Bought a bike you didn't click with?

[GreigR]

I've been riding since 2001 with a break between Covid - 2024. The earlier years were mainly sports bikes, trackbikes, motocross, trials etc. Prior to Covid I moved more towards naked and cruiser bikes, FZ1, XJR1300, Harley Streetbob & a Fat Boy. Towards the end of last year, looking for something slightly more comfortable I bought an R1250GS Adventure, being a taller rider I thought this would have been perfect and eagerly waited for spring this year. It's been a few months and I hate to admit defeat, I'm just not feeling it. It ticks all the boxes, comfy, fairly protected from the elements, all the gadgets you could wish for but I'm missing that desire to get out for a ride at any opportunity. With all my previous bikes, cleaning them was part of the enjoyment, opening the garage for a quick peak, squeezing in a quick blast after dinner when the kids were in bed.

I'm finding myself scrolling through Autotrader everyday, hunting for something that looks fantastic and has that excitement. I like the thought of a Ducati Streetfighter, S1000R, Tuono V4, Multistrada V4S was impressive but possibly a quicker GSA.

Has anyone bought a bike and regretted it soon after? I'm curious and thought it would be interesting to hear of similar stories, what did you buy and what ended up replacing it?

[trickywoo]

Yup. I bought a 765 RS Street Triple based on paper spec and the press reviews.

It was the worst bike I’ve ever owned and I was really happy to sell it and loose £800 after a few hundred miles.

[KTMsm]

Loads

I think it's hard to know what you like until you've ridden many bikes of different types

It's why I became a bike dealer so I'd have an excuse to ride loads of different bikes

I didn't think I'd like a 1200GS but a couple of mates, who are good riders, rated them so I bought one, it was the most disappointing experience - it's the only bike I've turned around to go home, 45 minutes into a planned day ride

I thought I'd like the Tuono V Twin but it was such a rough engine and it was happiest at higher speeds that I was glad to sell it

I've also bought bikes that I do like but find I don't ride - Speed Triple R - I love the engine, the smoothness, the torque and the looks but in the year I owned it, I barely rode it

I keep buying cruisers because I love the look and the noise they make - but they're awful to ride

I've finally accepted that the KTM 950/990 in all it's guises SuperDuke, Supermoto, Adventure, Super Enduro suits me perfectly and I should stop trying to find anything better

[Jazoli]

Loads, too many to list, the most expensive was my MT09SP at £2.50/mile over 2.5k miles.

[CHLEMCBC]

Yamaha TT600. I'm not completely sure what I was expecting but I found it completely underwhelming. Traded it for a Triumph Speed Four after a very boring few months.

[LuS1fer]

After punting a little MSX125 for a few years, Suzuki were flogging off their SV650S for about 4500 quid in 2016 so I snapped one up - good looking, good handling bike, after all.

Trouble is that at age 57, my hips hurt and my body was a touch too short over the long tank and low bars, placing strain on my neck when trying to look right. Style over comfort but I endured it for 3 years before packing it in.

[Sigmamark7]

KTM 640LC4. I’ve ridden sports bikes for many years - ZX9R, several 1000 GSXRs and had a Suzuki DRZ 400E enduro bike which I loved riding. Unfortunately, my knees are both knackered, so having got rid of my track bikes, I thought something upright and similar to the DRZ would be great fun. It isn’t! It’s uncomfortable and I’m struggling to think of a single redeeming factor.

[Hungrymc]

I bought a Multistrada that took a good month and maybe 1000 miles to start really enjoying it. I had serious buyers remorse and really regretted getting rid of the slightly grotty CB1000R I had part exchanged. That was about 4 years ago now, and I don't think I'll ever get rid of the Ducati, its brill.

It's taken me almost 12 months to start enjoying my Hayabusa. I've been so close to selling it, but I'm glad I persevered as in the last month it's suddenly become wonderful.

I have a Triumph Rocket which I wouldn't say I clicked with. I expected it to be massive and a handful but also nice to cruise on. It is exactly those things. I think I enjoyed its failings / idiosyncrasies' from the start because I was expecting something "odd".

I think expectations play a part in it, but I'm sure some bikes can take a little time to grow on you (which I hear often regarding the GS). It's probably a bike that's more about the using and traveling on, than the short blasts and cherishing.

Maybe it was different when I was younger and I just got excited about everything. I may be a bit old and grumpy and harder to please now.

[Bungleaio]

I didn’t gel with the Z1000sx that I had. Ended up trading it in for 1250gs which was great.

[Bob_Defly]

Not yet. I generally do a ton of research before buying, and have bought a few bikes now, none with test rides. And all have been great.

[black-k1]

Not really! I've bought a few bikes that were "nothing special" but I've enjoyed most of the bikes I have owned. Those that weren't so good tended to be back at the start of my biking when finance (or near complete lack thereof) and simple transport necessity played much bigger parts in my decision making.