Top 10 worst handling bikes of all time...

"Of all time" ? Is he nuts?

That article "The 10 Worst Handling Motorcycles of All Time" is ridiculous and makes the author John Glimmerveen, self-proclaimed "Classic Motorcycles Expert", look rather foolish.

There isn't a single bike in his list that is even close to being in the top 10 worst handling bikes "of ALL TIME." Compare any of them to any bike made prior to 1960 or so and it becomes clear that his perception of a poor handling bike and his view of "all time" are quite limited. He complains about poor brakes, suspensions, bad shocks, etc. Every bike, and there were hundreds of different models from dozens of manufacturers, from the beginning up to at least the 1950 's handled worse and had poorer brakes than any bike on his list. Below are just a few examples of bikes (one from each decade) that had worse suspension and brakes than anything on his list, and these are typical of the early bikes. Maybe he is suffering from the impression that motorcycles were first made in the 1960's? Ed

1903 Harley Davidson


1915 Waverly Jefferson


1920 Indian Scout


1930 Henderson Streamline


1940 Zundapp


1950 BMW


1960 Jawa

Touché!

Worst is so damn subjective!!
For me... the worst handling bikes I've owned are:
#1 Pre Rebel Honda 185 "chopper" followed by my Kaw H2 and the best handling bike was my dead stock engine'd Yam RD400 Daytona with 15w fork oil, drag bars, aftermarket shocks and K 81 tires.
However, for normal quick street riding, even the "worst" modern 1965 on up bikes are more then just safe when driven up to the edge of the motorcycle's and a rider's capability!! Dumb riding will net a bad ride on any machine.
The other common comments about bad bikes is mostly hand me down, regurgitate BS, wives tales over the years that writers cough up like they were the ones that experienced the bad ride. I say BULLSHIT!!

Did anybody write an article in the 70s doing the same crap? And by today's standards (honda cbr's, hayabusa (hayabusai? What's the plural) zx14) every bike prior handles like crap. And FWIW, most I know have had good success riding kaw triples, but back in 1969/70 that was a big step up in engine from a honda rebel or a clapped out harley; probably where the 'problem' came from

Kinda like dog catcher to peace officer. My 73 CL 350 would go anywhere I wanted it to. I was a Honda guy too. I tried the 350 F, CB 500 of the day and the CB 750. I stayed with the 350 until I was able to buy the Z1. Didn't get a test drive but I was delighted to find I could do super tight turns without putting my feet down. I defy any hog rider to try and do it. The balance was perfect, it handled like a dream, only problem was, at 93 MPH, that wobble would come on without reason. I learned to live with it and go past 93, or stay below it. To this day, I haven't done much to the frame. A little under the tank and when I pull my head again, I'll add gussets in the forward area too.
At 60 I'm not likely to do any serious canyon carving though I do like to use the power to get past Slow Birds. :evil:
Good for the soul. :whistle:
Steve

I don't know Ed, the Henderson was a Cadillac of a motorcycle in its day, and that 4 cyLinder was one of the finest combustion engines ever built, they used them in aircraft in the 30's. They were renowned for high speed stability and used extensively by police.

Other than that I agree with your list

floivanus wrote: Did anybody write an article in the 70s doing the same crap? And by today's standards (honda cbr's, hayabusa (hayabusai? What's the plural) zx14) every bike prior handles like crap. And FWIW, most I know have had good success riding kaw triples, but back in 1969/70 that was a big step up in engine from a honda rebel or a clapped out harley; probably where the 'problem' came from

I had subscription to Cycle guide and Cycle world in the 70's and 80's. Lots of high performance stuff for the bikes of the day. They always seemed to be touting the new models though. :whistle: I was too young to know they are being paid for it. Just like the BBB, you want a five star rating? $150 can get that for you. I liked the TZ 750's, Kenny Roberts, Skip Acksland and all the rest, the shots at the track, etc. If I couldn't be there, at least I could read about it. Now it's hard to tell the bikes apart. Dan's Yamaha looked more like a hog than the new ones do. The crotch rockets all look the same to me. If I spot a vintage whatever it is, it makes my day.
Steve

Tyler wrote: I don't know Ed, the Henderson was a Cadillac of a motorcycle in its day, and that 4 cyLinder was one of the finest combustion engines ever built, they used them in aircraft in the 30's. They were renowned for high speed stability and used extensively by police.

Other than that I agree with your list

No doubt they were great machines in their day, and if anyone has one they wish to give away I'll be the first in line. My only point was that all of the old bikes handled and/or braked worse than anything on his list. The tiny brakes on that Henderson were probably excellent compared to other brakes back then, but I can't imagine them stopping that big machine as quickly as the modern brakes on a lightweight 1970's machine. Ed

How about this one in the corners

Wild Bill Gelbke

That thing is wild! I've never seen that photo. Can you imagine trying to push it up a hill? :laugh: Ed

I have, it was in one of the bike mags in the 70's. There's a back story....... Something about not being able to pick it up and hydrolic jack stands. Was he killed? I don't remember. :whistle: Do you have the story that goes with it?
Steve

classicmotorcycles.about.com/od/historic...=zergnet-test-559393