We all are very obsessed with sports bikes, their speed, looks, power, and engine. Everything is designed to plant a wide grin on our faces when we ride them. People spend a lot of energy and money on buying sportbikes and handling them like their own family. Whether it is crashing on tracks to show off or to keep their bikes alive and in pristine condition. There is a lot of variety among the sportbikes, some are better in power, some in engines, some in mileage, and some have stunning looks. There is plenty of competition between manufacturers and their bikes. Such a competition allows people to choose bikes based on their own likes and dislikes and suit their needs rather than succumb to whatever is available in the market.
One thing everyone looks for when buying a sports bike (or any vehicle for that matter) is reliability. Good built quality and advanced safety measures are pretty important when you are speeding at over 60 or 80 MPH. Additionally, no one likes to visit the mechanic frequently. The repair costs can sometimes add up to a lot more than you have expected, and BOOM! Your savings are getting trampled. Many manufacturers make their bikes reliable no matter the cost (brands like Suzuki and Yamaha come to mind). But unfortunately, there are also sports bikes from known brands that tend to break down a lot or have day-ruining, pocket-cutting issues more often than you like. Gear up as we find out 9 such examples.
9 BMW S1000RR
The BMW S 1000 RR is amazingly strong and is the lightest bike in its segment. But it really lacks electronically adjustable suspension. The Hayes braking components are not as powerful as Brembos. And from customer reviews, it loses the iconic asymmetric face.
A large number of buttons all over the handlebar are neither meat nor to the modern style. The bike looks like it will churn out a lot of money through maintenance, and it lives up to that point on that one. The 4-Cylinder bike will dominate on track days but will extract a heavy toll in doing so.
8 Aprilia RS 660
The Aprilia RS 660’s ride quality is excellent. But customers have found oil leaking problems 2 or 3 weeks after buying. Aprilia services don’t cost a dime and the build quality is not good enough.
The RS 660 has tiny space for the rider, which makes it uncomfortable if scooting back.The shifts are hard and getting it to neutral can be tough for some. Moreover, it has noise issues with the engine when taken up and above 120KMH.
7 MV Agusta F3 Rosso 800
The MV Agusta F3 Rosso 800 has clutch issues, where it gets jammed sometimes. The Rosso 800’s braking system is not up to the standards as it should be, which leads to a frightful ride above certain speeds or on certain roads.
Reviews point out that some found failure in acceleration in the middle of a ride. Now, this can lead to an unfortunate incident, especially on a freeway at high speeds. Naturally, we’d like to avoid that.
6 Benelli TNT 899
As great as the bike looks, it’ll probably bring you down to the harsh reality right when starting it. The Benelli TNT 899 has intermittent issues of stuttering at lower RPM, especially when the bike hits 4,000 - 4,500 RPM. Many forums also point out issues found in the cylinders not firing correctly.
The TNT 899 has a very poor pickup and a super low fuel efficiency. Also, the headlamps are not bright enough to ride confidently in dark areas.
5 MV Agusta Rush 1000
The MV Agusta Rush 1000 is a limited edition of only 300 units. So before you start finding one to buy, make sure you know about the drawbacks that it comes with. Usually, MV Agusta has a good reputation regarding build quality, but we have heard about the valves being done every 7500 miles, costing a significant amount of cash.
With every limited-edition bike comes the pain of having to lurk around shops to find the UK importer Krazy Horse-supplied parts for it. Also, consider getting a new one with a three-year warranty and two years' roadside assistance still active.
4 Aprilia RSV4 Factory
The Aprilia RSV4's Factory Version is infamous for having a lot of braking issues. There was a batch of conrods braking issues at the time of launch. Which led to recalling the lot. The Services of the Aprilia are very late and not very satisfactory.
Moreover, the RSV4’s body and other mechanical parts are really hard to get, adding even more hindrance to the ownership. As cool as the bike looks, and as fast as it goes, prepare to doll out some serious time and money to keep it in tip-top condition. Aprilia has a rich history, but everyone makes a bike not up to their mark every once in a while.
3 Ducati Supersport 950
The Ducati Supersport 950 has a fuel system problem, where gas leaks out from the gas cap. The Supersport 950 is also known for having a bad gear shifting lever. One review even stated that the shift lever peg fell off while riding.
Not only that, the brake lines malfunctioned while driving as well. That can be very dangerous in a bike this powerful. Such a shame considering the bike is pretty great.
2 BMW F 900
The BMW F 900 is too heavy for any driver, weighing 219 KG. The pillion seat is too low in height that tall riders will not be able to ride comfortably. An extremely high price tag compared to other segments is another obstacle that you’ll have to overcome.
Reviews state that it has a slippery clutch, causing varying degrees of issues. Also, the exhaust heat is way too much for the passenger seat. This is definitely not among the top BMW bikes.
1 Royal Enfield Continental GT 650
The Continental GT 650 has one glaring fault. Its brake level is situated right next to the engine. This can burn the shoes or toes from the engine heat. The side mirrors are too small and vibrate when riding at high speed rendering them useless or very hard to use.
Moreover, the likelihood of failure in indicating proper fuel through the fuel gauge can really mess up a long trip. The clutch is also found to be very tight so new and upcoming riders should stay away from this one.