10 most disappointing motorcycles

To be honest, pretty much every motorcycle you can buy right now is pretty darn good. But the family is not without its black sheep, and in today's review we're going to satisfy your curiosity about the bikes that disappointed us a little in our testing. Our team of MONSTERS rummaged through the memory and fished out information about the bikes, on which we were just eager to drive, but after a close acquaintance, their cheekbones came together as from sourness. Here they are, in order.

10. Suzuki Katana 600 (1990s / 2000s)

One of my first motorcycles. The strongest memory of him is that he was slow and heavy. Not the best performance for a sportbike, you must agree. It's even good that at that time I still knew very little about motorcycles. It was only when I got on my friend's Yamaha FZR600 that I realized what the Suzuki Katana 600 really was. It was trustworthy as a means of transportation, but as a sports bike it missed the mark. To be fair, I’m talking about the models otherwise known as the GSX600F from the 1990s and early 2000s, not the original Hans Moot-designed Katanas. Those were really cool!

9. Ducati Multistrada 1100

The senior change editor (“diaper change!” The guys suggest), Tom Roderick, is not very interested in style and looks, but even he, joining a rather crowded chorus, could not ignore the design of this motorcycle, created by Pierre Terblanche. Tom's exact words: "Perhaps this is the ugliest Ducati ever."

This strange bike, which looks like an insect on thin legs, is the upper windshield that rattles along with the steering wheel ... But, as Duke rightly noted, when you got on the motorcycle, you no longer see how ugly it is. It was somewhat reconciled with his appearance that the Multistrada 1100 was a comfortable and fantastically functional motorcycle and simply devoured kilometers of road with incredible power. But at the end of the trip, you still have to get off the motorcycle, and few will say that it is a beautiful thing that is worth seeing. In terms of classic beauty, the first generation Multistrada has missed the mark.

8. Kawasaki ZX-10R (2006)

Duke proposed the Kawasaki ZX-10R as a disappointing motorcycle. Damn it! What could the “greens” have done with a ferocious liter bike to make Kevin Duke sad?

Kevin: “This ZX felt very large and extremely heavy, especially compared to the previous model, which was the lightest and most supple 1000cc motorcycle of its time. which seems like a step back. "

7. Suzuki GSX-R600 (1992)

Tom is already right there with his nomination: Suzuki GSX-R600 1992 release. He described this jikser with such hard-to-guess words that are not printed on a decent site like our MO. Of the entire tirade, only the word "obese" is not blotted out by the corporate censor. This slipshod version was riveted around the praiseworthy GSX-R750 superbike. Option-600 turned out to be not only slower than its older, tough brother, but also much heavier. Failure in all positions.

6. Bimota Vdue

If you're looking for the perfect example of a motorcycle that was supposed to be cool but turned out to be a complete failure, Burns and Duke agree with the Bimota Vdue. The first and only attempt by the company to make an engine of its own design. We have formulated two points, a real recipe for a great triumph: 1) a working volume of 500 cc; 2) two-stroke.

And instead of victory - a complete collapse. When Burns and Duke drove around Vdue in 1997, the fuel injection system was terrible, and no matter how you twist the electronic control unit, the throttle valve behaved completely unpredictable. It was so bad that Burns mastered only a few laps and said that he had had enough. Duke continued to persist, but the bike stubbornly refused to ride normally.

In fact, Bimota was never able to deal with motor problems, electrical failures and more, which eventually led to the temporary bankruptcy of this small Italian company. They later solved the problem for track bikes, but they were not approved for use on public roads. Rejected due to bad elements, Vdue was a brutal lesson for Bimota to stick to what it is strong at and build bikes from off-the-shelf engines.

