Forgotten Failures & Flops

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moshee · #1 Unread post by **moshee** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 2:09 am

Thought I would start this thread to stimulate some of the old grey matter. While there are many memorable bike makers and models through the years, there are also a few motorcycles that fall into the category of "Forgotten Failures & Flops". So lets hear about your recollection of some of these.

Even some of the biggest manufacturers can have their embarrassing moments. I'll start off by picking on Yamaha and their TX750.

http://digilander.libero.it/massimo254/ ... tx_750.htm
http://www.tobyfolwick.com/tx750/tx750spc.cfm

Here was the high tech successor to their 650 vertical twin line. It featured the vibration cancelling "omni-phase" system. However, it proved to be unreliable with oil leaks, overheating, and oil foaming problems (at least thats what I can recollect) and was not a big seller at a time when four cylinder bikes were coming into their own. As a result, the production run only lasted a couple of years (1973-1974)before Yamaha gave up on the bike.

So lets hear of other less than memorable bikes, past or present!
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#2 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:10 am

Back in 1982, Harley Davidson trotted out it's NOVA project for the board to see. The sole Canadian, and possibly the only non-family member on the board at that time was a gentleman named Fred (Trev) Deely, the owner of a Vancouver HD shop and the sole distributor for HD in Canada. (Yes, every HD sold in Canada puts money in his company's pocket.) Well Trev didn't like it, it was water cooled, and I believe, a four cylinder. He opposed it on the board and it never went into production... The prototype now sits in the Fred (Trev) Deely collection in Richmond BC.

moshee · #3 Unread post by **moshee** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 5:29 am

Now that looks like a Harley I might want to buy. Its an opportunity lost and we're the poorer.
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Keyoke · #4 Unread post by **Keyoke** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:09 am

The Kwak GPZ305..

The smaller brother to the much better GPZ500, this bike was notorious for having really bad electrics, and now it's just a few die-hard fans that actually bother to keep them on the road...

Joe Mc · #5 Unread post by **Joe Mc** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:27 am

What ever happened to the turbo bikes of the early 80's?

My dad gave me a bunch of old motorcycle magazines mostly early 70's to mid 80's, and it seems every manufacturer had a turbo bike in the early 80's. A few I recall reading about are the GPZ750 turbo, CX650 turbo, xj650 seca turbo.

The mags had mostly good things to say about them, but they disappeard pretty fast. I guess there was not enough public interest.

They seem to have been marketed more as touring bikes than sports though, maybe that was part of the problem?

I love turbos (drive a 900 turbo) and would love to pick up a GPZ750 turbo if I could ever find one.

moshee · #6 Unread post by **moshee** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 6:27 am

That Kwak is one that I don't remember. Bring em out of the woodwork folks.
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rapidblue · #7 Unread post by **rapidblue** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 8:13 am

dr_bar wrote:Back in 1982, Harley Davidson trotted out it's NOVA project for the board to see. The sole Canadian, and possibly the only non-family member on the board at that time was a gentleman named Fred (Trev) Deely, the owner of a Vancouver HD shop and the sole distributor for HD in Canada. (Yes, every HD sold in Canada puts money in his company's pocket.) Well Trev didn't like it, it was water cooled, and I believe, a four cylinder. He opposed it on the board and it never went into production... The prototype now sits in the Fred (Trev) Deely collection in Richmond BC.

that things looks like a V-MAX don't ya think!?

#8 Unread post by **dr_bar** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:01 am

I actually put that in my original post, but decided to let someone else point out that similarity... funny thing is, the V-Max didn't show up for two more years...

oldnslo · #9 Unread post by **oldnslo** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:35 am

That has to be one of the best looking Harleys ever created, including the new models. What a gross judgment error on the part of their marketing department. Then again, I've read that most Harley lovers prefer the traditional, clunky Harley look, demonstrated by mediocre sales of the V-Rod compared to older styled bikes in their line-up.

moshee · #10 Unread post by **moshee** » Wed Sep 21, 2005 9:58 am

What I don't understand is how a Canadian distributor could have the influence to axe a potential American product. For that matter, If he didn't like it, how did he get possession of the example?

As for the brief appearance of turbo bikes, I remember that period in the 80s. The sales of the bikes may have been affected by fears of what could ensue when the turbo spooled up and instant power ensued. Kind of laughable in light of todays Hayabusa and other RR bikes.
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