Top 7 Cursed Motorcycles that Should Not Exist

Some motorbikes are not merely two-wheel machines. Instead, they are a legend with unusual designs and abnormalities that define them. These cursed motorcycles got their dark or damned reputations not on the race courses or street racing scene. Instead, they posed a danger to any rider who dared to try riding these bikes.

These 7 cursed motorbikes are quite popular for certain wrong reasons. They are all that is wrong with the design of the two-wheeled vehicles. These are the bikes that should never have come out of the design phase. Continue reading this article to know about these top 7 cursed motorbikes that should not exist.

The Suzuki TM400 Cyclone is a bike that carries the title of the most dangerous bike in motorcycle history. This dirt bike was so cursed that saying ‘injury forces sales’ became its slogan. It was the manner in which the power was brutally delivered by the 396 cc air-cooled, single-cylinder engine rather than the amount of power itself.

The electronic ignition installed in the TM400 Cyclone used to work as a deadly switch. The engine will keep things normal until the bike reaches 4,000 rpm, and then all of a sudden, the engine will push you forward with max power without any warning. This ensured an erratic power outburst that even skilled riders would not have seen coming.

The light frame of the Suzuki TM400 Cyclone could not sustain such stress, and the rear part would start to shake violently. The rider could see the rear part of the bike failing in their side-view mirror.

The body design and build of the TM400 Cyclone were not suited for the kind of bike it was. The bike was not able to hold on to the power output it offered. It was such a light frame that it used to bend when laden with a good weight. The bike appeared like a fish flopping on a beach when riding over rough trails.

It was not even safe to start the TM400 Cycline. The high compression ratio resulted in violent kickback, which was enough to cause broken bones only by attempting to start the bike.

The Cycloine was so notorious that it was almost impossible to find an owner who had never been involved in an accident on this bike. The fact that riders just stopped buying them eventually led Suzuki to discontinue production of this bike in 1976.

The Kawasaki H2 Mach IV was given the title of the “Widowmaker” because of the sheer, brutal power delivery. This 748 cc two-stroke, inline-triple engine generated 74 hp. However, the bike only weighed 192 kg. Such a horsepower figure for a lightweight bike like the H2 750 Mach IV made it the fastest bike in the world at its time.

The Kawasaki H2 750 was built to do one thing, and that is to provide the raw speed. All other things were extra. The tubular frame installed on this bike was lightweight and could not possibly hold the aggressive engine power. The bike was not sharp when it came to turning corners and felt shaky on rough roads. Two steering dampers, one friction, and one hydraulic, did not succeed much in taming the beast.

The power delivery was quite aggressive. The power output was mostly packed in a very narrow band. Most of the Kawasaki H2 750’s weight was centered towards the rear, which caused the front-end to rise without notice. Braking on this bike was pretty useless, especially at high speeds.

The H2 750 Mach IV ‘Widowmaker’ became a trend. However, the motorcycle accidents and injuries increased a great deal during this bike’s tenure. This bike was quite thrilling and dangerous at the same time. It had excessive power but lacked sturdiness. As the safety rules became stricter over time, this Kawasaki H2 750 Widowmaker had to be stopped from further production in 1975.

The Yamaha V-Max was not only fast, it was a killer bike. The V-Max was a muscle cruiser bike with loads of performance packed inside it. The bike, especially the frame, was not strong enough to support the power the engine was making. Talking about the acceleration this bike produced, it was great. However, the handling was quite poor.

The Yamaha V-Max had several defects. The initial 1985 models faced a front wheel bearing issue, which minimized control. The latest V-Max models also had electrical issues that led to the engine getting stuck at 3,000 rpm when the rider released the throttle. Imagine you are trying to stop at a red light with an engine that refuses to idle.

The oil pump issue in the second-generation V-Max models produced after 2007 was quite dangerous. A washer may get stuck by high oil pressure against the housing and prevent oil flow into the engine. This caused abrupt engine seizures and stalls, which raised the risk of crashing.

The V-Max’s weight and the torque it produced made it dangerous to ensure quick movements. There were reports on the internet of riders losing control during high-speed passes. The V-Max required all the respect and experience. Otherwise, it was a death trap.

Honda's effort to introduce turbo technology in motorbikes produced a jinxed bike, which was as complex as it was unreliable. The CX500 Turbo was quite hard to handle and manage. It was also costly and full of issues, which made it a garage item, rather than a practical commuter.

