unpopular bikes you`ve enjoyed?

pepperami · Super Spammer Joined: 17 Jan 2010 Karma :

Well we have had the thread about what bikes you would`nt buy, but what about the one you have bought?
What bike have you bought that have had a bad reputation/problems ect but you`ve had a great time on them.

For example in my early days of biking the Suzuki GT 250 was not held in high esteem.
However I loved them and had 5 different GT 250`s because I could get them cheap and they were easy? to fix.
They wer`nt as slow as people made out and once you upgraded the forks (different springs & oil) they wer`nt as wobbly.
Ok they were not a match for an RD 250 but they wer`nt that far behind and they always got me there in the end.
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The Shaggy D.A. · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Sep 2008 Karma :

Royal Enfield Bullet. My ex had the 350, I had a 500. Not a bike you can ignore maintenance on, but I had a grin every time I rode it. It's still on my list for a possible next bike.
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robbyb · Scooby Slapper Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Karma :

Suzuki GSR600. (baby B-King)

They didn't sell well but for this reason second hand ones are a bargain.

I owned one for a year and loved it. I preferred it to the two Hornets I have owned. I would still have it but I saw my current CBR600F sport for sale and always wanted one so it had to go.

Smooth straight through the rev range, comfy riding position and good looks for a naked bike.
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Yamaha FZ8

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

LE Vellocette, 200cc of horizontally opposed twin sidevalve.
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MarJay · But it's British! Joined: 15 Sep 2003 Karma :

I thought my Triumph TT600 was a good bike, as was my Daytona 955i.
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Rogerborg · nimbA Joined: 26 Oct 2010 Karma :

GPz 305. It's got some pretty obvious issues and will essentially be junk when the belt goes or it suffers oil starvation or just eats its big end for no reason.

But I've lucked out up to now - probably due to "mollycoddling" it, dealing with the oil pickup, and only making progress when it's good and warm - and it's been a useful, economical commuter that cracks a grin at 7K.

Likewise, the HN125-8 (aka Lexmoto Vixen) seems to either be a peach or a lemon, but for the £730 I paid for it new (delivered, registered and plated) I got great laughs per pound.

I wouldn't recommend either, but I've certainly enjoyed them.
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GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

fireyphoenix1... · Brolly Dolly Joined: 31 Dec 2010 Karma :

gsx 750 f got told they handle like a barge and are slow
i have had 160 indicated out of and have no trouble keeping up with mates on bandits SV 650s vfr 800 ect

the handleing is planted not amazeing but quick enough and its got more than enough low down torque for town use mine was a steal at £600 in the middle of summer Very Happy

going to upgrade the fork spings and oil then rear shock be interesting to see what a diffference it makes
Very Happy

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Fizzer Thou · World Chat Champion Joined: 06 Aug 2011 Karma :

Polarbear · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Karma :

Ducati 750 Paso. Shit build quality, shit reliability, horribly uncomfortable but great fun (when working) and I thought it looked stunning.

https://img835.imageshack.us/img835/9858/paso1d.jpg
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Amreet · Trackday Trickster Joined: 31 May 2010 Karma :

Vincent · Banned Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Karma :

After slagging them off for years, I was never more surprised than when I first rode a CX500 Embarassed

It was actualy quite nice to ride. Still a bit slow and boring though and didn't like it enough to ever buy one.
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andyscooter · World Chat Champion Joined: 30 May 2009 Karma :

every one of my scooters according to you lot Laughing

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gilera runner vxr200 (chavped)
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daemonoid · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Jun 2008 Karma :

Sako · World Chat Champion Joined: 19 Feb 2012 Karma :

Becki Robertson - she used to stay down the road from me.

Reid · Nitrous Nuisance Joined: 24 Jan 2011 Karma :

FZR600 - basically wrote it off from the start as everyone talks about how they're just so far behind any contemporary from '92 onwards and how they are seriously uncomfortable yet I can go two hours without issue on one and it's still got far more ability than I ever will. It might not be quite as good as a CBR and the Thundercat might be more comfortable and powerful but it's still a damn good bike.

If only it came with a 17" rear Sad

jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

ZZR600. Everyone seems to have a down on them but they are the fastest thing for no money you can get. Keep on talking them down, I'll keep buying them up!
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
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Teflon-Mike · tl;dr Joined: 01 Jun 2010 Karma :

biker7 · Crazy Courier Joined: 15 Feb 2012 Karma :

ian505050 · Traffic Copper Joined: 27 Oct 2010 Karma :

Quite liked the sv650 even though it gets a lot of stick.

https://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii302/ian505050/IMAG0207.jpg

My MT03 seems to get slated for lack of top end speed but i also enjoy that.

https://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii302/ian505050/ian505050%202/IMAG1218.jpg

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

MT03s are made of sex.
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Rowey · World Chat Champion Joined: 07 Oct 2007 Karma :

Ariel Badger · Super Spammer Joined: 02 Dec 2006 Karma :

G · The Voice of Reason Joined: 02 Feb 2002 Karma :

Shaft · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Dec 2010 Karma :

Dunno about unpopular, because they sold by the shedload and they seem to have a following now, but my Superdreams were lots of fun.

Always slated for being a dull old UJM, I thrashed the conkers off all of mine, leaned them more than I thought was possible and never dropped one, and generally had a hoot with them.

So much so, I've bought another, after a 30 year break; I hope it's as good as I remember Confused

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jjdugen · World Chat Champion Joined: 03 Jun 2011 Karma :

Hi Mr. Reid. If you want a quick, easy and cheap 17'' rear wheel fit one from a TDM 850. Minimum modification work needed, I fitted one in under an hour.
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The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?