the CBR500R is often seen as painfully boring. There's no sense of exhilaration here, further hindered by a low redline. 9,000 rpm? Hmm. The handling can also feel quite sluggish at times.
Kawasaki Ninja 250
Do you often find yourself gawking at the Kawasaki Ninja 250? We don't blame you — it's a cool-looking bike! Is it fun to ride, though? That's debatable. A lot of motorcycle enthusiasts consider it to be way too slow, flagging up its underwhelming acceleration on highway roads. It's better-suited as a beginner's bike. Mind you, riders usually outgrow it pretty quickly.
Honda NC750X
Few bikes are more practical than the Honda NC750X. It's very sensible on the road. But can you get any excitement out of this thing? It's a struggle, to be honest. The redline is super low at 6,000 rpm, while its overall performances can feel frustratingly flat. To call the NC750X boring is a bit of an understatement, folks!
Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster
The Triumph Bonneville Speedmaster is a real eye-catcher. It's a hard motorcycle to ignore on the road! But riding one can be challenging at times. Many bike enthusiasts have complained about the unforgiving seat, which makes longer journeys pretty uncomfortable. The wind buffeting is another bone of contention, as are the bouncy shocks. Doesn't sound like much fun, right?
BMW F800R
The BMW F800R has plenty in its favor. The fuel economy's good, performances are reliable, and the bike itself is nice to look at. Yet it fails to get your blood pumping on the road. The F800R can feel extremely flat when push comes to shove, while its steering suffers at lower speeds. Fun to ride? No way.
Kawasaki W800
Visually, the Kawasaki W800 does a lot right. But is it a good bike to own if you're looking for thrilling performances? Probably not. The parallel-twin engine can only produce around 50 horsepower, while the motorcycle itself weighs close to 500 pounds. That's a bad combo! As a result, the W800 often feels sluggish when you take to the road.
Honda NR750
There's no other way of saying it, folks — the Honda NR750 is an absolute stunner. Try not to confuse it with a Ducati! Owning this bike isn't a walk in the park, though. Due to its complex oval-piston design, the engine's prone to fail. How can you enjoy riding something that feels like a ticking time bomb? Maintenance doesn't come cheap, either.
Honda CB1100
The Honda CB1100 is an old-school beast. It tips the scales at around 550 pounds, rocking an air-cooled four-cylinder engine. Here's the issue, though. Compared to other bikes, the CB1100 can lack aggression and meaningful acceleration. Its redline is quite low at 8,500 rpm as well. Will it get your heart racing? We're not so sure.
Suzuki Katana
Following a 13-year hiatus, the Suzuki Katana made its long-awaited return in 2019. But was it worth the wait? That's up for debate. Many riders have found the throttle response to be pretty jerky at lower speeds, while the rear shock is frustratingly stiff. In addition to that, the mirrors aren't too helpful. Oh boy.
Honda CB500F
The Honda CB500F is a dependable machine. But will you have a blast riding it? Hmm. Let's see. Bike enthusiasts often slam this motorcycle's "basic" suspension, clunky gearbox, and questionable ergonomics. The seat isn't that comfortable for longer journeys, either. That probably answers the question, folks! How does it compare to our next entry, though?
Harley-Davidson Street 750
The Street 750 is Harley-Davidson's attempt to draw in younger bike riders. But we're not sure if it worked! This motorcycle is a real chore to ride, offering iffy ergonomics and poor build quality. The engine also radiates heat when you come to a standstill, which is bad news in traffic.
BMW K100
At first glance, the BMW K100 looks like a super motorcycle to ride. Is it, though? Well, some folks haven't had the greatest experiences with this bike. Riders have complained about the K100's controls, its uncomfortable vibrations on the road, and its performances at lower speeds. It leaves a lot to be desired, guys.
Through: Sasa21 / Wikimedia Commons