I love my CTX1300. I have been riding for 56 years and 16 bikes and have covered all of southern Africa and most of north This ticks most of my boxes. Visually it’s a “love it or hate it” I installed a touring windshield. If I could change anything I woul lose the stupid sound system and enlarge the side bags, but after 16 bikes I have concluded there is no “ Perfect “ bike….Happy riding…
I also own one, and I could say all the same things. It's a good bike with a tall windscreen. I must also say that the latest generation of Gold Wing is better in every way than the CTX.
@@AgentJayZ I agree, but with eight year newer technology and literally twice the price I would hope so…..Just did the “ Lake Superior Circle Tour” last month, still loving it..
I LOVE my TL1000s. A $200 R1 shock and 2 hours work and the rear end was transformed. Two Brothers pipes and it sounds amazing. With torque to burn it just makes me smile the whole time I'm riding it. My B-king just languishes in the shed ignored.
You hope that these never happen again? Some of these bikes are just fine...sure they may not have sold well.. but they have a following and used can be a good value. Its motorcycling, there is something for everyone.
Re the Honda DN-01, narrator makes reference to the engine.. comes from the uninspiring Deauville NT700..... he said. Well, petrol is €2.17 a litre now and my Deau is returning 79mpg. Shaft drive saving on chain & sprocket replacement costs. How are all the 1000cc sports bike rider getting along....? 40mpg and 200bhp that you can't really use. Lol
I still have my R1200C (2001). Under rated IMO. Is it power house? No. Reliable? Yes, I have 45K miles on it with very little maintenance. Cruises all day long at 80-90 mph with room to spare. (If I'm wanting a fast bike I grab my S1000RR or the K1200S) The C handles really well, rides nicely and is smooth. I'm looking forward to test ride the R1800.
Honorable mention may be the '84-'86 Honda Nighthawk S, cb700sc. I bought a new one still in the showroom in '89, red, white, and blue. Of course, all sales were down after the 70's anyway. This bike was super low maintenance, had shaft drive, a gear indicator, and inline four cylinder goodness.
My wife had a CTX 1300. We were able to get it out the door, brand new for $9800. EVERY place we went it would ALWAYS attract a crowd. We drove it for 5 years and we almost as much as we paid for it as a trade in. She loved that bike as we traveled the country on it. But she loves her Indian Chief Vintage even more.
Have owned 2 TL1000S and still have my TL1000R since 11 years. Love it and will never sell it! But they are rare, I have not seen one TLR in the area I live in since I moved here, in 2003...
One of my coworkers swore by them and rode them a ton each year. Sounded great as I remember. THUNDERING! Ducati's bikes sounded like absolute hell! I bought a 929RR in 2000. Millennium Edition. Almost bought the RC51. They were priced at the exact same price $9,999.00 each. The 929 looked better IMHO, and had two more cylinders. The 51 proved more collectable in the long run, however. I bought a 2004 ZX10 after that, and that bike was lightyears ahead of Honda. Way more comfortable and had way better geometry for my style. More Over-the-Forks riding position. The thing did well over a hundred in first gear. Crazy! The 929 was better suited for drag races. You could really launch it off the line. I geared it down and added a 520 drive chain. The Ninja was crazy. It would just keep accelerating madly until you chickened-out. And you certainly would🕊
I must be particularly bad at choosing my bikes, my last two were respectively a GTS1000 and an R1200C, which I still own by the way. The GTS1000 was heavy, yes, but it managed to make the horrible roads of my region (Quebec) passable and it was so nice to see the horde of curious people kneeling in front of it to admire the unusual design of its direction. As for the R1200C, having tried other custom type motorcycles, it has a lot more drive than most of them and there is hardly ever a day when I am given signs of admiration watching her parade through the streets.
I would use the R1200c, just like the XR1200, it looks like it's made to be a Sportster not a long rider......why I wouldn't have the 1800 no way to put forward controls and I would get 1800 to be a Sportster......well maybe a V-MAX
I also had the R1200C, it was amazing, I sold it cause it had a considerable amount of miles but everything worked like a Swiss clock. I’d buy one again, the 2004 Montauk model would be my pick.
I'm the proud owner of a 2009 XR1200 that I bought lightly used in 2020. Not wrong about being heavy but it's a fantastic bike that's become a bit of a cult favorite in Harley history. I get a lot of thumbs ups and comments on it from those who actually know what it is. I would be surprised if HD DIDN'T make a modern rendition of it with the new Sportster architecture.
Harley got killed in the marketplace every time they tried to recycle the Sportster (love 'em, I have three Evos and an Ironhead) engine into a "modern" sporting machine because looking good is just not enough. XLCR is also a classic but like XLCR the agricultural gearbox and utter lack of power also helped kill Buell. Sportys were sporting into the early 1970s. The traditional Harley market also killed off the FXR which is rightly a cult favorite. Good by Harley standards and good by sporting standards mean drastically different things and a "sport bike" with under 100HP weighing 600lbs is just a sexy cruiser. Harleys are old man bikes (I'm old and also collect vintage British machines). Performance is not what they do unless stroked (like my 89" S&S Sporty or V124 S&S FXR) and even then most of that is in a straight line.
Aprilia Futura was away ahead of it's time, not only did Triumph use it to style their ST, but Honda obviously bought one to style the VFR800...still one of the comfiest bikes I've ever sat on, I'd still buy one today!
Because the ST and the VFR look VAGUELY like a Futura (the VFR doesn't really) that makes you think they "bought one to style" their bike. Both the VFR and several Triumphs had single sided swingarms before the Aprilia and all sports tourers looked similar at the time. It was simply a popular style at the time and everybody copied everyone else as ALWAYS
Owned an Aprilia RST 1000 for 4 years. Rode great when it was working properly, which was occasional. 'Factory' support was useless on multiple electrical issues. Looking great and being comfortable only goes so far when you're sick of getting stranded. We called it the Futurama.
I nominate as flops Yamaha's 1982 and 83 Vision XZ-550 V-twins. Its engine is best described as a hopped-up version of a horizontally split V-Max. The 82 had carburetion problems, a middling single front disc and fixed-damping suspension. For 83 Yamaha fixed all those problems, lowered the bars, rear-set the foot controls and added a sport-touring fairing with lowers having innovative and efficient leg vents flowing no air/ambient air or engine heated air. The engine made more torque than any mid-size bike of the era, was one of the all-time smoothest and peak HP was decent too. Vision had superb handling and cornering clearance. The shaft drive performed seamlessly but chain drive would have saved weight and allowed easy final gear changes. If Yamaha had given it chain drive and waited for the 83 refinements (with a sport fairing instead of the larger sport-touring type,) the Vision would have more likely succeeded. Unfortunately, the world recession also helped seal its fate.
I owned an '83 Vision, and it was a great-looking, fast little bike, and it should've been a great-handling one too, but it suffered from inadequate front forks which caused me a couple of heart-stopping moments in fast turns before I realized it's limitations. The electrical system was problematic too. Mine just completely died twice, unexpectedly and for no apparent reason, necessitating expensive replacing of the main electronic control module. But it was a fun bike!
I have a DN-01 and I love it! the transmission is amazing, fully automatic and no steps in the gears, it just smoothly matches engine speed and gearing to perfectly match any situation. the only thing is the wind screen is WAY too small. I bought an aftermarket unit that is twice as tall and it's still too small. the only other thing is, it's got to be the heaviest 700 in history. which only comes into play when you're moving it around. once underway it's no problem. my son rode it and he loves it too. i also consider it to be beautiful, it looks like I stole it from Batman
Ah yes, but then Honda built the NM4 Vultus - the true 'batbike' which is far superior to the DN01 IMO. The DCT works really well, it goes around corners as if on rails and sips fuel like a 125, but at highway speeds.
@@pnblondon1087 Far superior, pssh! It looks nice but not AS good, and transmission system isn't as fun (obviously). Still, probably not a bad bike, and each to their own.
If I were a billionaire, I would have a garage full of Honda's flops. It seems that every few years, they make something... weird. The CBX, Hawk GT, PC800, DN01, NM4, GB500TT, CTX1300, Rune. Decent rides, and everyone a conversation starter.
VF1000R springs to mind. It was so “ ordinary even Honda Australia would race them - VF1000 instead with Mail Campbell aboard. I had a friend who had the “R” and said he was never satisfied with the handling, power was good. He put it down to the wheel size which I believe were 16”. At that time getting good rubber for that size tire was tough. The other from that time was the Honda CBX750. It actually was a very nice bike and pretty quick. For some reason it did sell well. My only guess is that at the time that if you weren’t riding something north of 900cc it was a mid level bike. The only thing I remember of that time was a little controversy over the 16” front wheel. Thats my 2 cents worth.
I have been trying to find an XR 1200 that's stock and clean at a reasonable price for a while. In no way a "WORST" just a sales flop due to HD dealers and sales staff having no clue as to what it was.
---- actually,Honda has been producing the DN-01 series for a long time - they just didn't use that particular designation - the CBX comes immediately to mind
@@bonesrhodes3762 Do you mean the CBX 500 & 650 from the '80s or the CTX 700? The CTX has a parallel twin but very similar in concept to the DN. My friend has a CTX and loves it.
@@joshrandall3632 --- no: talking about the CBX 6 banger - they were notorious bad sellers - the last series with the bags Honda had to literally give away to get rid of them - I'm very aware of bikes that may be wonders in their own right or even great bikes yet impossible to sell - those are ALL "Do Not Own One " bikes from the public perception. CX 500/650 ( esp turbos ), Seca 650 turbos, PC800s ( PC was code for "pretty silly" - the Japanese just misspelled it ) etc. - just dogs as far as salability when introduced ( when I bought my dealership, it came with 9 CBXs - took me 7 years to sell 7 [ to other dealers OR to someone off the street ] at whatever the current dealer cost was at the time - the last 2 I just gave up and used as shop bikes.
I worked at HD when that Sportster came out - I sold everyone of them I could get - I would steal them from other dealers to meet my demand. Ditto for the Buells. Too many that work for HD have never been on the track, never been on dirt, never been over the 85mph mark. THAT is what killed the bike.
Have to agree with you on that. You need to be a biker to appreciate and understand how they are on the road trail or track. Because that way you know how to make them better. Especially when you slip the road a crippler on one.
HD's problem, which has always been it's problem is that they MUST cater to the big-inch vtwin crowd. Coming out with the smaller bikes labeled you as a "girl" or "sissy" by those in the big-inch camp and an "idiot" by non HD riders who knew they had better bikes overall for far less cash. Like I've been saying since the yuppies took over about 1990-ish "Harley Davidson, the motorcycle that refuses to evolve, just like the men who ride them!"
I had always wanted a Harley - loved the sound - and made the big mistake of buying an 883 Sportster. I wanted to love it, I just could not. That 883 is so underpowered, at 55 if you twisted the throttle the bike said 'Are you SURE you want to go faster?' Years before I had a Suzuki GS1000 which I loved from day one. It would go as fast as you wanted, no problem, it was also a ton easier to handle around town for me, and at low speeds. The 883 was a very nice looking bike but after the looks, there wasn't anything in it for me.
Possibly worthy of this list: Honda: PC800 Pacific Coast, Yamaha: XZ550, TX750, XV920RJ and its European version, the TR1 Harley-Davidson: XCLR hugely desirable and collectible today, but at the time nobody wanted one. Suzuki: RE-5 with the Wankel rotary
A lesser but equally interesting list would be bikes that started off as “flops” but over time evolved into decent motorcycles that withstood the test of time.
Specifically the PC800, which has a dedicated cult following. It turns out to be a really good lightweight touring bike that doubles as a great commuter, something that the Goldwing fails at miserably.
I had a PC800. Bought mine used in '92 for $3500 with 3900 miles. Great all around bike. Commuter to weekend getaway! Almost the perfect bike with a Kenwood stereo system to boot!! That was my 2nd luv
@@jbb3675 Of course if when you want to pound out the miles on a long trip. But when you are running to the store in heavy city traffic, it takes a lot more effort than it is worth. I've had two Goldwings. For the current iteration, the seat is too wide and you can't even touch the ground.
The 500cc version of the Harley Street sells very well here in Australia. It’s HD’s only LAMS (learner legal model) which makes it a popular choice for people wanting to get into cruisers. You’d want to really want that HD badge though. It’s painfully slow, too small and feels cheap- despite being quite expensive. You can get a vastly superior Honda Rebel 500 for significantly cheaper. But the Honda isn’t a HD, I guess…..
As a life long Harley owner in America you should always buy the top best models. Invest in better suspension, more power, then you got a cool bike! Any of these bikes stock are kinda lame.
You must surely include in any flop list the Suzuki RE5. Great idea, wonderful to ride but no one was ready for it and no one bought it. Well maybe a few but that was it. It had that amazing flip up instrument binnacle and the motor was so smooth you could balance a coin on its edge on the petrol tank.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 Why thank you.. It's a VS800 V twin shaft drive and I guess they stopped production of these when they stated making the the Boulevard range. It's a cool ride, not over heavy and it handles well... but I guess all things change, before this one I had a UK version however this one is an America import and it's slightly bigger than the ones that were sold in the UK.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 The rotor seals were delicate and needed replacing as i recall. you had to keep oil in the lubrication tank! Also it competed with the shaft drive goldwing. If you were heavy on the trottle those chains were short lived. Dad had one for a few years. Fun to ride!
The Yamaha TX750 has to be one of the biggest lemons of all time. They came out in 1973 and Yamaha Australia entered 6 or 7 of them in the 6 hour production race at Amaroo Park in Sydney, all with top riders. Only one of them finished. I became a Yamaha dealer 5 years later and by then they had virtually disappeared.
I had one. Bought it for $300 sold it for $100 blown up (bent valves ) because the heads weren't cracked. It leaked oil out of the head gasket the whole 2 years I owned it. Some one at Yamaha forgot the cam chain tensioner and when you get one second hand with out the manual you just ride it until the chain jumps a tooth.
Yeah the XR happened right during the 08-2010 recession....also the “performance Harley” wave didn’t hit yet. People either had sport bikes or regular Harleys. LOVE mine though absolutely awesome bike, definitely a ripper. People still wonder what it is today and still turns heads.
@@waydegardner7373 yeah for bigger guys it’s definitely cramped and the rear sets don’t help hah. I’m 6ft 185lbs so it feels like a giant dirtbike or something to me. Sits pretty tall too (for a Harley)
@@My.name.goes.here. yeah can you imagine with all these sporty builds now/ bagger racing league. People literally would be killing to get them. Every time I ride I get people asking about it or wanting to buy it.
I had a 1200C and totally customized it. Sculpted Corbin seat, chrome forks, all polished aluminum, de-badged, repaint. It ran great and was a real grabber wherever I parked it, including next to Harleys. Too far ahead of its time.
My B King is awesome! It was made way before its time. Whenever i ride it nowadays i always get compliments on how cool it looks. Handling is great, and performance wise it really doesn't need a turbo. Would be sick though.
As a daily street rider since late 80s and owned all types and brands, I've been around through these on the lists... Bad bikes? Hardly, not all. GTS, TL's, Ducati classic and XR1200R are great bikes. Now the BKing which I still own a 08 black on black in the garage mix. Absolutely great bike and was simply too far ahead of its time.
I'm sorry to see the CTX 1300 on this list, as it seems to be on almost everyone else's "bad idea" list. I bought one and it met my needs perfectly. Comfortable, fast, quiet, practical, and (I think) good looking with a MASSIVE rear tire that really grabs the road. With Honda reliability. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a hell of a nice bike.
All true. But the biggest all time flop was the 1970s Suzuki RE5 rotary. Rumor was that it was such a big flop that Suzuki loaded their left over parts on a barge and dumped them in the ocean.
I like most of these, at least the ones designed from crazy concepts like the DN-01. Like you said, Honda from time to time, pushes the boundaries and comes up with something brilliant, but will never make them any money. The Valkyrie Rune, the crazy Vultus. Then there are the weird scooters like the Helix, or the Suzuki Gemma. Some of them are just ahead of their time.
Ducatis Sportclassics/GT/PS were much better and more stylish than any of new scrambler series. They just didn't appeared in the right time. I rode GT and SC and they were both fun and nice to ride.
@@My.name.goes.here. Yes. For sure. A mate had the R1200 C and loved it and I like the styling better than the new 1800, Another friend has the Paul Smart. great to ride and doubled in value and a third friend has a TL1000s . Sold all his bike but that one(even thought it didn't stop all that well and wasn't nimble in the tight stuff.)He reckons it is the best V twin for low down pull.
Since I have been riding since the mid 80s... 1. Yamaha 550 Vision 2. Honda FT/VT 500 3. Kawasaki 900/1000 Eliminator 4. Yamaha TDM 850 5. All early to mid 80s turbo bikes All the above bikes were not necessarily bad, just introduced at the wrong time and didn't sell at all. The 550 Vision was so dismal, there were dealers offering BOGO. Yes, buy one Vision and get two! It was that bad in the early 80s in ref to sales in general.
some 70's/80's bikes were strange and i agree with your list... the Kawasaki Z750 Turbo was the best turbo bike of the time.... i had one and some gripes were fuel economy at high speed vs smallish tank and no turbo oil pump timer. it was a pleasure to ride on the high side of 160kph and still blew off most bikes of its time. now-a-days we are spoilt with 300kph machines that handle and brake very well out of the crate.
Ahhh yes.... The TDM. I forgot about that oddball, the start of the ADVs (IMHO). Like most on this video list it was regarded as a good bike and really did well out of the US for awhile.
The TDM 850 was a great bike, just needed a slightly taller screen. I had the pleasure of racing one in a French competition road rally back in 1993, including a race at Le Mans. I could never understand why Yamaha didn't sell a Peterhansel Dakar replica - an XTZ Ténéré with TDM 850 engine.
The problem I have with these bike list videos, whether they are “Bikes that were sales flops” or “Best 70’s sports bikes” or so on is that its painfully obvious that not only have these people likely never rode the bike they’re ripping apart or blowing smoke up, but most likely never even seen one in person. If its a rare bike, fair enough, but with what authority or knowledge do you rattle off your “expert” opinion from reading a specsheet? Ive worked in the motorcycle industry for years, yes the Dn01 was strange, and no I wouldn’t personally own one, but after working on one and riding it, I understand why the bloke who rode it into our workshop (and his wife) loved it so very dearly. It’s not just this bloke, lots of channels do this, it just annoy’s me because they clearly have no clue. Same with the r1200c, it actually rode surprisingly well, and had a decent engine in it, and the styling had its own charm. The average person drives a toyota camry, dont try to make out that they are “Style experts”. Go and actually ride the damn bike before you open your mouth. If you still dont like it fair enough, but come on!
I had a CTX1300.. It was actually a great bike to be honest. It was comfortable, it was surprisingly. The Bluetooth stereo was decent. The lighting for night riding was the best of any bike Ive owned. They should of sold it as a middleweight Goldwing.. A taller windshield. I traded it for a Valkyrie 1800. Some days I regret it.. The CTX was never given a chance..
I still have mine. It won't light your hair on fire, but I don't ride that way, anyway. It works very well for commuting, day rides, and touring. It pulls like a freight train and that's way more important to me than having to climb the revs to get to the powerband. It's also the most stable bike I've ridden. Five years ago it got me down the Grapevine with wind blowing 45mph and punching gusts at 65mph. I was moved about but was able to keep it in my lane. If I was on my Tiger 800 I'd probably have been blown over to the other side of the freeway. I've often thought of getting a different (flashier?) bike, but the CTX has been so damn dependable, has reasonable maintenance, and realistically satisfies my riding needs, that I just can't see getting rid of it for trivial reasons.
I bought one in February with 2,600 miles. I enjoy it. I prefer to think of it as a mini GW. The V4 is outstanding. Add taller windscreen, highway pegs and top case and you have a great tourer.
I absolutely love my XR1200X, but I do see why it didn't take off. If only Harley spent the time engineering an aluminum chassis instead of reusing the tubular steel cruiser chassis. Maybe then it would of taken off and still be around today.
What have we learned? 1; BMW can’t (and should not) build American style cruisers 2; Harley can’t (and really should not) make Euro themed nakeds and café bikes. 3; Honda engineers have NEVER actually been out riding apparently. I know we all like different things My two bikes are a 1999 BMW R1100s and a brand new Indian Super Chief. While I really think my Beamer is essentially the on road “do anything well but not the best” bike I wanted a low seat, floor boarded, snatch your arms off torque type experience as well. Enjoy your bikes my friends, more importantly, enjoy the ride. PS, DUCATI PLEASE BRING BACK THE MH900e as I’m finally able to afford it!
I hear ya! I have a '93 Sportster and a '98 Electra Glide, often referred to as my "go-kart and Lay-Z-Boy", depending on what type of riding I want to do
I have owned both an 2001 Aprilia Furtura and a 2005 Honda VRF 800. I liked the Aprlia better. The slipper clutch and the geometry of the Futura made it a better handling, easier to flog bike. The VRF only had a very slight advantage in that the rider position was a bit more comfortable for all day rides. The Aprilia had much more H.P. and usable torque and the handling was much better. I slso owned a 2002 Aprilia Mille and it and the Futura had telepathic handling. It was very easy to go VERY fast on both bikes but you had to work just a little harder to wring the most out of the Mille. The Honda on the other hand was a good handling bike PROVIDED you didn't push it too hard Both Aprlias would give ample warning at their limits before things would start to go bad, the Honda , not so much. In fact it's because of this that I sold it. Out on the edge with it, like if you hit a bump while on the edge in a corner it would react very fast and with no predictability from one bump to the next. Both Aprlias were very stable and would not upset as easily. Given the Aprlias, and Italian V Twin bikes are generally better handling than the Japanese inline and even V 4s like the VRF. The Honda wasn't a bad bike, its just the Aprlias were better. As to costectics, the Furtura did take a bit of getting used to, at first the mirrors , from the front reminded me of a certain moth that has antennas that look like a fern leaf lol, but after getting to know that bike, its power and the way it handled, I accepted the funky mirrors, since looking into them was the only time I saw my buddies when we were out riding lol
My brother had an earlier model R1200C. I rode it home from the dealership after it was serviced. Merging on the freeway was a harrowing experience, it was so underpowered and heavy acceleration was non existent. What a dog. As much as I’m a fan of BMW motorcycles, I’m on my 8th, I knew the R1800 would be yet another flop. Harley owns the cruiser market. The 1800c is not selling, It’s obvious with the abundance of inventory available on this bike nationwide.
I bought a DN-01 for my wife. Sold it a few years later but should have kept it. I enjoyed riding it and actually didn’t mind the way it looked. Never gave me any problems.
I briefly owned a ctx700n. It was as quick as a Honda Fit, and turned like a brick. The seat was way too low and the foot controls so far forward that I could barely reach them. The tiny glove box / frunk was a place to lose things down the deep narrow sides. Sold it for what I paid and moved on.
I almost bought a CTX-1300 when Honda slashed the price, but none of the dealers around me had the deluxe. No cruise control made searching for a deluxe not worth the effort. In fact, I passed on several Honda models because of the lack of cruise control. The F6B, and the CrossTourer are two examples of Honda falling short.
I really enjoyed the CTX1300! It was a fantastic bike. Also, it had Bluetooth as well as an auxiliary jack. I put a solid 1k km on it in a few weeks time. That V4 in it was a peach. Keep in mind, I own a 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 675, so I enjoy exciting and terrifying bikes as well!
@Edward Elizabeth Hitler I think music inside the helmet is extremely dangerous. I would prefer ALL external sounds to be external sounds. I've had far too many close calls from riding with earbuds in. Had I been wise enough to forego the music, I would've heard the potential problem while there was still something I could do about it!
The R 1200 c is a quite excellent motorcycle. The engine has plenty of steam, the chassis is stable, and the workmanship is of high quality. The copies sold in Germany usually have a low mileage , are unmodified and in top condition. They are now highly traded.
I agreed with most of the list until you came to the Honda NSA700 DN-01; which made me question all of your other opinions. The only reason these didn't sell was the price tag; because now, they are ultra-rare in the States, and people's necks nearly snap when I cruise by on one I picked up this summer. Got it for a song and a tap dance since apparently the seller listened to the likes of you - and after riding it a few hundred miles, I'm just laughing at the man's stupidity. One of the best mid-level cruisers I've ever been on (and I've ridden my fair share in the last thirty years); eclectic, beautiful, sips the gas, stable as a table, and purrs like a kitten; couldn't love it more.
@@Chris-po5sw You would do better to read the title of the video before making comments. This may not have sold well, in the U.S. due to the high price tag and ahead-of-its-time styling/engineering, but that doesn't make it "one of the worst motorcycles ever made". Far from it.
The Futura was actually a very good sports tourer apart from the Italian electrics. The TLR 1000R was a great bike … As a Bimota SB8R which was the bike Suzuki should have made
I REALLY wanted a Yamaha GTS1000 when they came out, but couldn't justify the price. The hi tech cool factor was off the charts, but that was still not quite worth the cost.
I’m proud owner of a TL1000S. Having regretted selling the first one I owned I went and bought another after trying out a couple of other makes. I guess it’s each to their own but I certainly love the ride, look and sound of my TL. I can think of worse bikes that would have made your top ten.
Agreed, harsh to put them in. I always wanted a go on the R to see if the "widowmaker" title was true, bearing in mind I used to own a Kawasaki 750 triple
The Suzuki TL might’ve been killed off but it was and still is an awesome bike and it was replaced with the Sv1000 that was also a great bike. And as fair as half naked V-twin bikes they really don’t have much competition. Understandably they aren’t for everyone, but for the people who prefer a good mix of torque and horsepower over only having top-end horsepower the Sv1000s is a great choice.
And yes the sv1000 did not sell well. The prediction was since SV650s were so popular that the 1000 would take off. At the dealership where I worked the TL sold well. The sv1000s sat around.
This was pretty good overall, but you failed to mention a couple of the plus points of the GTS 1000. That Funny Front End worked really well - you could brake deep into corners in a way that none of the tele-forked bikes of the day could handle. And...that detuned 100bhp engine went on forever. I'll never forget meeting a London despatch rider with well over 200,000 miles on his GTS 1000! Also, the unique transmission of the DN-01 is worth a mention - as far as I'm aware, it's the only motorcycle with a quad-style fluid drive rather than the 'glorified rubber band' of most scooters or the true automatic gearbox of Honda's DCT. Honda's NM4 Vultus might feature in a future list of this kind, even though it's a great machine to ride, with stunning looks - better in both ways than the DN-01.
I think the Suzuki RF600 and RF900 were more of a flop than the TLR and TLS, unless we're just focusing on Suzuki's racing intentions. You'd be hard pressed to ride one of those older TL's and not have a $hit eating grin on your face afterwards.
Agree completely. The RFs were definitely bigger flops. Though good bikes (like all Suzukis at that time) they were just funky. The styling and Testarossa look sidepanels were off and they were more of a lost sport tourer (yet werent).
It's an absolute shame the gt1000 failed. I Loved that bike - would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find and afford one. Why they haven't revisited it properly now that retros are in, is beyond me.
Have to add a Suzuki TC 125 Enduro to the list. I had one in the late 70's it has a 4 speed gear box with a switch for 4 speed street or 4 speed dirt. It failed both modes miserably. Better option was a 5 speed Suzuki TS 125 with a 5 speed gear box and no switch for dirt or street.
DUDE I had one it was lime green with the stripe on the tank can't remember what year ,it had the kick down box and I think it was 5 speed ,excellent bike imo ,farmers loved them for the low low gearing to chase cows .
I always cringe a little inside seeing a victory vision, only use I'd have for one is to yank the bigger engine and 6 speed to put in my victory vegas. Also, the Honda vtx 1800 is only good at straight rides, not a curvy mountain road type of bike, it's big and bulky along with top heavy and bars wider than the lane you're riding in.
Are you kidding me? If the Yamaha Niken is not the most "How stupid are you?" assembly of ugliness ever offered for sale, then what the hell are you doing? I thought all those living-room-sofas-on-three-wheels abortions were the most ridiculous thing ever until Yamaha decided that doubling the unsprung weight on the front of a pretend motorcycle was a good idea. I would really like to have an XSR, but I fear somebody might see it and remember that Yamaha also built the Niken.
I think the Niken is so obvious, not even worth mentioning . Would still love to see one on the road, like the NM4, cool to look at and talk about, as long as the other guy owns it.
My local Honda dealership had a DN-01 in a few years ago, in burgundy with low kms and a price tag of around $9000NZ. I liked the styling, but after doing a little research I decided to stear clear.
I sorta have fun telling some Harley rider 'Yah, I have a touring cycle.' When they see my NM4, I get this blank look and a 'uhh... ok' reply as they walk off. But so many times, folks in 4 wheelers actually stop and tell me how cool or interesting my ride looks. It's a great conversation starter with just about anyone. Except Harley owners.
Hey flaxseed, I had an xz in the 80’s, great bike, got it cheap, guy selling it didn’t have anyone come and see it, as no one knew what is was! Had it several years, wife n me doing rallies and touring on it in uk and Europe, happy days.
I put a couple hundred miles on my cousin’s Vision when it was new. I have to say I was impressed with it. Great bike and I’ve no idea why it didn’t catch on.
The great former Harley Instructor at AMI, Kurt Heinrichs, always told us that "where mechanical devices are concerned, simpler is better." A lesson all these manufacturers would do well to learn.
Loved my tricked up TL1000R in bright yellow. Harley Davidson XR1200 was a piece of crap, and the company treated buyers like someone with the plague. They pull good money now though.
Well presented. I can think of a few other Honda models, namely the 'CX' line, especially the turbo models. It was Honda's attempt to build a better MotoGuzzi.
@@tedecker3792 ---- and NEVER arrive at anything that even remotely looks like a cafe - it's akin to trying to make a garbage truck look like a British sports car
@@bonesrhodes3762 I've seen plenty of them done that way. They make a great looking cafe racer. Maybe you just don't know what a cafe racer looks like.
@@joshrandall3632 you are probably right: I've only been building and riding cafes since the early 1970s and have never owned / ridden anything less sporty than a sports touring with a cafe look ( 76 CB750F => 79 GS1000s => 79 CBX => 83 CB1100F => 87 CBR600f => 90 RC30 [ one of the original 300 ] plus scattered FZRs, VFRs, and even a GSX -- plus my little cafes usually based on CB400f or 350fs ( Ontario'ed of course ) and Seca 550s - course those were in my young days - now I'm content to tool around on my last remainder - a 1972 BMW R60/5 with a little headlight fairing, clip-ons with bar-end mirrors, and single Brit racing style saddle.
The CTX 1300 was a restyling exercise in Hondas attempt to get the retuned V4 euro 5 compliant. It wasn’t as powerful as the PanEuropean hence the need to make it into a bagger. It flopped on both of those points
On any form of riding (city cruising, touring, etc), the HD Street 750/500 gives me cramps on my thighs. I love Harleys, but I hate this one. Seat is too wide it makes you uncomfortable in short rides
I rode one and couldnt fault it . Come from a racing and sports touring background with a history of Ducati love I felt right at home on it ( rare for me ) . Had a VTR1000 at the time the Duke was a delight. WHY DIDNT I BUY ONE WHEN THEY WERE $ 5000 !!!!!
True. Though I'll admit with the aftermarket tail section they weren't bad looking. Except for the stripped down aluminum coating look, those looked like crap.
Flops? Yes. Worst ever made? Nope.
I love my CTX1300. I have been riding for 56 years and 16 bikes and have covered all of southern Africa and most of north This ticks most of my boxes. Visually it’s a “love it or hate it” I installed a touring windshield. If I could change anything I woul lose the stupid sound system and enlarge the side bags, but after 16 bikes I have concluded there is no “ Perfect “ bike….Happy riding…
I also own one, and I could say all the same things. It's a good bike with a tall windscreen. I must also say that the latest generation of Gold Wing is better in every way than the CTX.
@@AgentJayZ I agree, but with eight year newer technology and literally twice the price I would hope so…..Just did the “ Lake Superior Circle Tour” last month, still loving it..
I LOVE my TL1000s. A $200 R1 shock and 2 hours work and the rear end was transformed. Two Brothers pipes and it sounds amazing. With torque to burn it just makes me smile the whole time I'm riding it. My B-king just languishes in the shed ignored.
You hope that these never happen again? Some of these bikes are just fine...sure they may not have sold well.. but they have a following and used can be a good value. Its motorcycling, there is something for everyone.
I have the BMW 1200c. Just a boring bike.
Re the Honda DN-01, narrator makes reference to the engine.. comes from the uninspiring Deauville NT700..... he said. Well, petrol is €2.17 a litre now and my Deau is returning 79mpg. Shaft drive saving on chain & sprocket replacement costs. How are all the 1000cc sports bike rider getting along....? 40mpg and 200bhp that you can't really use. Lol
Saw one of those Harley 750 for sale for $3K just yesterday. Cheap
@@TeezerDriz I don't know about the liter bikes but my 1441 is doing just fine with 215 hp and who cares how many miles per gallon
@@Popsm0ke keep her on the back wheel and your front tyre will never wear out. 🤘
I have the R18 - never seen another one on the road. I still love it.
i have one as well! cheers. they are selling ok in Florida. we are moving about 5 a month. they really are nice bikes, they grow on you.
I still have my R1200C (2001). Under rated IMO. Is it power house? No. Reliable? Yes, I have 45K miles on it with very little maintenance. Cruises all day long at 80-90 mph with room to spare. (If I'm wanting a fast bike I grab my S1000RR or the K1200S) The C handles really well, rides nicely and is smooth. I'm looking forward to test ride the R1800.
Definitely not cookie cutter
I got one as well…nice and comfortable and it always get looks.
Well I still own my 1977 Honda trail 90 With the incredible little engine that you can't kill
Honorable mention may be the '84-'86 Honda Nighthawk S, cb700sc. I bought a new one still in the showroom in '89, red, white, and blue. Of course, all sales were down after the 70's anyway. This bike was super low maintenance, had shaft drive, a gear indicator, and inline four cylinder goodness.
How is the Yamaha Niken selling? I’ve not seen one of them on the road….
I want one, just cannot budget for it right now. So I will keep riding my Honda Silverwing scooter. That 600cc motor just goes.
Great escort bike for the cycling tours...
I've seen one and it really took me by surprise to see it.
@@nikos-giorgos
yes, you can take out more cycles in one hit!
I can't say it appeals to me and I'm a Burgman rider who you would think is the target market.
I have had a DN01 for 12 years and I still love it.
I'm looking at one soon, I hope in 2024.
It was the bike that made me go for my bike license. Even though I rarely ride anymore I can’t part with it
kupiłem 4 miesiące temu! Jestem zachwycony! Niech się Panu sprzęt dobrze sprawuje!
Just bought one today, and I love it as well. This video can suck it :P (well okay, it was overpriced when it came out)
@@Kiatrasi Mine is 12 years old now and still running like a new one.
My wife had a CTX 1300. We were able to get it out the door, brand new for $9800. EVERY place we went it would ALWAYS attract a crowd. We drove it for 5 years and we almost as much as we paid for it as a trade in. She loved that bike as we traveled the country on it. But she loves her Indian Chief Vintage even more.
Have owned 2 TL1000S and still have my TL1000R since 11 years. Love it and will never sell it! But they are rare, I have not seen one TLR in the area I live in since I moved here, in 2003...
One of my coworkers swore by them and rode them a ton each year. Sounded great as I remember. THUNDERING! Ducati's bikes sounded like absolute hell! I bought a 929RR in 2000. Millennium Edition. Almost bought the RC51. They were priced at the exact same price $9,999.00 each. The 929 looked better IMHO, and had two more cylinders. The 51 proved more collectable in the long run, however. I bought a 2004 ZX10 after that, and that bike was lightyears ahead of Honda. Way more comfortable and had way better geometry for my style. More Over-the-Forks riding position. The thing did well over a hundred in first gear. Crazy! The 929 was better suited for drag races. You could really launch it off the line. I geared it down and added a 520 drive chain. The Ninja was crazy. It would just keep accelerating madly until you chickened-out. And you certainly would🕊
I had a 2001 TL1000R. LOVED IT! BOUGHT NEW FOR 10K
I had a yellow TLR for years. Smashing thing, and pretty comfy too. Took it to Italy once with our dog in the tank bag.
I must be particularly bad at choosing my bikes, my last two were respectively a GTS1000 and an R1200C, which I still own by the way. The GTS1000 was heavy, yes, but it managed to make the horrible roads of my region (Quebec) passable and it was so nice to see the horde of curious people kneeling in front of it to admire the unusual design of its direction. As for the R1200C, having tried other custom type motorcycles, it has a lot more drive than most of them and there is hardly ever a day when I am given signs of admiration watching her parade through the streets.
I would use the R1200c, just like the XR1200, it looks like it's made to be a Sportster not a long rider......why I wouldn't have the 1800 no way to put forward controls and I would get 1800 to be a Sportster......well maybe a V-MAX
I also had the R1200C, it was amazing, I sold it cause it had a considerable amount of miles but everything worked like a Swiss clock. I’d buy one again, the 2004 Montauk model would be my pick.
I'm the proud owner of a 2009 XR1200 that I bought lightly used in 2020. Not wrong about being heavy but it's a fantastic bike that's become a bit of a cult favorite in Harley history. I get a lot of thumbs ups and comments on it from those who actually know what it is. I would be surprised if HD DIDN'T make a modern rendition of it with the new Sportster architecture.
Harley got killed in the marketplace every time they tried to recycle the Sportster (love 'em, I have three Evos and an Ironhead) engine into a "modern" sporting machine because looking good is just not enough. XLCR is also a classic but like XLCR the agricultural gearbox and utter lack of power also helped kill Buell. Sportys were sporting into the early 1970s. The traditional Harley market also killed off the FXR which is rightly a cult favorite. Good by Harley standards and good by sporting standards mean drastically different things and a "sport bike" with under 100HP weighing 600lbs is just a sexy cruiser. Harleys are old man bikes (I'm old and also collect vintage British machines). Performance is not what they do unless stroked (like my 89" S&S Sporty or V124 S&S FXR) and even then most of that is in a straight line.
Aprilia Futura was away ahead of it's time, not only did Triumph use it to style their ST, but Honda obviously bought one to style the VFR800...still one of the comfiest bikes I've ever sat on, I'd still buy one today!
Because the ST and the VFR look VAGUELY like a Futura (the VFR doesn't really) that makes you think they "bought one to style" their bike. Both the VFR and several Triumphs had single sided swingarms before the Aprilia and all sports tourers looked similar at the time. It was simply a popular style at the time and everybody copied everyone else as ALWAYS
Nonsense, the Honda VFR800 was on the roads 3 years before the Futura even existed.
@@georgebarnes8163 Understand the conversation, before commenting
@@williamrae9954 lol, not the sharpest knife in the block, are you.
@@georgebarnes8163 Ha...so far in the distance from you,you do not even understand what we are talking about...
Owned an Aprilia RST 1000 for 4 years. Rode great when it was working properly, which was occasional. 'Factory' support was useless on multiple electrical issues. Looking great and being comfortable only goes so far when you're sick of getting stranded. We called it the Futurama.
I nominate as flops Yamaha's 1982 and 83 Vision XZ-550 V-twins. Its engine is best described as a hopped-up version of a horizontally split V-Max. The 82 had carburetion problems, a middling single front disc and fixed-damping suspension. For 83 Yamaha fixed all those problems, lowered the bars, rear-set the foot controls and added a sport-touring fairing with lowers having innovative and efficient leg vents flowing no air/ambient air or engine heated air. The engine made more torque than any mid-size bike of the era, was one of the all-time smoothest and peak HP was decent too. Vision had superb handling and cornering clearance. The shaft drive performed seamlessly but chain drive would have saved weight and allowed easy final gear changes. If Yamaha had given it chain drive and waited for the 83 refinements (with a sport fairing instead of the larger sport-touring type,) the Vision would have more likely succeeded. Unfortunately, the world recession also helped seal its fate.
My local Yamaha dealer back in the 80's could ride whatever he liked, and his ride of choice was a Vision.
I owned an '83 Vision, and it was a great-looking, fast little bike, and it should've been a great-handling one too, but it suffered from inadequate front forks which caused me a couple of heart-stopping moments in fast turns before I realized it's limitations. The electrical system was problematic too. Mine just completely died twice, unexpectedly and for no apparent reason, necessitating expensive replacing of the main electronic control module. But it was a fun bike!
I have a DN-01 and I love it! the transmission is amazing, fully automatic and no steps in the gears, it just smoothly matches engine speed and gearing to perfectly match any situation. the only thing is the wind screen is WAY too small. I bought an aftermarket unit that is twice as tall and it's still too small. the only other thing is, it's got to be the heaviest 700 in history. which only comes into play when you're moving it around. once underway it's no problem. my son rode it and he loves it too. i also consider it to be beautiful, it looks like I stole it from Batman
Ah yes, but then Honda built the NM4 Vultus - the true 'batbike' which is far superior to the DN01 IMO. The DCT works really well, it goes around corners as if on rails and sips fuel like a 125, but at highway speeds.
@@pnblondon1087 Far superior, pssh! It looks nice but not AS good, and transmission system isn't as fun (obviously). Still, probably not a bad bike, and each to their own.
If I were a billionaire, I would have a garage full of Honda's flops. It seems that every few years, they make something... weird. The CBX, Hawk GT, PC800, DN01, NM4, GB500TT, CTX1300, Rune. Decent rides, and everyone a conversation starter.
VF1000R springs to mind. It was so “ ordinary even Honda Australia would race them - VF1000 instead with Mail Campbell aboard. I had a friend who had the “R” and said he was never satisfied with the handling, power was good. He put it down to the wheel size which I believe were 16”. At that time getting good rubber for that size tire was tough.
The other from that time was the Honda CBX750. It actually was a very nice bike and pretty quick. For some reason it did sell well. My only guess is that at the time that if you weren’t riding something north of 900cc it was a mid level bike. The only thing I remember of that time was a little controversy over the 16” front wheel.
Thats my 2 cents worth.
The XR1200, the CTX1300, and that Yamaha with the freaky front suspension all seem like great ideas. I'd love to have anyone one of them in my garage.
Yeah I would jump on a chance to pick up the HD XR 1200 at a reasonable price
I think it would be cool to have that single sided fork on the front of a moto with a single sided swing arm.
I have been trying to find an XR 1200 that's stock and clean at a reasonable price for a while. In no way a "WORST" just a sales flop due to HD
dealers and sales staff having no clue as to what it was.
I've always liked DN-01. For me it's beautiful and unique.
@8:08 A local Honda shop owner told me that franchise owners very quickly dubbed the DN-01 to "Do Not Order One!" ;-)
Or... Do Not Own One
---- actually,Honda has been producing the DN-01 series for a long time - they just didn't use that particular designation - the CBX comes immediately to mind
@@bonesrhodes3762 Do you mean the CBX 500 & 650 from the '80s or the CTX 700? The CTX has a parallel twin but very similar in concept to the DN. My friend has a CTX and loves it.
@@joshrandall3632 --- no: talking about the CBX 6 banger - they were notorious bad sellers - the last series with the bags Honda had to literally give away to get rid of them - I'm very aware of bikes that may be wonders in their own right or even great bikes yet impossible to sell - those are ALL "Do Not Own One " bikes from the public perception. CX 500/650 ( esp turbos ), Seca 650 turbos, PC800s ( PC was code for "pretty silly" - the Japanese just misspelled it ) etc. - just dogs as far as salability when introduced ( when I bought my dealership, it came with 9 CBXs - took me 7 years to sell 7 [ to other dealers OR to someone off the street ] at whatever the current dealer cost was at the time - the last 2 I just gave up and used as shop bikes.
I worked at HD when that Sportster came out - I sold everyone of them I could get - I would steal them from other dealers to meet my demand. Ditto for the Buells.
Too many that work for HD have never been on the track, never been on dirt, never been over the 85mph mark. THAT is what killed the bike.
Agree...owners of 'parade bikes' have no concept or experience of 'exceeding the posted national speed limit'. LOL.
Have to agree with you on that. You need to be a biker to appreciate and understand how they are on the road trail or track. Because that way you know how to make them better. Especially when you slip the road a crippler on one.
HD's problem, which has always been it's problem is that they MUST cater to the big-inch vtwin crowd. Coming out with the smaller bikes labeled you as a "girl" or "sissy" by those in the big-inch camp and an "idiot" by non HD riders who knew they had better bikes overall for far less cash. Like I've been saying since the yuppies took over about 1990-ish "Harley Davidson, the motorcycle that refuses to evolve, just like the men who ride them!"
I would still buy one of those today. Local dealership only ever had 2!!! They should resurrect it with the new engine.
I had always wanted a Harley - loved the sound - and made the big mistake of buying an 883 Sportster. I wanted to love it, I just could not. That 883 is so underpowered, at 55 if you twisted the throttle the bike said 'Are you SURE you want to go faster?' Years before I had a Suzuki GS1000 which I loved from day one. It would go as fast as you wanted, no problem, it was also a ton easier to handle around town for me, and at low speeds. The 883 was a very nice looking bike but after the looks, there wasn't anything in it for me.
Possibly worthy of this list:
Honda: PC800 Pacific Coast,
Yamaha: XZ550, TX750, XV920RJ and its European version, the TR1
Harley-Davidson: XCLR hugely desirable and collectible today, but at the time nobody wanted one.
Suzuki: RE-5 with the Wankel rotary
I know they're real dogs but I've always liked the PC800. No idea why.
@@joshrandall3632 They are the swiss army knife of motorcycles. I'll never sell mine.
PC800 is an awesome machine that was ahead of its time.
A lesser but equally interesting list would be bikes that started off as “flops” but over time evolved into decent motorcycles that withstood the test of time.
Specifically the PC800, which has a dedicated cult following. It turns out to be a really good lightweight touring bike that doubles as a great commuter, something that the Goldwing fails at miserably.
