The Most Unconventional Production Motorcycles

PH850806 • 16 May 2024

The ingredients that make the best motorcycles for learner riders at a motorcycle driving school are familiarity, stability and controllable levels of speed, which does not just mean a small engine but easy manoeuvrability.


There are plenty of fantastic entry-level motorbikes available from manufacturers such as Honda, BMW, Suzuki and Triumph, but there are also quite a few models that are somewhat more left-field, to say the least.


This can be rather novel for expert riders but potentially very dangerous for a new rider, so with that in mind, here are some production bikes that have designs that can catch out a new rider.


Royal Enfield Taurus

Ostensibly, there is little that sets the Taurus apart from other bikes made by Royal Enfield, however, its biggest difference and selling point is the exact quality that makes it a nasty surprise for new riders and why it is no longer sold.


The Taurus was nicknamed “Bullet Diesel” because, unlike practically any other motorbike in history, it was powered by a diesel engine, marketing the bike in countries such as India on the back of exceptional fuel economy.


The problem is that a diesel engine is not as refined as a petrol one, which whilst merely noisy in a car causes quite violent rattles and vibrations that could cause trouble for an inexperienced rider, even if they are used to the petrol version of the same bike.


Yamaha WR450F 2-Trac

On four wheels, all-wheel-drive is all the rage as it helps provide superior grip and traction in more difficult conditions, but Yamaha wondered if it would work when the number of wheels was cut in half.


The 2-Trac was a fascinating motocross bike that feels quite different in a way that might catch a novice by surprise, particularly with a heavier set of handlebars, although once you get used to it it can feel even more familiar.


Motorbike lessons London
by PH850806 27 November 2024
Those taking motorbike lessons in London will need to do so without the prospect of being able to use bus lanes, following a Department of Transport U-turn.
by PH850806 14 November 2024
Whilst there are a lot of differences between motorbikes and cars, many engineering designs that work with four wheels get quite unusual when applied to two.
motorcycle driving school
by PH850806 29 October 2024
Typically, the best way to make a bike-friendly to newcomers is to make it consistent enough that riders can be easily taught on it. Honda thought differently.
Motorcycle course London
by PH850806 15 October 2024
Visitors to a festival of vintage cars and motorbikes might be inspired to take a motorcycle course in London as they discover Britain’s rich biking heritage.
Thurrock Motorcycle Training
21 September 2024
Autumn can be a picturesque season, but those seeking Thurrock motorcycle training courses, should be aware of the perils of being on the road in this season.
motorbike lessons
by PH850806 9 September 2024
There are already some very good reasons to take motorbike lessons in London, not least when it comes to costs - and another one may be about to arise.
 suitable driving school
by PH850806 14 August 2024
At one point considered the motorcycle of the future the Suzuki B-King was a fascinating head-turning concept which ultimately lived up to none of its promises.
motorcycle driving lessons - handlebars
by PH850806 25 July 2024
There is an assumption that anyone who is learning at a motorcycle driving school will be riding a bike with a manual gearbox. This means that as part of their learning and development, they will not only have to learn the basic mechanics of riding and the rules of the road but also how to manage the unintuitive mechanics of a clutch and sequential gearbox . This is also true with cars, but whilst a growing proportion of four-wheeled vehicles are either automatics or have no gearboxes at all due to the rise in electric vehicles, very few motorcycles are the same, which might be the result of one of the most ambitious failures in recent motorbike history. In the late 2000s, the biggest motorcycle manufacturer in the world had a bold new idea to change the industry forever; Honda wanted to bring automatic gearboxes to two wheels. Whilst Yamaha and Aprilla had automatic bikes as well, Honda had an ambitious plan. Known as the Human Friendly Transmission , Honda had developed a continuous variable transmission (CVT) system that used a novel hydrostatic drive rather than the belt-driven systems commonly associated with scooters. This meant that they could develop a CVT system that could act like a manual gearbox, and to showcase the system in the best possible light Honda developed the DN-01 , which was a mix between a scooter, a cruiser and a sportbike. It was positioned as a jack-of-all-trades, and like most bikes that try to do too much at once, it ended up being a master of none of them It was too heavy to be a sportbike, too uncomfortable for long rides to be a cruiser, and lacked the storage to be truly effective as a scooter, with a load capacity of just 147kg. Whilst it could have potentially found a market in between the extremes, the asking price of over £10,000 was far too much to convince too many buyers and it was discontinued within two years.
motorcycle training
by PH850806 11 July 2024
The summer is a great time to head out on the road after finishing your motorcycle training so here are tips on what gear to wear to be comfortable in the heat.
by PH850806 25 June 2024
Ride to Work Day has become popular worldwide over the last few years, as bikers aim to promote the presence of motorcyclists and boost their road safety.
More posts
Share by: