10 Worst Dirt Bikes in History?

[2StrokeDan]

I had a TS400 Suzuki I suppose its similar to the one they moan about.
400cc 2 stroke.
I still have scars on my left foot from when it suddenly spun out from under me. No apparent reason.
I rode it to work Parow to CT in the 80s. Bloody awefull.

I still have a Suzuki TS400, and was thinking about building a TM400 replica, since I have a spare chassis and engine. Vibrators of note.

 

[Vintage_Mania]

I still have a Suzuki TS400, and was thinking about building a TM400 replica, since I have a spare chassis and engine. Vibrators of note.

I know of someone that will give you access to their very special collection to swap that TS400+spares with...

 

[2StrokeDan]

I still have a Suzuki TS400, and was thinking about building a TM400 replica, since I have a spare chassis and engine. Vibrators of note.

I know of someone that will give you access to their very special collection to swap that TS400+spares with...

I have been thinking about letting the TS go, lots of good TS memories, but I want to concentrate on Yamaha scramblers. If you want to, please pass on his details.

 

[Welsh]

VA, not BAD bikes, but BIG EYES:

I test rode an early 1970's 250 Penton / KTM  ISDT Six Day, twin shock, for a mate (didnt buy it) the six speed box was as rough as a bears arse, and then the Power Band, I remember seeing some of the Dyno Charts, it hit the band and the graph just went vertical then flat again.

Then mid 1970's Heikki Mikkola won the World Champs on a Husky, some marketing dork launched the Heikki Mikkola 360 Replica, supposedly the same porting as the GP bike, but without the HIGH END suspension, they built loads, it didnt sell, so offloaded cheap in the UK.

I rode a friends, (farmer / Rally Driver MX Rider the local MX track was on the side of their hill) so a wooded welsh hillside, done few laps and its fun, then she hits the power band on a lumpy uphill, big stream "cutting on the left" getting tired it goes vertical and I couldn't shut the throttle..... saved it but 40 odd years on remember it Very clearly.

The later Strokes were milder I think. Maico's won most things in our area back then, Mud motors.  :thumleft:

 

[Bliknêrs]

I still have a Suzuki TS400, and was thinking about building a TM400 replica, since I have a spare chassis and engine. Vibrators of note.

Jip.
Feet vibrating of the footpegs and whole body starting to itch after a while.
But a nice powerband and sounded good when coming on song.

 

[DR BIG 750]

great article VM, can agree a lot with his list, also mt DR 500 easy start and super capable if used for purpose,
Dan please sharre info on the TS 400, I have a good Suzuki collection, would fit in nicely

 

[Bliknêrs]

My TS 400 thought it was a TM. Dumped me whenever it felt like it.

 

[DR BIG 750]

hated was the DR 400 and 500.
I did not like my DR 500 either. Cannot see why the army bought them, the XL500's would have done the job which was transport in the bases much better. XL 500's were much easier starters too. DR500 not an easy starter, saw that many times in the army and mine too.

Dr easiest starters about even 40 yrs down the line

 

[Cublondie]

I had 2 IT490's years ago. Ignition coils kept burning, difficulty in starting, exhausts that kept cracking and could not be welded/brazed and the punishment my wallet took are the memories I have. Would trailer it to a friends farm to go riding in Warmbaths, just for it not to start. Had a healthy appetite for plugs. Never wanted to own a Yamaha since then.

 

[Salty950]

As a “dirt bike” G450x

 

[Dorsland]

"..... a pair of chrome shocks that would have faded on a busy barroom door."

 

[Dorsland]

Some nice old threads seeing the light of day again on the new forum.

 

[2StrokeDan]

I had 2 IT490's years ago. Ignition coils kept burning, difficulty in starting, exhausts that kept cracking and could not be welded/brazed and the punishment my wallet took are the memories I have. Would trailer it to a friends farm to go riding in Warmbaths, just for it not to start. Had a healthy appetite for plugs. Never wanted to own a Yamaha since then.

Sad how often a brand is blamed for incompetence to sort issues.

 

[Cublondie]

Sad how often a brand is blamed for incompetence to sort issues.

Indeed, you were there so you should know

 

[2StrokeDan]

Indeed, you were there so you should know

I was indeed there in the 80's, and rode most of these YZ/IT, CR's, KX's, etc, and while some of them came with faults, they could always be fine-tuned.

While I do not question your specific experience, to have 2 bikes with all those problems is bad luck.

An exhaust cracking is the fault of how it is mounted, have seen cracked exhausts due to petrified rubber mounts, or pipes bolted directly to frame.

 

[Vintage_Mania]

The big air hammers were all a bit of hit and miss, for all manufacturers. Some were better and others worse, but within a line, say RM500 (let's get the focus off the kak 490's) there were examples that just hit the mark every time and others that were so full of kak the owners dreaded to take it out for a ride.

If you were one of the lucky owners with minimal issues on your RM500, suddenly, after a top-end refresh, it will start to ping and won't start if hot, load up, etc etc etc.

Was the nature of the big air-cooled two-strokes of the 80's.

 

[1ougat]

Probably this one

 

[Colin Kaapschehoop]

The TM 400 & 250 had much more power & an on/off powerband than their much more popular & user friendly TS street scrambler cousins. I learned that firsthand as I went over backwards on a borrowed 400, my first proper dirtbike crash, lots of pain & roasties but no permanent damage. My LH Pinkie still bears the scars from a wipeout on the 250, both crashes helped by my lack of experience (& fear at 16/17) and the crazy powerband! The RMs that succeeded the TMs became very famous on the motocross scene!

 

[Welsh]

. The Maicos of the early and mid-’70s are prime examples. These German machines

Thanks for posting VM, and I learnt something today. I always thought Maico's were Spainsh built.

Nope, and the company essentially went bust due to WP, which I think was White Power later changed to Works Performance, Maico had developed I guess the Alpha around WP suspension. The Maico CEO / Owner went out to dinner with the WP CEO / Owner and got horribly drunk according to rumour. WP management were so offended they refused to do any further business with Maico. So Maico had to get a new suspension supplier at the last minute it was a disaster, they never recovered.

 

[Wheelspiner]

Any KDX 250's from the 80's. I had two.