I had a PC800. Bought mine used in '92 for $3500 with 3900 miles. Great all around bike. Commuter to weekend getaway! Almost the perfect bike with a Kenwood stereo system to boot!! That was my 2nd luv
Add the mighty CBX to that list.
@@Daveinet The Gold Wing Tour DCT in an amazing commuter bike! Don't knock it till you try it!
@@jbb3675 Of course if when you want to pound out the miles on a long trip. But when you are running to the store in heavy city traffic, it takes a lot more effort than it is worth. I've had two Goldwings. For the current iteration, the seat is too wide and you can't even touch the ground.
My B-King was brilliant. I rode an R1220C as a service bike in the late 90s. It was a good ride. Good video, though.
The 500cc version of the Harley Street sells very well here in Australia. It’s HD’s only LAMS (learner legal model) which makes it a popular choice for people wanting to get into cruisers. You’d want to really want that HD badge though. It’s painfully slow, too small and feels cheap- despite being quite expensive. You can get a vastly superior Honda Rebel 500 for significantly cheaper. But the Honda isn’t a HD, I guess…..
As a life long Harley owner in America you should always buy the top best models. Invest in better suspension, more power, then you got a cool bike! Any of these bikes stock are kinda lame.
I like those Rebels, and you can quickly upgrade to 1100....that should be a real winner for Honda
You must surely include in any flop list the Suzuki RE5. Great idea, wonderful to ride but no one was ready for it and no one bought it. Well maybe a few but that was it. It had that amazing flip up instrument binnacle and the motor was so smooth you could balance a coin on its edge on the petrol tank.
I was fascinated by that bike and would have bought one but too busy at the time trying to support a family
@@jayjackson597 If I'd of been fascinated by the bike I'd of had my family trying to support me buying one lol
That's a cool bike with a rotary engine. I just couldn't figure out why they stopped production.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 Why thank you.. It's a VS800 V twin shaft drive and I guess they stopped production of these when they stated making the the Boulevard range. It's a cool ride, not over heavy and it handles well... but I guess all things change, before this one I had a UK version however this one is an America import and it's slightly bigger than the ones that were sold in the UK.
@@richardandrewcrosby3078 The rotor seals were delicate and needed replacing as i recall. you had to keep oil in the lubrication tank! Also it competed with the shaft drive goldwing. If you were heavy on the trottle those chains were short lived. Dad had one for a few years. Fun to ride!
The Yamaha TX750 has to be one of the biggest lemons of all time. They came out in 1973 and Yamaha Australia entered 6 or 7 of them in the 6 hour production race at Amaroo Park in Sydney, all with top riders. Only one of them finished. I became a Yamaha dealer 5 years later and by then they had virtually disappeared.
I had one. Bought it for $300 sold it for $100 blown up (bent valves ) because the heads weren't cracked. It leaked oil out of the head gasket the whole 2 years I owned it. Some one at Yamaha forgot the cam chain tensioner and when you get one second hand with out the manual you just ride it until the chain jumps a tooth.
Thanks for the nightmares! We parted them out when dead ones came into the shop.
Yep a mate of mine had a brand new TX 750 Yam. Catastrophic engine failures come to mind....haha.
They were only made for 2 model years. Most of the 1st year problems were corrected but it was too late. Too bad because it was a decent ride.
Yeah the XR happened right during the 08-2010 recession....also the “performance Harley” wave didn’t hit yet. People either had sport bikes or regular Harleys. LOVE mine though absolutely awesome bike, definitely a ripper. People still wonder what it is today and still turns heads.
If the XR1200 was on the showroom floor today they wouldn’t be able to keep them in stock. It really was just bad timing
I agree. I love the look of the XR. Too small (form factor) for me but very nice to look it. Especially in the Harley orange.
@@waydegardner7373 yeah for bigger guys it’s definitely cramped and the rear sets don’t help hah. I’m 6ft 185lbs so it feels like a giant dirtbike or something to me. Sits pretty tall too (for a Harley)
@@My.name.goes.here. yeah can you imagine with all these sporty builds now/ bagger racing league. People literally would be killing to get them. Every time I ride I get people asking about it or wanting to buy it.
I rode an xr, best Sportster I ever rode
I had a 1200C and totally customized it. Sculpted Corbin seat, chrome forks, all polished aluminum, de-badged, repaint. It ran great and was a real grabber wherever I parked it, including next to Harleys. Too far ahead of its time.
My B King is awesome! It was made way before its time. Whenever i ride it nowadays i always get compliments on how cool it looks. Handling is great, and performance wise it really doesn't need a turbo. Would be sick though.
I always thought they were decent bikes
The DN-01 is a beautiful bike to ride and looks fantastic. WTF's wrong with a bike that looks a bit different than most others.
As a daily street rider since late 80s and owned all types and brands, I've been around through these on the lists... Bad bikes? Hardly, not all. GTS, TL's, Ducati classic and XR1200R are great bikes. Now the BKing which I still own a 08 black on black in the garage mix. Absolutely great bike and was simply too far ahead of its time.
I'm sorry to see the CTX 1300 on this list, as it seems to be on almost everyone else's "bad idea" list. I bought one and it met my needs perfectly. Comfortable, fast, quiet, practical, and (I think) good looking with a MASSIVE rear tire that really grabs the road. With Honda reliability. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but it's a hell of a nice bike.
All true. But the biggest all time flop was the 1970s Suzuki RE5 rotary. Rumor was that it was such a big flop that Suzuki loaded their left over parts on a barge and dumped them in the ocean.
I like most of these, at least the ones designed from crazy concepts like the DN-01. Like you said, Honda from time to time, pushes the boundaries and comes up with something brilliant, but will never make them any money. The Valkyrie Rune, the crazy Vultus. Then there are the weird scooters like the Helix, or the Suzuki Gemma. Some of them are just ahead of their time.
Don't forget the Honda Fury 😎😉
Honda is notorious for putting crap out before it's perfected.
I hope Aprilia resurect the Futura around the RS V4 engine, but with that exact styling... I'd buy it!!
And the Falco half faired version.
I have an ;04, and I can say that it has the best stock seat I've ever experienced. Cool bike which is only now being appreciated for its styling.
Good call...me too
Ducatis Sportclassics/GT/PS were much better and more stylish than any of new scrambler series. They just didn't appeared in the right time. I rode GT and SC and they were both fun and nice to ride.
Seems to be the downfall of several of the motorcycles listed here. I just really can’t agree with a lot of what this man is saying in this video.
@@My.name.goes.here. Yes. For sure. A mate had the R1200 C and loved it and I like the styling better than the new 1800, Another friend has the Paul Smart. great to ride and doubled in value and a third friend has a TL1000s . Sold all his bike but that one(even thought it didn't stop all that well and wasn't nimble in the tight stuff.)He reckons it is the best V twin for low down pull.
How DARE you put a TL1000R in there.😉 Awesome bike.
Best sounding VTwin out there. 👌
The TL1000s was also rated "Motorcycle of the year" in two different USA based magazines. This fellows top ten flop list is pretty weak.
My SV 1000S was a big improvement... but still a bit quirky, not knowing it's "place".
Since I have been riding since the mid 80s...
1. Yamaha 550 Vision
2. Honda FT/VT 500
3. Kawasaki 900/1000 Eliminator
4. Yamaha TDM 850
5. All early to mid 80s turbo bikes
All the above bikes were not necessarily bad, just introduced at the wrong time and didn't sell at all.
The 550 Vision was so dismal, there were dealers offering BOGO. Yes, buy one Vision and get two! It was that bad in the early 80s in ref to sales in general.
some 70's/80's bikes were strange and i agree with your list... the Kawasaki Z750 Turbo was the best turbo bike of the time.... i had one and some gripes were fuel economy at high speed vs smallish tank and no turbo oil pump timer. it was a pleasure to ride on the high side of 160kph and still blew off most bikes of its time.
now-a-days we are spoilt with 300kph machines that handle and brake very well out of the crate.
Ahhh yes.... The TDM. I forgot about that oddball, the start of the ADVs (IMHO). Like most on this video list it was regarded as a good bike and really did well out of the US for awhile.
The TDM 850 was a great bike, just needed a slightly taller screen. I had the pleasure of racing one in a French competition road rally back in 1993, including a race at Le Mans. I could never understand why Yamaha didn't sell a Peterhansel Dakar replica - an XTZ Ténéré with TDM 850 engine.
Love that Honda and the cbx650, gl650,
The problem I have with these bike list videos, whether they are “Bikes that were sales flops” or “Best 70’s sports bikes” or so on is that its painfully obvious that not only have these people likely never rode the bike they’re ripping apart or blowing smoke up, but most likely never even seen one in person. If its a rare bike, fair enough, but with what authority or knowledge do you rattle off your “expert” opinion from reading a specsheet? Ive worked in the motorcycle industry for years, yes the Dn01 was strange, and no I wouldn’t personally own one, but after working on one and riding it, I understand why the bloke who rode it into our workshop (and his wife) loved it so very dearly. It’s not just this bloke, lots of channels do this, it just annoy’s me because they clearly have no clue. Same with the r1200c, it actually rode surprisingly well, and had a decent engine in it, and the styling had its own charm. The average person drives a toyota camry, dont try to make out that they are “Style experts”. Go and actually ride the damn bike before you open your mouth. If you still dont like it fair enough, but come on!
