Bikes you've been disappointed with

1978, actually. The original Dream was launched in late 1977 and rapidly
revamped after a lukewarm reception.

 

Including Honda's own 250RS.

 

*Waves*

 

<VBG>

 

I don't think I've been really disappointed by any of my bikes, though
I've only had 6. I think out of all, it would have been the 10R.
Build quality wasn't up to par, and to be honest I didn't find it
quite as 'visceral' as I'd hoped. No more than any other litre bike
I've ridden (to my skill level anyway).

Most happen with the current GSXR1000. Light years ahead of my first
one, more comfortable, faster than the 10R, and looks bloody gorgeous.
Oh, and it hasn't broken.

 

ZX-10 (the old type). It was my first litre-class bike and the way the
owner had raved about it I expected it to be utterly amazing.

It wasn't - except in a straight line. My older GT750 was easier to
hustle round corners..

Phil.

 

<Shamed>

He's not alone either. I did later transfer my affections to the RS-250
(living 2 minutes walk to a Honda shop that you walk past every day
does strange things to you..)

This was when I was aged about 15. And just before I turned 17 they
changed the law so I couldn't ride a 250 :-(

Phil.

 

That's what I wanted when I turned 17[1]. It was over 700 quid new
though, and my dad wouldn't lend me the money or stand as guarantor for
a loan.

The git.

[1] I used to dream about picking up the blonde who worked in the local
sweetshop and taking her pillion on it!

 

ZZR1100, for the same reason. Turned out to be a bit of a barge
in reality. A bloody fast barge, but a barge nonetheless.

 

All round the GSXR1000 that went to Loz was the best bike I have owned. It
was certainly the biggest eye opener! The Ducati is a better bike in every
practical way but I sometimes miss the crushing way it would take off like a
Starfighter from 140.

 

Oh yes, I remember that day too. There was a dealer in Cliftonville, Margate
selling 250s at hugely reduced prices.

 

They still sounded (and still do) far better than anything that came out of
Japan though.

At least while they were running, that is.

--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

There was nothing boring about reliability in those days. Not if you'd grown
up with Brit bikes.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

She wasn't *that* bad.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Jeez, and I thought my standards were pretty low!

 

Indeed, it was a damned good bike for its intended market. Nothing exiting
but it ticked all of the boxes for a cheap and reliable commuter that
could be relied on to get you to work on time every day with a little
fuss as possible.
The people who bought them just wanted to get to work each day, enthusiasts
could buy something fancier.

 

Oh well. If you're ever up this way ...

 

Lots of people round his way had them but Lozzo has selective memory
loss so it's best to just ignore him when he writes something that's
obviously wrong.

 

I've ridden plenty of bikes that weren't mine that I thought were
really poor but the worst one that I've actually owned myself was a
Honda FT500 that I let someone talk me into swapping for a tired old
RD250. I got the worst part of the deal even though on paper the FT
was worth more than double the RD.

I didn't blow the engine up but it didn't go, didn't handle, had crap
brakes, wouldn't start when anything above stone cold unless you used
easystart and it wasn't even comfortable to ride. The Micron race can
sounded nice but considering I swapped it with the idea of doing a 30
mile round trip on it each day I was glad when I totalled it after a
couple of months.

 

A few folk round your way did have them... There was one guy from
Flitwick, can't remember his name, used to have an *immaculate* T160,
wiv extra chrome bits. It was really nice. Roy Shearwood had some very
nice Brit bikes too (still does afaik)