Beautiful Bikes Aren't Always the Best Performers...
There are few better sights on the road than a beautiful motorcycle in full-flight. But as bike fans are no doubt aware, not all good-looking models are great performers. In fact, some can be pretty terrible! So on that note, we're going to take a closer look at a selection of those bikes right here. Hold on tight, folks — it's going to get bumpy...
Honda DN-01
Thanks to its eye-catching body, the Honda DN-01 certainly stood out from the crowd. But that's about the only thing it had going for it! This bike had virtually no storage space, a complex transmission, and a lack of overall comfort for the rider. The DN-01 soon stood for "Do Not Own 1." Yikes.
Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster
1991 was a significant year for the Harley-Davidson 883 Sportster. At that point, the bike was given a new five-speed transmission. Prior to that, it only had a four-speed — and boy, was it rough. The engine had to work very hard to hit 80 mph, while the body itself vibrated to a ridiculous degree.
1997 Bimota V-Due
Was the 1997 Bimota V-Due a cool-looking motorcycle? Absolutely. Everything else about it, though? Oof! This bike was equipped with a two-stroke V-twin engine that utilized a fuel injection system. But there was just one problem — it didn't always work. Riders had no idea what awaited them whenever they jumped on the V-Due. It ultimately bankrupted Bimota.
1997 Suzuki TL1000S
The 1997 Suzuki TL1000S had a lot going for it. It looked amazing, had a powerful engine, and was well put-together. But it wasn't perfect — not by a long shot. The rear suspension system was the stuff of nightmares. It would often overheat on the road and struggle to support the bike.
1998 Victory V92C
The 1998 Victory V92C did have some plus points. Alongside its good looks, it had excellent handling and strong brakes. But the bike's problems can't be ignored, folks. Its fuel injection system was very unreliable, while the engine lacked power, too. We don't blame anyone for feeling disappointed with it.
Morbidelli V8
Sporting a beautifully unique body, the Morbidelli V8 certainly had the power to grab your attention. Beyond that, though? This was a terrible motorcycle! It lacked power, offered lame performance on the road, and was horribly uncomfortable. It wasn't the most stable of bikes to ride, either. What a mess.
1993 BMW F650 Funduro
On looks alone, the 1993 BMW F650 Funduro was a keeper. But how did it perform? Well, we've got some bad news! This bike had massive problems. The engine frequently stalled and seized, while the rear suspension was pretty woeful. The Funduro's fuel injection system also left a lot to be desired.
1980 Harley-Davidson Sportster (XLS 1000 Roadster)
To say the 1980 Harley-Davidson Sportster (XLS 1000 Roadster) had a laundry-list of issues would be a major understatement. Its electric starter wasn't reliable in the slightest, the seat was poorly positioned, the front suspension was awful, and it vibrated violently on the road. Yikes! The bike's good looks couldn't make up for all that.
Honda 400 Hondamatic
The Honda 400 Hondamatic was a curious bike, folks. Instead of a traditional shift lever and clutch, it had a torque converter with a two-speed transmission. But that didn't improve its performance. The Hondamatic was a frustratingly underpowered vehicle, lacking any kind of excitement in its acceleration.
2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000
A hulking beast of a bike, the 2004 Kawasaki Vulcan 2000 was great to look at. But that's about it! This giant motorcycle was ridiculously heavy, sporting one of the most uncomfortable seats on the market at that time. The clutch wasn't the easiest to operate, either.
Buell R1000 and R1200 Battle Twins
Known as the Battle Twins, the Buell R1000 and R1200 were certainly eye-catching. Just look at the exterior design! But did they make for good bikes? That's debatable. Space was at an absolute premium, leading to claustrophobic rides. And the heat given off by the air cooled engines was insane. It often blasted across the riders' legs. Yikes.
2005 Hyosung GT650R
Was the 2005 Hyosung GT650R a good-looking bike? We'd say so. But did it have anything else going for it? Unfortunately not! The GT650R's transmission proved to be particularly rough, while the clutch and brakes were far too soft. To call it a disappointment doesn't really cut it, folks.
2008 Suzuki B-King
With its eye-popping dual exhausts and gorgeous body, the 2008 Suzuki B-King was deserving of its crown in the looks department. It had issues, though. The engine paled in comparison to the one sitting in the concept version of the bike. And the tires were much smaller as well.
Yamaha Niken
The Yamaha Niken was an incredibly unique motorcycle. Nope, your eyes aren't deceiving you — it had three wheels! But this thing was so far out there that no one wanted to buy it. Could it have been ahead of its time? Maybe. Regardless, that doesn't excuse the bike's troublesome front suspension.
Suzuki RE5
For as nice as the Suzuki RE5 looked on the road, it wasn't without its issues. This bike was a nightmare to maintain — the engine, while powerful, needed constant servicing. It wouldn't run otherwise! On top of that, it burned through gas like nobody's business.
1972 Kawasaki H2 Mach IV
The 1972 Kawasaki H2 Mach IV might be one of the most infamous motorcycles ever created. Sure, it looked great, but the bike was also insanely dangerous. The brakes, suspension, and frame couldn't handle the H2 Mach IV's power, leading to many scary moments on the road. It wasn't nicknamed "The Widowmaker" for nothing!