This dude prolly got his list from chatgpt
What the hell? This list includes like 5 of my favorite bikes, including the Aprilia Futura and GTS1000.
I agree, they may not have sold well but they were great bikes
No they weren't.
Owned a Futura for 16 years and 30K miles and it was absolutely wonderful. Loved that bike.
Says it all 😢😢
I had a CTX1300.. It was actually a great bike to be honest. It was comfortable, it was surprisingly. The Bluetooth stereo was decent. The lighting for night riding was the best of any bike Ive owned. They should of sold it as a middleweight Goldwing.. A taller windshield. I traded it for a Valkyrie 1800. Some days I regret it.. The CTX was never given a chance..
I still have mine. It won't light your hair on fire, but I don't ride that way, anyway. It works very well for commuting, day rides, and touring. It pulls like a freight train and that's way more important to me than having to climb the revs to get to the powerband. It's also the most stable bike I've ridden. Five years ago it got me down the Grapevine with wind blowing 45mph and punching gusts at 65mph. I was moved about but was able to keep it in my lane. If I was on my Tiger 800 I'd probably have been blown over to the other side of the freeway. I've often thought of getting a different (flashier?) bike, but the CTX has been so damn dependable, has reasonable maintenance, and realistically satisfies my riding needs, that I just can't see getting rid of it for trivial reasons.
I recently bought a CTX700 DCT, yeah a band nerd.... the manga styling has even grown on me
@@markheinig you’ll probably be a very proud owner of it more and more as time goes by. I’d love to have a go on one.
Cheers
I bought one in February with 2,600 miles. I enjoy it. I prefer to think of it as a mini GW. The V4 is outstanding. Add taller windscreen, highway pegs and top case and you have a great tourer.
@@benoreskovich504 My thoughts exactly. 👍
I absolutely love my XR1200X, but I do see why it didn't take off. If only Harley spent the time engineering an aluminum chassis instead of reusing the tubular steel cruiser chassis. Maybe then it would of taken off and still be around today.
The problem was killing off Buell....He definitely had something good going.
@@thevtadventure1062 I couldn't agree more, Erik would've changed the game for Harley if he was still making bikes for HD.
The model deserved development.
'Would of'? What DO you think that means?
What have we learned?
1; BMW can’t (and should not) build American style cruisers
2; Harley can’t (and really should not) make Euro themed nakeds and café bikes.
3; Honda engineers have NEVER actually been out riding apparently.
I know we all like different things
My two bikes are a 1999 BMW R1100s and a brand new Indian Super Chief.
While I really think my Beamer is essentially the on road “do anything well but not the best” bike
I wanted a low seat, floor boarded, snatch your arms off torque type experience as well.
Enjoy your bikes my friends, more importantly, enjoy the ride.
PS, DUCATI PLEASE BRING BACK THE MH900e
as I’m finally able to afford it!
I hear ya! I have a '93 Sportster and a '98 Electra Glide, often referred to as my "go-kart and Lay-Z-Boy", depending on what type of riding I want to do
I love my B-King and I would never sell it
I had one for over 7 years. Absolutely fantastic bike. I wish I still had it.
if they had superccharged it ,it would have sold even though it doesn't need it.
😁 , 👁 ❤️ my 🐝 🤴🏿2. Very few in the US.
Yep, 08 black on black in the garage mix. Absolutely love it, mines not going anywhere either.
I have owned both an 2001 Aprilia Furtura and a 2005 Honda VRF 800.
I liked the Aprlia better.
The slipper clutch and the geometry of the Futura made it a better handling, easier to flog bike.
The VRF only had a very slight advantage in that the rider position was a bit more comfortable for all day rides.
The Aprilia had much more H.P. and usable torque and the handling was much better.
I slso owned a 2002 Aprilia Mille and it and the Futura had telepathic handling.
It was very easy to go VERY fast on both bikes but you had to work just a little harder to wring the most out of the Mille.
The Honda on the other hand was a good handling bike PROVIDED you didn't push it too hard
Both Aprlias would give ample warning at their limits before things would start to go bad, the Honda , not so much.
In fact it's because of this that I sold it.
Out on the edge with it, like if you hit a bump while on the edge in a corner it would react very fast and with no predictability from one bump to the next.
Both Aprlias were very stable and would not upset as easily.
Given the Aprlias, and Italian V Twin bikes are generally better handling than the Japanese inline and even V 4s like the VRF.
The Honda wasn't a bad bike, its just the Aprlias were better.
As to costectics, the Furtura did take a bit of getting used to, at first the mirrors , from the front reminded me of a certain moth that has antennas that look like a fern leaf lol, but after getting to know that bike, its power and the way it handled, I accepted the funky mirrors, since looking into them was the only time I saw my buddies when we were out riding lol
You tye grammar police ?
"manufacturers should never get swept up in (motorcycle) show excitement" so true ! And applies to many things notably, of course, cars ...
My brother had an earlier model R1200C. I rode it home from the dealership after it was serviced. Merging on the freeway was a harrowing experience, it was so underpowered and heavy acceleration was non existent. What a dog. As much as I’m a fan of BMW motorcycles, I’m on my 8th, I knew the R1800 would be yet another flop. Harley owns the cruiser market. The 1800c is not selling, It’s obvious with the abundance of inventory available on this bike nationwide.
The R1800 sounds like a wet fart.
I remember when the Honda DN-01 came out. The acronym was soon referred to as "Do not order one".
yah I asked the dealer about one and they laughed and said forget it
I bought a DN-01 for my wife. Sold it a few years later but should have kept it. I enjoyed riding it and actually didn’t mind the way it looked. Never gave me any problems.
@@Cleanandgood Sounds like a total idiot dealer. Here's a guy ready to buy a bike, but no, lets just flat out deny him. Great business sense!
@@darylrogers8749 Mine is 12 years old now and still runs like new.
@@Cleanandgood Ridiculous and pathetic dealer. It's a great bike.
I briefly owned a ctx700n. It was as quick as a Honda Fit, and turned like a brick. The seat was way too low and the foot controls so far forward that I could barely reach them. The tiny glove box / frunk was a place to lose things down the deep narrow sides. Sold it for what I paid and moved on.
Should the Niken be in this list ????
Absolutely YES.
This video tops the list of Worst Motorcycle Flop Videos Ever Made
I almost bought a CTX-1300 when Honda slashed the price, but none of the dealers around me had the deluxe. No cruise control made searching for a deluxe not worth the effort. In fact, I passed on several Honda models because of the lack of cruise control. The F6B, and the CrossTourer are two examples of Honda falling short.
The b-king over 10 years later is still a weapon💁♂️🏍
Absolutely! Still have my 08 black in black in the garage mix. Its an amazing bike that won't be sold.
In black with the Yoshimura under tail exhaust….. under rated bike
Mine was the ltd blue white with gold wheels. Amazingly it was lighter than ma old cb1300sa. Another do it all underrated bike.
You forgot the Aprilia Mana 850. The bike that Honda used as the inspiration for the NC750X.
Suzuki TL1000 and B King are glorious bikes.....i would have them in my collection any day of the week.
Agree!
I really enjoyed the CTX1300! It was a fantastic bike. Also, it had Bluetooth as well as an auxiliary jack. I put a solid 1k km on it in a few weeks time. That V4 in it was a peach. Keep in mind, I own a 2014 MV Agusta Brutale 675, so I enjoy exciting and terrifying bikes as well!
@Edward Elizabeth Hitler So does radios.
@Edward Elizabeth Hitler I think music inside the helmet is extremely dangerous. I would prefer ALL external sounds to be external sounds. I've had far too many close calls from riding with earbuds in. Had I been wise enough to forego the music, I would've heard the potential problem while there was still something I could do about it!
The R 1200 c is a quite excellent motorcycle. The engine has plenty of steam, the chassis is stable, and the workmanship is of high quality. The copies sold in Germany usually have a low mileage , are unmodified and in top condition. They are now highly traded.
I agreed with most of the list until you came to the Honda NSA700 DN-01; which made me question all of your other opinions. The only reason these didn't sell was the price tag; because now, they are ultra-rare in the States, and people's necks nearly snap when I cruise by on one I picked up this summer. Got it for a song and a tap dance since apparently the seller listened to the likes of you - and after riding it a few hundred miles, I'm just laughing at the man's stupidity. One of the best mid-level cruisers I've ever been on (and I've ridden my fair share in the last thirty years); eclectic, beautiful, sips the gas, stable as a table, and purrs like a kitten; couldn't love it more.
Maybe an awesome bike but just because you like, doesn't mean it isn't a flop
@@Chris-po5sw You would do better to read the title of the video before making comments. This may not have sold well, in the U.S. due to the high price tag and ahead-of-its-time styling/engineering, but that doesn't make it "one of the worst motorcycles ever made". Far from it.
We sold a DN-01 to a lady with one leg. She absolutely loved that bike. By the way, DN-01 stands for "Do Not Order One."
The Futura was actually a very good sports tourer apart from the Italian electrics. The TLR 1000R was a great bike … As a Bimota SB8R which was the bike Suzuki should have made
I must be a weirdo. I liked the R1200C, B-King, and the XR1200 is my favourite HD if I could own a second bike.
Yeah, me too. The 1200C with a bit more power. So easy to work on them and low centre of gravity.
When VR46 was living in London, I was a courier and he was wearing flip flops. Valkyrie, through traffic...boy can ride. Respect. 😂
I REALLY wanted a Yamaha GTS1000 when they came out, but couldn't justify the price.