The hurdle in the way of the Honda CX500 was the turbo system. The technology was not in a position to drive motorbikes, posing serious delays and breaks in the power supply. The turbo engine used to operate at high temperatures that were difficult to deal with and resulted in heat-related failures. The Honda CX500 Turbo was quite heavy at 579 lbs wet and did not feel as powerful as it was claimed to be.

The CX500 was also dangerous in traffic due to turbo lag. Power was sudden, violent, and unexpected to riders. The complex fuel injection system was easily subject to failure. The search for parts became a nightmare since Honda soon forgot the experiment.

The CX500 Turbo was among the four failed turbo bikes by the major Japanese bike makers in the mid-80s. The common factor in all of them was the same basic flaw. Such a turbo engine was not designed to fit the bike during that era. The bike produced was heavy, complex, and unsafe.

The Suzuki TL1000S was an effort by Suzuki to create a superbike killer, but it was the other “Widowmaker”. This 1000 cc V-Twin was powerful enough to compete with the best. However, the chassis issues left it deadly when it was ridden by inexperienced riders.

The prime curse of the bike was that it was high-sided easily. The back would then step out unpredictably. The rider would be thrown off the handlebars. The rotary rear damper system also contributed to the issue and provided unpredictable suspension behavior.

The TL1000S was also intimidating even to the skilled riders. The power delivery was so violent that the chassis was not able to withstand it. The back end used to move so much, making rides quite risky.

Suzuki tried to correct the issue by installing a steering damper and recalls, but it was too late. The TL1000S soon developed a reputation as one of the most cursed and scariest bikes of its time. Many riders could not master its violent nature. 

The Norton Commando was not cursed as being extremely fast and violent. It was cursed due to being incapable of holding its oil in the engine. This was a British classic bike, which was well-known for leaving more oil spills behind than the miles it covered.

Oil leakages were quite common with the Norton Commando. A major issue area was the cylinder head, as cracks would appear that could not be noticed until they began dripping oil. The pushrod tunnels, rocker covers, and cases are used to leak more often.

It was further made worse by the wet sumping issue. When parked, the tank would leak oil into the crankcase, leading to starting and more leakage issues. The breather system was not able to deal with the pressure, causing the oil to burst out. Fixing oil leaks will take more time than riding the bike. Even the restored Norton Commando bikes had the leakage issue. It turned out that the bike had an underlying design issue.

Overall, the Norton Commando was a beautiful and well-performing bike. Those who owned this bike were supposed to live with the oiled-up driveway.

The Laverda Jota 1000 became the quickest bike on the planet for a brief period of time. Owning a Jota 1000 was like opening your wallet and letting the money fall out. This Italian triple-engine bike had been cursed with poor build and design defects, which made it a nightmare to service.

The 1000 cc triple engine was a very decent-looking motor, but it was built using aluminum. The aluminum engine was not as good as it turned brittle as the engine grew older. Pistons began having issues only after 30,000 miles. The ring grooves and bore were prone to getting damaged. Valve seats would grind into the cylinder heads, and it would not be possible to adjust the valves without incurring costly repairs.

There were no seals of exhaust oil in the engine, resulting in the wear of valve guides. Special care was required in the shimming of oil pumps, and the cam chain tensioner system was termed to be obsolete. In the early models, there was no oil drain in the primary case, leading to the accumulation of sludge, which destroyed the motor in due course.

The Laverda Jota 1000’s handling was also not good. The stiff shocks and heavy controls ensured that the bike was not very comfortable. The odd handling under 70 mph made city riding dangerous. High cost of purchasing it, various breakdowns, and costly parts meant that Jota 1000 became a curse to most buyers.

The cursed bikes survive in riders’ folklore and urban legends. The stories of their dangerous riding behavior became well-known in the biker communities. Some of the myths regarding these bikes were bigger than reality. What caused the biggest harm and earned the title of the most cursed bikes are their mechanical malfunctions and design issues.

All of the top 7 cursed bikes on this list depict a failure in the design of these bikes. This is either due to bad engineering or not doing proper testing. These bikes teach us that not every bike is equal and that sometimes, the most beautiful or the most powerful bikes may be the most dangerous.

The current, modern-day bikes incorporate the latest research, features, and safety rider aids. They are equipped with superior brakes, suspension, and electronics, making them safer to ride. These seven cursed bikes are a reminder of how much the industry has evolved. Also, how unsafe the bikes can become when the simple design principles are neglected.

The heritage of these bikes is still present in the design of bikes. The engineers analyze their mistakes to prevent making the same mistakes again in the future. Riders use their experience to warn others. This is the reason why these cursed motorcycles have only become a collector's item, not a practical commuter.