The worst bike you've ever owned

Forty
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Forty 11/3/2022 9:32am
11/3/2022 9:32am
jnickell wrote:
My worst bike is definitely the 2003 YZ450. My brother had an 01 426 that I enjoyed so I figured the slimmer, sleeker 450 was going...
My worst bike is definitely the 2003 YZ450. My brother had an 01 426 that I enjoyed so I figured the slimmer, sleeker 450 was going to be awesome. NOPE The front always felt like I was riding on ice and the tiny flywheel made power delivery very abrupt. It wore me out. A 5-speed gearbox and heavier flywheel would have helped immensely. A little bit of surplus income would have helped the suspension and handling but I'm not so sure and wasn't willing to pony up (I felt like the base was just too far off). I sold it after about 6 months and bought my friend's 2002 YZ250 (2-stroke). Loved that bike immediatley. I then had Pro Action work on the suspenders which was an awesome investment.
RudyRayMo wrote:
That 2003 yz450 was a beast, still the fastest 450 I’ve ever ridden. The 2003 Ktm250 was the worst bike ive ever owned.
Yeah, 2003 yz450f - not for the timid. Holeshot machine! You didn't have to be a good starter, once it clicked into 2nd just twist it and goooooo.
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DJS721
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DJS721 11/3/2022 9:44am
11/3/2022 9:44am
DJS721 wrote:
1986 KX250, gronk engine with stinkbug handling

Owned it weeks, and moved on to a 1986 CR250R, and it was good
sandman768 wrote:
Wtf is a Gronk engine? 😂
Gobs of low end power, then no over-rev
Trickamoto
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Trickamoto 11/3/2022 9:44am
11/3/2022 9:44am
82 yz 80
88 cr 250
97/98 cr 250
98 cr 125
86 kx's
R VanKamp77
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R VanKamp77 11/3/2022 9:58am
11/3/2022 9:58am
fourfourone wrote:
Never trust someone on a forum who needs to constantly create new usernames lol.
Yeah okay

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Canoe589
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Canoe589 11/3/2022 10:12am
11/3/2022 10:12am
1998 Yamaha WR400. Fouled Plugs constantly, God forbid you had to restart it at any time. (Before you reply, I knew exactly how to do the top dead center, followed by the one click before you kick starting process)
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M1000
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M1000 11/3/2022 10:18am
11/3/2022 10:18am
1995 Husaberg FC600, 1985 KX250. Worst part husaberg was trying to sell it later. Was long time before someone was interested in exotic MX bike.
nskerb
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nskerb 11/3/2022 10:47am
11/3/2022 10:47am
07 KTM 300xc

Felt big on the trail. Motor was cool. Could not for the life of me get it to turn. I'd see a turn coming, and just fly right off the trial every single time. And the rear suspension did not move. Every bump larger then a speed bump would try to endo me. Fuck that bike lol.
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crusher773
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crusher773 11/3/2022 11:06am
11/3/2022 11:06am
97 CR125 just an all around piece of crap.
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alphado
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alphado 11/3/2022 11:23am
11/3/2022 11:23am
2001 YZ426F, bitch to start and fouled plugs too. Heavy bike as well.
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Django
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Django 11/3/2022 11:33am
11/3/2022 11:33am
2000 Honda CR125 and the 2001 YZ250F
bigsal
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bigsal 11/3/2022 11:43am
11/3/2022 11:43am
1983 KX250! Holey Smokie what a pile of crap, It was a team green ride through my shop I really didn't deserve as I had just moved on to fatherhood big time so I raced it. Tall as fuck and very top heavy to boot with no front end feel = not great, light switch powerband top end only= not great. Milled the head, advanced the timing, Boyesen reeds, 24mm added to the head pipe, one tooth up on counter sprocket and two on the rear to help rear wheel torque. fixed the forks, rear end beyond fixing etc. Low and behold at an out of state race in Texas one day Darren Rhoten (Kansas) pulls in the gate next to me with the same bike looking stock? I said dude these bikes suck, he say's I love it and rootsed our ass that day. The eyes of the beholder I guess
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dnf736
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dnf736 11/3/2022 11:55am
11/3/2022 11:55am Edited Date/Time 11/3/2022 3:19pm
This question has been asked before but my opinion remains the same.
1984 Cagiva WMX 250, 190CC non power valve Italian POS. Wouldn't turn and shook like crazy going straight. The last time I woke up from riding it I sold it for almost nothing to get it out of my life.
Then two Pulp shows ago I hear Matthis negotiating with some collector to buy one for his studio??
I hope Steve doesn't ride it, he'll die.


