2016 Victory Vision
Victory went super bold with the Vision. It was meant to be a futuristic touring bike. Yes, it looked like a spaceship, but many people just thought it looked ridiculous. Old-school riders wanted classic lines and not sci-fi curves, and not even its comfort could make it a must-have.
2014 Lotus C-01
The Lotus C-01 looked amazing. Some say it looked like it was ready to fly. Sadly, it was never mass-produced, so most people never saw one in real life. It was more of an art piece than a bike you could actually ride anyway.
2015 Arch KRGT-1
Arch’s KRGT-1 had Hollywood buzz because Keanu Reeves backed it. It looked super cool and had custom parts, but the price was through the roof. Sadly, it was more of a celebrity collector’s item than a real-world ride that didn’t offer much practicality for regular riders.
2012 Confederate Hellcat X132
The Hellcat X132 had tons of attitude with its styling and raw power. But it was also known for breaking down and being unreliable. Riders loved looking at it, but hated maintaining it. It was like a bad relationship that you couldn’t wait to get out of.
2020 Harley-Davidson LiveWire
Harley’s very first electric bike was meant to change everything people knew about bikes. Instead, it shocked people with its price and not its performance. Needless to say, it just didn’t spark the excitement Harley aimed for, and no one really bought it.
2019 Zero SR/F
Zero hyped the SR/F as the electric bike that would change the game. It had power, sure, but it also had software bugs and battery issues that made it a nightmare to own. Riders hated the glitches, and it didn’t live up to its hype at all.
2017 Energica Ego
Fast, stylish, and electric - that’s how Energica described the Ego. On paper, it sounded perfect, but it was nothing more than super heavy and really expensive. The price made it really tough to love, and people just didn’t go for it like Energica hoped they would.
2014 Lightning LS-218
The LS-218 claimed to be the world’s fastest electric motorcycle. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. It had speed, yes, but it had no staying power. Still, it was nearly impossible to find one, and parts and customer support were a nightmare to deal with.
2023 Verge TS Ultra
A bike with a hubless rear wheel? Yup, it’s gotta be the Verge TS Ultra. This bike looked wild and turned heads, but riders wondered how practical it really was. Many thought it was a tech experiment rather than a bike you’d ride daily.
2018 Yamaha Niken
The Niken had three wheels and tons of tech that made it look like a transformer. Cool, right? Yamaha also said it would corner like magic. In reality, it was heavy and awkward for many riders. It also confused people more than it impressed them.
2008 Honda DN-01
Honda tried to mix a scooter and a cruiser when it came up with the DN-01. It had an automatic gearbox and pretty futuristic looks, but it didn’t fit any category. Sadly, it was too strange for traditional riders and too pricey for new riders.
2008 Suzuki B-King
What do you get when you stuff a Hayabusa engine into a huge naked bike? You get Suzuki’s B-King. This bike had crazy power, but it looked bulky and handled like a clumsy drunk. It was too much muscle without enough grace. In short, it was a handful nobody loved.
2022 Kawasaki Ninja 400
A supercharged bike sounds pretty fun, right? For most riders, it was nothing more than an overkill that was pretty expensive. People loved its handling, but it just wasn’t anything new from Kawasaki. Riders wanted more.
2004 BMW R1200C
BMW tried to make a cruiser that would compete with Harley. The result? The 1200C. It looked fancy, sure, but BMW fans didn’t want it, and cruiser fans didn’t care about it. This poor bike tried to be both and ended up being neither.
2011 Ducati Diavel
The Diavel was Ducati’s muscle cruiser that promised thrills and laid-back comfort. The reality is that it didn’t do either job well. It was too heavy for the track, and too stiff for those long, leisurely Sunday rides with the club or the wife.
2005 MV Augusta F4
The Augusta is one of the most stunning bikes ever made - no question about it. But it came with constant mechanical issues and high upkeep costs that drove owners up the wall. To many, it was a diva, and nobody wanted the headache of dealing with it.
2018 Indian Scout Bobber
The Indian Scout Bobber had incredible looks and a cool attitude. But that’s where the fun ends. The suspension was harsh, and comfort seemed like a bit of an afterthought. It nailed the “show” part, but really forgot about the “go.”
2004 Triumph Rocket III
Triumph built the Rocket III with an engine bigger than some cars. Pretty wild, right? It was powerful, but also super heavy and tricky to handle. Even the most experienced riders felt like they were wrestling a bear when they rode it.
