Tanshanomi's Snap Judgments

AME Amazonas 1600

Fri, June 18th, 2010


1978–88 AME Amazonas 1600
Performancewww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
Its a 900 lb. motorcycle motivated by a 56 HP VW Type 1 motor, complete with the entire VW transaxle. Top speed is around 80 MPH.
Handlingwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
It is nearly unridable at low speeds and unstable on the highway. The ride is bone-breaking.
Lookswww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
You almost would have to deliberately work at making a bike look that rivals the Amazonas's ugliness. It is crude and misshapen, like a mechanical Quasimodo.
Reliabilitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
The only reason this gets even a half point is the inherent simplicity and reliability of the air-cooled VW motor.
Practicalitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
This is as close to an unusable bike as has ever made it into production.
Desirabilitywww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
It's not even something you want as a collectable or a joke.
Overallwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.comwww.dyerware.com
This is very likely the worst production motorcycle of the last 60-plus years.