The hi tech cool factor was off the charts, but that was still not quite worth the cost.
I’m proud owner of a TL1000S. Having regretted selling the first one I owned I went and bought another after trying out a couple of other makes. I guess it’s each to their own but I certainly love the ride, look and sound of my TL. I can think of worse bikes that would have made your top ten.
Ditto, TLS for 13 years now and still counting
Agreed, harsh to put them in. I always wanted a go on the R to see if the "widowmaker" title was true, bearing in mind I used to own a Kawasaki 750 triple
@@originalshadowfax The H1 500's had a more vicious powerband.....I still got mine and I'm still upright....
The Suzuki TL might’ve been killed off but it was and still is an awesome bike and it was replaced with the Sv1000 that was also a great bike. And as fair as half naked V-twin bikes they really don’t have much competition. Understandably they aren’t for everyone, but for the people who prefer a good mix of torque and horsepower over only having top-end horsepower the Sv1000s is a great choice.
And yes the sv1000 did not sell well. The prediction was since SV650s were so popular that the 1000 would take off. At the dealership where I worked the TL sold well. The sv1000s sat around.
The Aprilia Moto with orange tank was a sales disaster.... But I'd kinda like one in my garage.
This was pretty good overall, but you failed to mention a couple of the plus points of the GTS 1000. That Funny Front End worked really well - you could brake deep into corners in a way that none of the tele-forked bikes of the day could handle. And...that detuned 100bhp engine went on forever. I'll never forget meeting a London despatch rider with well over 200,000 miles on his GTS 1000! Also, the unique transmission of the DN-01 is worth a mention - as far as I'm aware, it's the only motorcycle with a quad-style fluid drive rather than the 'glorified rubber band' of most scooters or the true automatic gearbox of Honda's DCT. Honda's NM4 Vultus might feature in a future list of this kind, even though it's a great machine to ride, with stunning looks - better in both ways than the DN-01.
Owned a Futura, beautiful bike, loved the sound and looks. Not enough dealers around though if anything went wrong. ☹️
I had a mate with a DN 01.... nobody could work out what it was supposed to be...
Hey! That GTS video was shot in San Diego, my hometown. Now I want one.
BMW R1200 half baked styling and hideous? That thing still looks awesome today!
I think the Suzuki RF600 and RF900 were more of a flop than the TLR and TLS, unless we're just focusing on Suzuki's racing intentions. You'd be hard pressed to ride one of those older TL's and not have a $hit eating grin on your face afterwards.
The RFs were ok but suffered for their tiny tanks.
I'm with you on that statement.
Agree completely. The RFs were definitely bigger flops. Though good bikes (like all Suzukis at that time) they were just funky. The styling and Testarossa look sidepanels were off and they were more of a lost sport tourer (yet werent).
It's an absolute shame the gt1000 failed. I Loved that bike - would buy one in a heartbeat if I could find and afford one. Why they haven't revisited it properly now that retros are in, is beyond me.
Interesting video... Thanks!👌👍
Have to add a Suzuki TC 125 Enduro to the list. I had one in the late 70's it has a 4 speed gear box with a switch for 4 speed street or 4 speed dirt. It failed both modes miserably. Better option was a 5 speed Suzuki TS 125 with a 5 speed gear box and no switch for dirt or street.
DUDE I had one it was lime green with the stripe on the tank can't remember what year ,it had the kick down box and I think it was 5 speed ,excellent bike imo ,farmers loved them for the low low gearing to chase cows .
Had a TC100 with the 4 speed and dual range. Yes, a 5 speed would have been better.
They were just a fart box with wheels.....I learned to ride on one..👍
I always cringe a little inside seeing a victory vision, only use I'd have for one is to yank the bigger engine and 6 speed to put in my victory vegas. Also, the Honda vtx 1800 is only good at straight rides, not a curvy mountain road type of bike, it's big and bulky along with top heavy and bars wider than the lane you're riding in.
You forgot Big flop from Suzuki the RE 5 ,meaby classic now,but over complicated with rotary engine
Are you kidding me? If the Yamaha Niken is not the most "How stupid are you?" assembly of ugliness ever offered for sale, then what the hell are you doing? I thought all those living-room-sofas-on-three-wheels abortions were the most ridiculous thing ever until Yamaha decided that doubling the unsprung weight on the front of a pretend motorcycle was a good idea. I would really like to have an XSR, but I fear somebody might see it and remember that Yamaha also built the Niken.
I think the Niken is so obvious, not even worth mentioning . Would still love to see one on the road, like the NM4, cool to look at and talk about, as long as the other guy owns it.
My local Honda dealership had a DN-01 in a few years ago, in burgundy with low kms and a price tag of around $9000NZ. I liked the styling, but after doing a little research I decided to stear clear.
How could you forget the Honda NM-4 Vultus?
It's fine...if you have the matching "Bat ears" helmet.
Holy Batcycle
I sorta have fun telling some Harley rider 'Yah, I have a touring cycle.' When they see my NM4, I get this blank look and a 'uhh... ok' reply as they walk off.
But so many times, folks in 4 wheelers actually stop and tell me how cool or interesting my ride looks. It's a great conversation starter with just about anyone.
Except Harley owners.
Had a Yamaha Vision (XZ 550 ) in the early 80's. 550 cc 4 stroke 70° liquid cooled DOHC V-twin shaft-driven.
Never took off, only produced 2 years.
Hey flaxseed, I had an xz in the 80’s, great bike, got it cheap, guy selling it didn’t have anyone come and see it, as no one knew what is was! Had it several years, wife n me doing rallies and touring on it in uk and Europe, happy days.
I put a couple hundred miles on my cousin’s Vision when it was new. I have to say I was impressed with it. Great bike and I’ve no idea why it didn’t catch on.
I believe it may have been the 1st bike sporting 4 valves per cylinder. Very innovative.
Still got the promo sticker...used to be on the bedroom wall, I cut round it while re-modelling the room!
That was fun. Good job
The great former Harley Instructor at AMI, Kurt Heinrichs, always told us that "where mechanical devices are concerned, simpler is better." A lesson all these manufacturers would do well to learn.
@terracer All of which can be done either comparatively simply, or absurdly complex.
I had no idea that the BMW r1200c didn’t sell well. I always loved the look of the HD XR1200 too
The R1200C would have been a nice bike with a bit more power. I now own the K1300R, and it is fantastic.
Loved my tricked up TL1000R in bright yellow. Harley Davidson XR1200 was a piece of crap, and the company treated buyers like someone with the plague. They pull good money now though.
Well presented. I can think of a few other Honda models, namely the 'CX' line, especially the turbo models. It was Honda's attempt to build a better MotoGuzzi.
They were not flops by any stretch tho.
Honda sold millions of the damn things
@@sugarnads as a cafe racer base they are crazy popular, and getting expensive.
@@tedecker3792 ---- and NEVER arrive at anything that even remotely looks like a cafe - it's akin to trying to make a garbage truck look like a British sports car
@@bonesrhodes3762 I've seen plenty of them done that way. They make a great looking cafe racer. Maybe you just don't know what a cafe racer looks like.
@@joshrandall3632 you are probably right: I've only been building and riding cafes since the early 1970s and have never owned / ridden anything less sporty than a sports touring with a cafe look ( 76 CB750F => 79 GS1000s => 79 CBX => 83 CB1100F => 87 CBR600f => 90 RC30 [ one of the original 300 ] plus scattered FZRs, VFRs, and even a GSX -- plus my little cafes usually based on CB400f or 350fs ( Ontario'ed of course ) and Seca 550s - course those were in my young days - now I'm content to tool around on my last remainder - a 1972 BMW R60/5 with a little headlight fairing, clip-ons with bar-end mirrors, and single Brit racing style saddle.
Yet ten more examples of the Marketing Department believing their own hype and failing to understand what real marketing research looks like.
1:10 “good news is it was actually pretty good.” Proceeds to tell you why it’s not pretty good. 😂
What ever happened to the Yamaha TX 750 twin cylinder ?
It was swiftly and rightly forgotten.
The CTX 1300 was a restyling exercise in Hondas attempt to get the retuned V4 euro 5 compliant. It wasn’t as powerful as the PanEuropean hence the need to make it into a bagger. It flopped on both of those points
I own a B-King. It’s awesome. IMHO
TLS a TLS are not flops….had a 1997 TLS currently have.a TLS 1999 with Olins conversion….awesome road bike
On any form of riding (city cruising, touring, etc), the HD Street 750/500 gives me cramps on my thighs. I love Harleys, but I hate this one.
Seat is too wide it makes you uncomfortable in short rides
I agree, good drivetrain but poorly designed chassis. That engine in a buel chassis would have been cool.
I don't think the Ducati 1000 gt was a flop. They were just too early for the market!
I rode one and couldnt fault it . Come from a racing and sports touring background with a history of Ducati love I felt right at home on it ( rare for me ) . Had a VTR1000 at the time the Duke was a delight. WHY DIDNT I BUY ONE WHEN THEY WERE $ 5000 !!!!!
How did you.miss the Harley Davidson Rocker?
True. Though I'll admit with the aftermarket tail section they weren't bad looking. Except for the stripped down aluminum coating look, those looked like crap.
maybe next video, add some more pixels. What did you do, film this with 8mm then copy it?