5. Suzuki Marauder

If a cruiser is good for ... erm ... cruises, then it is assumed that you can travel on it with relative comfort. It is recognized that the Suzuki Marauder is the exception to the rule. It looks like it should be a good bike: an inverted telescopic fork, an 800cc two-stroke V-engine, a 5-speed gearbox and a bouncy exterior. But the harsh reality is that the bullet went for milk. Evans Blastfield suggested adding the Marauder to the list, because he hates him. According to him, "The saddle is installed exactly under the tailbone." Our team, too, weren't overjoyed when they tested the bike in 1997, saying that in less than five minutes it starts to piss off. To make matters worse, on top of an awful saddle, this Suzuki has disgusting carburation and poor ergonomics.

We apologize to Suzuki fans for ruining three bikes in this review. But we are already done with this brand.

4. Honda Pacific Coast 800

Poor, poor Pacific Coast. If in the past two decades there has ever been a motorcycle that is equally lovable and hateful, it is the PC 800. This bike, which can easily carry a week's supply of groceries for a small family (the whole rear is a hefty trunk), the MO team nicknamed "the motorcycle -van". This can sound like a compliment or an insult. Depends on your attitude. Personally, I like the "generalists".

I still can't deny that the PC 800 is an ugly bike. You can twist your mouth contemptuously when you look at him. It's not the most masculine, but that's the price you pay for its utmost practicality. According to Tom, "The PC 800 was a real maxi scooter when there was no such thing. But wait a minute ... the Pacific Coast being a maxi scooter is a shame for the BMW C650 Sport, which is simply obscenely superior to the PC 800."

3. Ducati Streetfighter 1098

Forgive me the Ducatists, but Streetfighter (aka SF), in my opinion, had many prerequisites for being worthy, but did not live up to expectations. I was skeptical when Ducati decided to split a single segment of their naked bike, which gave the air-cooled Monster and the liquid-cooled Streetfighter. I'm a fan of the Monster line, the SF style doesn't appeal to me at all. Monster is beautiful and addictive, and Streetfighter looks "pumped", like he is from Fight Club. And yet, if you wanted the maximum power from a naked Ducati bike, it was the SF with its monstrous 1098cc engine that gave it what it wanted.

With this engine, the bike tore uncontrollably in a straight line, but when driving at low speeds it behaved nervously, roared and twitched; there was an imbalance between the chassis and suspension of the base model (the 848 version was much better balanced). As soon as you looked away from its ferocious engine, you were greeted by a stiff and jammed dry clutch, a tall saddle, an extremely annoying exhaust system that made the right heel stick out awkwardly.

It looks like I'm not the only one who disappointed the Streetfighter as Ducati stopped production of the SF line and returned the big engines to Monster.

2. Confederate America GT

We have to pay our respects to the brands of small firms like Confederate Motors for their efforts alone, and in the case of Confederate, his efforts are among the very best in the cruiser category (if you can call them that). However, these brands also suffer from growing pains like everyone else, and in the case of the Confederate America GT, there were certain shortcomings.

Our cruiser enthusiast Brasfield bought an America GT and, while the bike was getting everyone's attention, Bransfield's clothing consumed 4 liters of gasoline while riding.Due to the poor sealing of the fuel tank, instead of 22 liters of gasoline, only 18 liters could be poured, otherwise it splashed out. In addition, there was a serious problem with refueling and a terrible vibration, all this together was completely discouraging. However, the America GT looks great, and it makes up for a lot. At least for a while.

1. Cleveland Cyclewerks Tha Heist

When talking about brands of small companies, we cannot forget about Cleveland CycleWerks. This small business has earned respect for its well-designed and affordable motorcycles. If you're on a budget but still want a new bike with character, then Cleveland Cyclewerks is worth a look. Take Tha Heist for example. We think it looks good for a hardtail. It was priced at $ 3,200 in 2012 and even came with a 12-month warranty.

Most likely, you will need it, because in the short time of our communication with Tha Heist, some symptoms appeared. The taillight and one of the side steps vibrated during the first 50 kilometers. Everything fell into place after we tightened the bolts. But what remained was a stubborn front fork, questionable handling, oil leaking from an air-cooled Chinese firm Lifan, and a general lack of quality compared to Japanese competitors.