2014 Harley-Davidson Street 750
The Street 750 was supposed to be Harley’s entry bike for those newer riders. Sadly, it felt too cheap and vibrated too much. Simply put, it lacked the signature Harley charm people looked for when choosing their first bike. Die-hard Harley fans weren’t impressed either.
2004 Honda Rune
Honda threw everything into the Rune - chrome, design, and cool tech. It looked amazing, but it cost a fortune. The bike's size and weight also make it awkward to ride, and most people just stared at it instead of actually buying it.
2020 Aston Martin AMB 001
Aston Martin’s AMB 001 looked like it came from the future and had a design that turned heads. But the price was sky-high, and it just wasn’t practical for daily rides. It was more about showing off than actually riding. Yes, it was beautiful, just not worth the hype.
2017 Suzuki GSX-R1000
Fans waited years for the new version of the GSX-R1000, all the while hoping for something groundbreaking. Sure, it was good, but it wasn’t great. Rivals like Yamaha and Honda did way better, and it felt like Suzuki was just playing catch-up.
2010 KTM RC8
The RC8 looked like a weapon—sharp and aggressive. But, under all that bold styling lay a bike that just wasn’t as smooth or polished as other superbikes. It felt more like KTM rushed it. Riders might have loved the look, but they didn’t like the ride.
2014 Aprilia Mana 850
Aprilia tried to give sportbikes an automatic gearbox with the Mana 850. Riders didn’t know what to think because it wasn’t sporty or fully automatic. Fans didn’t want it, and the casual riders found it way too pricey to make it worth their while.
2020 Yamaha R6
The R6 is a track legend, but this version was way too chaotic for everyday use. It was cramped, loud, and uncomfortable on regular roads. Unless you’ve got a racetrack in your backyard, which we doubt, it’s pretty hard to enjoy.
2003 Ducati 999
Following the iconic 916 was always going to be tough, and the 999 just couldn’t do it. Fans hated the design, and it didn’t capture their hearts like Ducati’s other offerings. Yes, it’s appreciated more now, but back then, people couldn’t get past how it looked.
2009 Buell 1125R
The Buell 1125R has some pretty innovative ideas, but early models were too full of issues to make people take notice. It had cooling problems, weird looks, and poor support that just turned people off. It was unique, sure, but just not reliable enough to trust.
2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan
The idea of a budget adventure bike sounds great, right? Unfortunately for Royal Enfield, early models of the Himalayan were rough. Parts broke, the engines leaked, and riders got frustrated trying to keep it running. It just wasn’t ready for the world.
2017 Moto Guzzi MGX-21 Flying Fortress
The Flying Fortress looked like a stealth bomber on two wheels, with its carbon-fiber panels and red accents. But it rode like a tank—slow, heavy, and awkward, to say the least. The style just couldn’t save the handling, and many people simply looked past it.
2021 Harley-Davidson Pan America
Harley’s first adventure bike, the Pan America, made waves. But, its build quality just wasn’t what people expected. Some people loved the innovation, while others complained about bugs and really bad finish issues. It was a brave move that just wasn’t great.
2022 CFMoto 800MT
CFMoto’s 800MT was a good-looking adventure bike with a great price tag. But it felt a bit too inconsistent. Some parts felt premium, while others felt flimsy and cheap. It also tried to take on some big names before it was fully ready to, and it tanked.
2022 Benelli TNT 135
The TNT 135 was a mini bike with a huge personality. It was fun, loud, and cheeky. The build quality, however, was hit-or-miss. Some of them ran great, and others broke early. It was a blast to ride, but you couldn’t always trust it to get you home.
2019 Norton V4 SS
The Norton superbike promised to bring back the glory days. And, surprisingly, it almost did until the company collapsed in scandal. Buyers quickly lost faith in the brand, and not even the design and power of the V4 SS could save it.
2020 BMW R18
The R18 might only be five years old, but it didn’t last long. BMW went all-in on retro styling, but it was too big, too clunky, and too boring. Fans missed the precision of BMW and the relaxed vibe you’d usually get with a cruiser.
2018 BMW HP4 Race
BMW’s 2018 HP4 Race was a carbon-fiber masterpiece that could tear up a racetrack - if you could afford it, that is. It cost as much as a car, and you couldn’t even ride it on the street. This bike impressed collectors but left everyday riders wondering who the bike was really for.