2014 Honda CTX1300
The 2014 Honda CTX1300 certainly nailed it looks-wise. But other than that, this motorcycle was a big disappointment. It wasn't a great performer, offered no cruise control, and wasn't particularly comfortable to ride. The bike's high-price didn't exactly soften those blows, either. What a bummer.
2015 Yamaha YZF-R1
We'll be blunt here, folks — the 2015 Yamaha YZF-R1 was an absolute beauty. But make no mistake. Looking at it was preferable to actually riding it! This bike was horribly uncomfortable. From the shoddy seat to the strange placement of the footpegs, it raised so many eyebrows.
1986 Ducati Paso 750
Visually, the 1986 Ducati Paso 750 was a stunner. We don't blame anyone for gawking at this thing! Sadly, though, it didn't have the performances to match. The bike's engine often stalled due to excessive heat, while the fuel pump was very problematic, too. It had a tendency to flood the carburetor.
1975 Honda CB500T
At a glance, you'd never know that the 1975 Honda CB500T was a cheaply-made bike. Riding it on the other hand? Oh boy. This motorcycle vibrated to a ridiculous degree — and the effects weren't nullified by the rubber. The seat and handlebars didn't absorb anything.
2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod
The 2017 Harley-Davidson Street Rod was a great-looking motorcycle. Who wouldn't want to take this beauty out for a spin? Well, for those who did, one thing became abundantly clear — it was a very uncomfortable bike to ride. The footpegs were awkwardly placed due to the exhaust system, and the handlebars didn't help.
CF Moto V5 Sport Cruiser
On appearance alone, the CF Moto V5 Sport Cruiser looked like a fantastic bike. It was anything but, though. The engine was jaw-droppingly underpowered. It couldn't even reach 20 horsepower. It leaked oil everywhere, too. And the gearbox wasn't much better. What a monumental fail!
1971 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone
The 1971 Suzuki TM400 Cyclone was certainly befitting of that name — and we don't mean that as a compliment! Due to an iffy ignition system, this bike had a tendency to produce sudden bursts of power. If the rider wasn't expecting it, they were in for a rude awakening. All the good looks in the world can't make up for such an unreliable vehicle.
1981 Honda CR450R
To say there was a lot of hype surrounding the 1981 Honda CR450R would be underselling it. People couldn't wait to get their hands on this gorgeous motorcycle. They were in for a shock, though! The bike's engine was woeful, made even worse by a cumbersome four-speed transmission.
1984 Husqvarna 125 CR
In case you couldn't tell by the colors, the 1984 Husqvarna 125 CR was a Swedish motorcycle through and through. But we wouldn't blame our Scandinavian friends for turning their noses up at this thing! Looks aside, it was shockingly outdated for the time. It performed like an old bike.
1984 Honda CR500R
The 1984 Honda CR500R ticked all the boxes on the appearance-front. Good luck riding it, though! This bike was infamously hard to start — the kickstarter took a frequent beating. And when it finally got going? Wow. The handling was nightmarish.
1985 Yamaha YZ125
The 1985 Yamaha YZ125 was a visual delight. It looked fantastic. Yet the same couldn't be said about the bike's engine. To be blunt folks, it was absolutely useless! The YZ125 was slow, underpowered, and had a pretty lame transmission.
1998 Honda CR125R
Despite its good looks, the 1998 Honda CR125R left a lot to be desired in other areas. The chassis made for a very uncomfortable ride, not helped by a meek suspension system. The bike's engine was noticeably lethargic as well.
2001 Cannondale MX400
Are you a fan of the 2001 Cannondale MX400's appearance? We don't blame you — it looks awesome. Beyond that, though? Oof. This bike had iffy handling and a suspension system that didn't help the rider. The engine wasn't great, either.
1973-74 Yamaha SC500
We can't help but wince when talking about the 1973-74 Yamaha SC500. Outside of its striking appearance, this was a pretty awful bike. Yes it was powerful, but the engine proved to be highly unreliable. It had a tendency to overheat and stall!
1983 Kawasaki KX500
The 1983 Kawasaki KX500 was a beautiful disaster. Under that gorgeous body sat an engine so volatile that it'd often fall apart when pushed. We're serious! On top of that, this wasn't the most comfortable bike to ride, either. It vibrated like mad.
2004 Kawasaki KX250F
For a bike that's over 20 years old now, the 2004 Kawasaki KX250F still looks great. But this thing was never a stand-out performer. The suspension could've been much better, while overheating was a major problem once it got going.
2004 Suzuki RM-Z250
The 2004 Suzuki RM-Z250 was essentially a twin to the 2004 Kawasaki KXF250. That's why they look so similar! But that also meant this bike had the same problems. It overheated and offered uncomfortable rides to whoever hopped on the back.
Honda Nighthawk CB700SC
Cool name and look aside, the Honda Nighthawk CB700SC was a big disappointment upon its release. This motorcycle had an unforgiving suspension system and lame handling, while maintaining it proved to be very difficult, too.
Through: SuperTubaMan / Reddit