While modern sportbikes may be at the top of the accident statistics, that’s usually more of a rider problem than the bikes being inherently bad. Ridden sensibly, they’re no more dangerous than other motorcycles.
However, if we look at bikes from the past, there are some truly deadly machines out there. In an era when manufacturers focused on power, other parts of the bikes, such as the chassis, suspension, and tire technology, couldn’t keep up with the sheer speed. Let’s check out some motorcycles with sketchy reputations.
Yamaha V-Max 1200
Yamaha released the original V-Max 1200 in the mid-1980s as a response to Honda’s VF1100C Magna power cruiser. Thanks to its 145 hp engine, the V-Max annihilated the Honda.
It weighed around 600 lbs, but still managed to reach 60 mph in just over three seconds. Unfortunately, this power cruiser handled like a wet noodle, and the brakes felt wooden and unresponsive. The V-Max soon earned a reputation as a hooligan’s bike, and riders were stereotyped as either very brave or not very bright.
Suzuki TL1000R
Suzuki has built many excellent sportbikes over the years, and the TL1000R came within reach of being one of those bikes. Its 135 hp V-twin engine was a beast, and in a time when rider aids, such as traction control and riding modes, didn’t exist, it could be a handful.
However, the Suzuki TL1000R suffered from more serious problems. Its short wheelbase and aggressive geometry made it twitchy, and the rear rotary damper was poorly designed, overheating and giving unpredictable damping under hard riding. Many owners swap to a modern shock to tame the handling.
Brough Superior SS100
Few bikes are as legendary as the Brough Superior. In fact, it was so good, it was known as the Rolls-Royce of motorcycles. The problem was that it produced 50 hp using 1920s technology.
At the time, other bikes may have had 15-20 hp, and the brakes, suspension, and tires of that era weren’t able to tame the Brough Superior’s massive power. T.E. Lawrence, better known as Lawrence of Arabia, died after crashing his Brough, and the neurosurgeon who treated him went on to pioneer research that helped make motorcycle helmets standard.
Vincent Black Shadow
The Vincent Black Shadow is another iconic classic motorcycle that’s secured its spot in the motorcycle hall of fame. It looked stunning and had plenty of power. With a top speed of 125 mph, it was the fastest bike of its era.
Seeing as there wasn’t much safety gear available back then, its speed alone would make it dangerous. Seeing as it suffered from a lot of frame flex when cornering and brakes that were seemingly made of cream cheese, the Black Shadow was a bike reserved for the bravest riders.
Suzuki RG500 Gamma
The Suzuki RG500 Gamma was the king of the race replicas back in the 1980s, and the actual race version dominated the racetrack thanks to its excellent chassis and brakes.
If this game-changing bike was so good, why was it dangerous? Because the engine had a brutal power delivery that caused high-side crashes on both the road and track. Even experienced racers found it hard to handle, so the average riding enthusiast never really stood a chance.
Maico 700
The Maico 700 first arrived in the 1980s and was resurrected in 2009. To say it’s scary to ride is an understatement! No matter how good your throttle control is, a 700cc 2-stroke dirt bike will be a handful to keep in check.
Weighing just 220 lbs and packing over 80 hp along with a healthy dose of 2-stroke torque makes it one of the most dangerous bikes ever made!
Suzuki TM400
Over a decade before the Maico 700 went into production, Suzuki decided they wanted to build an overly powerful motocross bike. In 1971, they unleashed the TM400 Cyclone. Even though it only had 40 hp, it was still a monster.
The Suzuki TM400‘s frame was too lightweight, so it would bend and flex. That’s enough to make the bike difficult to handle. Its poor ignition system and extreme tuning didn’t make things any easier. All the power would arrive at some point between 3500 and 5000 rpm, you’d never know exactly when it would happen, and when it did, just hang on for dear life and start praying.
Suzuki X7
Another Suzuki! The X7 was an affordable and fast 250 bike, and what more could a motorcycle enthusiast ask for? Well, it would’ve been nice if it didn’t wheelie as soon as one touched the throttle. Thanks to its speed and power, the X7 was one of the most popular bikes among beginner riders, but it was also one of the least suitable.
Suzuki even built a 200cc version called the X5, which was even lighter and cheaper but just as difficult to handle.
Kawasaki H1 500 Mach III
At first glance, the 1970 Kawasaki H1 500 Mach III may not look like much. Even its engine size is somewhat underwhelming, with just a 498cc displacement. Motorcycle history buffs know what horrors the H1 is capable of, though.
Make sure you have good insurance if you want to ride one. It may just be a 500, but it’s a 2-stroke triple-cylinder unit, and its 60 hp made it one of the most powerful bikes of the era. The handling was questionable at best, and for some reason, neutral was below first gear.
Kawasaki KH750 H2 Mach IV
Another Kawasaki monster with a 2-stroke 3-cylinder engine. The H2 earned its nickname “the Widow Maker” because it was absolutely frightening to ride. Kawasaki clearly thought the H1 wasn’t scary enough, so they pushed power to 75 hp and 57 lb-ft of torque.
It’s the way it delivered its power that was the problem, as nothing would happen at first, then as it hit 6500 rpm, everything arrived at once. Combined with poor brakes and lots of frame flex, the original H2 was a toy strictly for those with suicidal tendencies. Kawasaki did update it in 1974, altering the steering geometry and fitting a longer swingarm, and while it was an improvement, it still wasn’t great.
Any 1980s Turbocharged Motorcycle
In the 1980s, turbocharging technology was still relatively new and exciting, so the Japanese Big Four decided to try it out on motorcycles. This led to the creation of the Kawasaki GPZ750 Turbo, Honda CX500 Turbo, Yamaha XJ650 Turbo, and Suzuki XN85, and while they certainly were interesting tech demos, they also left a lot to be desired.
Sure, they had plenty of power, but suffered from excess weight and turbo-lag. Red-hot turbochargers near the rider’s legs weren’t ideal either. There’s a reason why turbocharged motorcycles never caught on outside the custom bike scene.
AMF-Era Harley-Davidson Sportster
As much as we love the Harley-Davidson Sportster, there’s no denying that the ones built during the AMF era were mostly junk. Basically, H-D struggled financially and was acquired by American Machine and Foundry Company, and the quality of the bikes took a plunge until the early 1980s.
While the Sportster undoubtedly helped keep the Milwaukee-based manufacturer alive during this period, it also suffered from severe build quality issues, a lack of power, overweight, and horrible handling.
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