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Yz229
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Yz229 11/3/2022 1:10pm
11/3/2022 1:10pm Edited Date/Time 11/3/2022 1:11pm
00-01 CR125. Rode an 86 CR125 that smoked them in every way! My 2001 YZ125 felt like a 250 in comparison.

Wasn't a huge fan of my 2006 KTM 250SX. Put a 300SX top end and 38mm carb (stock 36mm on 250), and eventually thought I liked it more in the woods then MX track.
4
RJP
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RJP 11/3/2022 1:14pm
11/3/2022 1:14pm
2009 kx450 first year of fuel injection. I actually really liked the bike, but had a sketchy issue with the throttle sticking wide open. Couldn't consistently replicate it so it was a nice feeling hoping it wouldn't do it at any moment.
When it happened you could twist the throttle back and forth like normal, but the bike would be bouncing off the rev limiter. Shut off the bike, restart it, everything was normal. Very confidence inspiring.

Took it to some dealers and mechanics and they couldn't figure out the issue. Finally got rid of the bike after it stuck wide open on the downhill at Honeylake.
2
DEMONDAVE
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DEMONDAVE 11/3/2022 1:22pm
11/3/2022 1:22pm
Hands down my off the showroom floor 1997 CR 250
I sold my 95 and my 88 to but never more disappointed
With a bike related purchase ever terrible suspension ill handling chassis but a great motor sad overall deal
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backinthesaddleagain 11/3/2022 1:24pm
11/3/2022 1:24pm
DJS721 wrote:
1986 KX250, gronk engine with stinkbug handling

Owned it weeks, and moved on to a 1986 CR250R, and it was good
The 86 CR250 - the polar opposite of a worst bike for sure
SmokinJoe439
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SmokinJoe439 11/3/2022 1:32pm
11/3/2022 1:32pm
Yz229 wrote:
00-01 CR125. Rode an 86 CR125 that smoked them in every way! My 2001 YZ125 felt like a 250 in comparison. Wasn't a huge fan of...
00-01 CR125. Rode an 86 CR125 that smoked them in every way! My 2001 YZ125 felt like a 250 in comparison.

Wasn't a huge fan of my 2006 KTM 250SX. Put a 300SX top end and 38mm carb (stock 36mm on 250), and eventually thought I liked it more in the woods then MX track.
That's funny I had a near similar experience I had this totally tricked pro circuit modded 86 cr125. Had been riding for the past 2 years. Saved up for a 01 cr125. The 86 was faster. I traded the 01 cr125 in for a 02 yz125. Nearly looped it first ride hitting this jump for the first time like I would on the cr.

Wish I still had that 86 now.
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Spankey
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Spankey 11/3/2022 2:02pm
11/3/2022 2:02pm
Madmax31 wrote:
1984 and 1985 YZ125. Yeah....dumbass move to buy another one after 84. However, I worked for a Yam dealership so felt like I had to. The...
1984 and 1985 YZ125. Yeah....dumbass move to buy another one after 84. However, I worked for a Yam dealership so felt like I had to.

The 1983 was a great bike and I ran the 83 cylinder on my 84 which helped a lot.

I knew they were bad but had no real clue until my 85 blew up for like the third time and a buddy let me borrow his 85 KX125. HOLY SHIT!!! Night and day difference. Felt like it had 10 more hp!
The 1984 was the first new bike I ever bought. Didn't know any difference. I wanted to buy the Honda that year which turned out to be a great bike, but I was young and didn't have enough money to buy all new gear.

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davis224
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davis224 11/3/2022 2:16pm
11/3/2022 2:16pm
Ryno23 wrote:
2009 CRF450R. what a total pile of shit. More problems than I can list. The 4 spring clutch fades faster in a moto than I do...
2009 CRF450R. what a total pile of shit. More problems than I can list. The 4 spring clutch fades faster in a moto than I do. Had the bike 4 months and got rid of it.
I'm the opposite, absolutely loved my 2010. Stiffer fork springs, overfill the Trans side to stop the clutch from fading and it was golden.
1
AgentOrange 11/3/2022 3:53pm
11/3/2022 3:53pm
evomx244 wrote:
2003 TM250 what pile
Curious what you didn't like about it? I just purchased an 02 TM 250 for a project. Only so much info out there on these bikes, interested in what to watch for?
1
FIREfish148
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FIREfish148 11/3/2022 4:38pm
11/3/2022 4:38pm
Never really had a bad dirt bike as far as mechanical issues but my 2000 cr 125 had itty bitty bottom, mid, and top end.
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hellion
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hellion 11/3/2022 4:58pm
11/3/2022 4:58pm
2005 Ktm 250SX. That bike had such a sweet motor, but it wrote checks the chassis couldn’t cash. Man, I had some scary crashes on that bike. Coming off 03’ and 04’ 200SX’s which were magical bikes for me. I found a couple more near new 200SX’s and kept putting that motor in the most modern 125/150 chassis until they changed the cases/frame.
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mb60
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mb60 11/3/2022 5:06pm
11/3/2022 5:06pm
My parents bought me a 1982 yz 250 at 16 to ride cross country on. The bike was a tub of shit. Years later have built some vintage bikes back up and always laugh when I see a 82 yz for sell.
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Wiff3
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Wiff3 11/3/2022 5:44pm
11/3/2022 5:44pm
Yz229 wrote:
00-01 CR125. Rode an 86 CR125 that smoked them in every way! My 2001 YZ125 felt like a 250 in comparison. Wasn't a huge fan of...
00-01 CR125. Rode an 86 CR125 that smoked them in every way! My 2001 YZ125 felt like a 250 in comparison.

Wasn't a huge fan of my 2006 KTM 250SX. Put a 300SX top end and 38mm carb (stock 36mm on 250), and eventually thought I liked it more in the woods then MX track.
SmokinJoe439 wrote:
That's funny I had a near similar experience I had this totally tricked pro circuit modded 86 cr125. Had been riding for the past 2 years...
That's funny I had a near similar experience I had this totally tricked pro circuit modded 86 cr125. Had been riding for the past 2 years. Saved up for a 01 cr125. The 86 was faster. I traded the 01 cr125 in for a 02 yz125. Nearly looped it first ride hitting this jump for the first time like I would on the cr.

Wish I still had that 86 now.
I'll second that. 2000 CR125. Only way to make it go fast was to push it off a cliff......
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MX558
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MX558 11/3/2022 6:20pm
11/3/2022 6:20pm
03 yz450 , broke 2 Kickstarter shafts . I almost left the pile at Byron. Also the 2010 yz450 . I got lucky a friend asked me if I wanted to trade for his 2010 crf 450 . I couldn't drive fast enough to his house 😂
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walent215
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walent215 11/3/2022 6:31pm
11/3/2022 6:31pm
ElliotB16 wrote:
2016 CRF450.

There seems to be a lot of Hondas mentioned
Would you care to elaborate ?
Just curious as I just bought one
We had a 2014 and loved it
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Jeff Roberts 11/3/2022 6:40pm
11/3/2022 6:40pm
Hodaka Combat Wombat. In theory, this should’ve been a great bike. In reality, it did neither Enduro nor motocross well.
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mattyhamz2 11/3/2022 7:06pm
11/3/2022 7:06pm
CPR wrote:
How has no one mentioned the first KXF/ RMZ250s?! Bike would boil on the line, get roosted by everyone down the start straight, then the forks...
How has no one mentioned the first KXF/ RMZ250s?!
Bike would boil on the line, get roosted by everyone down the start straight, then the forks would bottom out just from grabbing the front brakes, where the lever would pull into the throttle. Then the rear would squat under ‘power’ until the acceleration bumps, where it’d decide to rebound into your ass.
Luckily the pain didn’t last long because you’d be out of coolant by the second lap and have to pull over.

Some of these delightful characteristics could be fixed, but by the time you sorted them out, it’d be starting to fall to bits. Had to be one of the biggest lemons ever straight out of the box.
It always trips me out hearing this as I never had any of these problems with my 05 Kawi. Idk what was so special about mine, but it was a solid bike other than the forks being crap until we had them set up.
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pelted
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pelted 11/3/2022 7:16pm
11/3/2022 7:16pm
I had a Suzuki TM 400, might have been a 74 model but don't remember. That thing was possessed and I came to dread trying to hold the throttle open. After my second dislocated shoulder from an uncontrollable tank slapper getoff, I unloaded that overweight mal-handling beast to a friend.

Hated that thing.
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